Draft Kahnawake Residency Law enters Urgent Process, Hearing next Thursday

03/14/2019

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to remind Kahnawa’kehró:non that the draft Kahnawà:ke Residency Law enters the first Hearing of the Community Decision Making Process (CDMP) next Thursday, March 21, 2019. It has been classified as ‘Urgent.’

“With the S-3 amendments to the Indian Act beginning to take effect, it is truly an urgent matter to create a law that will ensure that we, as a community, have control of who has the right and permission to reside in Kahnawà:ke,” said Ietsénhaienhs Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer, who is responsible for the Membership file for the MCK. “Our goal is to pass this law as quickly as possible; therefore it is extremely important that people look at the draft law in advance of next Thursday’s meeting.”

The Draft is available at www.kahnawakemakingdecisions.com. Copies of the draft are also available at the MCK main office reception. A video presentation and Powerpoint of the Draft can be viewed at www.kahnawake.com/residency .

“A stand-alone Residency Law is long overdue in our community, and now more than ever we find it paramount,” Ietsénhaienhs Sky-Deer concluded. “Since Canada implemented S-3, we find ourselves in a battle to prevent the Kanien’kehá:ka of Kahnawà:ke from being overwhelmed by Canada making Indians who may develop a false sense of Mohawk identity and belonging, as it is bestowed without our approval and with criteria that is not our own. We are taking this stance to assert our jurisdiction and to maintain our Collective Identity for our future generations.”

The Hearing will be held at Kahnawake Shakotiia’takehnhas Community Services from 6pm to 8:30pm.