Letter to the Editor

Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Election Called Into Question

Violation of Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Election and Referendum Ordinance has Community Members Calling for New Election

Akwesasne, June 11, 2019 – At a hearing stemming from an election appeal by a community member challenging the June 1, 2019 the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe yearly election, a group of interested Akwesasronon have raised questions as to the validity of the entire process.

Hattie Renee Hart filed her appeal of the election to address several potential violations of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Election and Referendum Ordinance.

On June 10, 2019 Ms. Hart was alarmed to discover the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Election Board did not have the required number of Board Members to move forward with the appeal hearing.

In accordance with Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Court Resolution 2019-03, an amendment to the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Election and Referendum Ordinance was unilaterally adopted by the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council which requires Council to appoint 5 members to the Election Board.

Ms. Hart asked the Board to clarify the composition of the current Election Board. In response the Board stated they have only 3 duly appointed Board Members and 1 alternate Board Member. Upon acknowledgement by the Board they were not in compliance with the SRMT Election and Referendum Ordinance, the hearing was suspended.

Following the invalid hearing due to violations of Tribal Law, Ms. Hart consulted with other community members to inform them of the lack of required Board Members. After an in-depth deliberation, it was agreed that due to the Board not having the mandatory 5 members at the time of the SRMT Election, the results of the June 1, 2019 election are not valid because the entire process failed to comply with Tribal Law.

To ensure an orderly and lawfully conducted election, the community members are requesting the SRMT Election Board declare the June 1, 2019 election invalid and initiate a new election in accordance with Tribal Law.

Statement from Community Members on Election

At a hearing which resulted from a lawful appeal filed by a community member regarding the June 1, 2019 Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Election a group of community members discovered there was a significant violation of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Election and Referendum Ordinance.

Due to the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council’s failure to duly appoint the required 5 members of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Election Board, we respectfully request the SRMT Election Board declare the June 1, 2019 election as invalid and conduct an entirely new election which complies with the Tribal Law enacted and amended by the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council in Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Tribal Council Resolution 2019-03.

As the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council has stated publicly they do not issue directives or assert any influence over the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Election Board, an independent oversight body, it is our sincere hope that any comment from Tribal Council is not directly addressed to the Board in order to avoid the appearance of any impropriety.

We ask that a thorough review of the SRMT Election and Referendum Ordinance is conducted by the Election Board on how the procedural defects impacted the June 1, 2019 election, and a decision is made in the interest of fairness, lawfulness, and respect for the enrolled members of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe.

Due to non-compliance for required procedures of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Election and Referendum Ordinance in the recent June 1, 2019 election, it is the duty of the SRMT Election Board to declare the June 1, 2019 election invalid and a new legally compliant election must be conducted.

Ruth Bell