MCK appoints Investigator in additional complaint against two Council Chiefs

05/05/2015

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) would like to inform Kahnawa’kehró:non that investigator Maître Rish Handa was appointed yesterday in regard to two letters of complaint received against Chief Christine Zachary-Deom and Chief Gina Deer respectively, on April 10, 2015.

Maître Handa is also investigating the original complaint made against the same two Chiefs. He was appointed to that role on April 7, 2015.

Though the most recent complaint is separate from that received at the Winter Community Meeting on March 10, 2015, it is against the same Chiefs in question and shares many common elements. Therefore, the decision was made by Chief & Council that appointing Maître Handa as investigator would provide the most efficient use of community resources while still remaining a fair and independent process.

The latest appointment was supported unanimously by Chief and Council at yesterday’s duly-convened Council Meeting.  Chief Deer and Chief Zachary-Deom did not take part in the decision because of the conflict.

As per the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke Disciplinary Measures, Maître Handa is responsible to submit a supplementary final report with recommendations addressing the most recent complaint by June 4, 2015. However, as there are common elements with the first complaint, the MCK is hoping the supplementary report will be received well in advance of the deadline.