The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) Governance Portfolio Team is pleased to announce that seven (7) community members are participating on the Advisory Team. This is part of the Governance Document Review Project, previously announced in January 2025.
The Advisory Team will work closely with the Governance Portfolio Team to review, update and validate governance documents that establish the roles and responsibilities of the Ratitsénhaienhs and guide their conduct as elected officials.
The following community members now comprise the Advisory Team: Darlene Alfred, Allan Beauvais, Heather Jacobs-Whyte, Marnie Jacobs, Carrie-Layne Marquis, Shotehra Rice, and Michael Thomas.
“This approach will lead to more robust and well-rounded MCK governance practices, and we are thankful for the community members who have stepped up to contribute their time and knowledge to this important project,” said Governance Portfolio Lead Ietsénhaienhs Tonya Perron.
“This work is very important for our community, as it is the first time that the MCK has been this inclusive of Kahnawa’kehró:non on internal governance matters,” a statement made by members of the Advisory Team. “This is our collective opportunity to guide how the Ratitsénhaienhs carry out their roles as elected officials.”
Next steps include an initial review of the Code of Conduct for the Council Chiefs, Terms of Reference for the Ietsénhaienhs/Ratsénhaienhs, Terms of Reference for the Ohénton Írate ne Ratitsénhaienhs, Declaration of Oath of Office and the Administration Guidelines for the Council Chiefs. The project will enter an engagement phase after each document is reviewed by the Advisory Team to allow Kahnawa’kehró:non the opportunity to provide feedback.
The engagements will be implemented in phases, each providing opportunity for the community to be consulted on the individual documents, and to provide feedback through information kiosks and 30-day review periods.
Further specifics on the timeline will be announced in the near future.
This initiative is a significant step towards ensuring that the MCK governance practices are transparent, inclusive, and reflective of the community’s needs and values.
