Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne will be hosting a series of informational meetings regarding an upcoming referendum on the Iatathróna Raotiientáhtsera (Couples Property Law). Please attend any of the following meetings to receive information on how this law and referendum impacts you:

District of Kana:takon: St. Regis Recreation

Friday, January 23, 2015, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

District of Tsi Snaihne: Tsi Snaihne Recreation Center

(General Meeting)

Thursday, February 5, 2015 at 6 p.m.

Southern Portion of Akwesasne: Office of the Aging Seniors Center – Tsi Tetewatatkens

Thursday, February 12, 2015, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

SUMMARY:

On December 16, 2013, the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne held a referendum vote for the Iatathróna Raotiientáhtsera (Couples Property Law). The referendum vote passed with 253 voters participating. MCR 2013/2014-#279 ratified the law and it was accepted as an Akwesasne community law.

A Federal Act, Bill S-2 “An Act Respecting Family Homes Situated on First Nations Reserves” reached Royal Assent on June 19, 2013 and became operational on December 16, 2014. This Act is now relevant to all First Nations reserves that do not have a Matrimonial Real Property Law in place.

In order to have the Iatathróna Raotiientáhtsera (Couples Property Law) recognized by the Federal Government, the Couples Property Law would have had to obtain a voter participation of 25% of eligible voters. Akwesasne did not achieve the voter threshold.

A second referendum vote needs to be conducted to meet or beat the voter threshold requirement. When the second referendum vote concludes on March 31, 2015, out of the 7,932 potential voters, there will need to be at least 1,983 voters participating in the vote.

The second referendum vote will achieve three things:

o Meet the requirement of the Federal Act Bill S-2

o Reaffirmation of an Akwesasne law;

o Stops the imposition of provincial courts making decisions on matrimonial property belonging to Akwesasronon.

The question for the referendum is:

“Do you reaffirm the Iatathróna Raotiientáhtsera ‘Couples Property’ Law?”

Referendum Online Voting will start at 8 a.m. on February 2, 2015 and will continue until 4 p.m. on March 31, 2015. From February 16, 2015 to March 31, 2015 Referendum Officers will conduct Door-to-Door Online Voting by utilizing an electronic tablet capable to facilitate the Online voting for Members.

The Chief Referendum Officer will submit the results of the referendum at the next Council meeting (April 7) and will be posted in the local media immediately.

Copies of the Iatathróna Raotiientáhtsera (Couples Property Law) will be available at the community information meetings. Members can obtain a full copy of the referendum regulations at the reception desks of any Mohawk administration offices. Or you can obtain a by contacting the Akwesasne Justice Department at 613 575 2250 x 2400 with the relevant mailing address.

The Chief Referendum Officer, Leona Benedict, can be reached by: telephone at 613 575 2250 x2406; cell phone 613 551 1622; fax 613 575 1726; email address Leona.Benedict@akwesasne.ca.