Chiefs Approve Membership Action Plan

08/25/2008

The Mohawk Council of Kahnaw�:ke agreed this morning to support an action plan to establish the Kahnaw�:ke Membership Law�s future development using the new Community Decision Making Process.

�Since the suspension of the Council of Elders last year, it is important to re-establish the Law and to develop amendments that will allow for the improved functioning of the Council of Elders,� said portfolio chief Rhonda Kirby. �The independently-prepared Operational Review of the Council of Elders came up with several recommendations. These recommendations will be the basis for improvements.�

The plan includes the official placement of the issue onto the Legislative Calendar; the hiring of a project coordinator; the research and preparation of options and alterations for changes to the Law; and the actual Community Decision Making Process.

Implementation of the plan is expected to begin within a month.

�In a nutshell, we need to amend this Law, Chief Kirby added. �And, in order to do that, we�ll need the community to participate directly.�