Office of the Chief Referendum Officer - Public Notice

The Chief Referendum Officer hereby gives notice of a referendum for the proposed Iatathróna Raotiientáhtsera ‘Couples Property’ Law. The ballot question to be voted on in the referendum is:

Do you approve of the Iatathróna Raotiientáhtsera ‘Couples Property’ Law?

The proposed Iatathróna Raotiientáhtsera ‘Couples Property’ Law was developed by the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne in response to the development of Federal legislation: the Federal Act, Bill S-2, an Act Respecting Family Homes Situated on First Nations Reserves reached Royal Assent on June 19, 2013. The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne recognizes the need to address the issue of Matrimonial Real Property and its application on the territory. As a result, Mohawk Council of Akwesasne developed the proposed Iatathróna Raotiientáhtsera ‘Couples Property’ Law in accordance with Mohawk Council of Akwesasne Law Enactment Procedural Regulations.

One of the driving principles in the development of the Iatathróna Raotiientáhtsera ‘Couples Property’ Law is to ensure the best interest of the child is given priority when there is a marital breakdown. The children of the union will stay in the home, with the person who is the primary caregiver. There is also an emphasis of using mediation services that are already in place through the Akwesasne Mohawk Court. With mediation, both parties have a say in developing the best outcome for the child and family.

The enactment method for this proposed law is by way of a referendum in accordance with the Law Enactment Procedural Regulation section 8.1. The referendum will be open to all Members under the Akwesasne Membership Code who are eighteen (18) years of age. Members must be on the Referendum Voters List in order to participate in the referendum. The last day to be added to the Referendum Voters List is Friday, November 15, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. The Referendum Voters List will be posted at the following locations:

•Kawehno:ke:

Bank of Montreal

•Tsi Snaihne:

Iohahi:io Adult Education Centre

•Kana:takon:

Post Office

•Southern Portion of Akwesasne:

Tribal Administration Building Lobby

The referendum will utilize the following voting mechanisms:

•Online Voting;

•In-Home Voting; and

•Referendum Polling Station Voting.

The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne is working with Simply Voting, an independent consulting company specializing in online voting. Simply Voting will setup the security features requiring three pieces of information as identification in order to access the online ballot. Simply Voting will be mailing a ballot package to Eligible Referendum Voters who have an address on file with the Office of Vital Statistics. The ballot package will include instructions on how to vote, utilizing:

a personal identification number assigned by Simply Voting;

date of birth; and

status number.

This three part authentication will enable Eligible Referendum Voters to access the online ballot on Friday, November 22, 2013 at 8:00 a.m. and will run 24 hours a day for 12 days. The Online Voting period will close on Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at 4:00 p.m.

As well, Referendum Polling Stations will be open on December 5 & 6, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. on each day. The locations for the Referendum Polling Stations are:

Kana:takon – St. Regis Recreation Centre

Tsi Snaihne – Snye Recreation Centre

Kawehno:ke – Cornwall Island Recreation Center

Southern Portion of Akwesasne – Tribal Facility (TBC)

If Eligible Referendum Voters are unable to vote either Online or at a Referendum Polling Station, they can make an appointment for In-Home Voting. In-Home Voting will open on December 4, 2013 and close on December 7, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. Appointments can be made by contacting the Chief Referendum Officer.

The Chief Referendum Officer Leona Benedict can be contacted by telephone at 613-575-2250 ext. 2406, by fax 613-575-1726 or by email

[email protected]

Full copies of the Iatathróna Raotiientáhtsera ‘Couples Property’ Law and the Iatathróna Raotiientáhtsera ‘Couples Property’ Law Special Referendum Regulation can be obtained by Members at the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne Administration Offices.

The referendum will officially close on Saturday, December 7, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. with the counting of the ballots taking place at the St. Regis Recreation Centre at 10:00 a.m. Members shall be entitled to be present during the counting of the ballots and receipt of the Online Voting results report, providing there is compliance to the capacity of the building. Immediately after the completion of the counting of the ballots, the unofficial results will be publicly announced by local media.

Any appeals pertaining to the referendum results are to be made to the Akwesasne Mohawk Court Administrator and delivered to the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Department no later than 1:00 p.m. on December 13, 2013. The results are official if no appeals are received by the deadline.

Information Meetings will be held for the purpose of providing information concerning the Referendum procedure and explaining the Iatathróna Raotiientáhtsera ‘Couples Property’ Law. These meetings will be held on the following dates and locations:

Kana:takon – St. Regis Recreation Centre Monday, November 18, 2013 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Southern Portion of Akwesasne – Tribal Administration Building Lobby Tuesday, November 19, 2013 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Kawehno:ke – Tri-District Elders Wednesday, November 20, 2013 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Tsi Snaihne – Snye Recreation Centre Thursday, November 21, 2013 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

For more information regarding the information contained in this notice contact the Akwesasne Justice Department at 613-575-2250 ext. 2400.