The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to remind the community that meetings will be resuming on Tuesday, 20 Enniskó:wa/March 2018 on proposed amendments to the Kanien’kehá:ka of Kahnawà:ke Law (formerly the Kahnawà:ke Membership Law). 

The draft law now enters the Second Hearing phase of the Community Decision Making Process. The agenda will include discussion on the changes made to the draft during the First Hearing phase.

“We are at a crucial time in the process,” said Ietsénhaienhs Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer, who holds the Membership Portfolio on behalf of the MCK. “Five years and an incredible amount of work have been invested in creating legislation that properly reflects the Will of the People.”

“The most difficult section has been finding suitable wording for the Definition of Great-Grandparent,” she added. “Although the community came to consensus on the definition in the First Hearing, it was found to be still subject to interpretation and required more work. The Technical Drafting Committee will be proposing a revised definition based on focus group meetings with community members that we believe captures what the People were striving for in the last round of discussions.  We’re hoping a substantial number of people come out next Tuesday to help bring this to a conclusion.”

The meeting will take place from 6pm to 8:30pm at the Legion Hall.  Copies of the Draft Law are available for viewing online at www.kahnawakemakingdecisions.com . Please note that the Kanien’kehá:ka of Kahnawà:ke Law should not be confused with the proposed Kahnawà:ke Residency Law, which will be posted for Community Review shortly.