MCK Governance Project to engage on the transition to traditional governance

11/19/2021

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to advise the community that the Council of Chiefs have directed that the MCK Governance Project engage with Kahnawa’kehró:non on the issue of restoring traditional governance in Kahnawà:ke and develop an action plan for the evolution of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke.

In Monday’s duly-convened Council Meeting, the Council of Chiefs approved, by Consensus, the continuation of the MCK Governance Project, which was established in 2019 to engage Kahnawa’kehró:non on issues concerning the governance of the community. In response to direction from the community during the series of community engagements conducted during 2020, the 1979 Mandate to restore traditional governance in Kahnawà:ke, and the 1982 Mohawk Council Resolution to reestablish traditional governance, the MCK approved the third phase of the project.

“This is ambitious and groundbreaking work,” said Ietsénhaienhs Tonya Perron, who is one of the three Konitsénhaienhs (female elected chiefs) on the Governance portfolio for the MCK. “It will take great commitment not only from the Council of Chiefs, but the community as a collective. The time is right.”

This phase of the project will start immediately and continue through June of 2024. It will consist of a multi-year community education and engagement process conducted at arms-length from the MCK to share information and facilitate dialogue on the history and future of governance in Kahnawà:ke, with the goal of generating a shared community vision of the pathway forward on the question of restoring traditional governance.

Gerald Taiaiake Alfred will continue in his role as manager of the MCK Governance Project. He will have the responsibility of conducting these processes independently, in collaboration with Linda Delormier of the MyKahnawake: Kahnawà:ke’s Community-Led Plan process, and reporting to the community and Council of Chiefs on their results.

Web links: MCK Governance Project (www.mckgovernance.ca) and MyKahnawake (www.mykahnawake.com)