Chief Gina Deer apologizes to community in response to formal complaint

05/22/2015

Chief Gina Deer wishes to advise the community that she is abiding by the Act of Censure passed against her by Chief and Council in regard to complaints made against her in relation to her position on the Kahnawà:ke Membership Law. The Act of Censure is in the form of an apology to the community, as follows:

“On March 10, 2015 at a Community Meeting, a question was posed to Chief and Council at which time I did not provide a simple ‘Yes’ answer, causing confusion on my part for some community members. For that, I apologize for not clearly expressing my support for the Membership Law. I have personally put the law into practice by moving away from the community in 1988 when I married a non-Native. The choice was not made because of pressure or by notice; rather, it was to uphold the wishes of the community.”

Niá:wen,

Chief Gina Deer