MCK takes court action regarding $1.2 million debt

04/07/2017

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to advise the community that it has instituted legal proceedings in Superior Court in order to preserve its rights and to recover arrears from the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake (“Kanesatake”) owing with regard to the upkeep of the Tioweró:ton Territory.

The monies owed in the amount of $1,229,929 are considered to be Kanesatake’s share of the costs for the maintenance and administration of the Territory for the period of April 1999 to March 31, 2016. During this time the MCK has been forced to assume nearly 100 percent of the costs, with the exception of minimal funding received from Indigenous & Northern Affairs Canada on behalf of both parties to pay for maintaining access to the Territory.

Kahnawà:ke and Kanesatake share Tioweró:ton in the proportion of two-thirds to one-third, respectively. Additionally, an attached 104-acre property was acquired in 1987 and is included in the cost of upkeep.
 
Previously, Kanesatake had acknowledged its indebtedness to the MCK in the matter and had undertaken to eventually pay their share of the costs. Consequently, the MCK had agreed to give Kanesatake time to get their financial affairs in order before seeking reimbursement. The legal action was taken in order to preserve Kahnawà:ke’s rights in this long-standing issue after Kanesatake recently denied any liability for its share of the costs for the administration of Tioweró:ton.