News from Around the Nations

Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke Issues New “Vacate” Notices

(Kahnawà:ke, Kentenhkó:wa/November 2015). The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) announced at a Fall Community Meeting that it is issuing a new “Notice of Non-Entitlement to Reside in the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawà:ke” to persons currently residing illegally in the Territory. The letter, dated 16 Kentenhkó:wa/ November, is signed by Grand Chief Joseph Tokwiro Norton on behalf of the MCK. It contains the following:

“Please be advised that all persons who are currently residing illegally within the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawà:ke (“Territory”) must vacate. As of the date of the present letter, if you are a non-Indigenous person who is neither a member of the Kanien’keháka of Kahnawà:ke on the Kahnawà:ke Kanien’keháka Registry or a non-member resident pursuant to the Kahnawà:ke Membership Law you have no right to reside on the Territory. It is our position that you are in violation of the Kahnawà:ke Membership Law.”

“For those persons who are residing with, or renting a dwelling to a non-Indigenous person who is neither a member or non-member resident on the Territory of Kahnawà:ke, please be aware that your rights as a member may be revoked once the Kahnawà:ke Membership Law has been amended.

We trust that the wishes of the community will be respected.”

Additionally, the MCK is preparing to send these letters to individuals who are in contravention of the law.