MCK pleased to announce the hiring of new Executive Director

02/09/2021

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) is pleased to announce the hiring of Onerahtókha Karlie Marquis as the new Executive Director of the MCK.

The Executive Director has oversight over all employees of the organization and is responsible to ensure all its operational and administrative functions are managed.

The MCK has been without an Executive Director since April 29th of last year. Since that time, an Executive Team consisting of Kevin Kennedy, Erica Delisle, and Richard Basque has fulfilled most of the responsibilities that fall to the position. The three will be part of a team that will be tasked to provide support to Ms. Marquis to ensure a smooth orientation and transition period, along with the Director of Human Resources, Roseanne Norton.

An ad hoc group consisting of Ratitsénhaienhs Mike Delisle, Jr., Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer, and Gina Deer, will also participate in the orientation and transition period. Supervisory responsibilities will be handled by the Ratitsénhaienhs ad hoc group, with Mike Delisle, Jr. the Chair of the Finance, Administration & Operations Committee, acting as direct supervisor (Please note that the Executive Director position normally falls under the direct supervision of the Grand Chief and that these changes have been made to address the issue created by the passing of Joseph Tokwiro Norton). Once the 2021 election is held, supervisory responsibility will be automatically transferred to the incoming Grand Chief.

“We’re certainly proud to make this announcement today,” said Ietsénhaienhs Tonya Perron, who has been chairing the weekly Council meetings. “We have great confidence in Onerahtókha and are very optimistic on what this means to the organization and, even more important, the community.”

“At this time, we’d also like to express our gratitude to the Executive Team for stepping up and filling the responsibilities during the vacancy of an Executive Director,” she added. “They have ensured the continuity of the organization, especially during an unprecedented time in our community.”

Ms. Marquis brings with her a solid background in financial management, having worked recently (October 2019 to October 2020) with the TD Bank and the MCK. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce with a Major in Finance from Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business. From June 2014 to October 2019, then again from October 2020 to the present, she worked at the MCK in various financial positions, most recently as Business Development Manager for the Economic Development Portfolio team.

Ms. Marquis will begin her new position in the very near future upon completion/finalization of her current duties/projects.