New Community Decision Making Process Becomes Official

09/15/2008

The new Community Decision Making Process, by which all Kahnaw�:ke laws will be created and amended, was officially put into motion by Chief & Council today. This was accomplished by virtue of their acceptance of the final report and recommendations by the Interim Legislative Coordinating Committee, the group entrusted with the task.

Passage of a Mohawk Council of Kahnaw�:ke Executive Directive (MCED #2008/2009) will ensure that, henceforth, all laws will be developed and passed by a communal process. �This is truly an historic day,� said Grand Chief Michael Ahr�hrhon Delisle, Jr. �It�s a major step in moving towards including the community in decisions that we all have a stake in.�

The first-ever Legislative Session is expected to begin shortly and will last until March 31st.

Several requests for legislation have been submitted to the Interim Legislative Coordinating Committee. The next step will be for the committee to engage the community on the law-making process.

The motion was passed with Chiefs Delisle, Mike Bush, Peggy Mayo-Standup, Rhonda Kirby, Kenneth McComber, Johnny Montour and Martin Leborgne supporting. Chiefs Peter Paul, Melvin (Marvin) Zacharie and Warren Lahache voted against. Chief John Dee Delormier was not present.