Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

TERRITORY OF AKWESASNE – The Chief Referendum Officer (Chief Electoral Officer) Leona Benedict hereby gives notice of an upcoming referendum to enact the final draft Akwesasne Oién:kwa Kaianerénhsera “Akwesasne Tobacco Law”. The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne determined that the ballot question for this referendum to be:

‘Do you approve the Akwesasne Oién:kwa Kaianerénhsera (Akwesasne Tobacco Law)?’

The Akwesasne Oién:kwa Kaianerénhsera (Akwesasne Tobacco Law) went through community consultation from November 2014 until June 2015. Information Meetings were held in each district and community comments were recorded, along with written submissions to the Working Task Group. These comments were provided to the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne in a report in November 2015, who provided direction on how to incorporate the comments. The final Akwesasne Oién:kwa Kaianerénhsera (Akwesasne Tobacco Law) was accepted in principle for enactment in accordance with the Akwesasne Legislative Enactment Regulation on May 9, 2016.

The referendum to enact the Akwesasne Oién:kwa Kaianerénhsera (Akwesasne Tobacco Law) will be conducted through referendum polling stations on June 11, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the following locations:

• District of Kawehno:ke – Kawehno:ke (Cornwall Island) Community Center

• District of Tsi Snaihne – Homemakers (Iohahi:io Adult Education Centre as a backup location)

• District of Kana:takon – Kana:takon Day Care Center

Online Voting for this referendum will open on Monday, May 23, 2016 at 12:01 a.m. EST and will close on Friday, June 10, 2016 at 11:59 p.m. EST. In-Home Voting appointments may be scheduled with the Chief Referendum Officer for Saturday, June 11, 2016 for elders and shut-ins who are unable to participate through either Online Voting or at a referendum polling station.

Instructions for Online Voting or to schedule an appointment for In-Home Voting can be obtained by contacting the Chief Referendum Officer.

Eligibility to participate in this referendum to enact the Akwesasne Oién:kwa Kaianerénhsera (Akwesasne Tobacco Law) is as follows:

• Persons who at the time of voting are Members of the Mohawks of Akwesasne.

• Persons who at the time of voting have attained eighteen (18) years of age.

Members must be listed on the referendum voters list in order to participate in this referendum. If an individual meets the eligibility criteria to participate in the referendum and are not on the referendum voters list, those individuals need to contact the Chief Referendum Officer to have their name added to the list. The deadline to add or remove names to the referendum voters list is Wednesday, June 8, 2016 at 5:00pm. Referendum voters lists will be placed at the following locations:

• District of Kawehno:ke – Bank of Montreal, Jocks Convenience Store, Faye’s Deli

• District of Tsi Snaihne – Iohahi:io Adult Education Centre, OK Den

• District of Kana:takon – Post Office, Butters Quick Stop, Village Check Cashing

For more information on the referendum to enact the Akwesasne Oién:kwa Kaianerénhsera (Akwesasne Tobacco Law) or for a copy of the Akwesasne Oién:kwa Kaianerénhsera (Akwesasne Tobacco Law) Special Referendum Regulation, please contact the Chief Referendum Officer Leona Benedict by telephone at 613-575-2250 ext. 2406, by facsimile at 613-575-1726 or by email at leona.benedict@akwesasne.ca.