More governance meetings on horizon
As part of its push to usher in a law-making process for the community, the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake (MCK) is hosting two governance meetings this month, including one in-person gathering.
Additionally, an introductory information session that was delivered by First Peoples Law on October 24 is now available to view online.
First Peoples Law will lead another meeting online for the community on November 14 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and an in-person session is scheduled for November 23 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., although no venue has yet been chosen.
Community members can expect to see Cynthia Westaway and other lawyers from First Peoples Law going over the draft law-making process in depth.
While the main goal of the meetings is to communicate information and answer questions on the process, Etienne said the MCK welcomes feedback from the community.
“If it’s viable, if it’s legal, if it’s clear that’s what the community wants, why wouldn’t we change it?” he said.
Community consultations are a necessity in the creation of a law-making process and laws themselves.
Any laws that would be passed would require the consultation of the community, whether in the form of meetings, workshops, or secret ballot, First Peoples Law explained at the workshop on October 24.
“Even though this is just a general governance update, we envision this as part of the larger law-making process,” said Etienne at the meeting, which was led by Westaway and Sabre Pictou Lee, also of First Peoples Law.
Westaway said the law-making process will be clear and accessible, and noted it will be presented in more detail on November 14.
In addition to going over the law-making process, Westaway discussed a few future laws they are drafting for the MCK, including a Land Protection Law, a State of Emergency Law, a Trespass Law, and Code of Ethics.
“The trick is to draft them to all to work together like the piece of a puzzle or a quilt,” Westaway said at the meeting.
Sign up for email updates from The Eastern Door
The meeting can be viewed on YouTube through a link on the MCK’s website or through its Facebook page.
