Kahnawake, Kanesatake enter mediation process

09/08/2017

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to advise the community that it has entered into a mediation process with the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake (‘Kanesatake’) in regard to a lawsuit that the MCK instituted against Kanesatake earlier this year.

On April 7, 2017, the MCK announced that it had instituted legal proceedings in Superior Court in order to preserve its rights and to recover arrears from Kanesatake owing with regard to the upkeep of the Tioweró:ton Territory. It is hoped that the issue can be settled by an amicable solution before going to court.

Ietsénhaienhs Gina Deer and Chief Political Advisor Winona Polson- Lahache have been given the mandate to represent the MCK at the mediation session, which begins today in Montreal. A mediator from Akwesasne has been jointly retained by the parties.

The MCK claims monies owed in the amount of $1,229,929, considered to be Kanesatake’s share in the costs for maintenance and administration of Tioweró:ton from the period of April 1999 to March 31, 2016. During that time the MCK has been forced to assume nearly 100 percent of the cost, with the exception of minimal funding received from Indigenous & Northern Affairs Canada on behalf of both parties to pay for maintaining access to the Territory.