MCA district chief accused of impaired driving

A Mohawk Council of Akwesasne district chief has allegedly been charged with impaired driving while away on an MCA business trip on March 24, 2009 in Ontario.

Chief Nona Benedict of the Kawehno:ke (Cornwall Island) district has not yet been to court over the incident. Indian Time met with her last week to discuss the incident, but she declined to publicly comment at this time.

However, at a community meeting earlier this month in her district, Benedict reportedly addressed the issue and said she had no plans to resign. Her 3-year term is up this June, along with the terms of her fellow Council members.

Following that meeting community members launched a petition to have Benedict removed from office. The petition is still circulating. It reads, “We the undersigned eligible voting members of the District of Kawehno:ke within the Akwesasne Mohawk Territory, hereby petition the immediate removal of Nona Isabell Benedict from her elected position as District Chief of Kawehno:ke. This is a result of poorly representing her community, violating her oath of office and bringing disgrace to and embarrassing the Kawehno:ke district. Effective immediately.”

An anonymous notice sent to Indian Time declared that residents of Kawehno:ke feel the incident is a violation of Benedict’s oath of office, ethical conduct law, Council Chiefs working conditions and her fiscal responsibility of community dollars.

Benedict reportedly used an MCA credit card to pay impound charges following the incident.

MCA has not released any information to the public regarding the incident.

MCA’s general meeting is scheduled to take place tonight, April 30, at the St. Regis Recreation. Community members said they plan to discuss Benedict’s alleged violation there.