MOVING FORWARD: UPDATES FROM THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENT (OSC)

The Akwesasne Justice Department (AJD) Oversight Committee (OSC) — comprised of AJD Portfolio Chiefs, one Community Representative from each of the three districts, and supported by AJD Legislative Services staff — provides this brief update on its ongoing efforts and initiatives.

The Committee plays a vital role in guiding the development of Akwesasne Laws by overseeing the process and incorporating input from both Council and the community. Its work ensures that legislation reflects and balances the diverse perspectives within Akwesasne, while offering clear direction and support throughout the law-making process.

The OSC currently oversees four laws being developed by its Working Task Groups (WTGs). Each law is at a different stage within the Akwesasne Legislative Procedural Regulation (ALEPR) — whether in the drafting phase, undergoing amendments, or being newly created. These efforts reflect the collaborative work of WTG members to ensure that each law meets community needs and aligns with established legislative processes.

• The Akwesasne Election Law has entered Phase IV of the ALEPR: Enactment of an Akwesasne Law. Council has determined that the law will be enacted through a referendum, scheduled for January 31. To provide clarity and background on the referendum process and the question being posed, a series of information meetings will be held in each district:

  • January 5 – Kawehno:ke Recreation Centre
  • January 6 – Tsi Snaihne Recreation Centre
  • January 7 – Kana:takon School
All meetings will run from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

The outcome of this referendum will guide the WTG in determining the next steps in Phase V.

• The Akwesasne Child Rights and Responsibilities Law (ACRRL), or Enienthihswanón:na, has been drafted, and the Working Task Group (WTG) recently completed the first set of line-by-line readings with the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne Chiefs. During these readings, Council reviewed the draft law, provided input, and identified areas requiring further revision.
  
  Once revisions are complete, the next step will be for the WTG to request that Council “accept in principle” the Draft for Phase II. If Council accepts the law in Phase II, the WTG will proceed to Phase III: Community Consultation, where the community will be informed about the law and invited to provide feedback and guidance.    

• The Fire Safety Law is currently in the early stages of Phase I: Development, Amendment, or Repeal of Proposed Akwesasne Law. The Working Task Group (WTG) has resumed work on a document previously developed by Legal Counsel and a Legislative Drafter. Although progress was delayed due to scheduling conflicts, the WTG plans to reconvene in mid to late January to continue drafting. Please note that we will be reaching out to the community for additional input and comments to help guide the WTG through Phase I.

• Akwesasne Residency Law amendments were temporarily put on hold for several months due to scheduling conflicts and the urgent need to prioritize amendments to the Akwesasne Election Law (AEL). Previously, the WTG reviewed community feedback and incorporated those comments into the draft law. Looking ahead to the new year, we have retained Legal Counsel to oversee the amendment process and advance to the next phase of the ALEPR.

If you have any questions, the OSC Community District Representatives can be reached by emailing Dr. Doris Cook for Kaná:takon at kanestenhawi@yahoo.com, Theresa Benedict for Tsi Snaíhne at theresa.benedict@akwesasne.ca, and Gary Cole for Kawehnò:ke at gary.cole@akwesasne.ca. General inquiries may also be sent to Legislative Services Manager Alyson Thompson at alyson.thompson@akwesasne.ca.