MCK decides on Acts of Censure against two Council Chiefs

05/15/2015

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) is informing Kahnawa’kehró:non of the outcome of the complaint brought against Chief Christine Zachary-Deom and Chief Gina Deer on March 10, 2015 at the Winter Community Meeting. Once the complaint was officially received the process outlined in the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke Disciplinary Measures began. Maître Rish Handa was selected as the Investigator.

Upon receipt of Maître Handa’s Investigation Report, Chief and Council discussed the findings and proceeded to a determination on any sanctions. In a secret ballot vote held during a duly convened meeting of nine (9) Chiefs on May 13, 2015, it was unanimously voted that Chief Zachary-Deom receive the following Act of Censure:

“It was determined that you must issue a public apology for your statement of disagreement with the Membership Law at the Fall Community Meeting. The public apology must include a clear explanation of your views on the membership issue as well as a clear statement that, regardless of any conflicting views, you will uphold the Membership Law as you agreed to do when you took your oath of office.”

While the Investigation Report did not call for an Act of Censure against Chief Deer, it was recommended that Chief Deer make a statement to the community. Chief and Council felt that this recommendation should be binding, therefore they voted unanimously for an Act of Censure, which was also passed unanimously against Gina Deer:

“It was determined that, while you were found by the Investigator to have acted in good faith, public statements you made regarding your issues with the Membership Law are not necessarily consistent with the responsibilities of Chief and Council. In order to rectify this matter, we felt it is important that you issue a public statement explaining your views on the membership issue, as well as a clear statement that, regardless of your personal views, you will uphold the Membership Law as you agreed to when you took your Oath of Office.”

It is the decision of Chief and Council that both Chiefs Zachary-Deom and Deer provide the above statements to the community within one week of receipt of the Acts of Censure.