Kawehnoke Resident Filed Complaint on District Chief

Indian Time received a certified copy of an Ethical Conduct Complaint filed by Kenny Mitchell as plaintiff against Chief Dennis Chaussi as respondent. The complaint was filed on March 27, 2018 in the Akwesasne Mohawk Court.

As stated, “March 27th 2017 a formal written complaint was received and filed by the Akwesasne Mohawk Court from Mr. Kenny Mitchell, Roads Foreman of the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne against Chief Dennis Chaussi of the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne for violations under the Ethical Conduct Law for the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne (MCR# 1996/1997-466, February 20, 1997).

In reference to Section 6 ‘’Standards of Conduct: Duties of Members of Council reads as follows:

6. (1) A member of Council must fulfill their oath of office and conduct themselves in a respectful manner to faithfully, honestly and conscientiously serve the people and community of Akwesasne.

6. (2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1) a member of Council

Shall:

(b) conduct themselves in their public and personal life with integrity and in a manner that will maintain and enhance respect for the Council and the community of Akwesasne.”

According to the court document, ‘Chief Dennis Chaussi did not fulfill his oath of office and conduct himself in a respectfully manner to faithfully, honestly, and conscientiously”, and he did “not conduct himself with integrity and in a manner that will maintain and enhance respect for the Council…”

Plaintiff Mitchell claims Chief Chaussi insinuated Mitchell may have been under the influence of drugs and /or alcohol and he did not follow proper procedure and protocol in respect to an accident while Mitchell was plowing the roads.

Mitchell felt “his character was being assaulted by innuendos from Chief Chaussi email to Chief Steve Thomas.

According to the court document, “Fourth, it is my decision Chief Dennis Chaussi did not conduct himself with integrity and in a manner that will maintain and enhance respect for the Council and the community of Akwesasne by implying Mr. Mitchell had not reported the accident. After reviewing all the documentation, it is clear that Dennis Chaussi failed in his duties as a Chief of the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne by the implications in his email sent in regards to the accident that occurred. He showed a lack of support for the people who work for the departments involved in dealing with this incident. This failure of Chief Chaussi’s support does nothing to enhance respect for the Council and the community of Akwesasne as he assumed that no report of the incident was made to Administration as stated in his email to Chief Steve Thomas. It is clear that accident occurrence was handled properly by Mr. Kenny Mitchell, Mr. Kennedy Garrow, Officer David Thompson, and the Ambulance Services which shows Chief Chaussi’s lack of support for the community organizations to perform their jobs efficiently.”

According to the document the court filed this decision, “The decision of Akwesasne Mohawk Court addresses Sections 6(1), 6(2)(B) and 14(2) of Ethical Conduct Law for the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne #1996-1997- 466: I have determined that Chief Dennis Chaussi is guilty of not fulfilling his duties as a Chief of the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne and adhering to the standards of Conduct: Duties of Members of Council

6. (1) A member of Council must fulfill their oath of office and conduct themselves in a respectful manner to faithfully, honestly, and conscientiously serve the people and community of Akwesasne.

6. (2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1) a member of Council shall:

( b ) Conduct themselves in their public and personal life with integrity and in a manner that will maintain and enhance respect for the Council and the community of Akwesasne.

Chief Dennis Chaussi was “ordered to pay a fine of $1000.00 and that he must formally and publically apologize to Mr. Kenny Mitchell”.