AKWESASNE (Seskehkó:wa/September 17, 2026) On Onerahtókha/April 20, 2026, the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Ethics Commission (“Ethics Commission”) issued a decision finding Sub-Chief Derrick King had violated the Ethics Ordinance. As a result of its finding, the Ethics Commission directed the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Election Board (“Election Board”) to conduct a Recall Election within one hundred and eighty (180) days. Thereafter, the Election Board received a letter advising that the recall was held in abeyance pending the outcome of Sub-Chief King’s appeal. On Seskehkó:wa/September 2, 2026, a second Ethics Commission issued a decision upholding the previous panel’s finding. It again directed the Election Board to conduct a Recall Election, but within one-hundred and seventy (170) days of its decision due to the ten (10) days that elapsed before an appeal was filed.
After receiving the Seskehkó:wa/September 2, 2026, decision the Election Board held a meeting Seskehkó:wa/September 15, 2026, to establish procedures for the Recall Election. Pursuant to the Amended Election and Referendum Ordinance (“Election Ordinance”), the Election Board has the power to adopt procedures in accordance with the Election Ordinance and the power to conduct a Recall Election upon a final determination of an ethics commission (see Section IV.C.3 and 5). A Recall Election is defined as an election whereby Eligible Voters must decide whether an elected official must be removed office (Section II.N). Under the Recall Election if the majority of votes cast are “yes” then the Elected Official will not return to Elected Office or to put it another way if the majority of votes cast are “no” then the Elected Official will return to Elected Office.
The Recall Election question is as follows:
“Based on the Ethics Commission’s finding that Sub-Chief Derrick King violated the Ethics Ordinance, are you in favor of removing him from his current position as Sub-Chief?”
Yes [ ] No [ ]
On Seskehkó:wa/September 16, 2026, Tribal Council adopted TCR 2026-38 calling for a Referendum to determine whether the community wanted the Tribal Procedures Act amended and TCR 2026-39 calling for a Referendum to determine whether the community wants a banishment law applicable to Tribal Members adopted. Each Referendum question is to determine the community’s will. If passed there will be community consultation on each topic.
The first referendum question is as follows:
“Do you support amending the Tribal Procedures Act as adopted in 2013?”
Yes [ ] No [ ]
The second referendum question is as follows:
“Do you support the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe adopting a Banishment Law applicable to Tribal members?”
Yes [ ] No [ ]
The Recall Election and Referendum will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, Kenténha/October 24, 2026 with Early Voting conducted on Wednesday, Kenténha/October 21st and Thursday, Kenténha/October 22nd, 2026 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Ionkwakiohkwaro:ron Administration Building, 71 Margaret Terrance Memorial Way.
Absentee Ballots can be requested on Monday Seskehkó:wa/ September 21, 2026 by calling the Tribal Clerk’s office at 518-358-2272.
For more information on tribal Recall Election and Referendum, please visit the Election Board page on the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s website under Committees to download the Election and Referendum Ordinance and/or Adopted Special Procedures or you can email election.board@srmt-nsn.gov.
To verify your eligibility to vote, or for questions or concerns regarding the eligible voter’s list, please contact the Tribal Clerk’s Office at (518) 358-2272.
For more information, please contact the Office of Boards and Commissions at 518-358-2272.