Community Crossroads: Change is coming to the Island

TERRITORY OF AKWESASNE – The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne (MCA) conducted a community plebiscite this past month to collect the community’s opinion on what should become of the Kawehno:ke (Cornwall Island) corridor buildings.

For a period of twelve days, community members were able to cast votes from home using online voting. This component of the plebiscite proved to be very successful with half of the votes being cast through that mechanism. MCA will be exploring the use of online voting for other future needs.

The official plebiscite was open from April 14, 2014 until April 26, 2014. Two questions were asked; one pertained to the abandoned CBSA buildings and one pertained to the Akwesasne People’s Fire building(s). The results of the plebiscite are below and are unofficial pending an appeal period that ends on Monday, May 5, 2014:

Question 1: Do you support the demolition of the abandoned Customs Building (Kawehno:ke) using labour and services procured in Akwesasne?

Total Yes Votes: 181

Total No Votes: 6

Total Declined: 1

Total Rejected: 1

Total Votes: 189

Question 2: Do you support the removal of the Akwesasne Peoples Fire buildings from the corridor, no later than the demolition of the Customs Buildings?

Total Yes Votes: 161

Total No Votes: 23

Total Declined: 3

Total Rejected: 2

Total Votes: 189

If you have any questions regarding the plebiscite, please contact the Akwesasne Justice Department at 613-575-2250 Ext. 2400.