St. Regis Mohawk Tribe: News & Resources

Press Release

For immediate release:
Ohiarihko:wa/July 25, 2007

For more information:
Public Information Office
St. Regis Mohawk Tribe
Tel: (518) 358-2272 ext. 236

TRIBE HOLDS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SESSIONS ON CONSTITUTION

Governance Question to be Resolved

AKWESASNE— In response to a community call for more education and information sessions on the constitution and the upcoming referendum—rescheduled for Saturday, August 18—the Tribe has scheduled two more education sessions. The tribe will hold a session on Wednesday, July 25 at 6 p.m. and Saturday, August 11, at 10 a.m., both in the Tribal Community Building. A third and final information session is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday August 15, in the event that enrolled community members have outstanding questions requiring further clarification on the issue.

The question that will be placed on the ballot is: “Do you approve of the Constitution document that was presented to the community in 1995?”

It has become clear that the governance question is still very much alive, remains in dispute, has not been resolved internally to the satisfaction of the community, has not been resolved externally by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) or the courts, and is a complicated and confusing matter in many peoples’ minds. The question will go to the people in a final referendum vote on August 18 to gain an understanding of the will of the people of Akwesasne, on this issue, in 2007.

It is intended that the results of the vote will express the people’s voice to the BIA. The BIA will take the results into consideration as they review the historic record and current information available on the issue, before it makes an ultimate decision on the governance structure.

Dale White, St. Regis Mohawk Tribal General Counsel, who has been leading the education /information sessions stated, “The sessions are an important opportunity for people to come out and ask questions, be heard, and hopefully, become clear on the issue, and why we are having the vote. People asked for more information sessions and we are having them. We would like to see more people and new faces; I strongly urge people to join us in this historic effort to resolve a long-standing issue.”

The Tribe strongly encourages enrolled community members to attend the education/information sessions, to become informed on the issues, and to VOTE.

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The St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Council is the duly elected and federally recognized government of the Mohawk people.








		Press Release For immediate release: Ohiarihko:wa/July 25, 2007 For more information: Public Information Office St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Tel: (518) 358-2272 ext. 236 TRIBE HOLDS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SESSIONS ON CONSTITUTION *Governance Question to be Resolved* AKWESASNE— In response to a community call for more education and information sessions on the constitution and the upcoming referendum—rescheduled for Saturday, August 18—the Tribe has scheduled two more education sessions. The tribe will hold a session on Wednesday, July 25 at 6 p.m. and Saturday, August 11, at 10 a.m., both in the Tribal Community Building. A third and final information session is *tentatively* scheduled for Wednesday August 15, in the event that enrolled community members have outstanding questions requiring further clarification on the issue. The question that will be placed on the ballot is: *“Do you approve of the Constitution document that was presented to the community in 1995?”* It has become clear that the governance question is still very much alive, remains in dispute, has not been resolved internally to the satisfaction of the community, has not been resolved externally by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) or the courts, and is a complicated and confusing matter in many peoples’ minds. The question will go to the people in a final referendum vote on August 18 to gain an understanding of the will of the people of Akwesasne, on this issue, in 2007. It is intended that the results of the vote will express the people’s voice to the BIA. The BIA will take the results into consideration as they review the historic record and current information available on the issue, before it makes an ultimate decision on the governance structure. Dale White, St. Regis Mohawk Tribal General Counsel, who has been leading the education /information sessions stated, “The sessions are an important opportunity for people to come out and ask questions, be heard, and hopefully, become clear on the issue, and why we are having the vote. People asked for more information sessions and we are having them. We would like to see more people and new faces; I strongly urge people to join us in this historic effort to resolve a long-standing issue.” The Tribe strongly encourages enrolled community members to attend the education/information sessions, to become informed on the issues, and to VOTE. -30- The St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Council is the duly elected and federally recognized government of the Mohawk people.