MCK update on Combined Schools Committee

08/16/2012

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to update the community on its actions in regard to the Kahnawake Combined Schools Committee.

The MCK recently sent letters to members of the Committee requesting they meet with Chief & Council to answer questions of eligibility and clarify the continuing uncertainty of which Constitution the Committee is following. The request was refused. While the Committee sent certain documents to the MCK, these did not clarify but, in fact, have created further uncertainty as to whether or not the Committee is following its own Constitution. 

“No one wants to make a political issue out of this,” said Grand Chief Michael Ahríhron Delisle, Jr. “However, it is clear that the problems aren’t going away. Chief & Council are concerned about the numerous issues raised by parents and Education Center staff during the past several months.”

The MCK would like to remind the community that the Kahnawake Combined Schools Committee operates under the authority of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke. The MCK remains the responsible body in cases where there is a major breakdown in governance or a lack of confidence.

The MCK is now in the process of seeking independent legal analysis of the situation, as MCK’s Legal Services department is in a conflict of interest, as one of the MCK’s lawyers acted as counsel/advisor to the Committee regarding the dismissal of Director of Education Donna Lahache.