Recap of March 22 Membership Hearing

03/23/2016

The Kahnawà:ke Legislative Coordinating Commission would like to inform the community of the results of last evening’s meeting on proposed amendments to the Kahnawà:ke Membership Law.

In regard to the ongoing discussion and debate on the Definition of ‘Great Grand Parent,’ the Membership Department will develop lineage charts to show how the Definition would be impacted by requiring minimum blood quantum of 25%, 30% and 50%, each of which were various options proposed by the community members in attendance. The options will be brought forth at the next meeting.

In regard to Section 15.1 (‘Application Process/Approved Kahnawà:ke Residents’), consensus was reached to add a provision to Section 15.1 to require criminal background checks for anyone applying to become an Approved Kahnawà:ke Resident. Additionally, it was suggested that the term ‘some Kanien’keháka lineage’ was too open to interpretation, so participants are expected to propose a minimum requirement, similar to the above proposal, at the next meeting. As such, discussion/debate on Section 15.1 will continue where it left off.

There were over thirty community members in attendance for the meeting, which was the tenth in this First Hearing phase of the Community Decision Making Process. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, 12 Onerahtókha/April 2016 at the Golden Age Club. The meeting is scheduled for 6pm to 8:30pm.