June 19th Membership Law Community Consultation recap

06/20/2013

The Kahnawà:ke Legislative Coordinating Commission (KLCC) would like to update Kahnawa’kehró:non on the results of last evening’s 11th Community Consultation for amendments to the Kahnawà:ke Membership Law.

Discussion on “Who decides who will be a Member” was conducted with two groups (Groups 1 & 2 combined and Group 3). There was confirmation that the Membership registrar should administer the applications for those who clearly meet all the requirements, and that anyone who is accepted as a Member should have his/her name officially posted in the community for a period of 60 days before receiving final approval.

It was also agreed that there is a need for a body to administer more complicated applications and to handle appeals, and a suggestion that the Court of Kahnawà:ke be explicitly indicated in the law as the ‘body of final appeal’ gained approval. The newly-proposed body would be smaller than the suspended fifteen-member Council of Elders and would, in effect, disband the Council of Elders. Terms of reference would need to be developed, as well as criteria for the election/selection process and for those who wish to sit on the proposed body. Consensus was declared in the above-mentioned areas at the conclusion of the meeting.

‘The suspension or revocation of Membership on the Kahnawà:ke Kanien’kehá:ka Registry’ will be the next topic discussed at Community Consultation (#12), to be held next Wednesday, 26 Ohiarí:ha/June at the Karonhianónhnha School Gym from 6pm to 8:30pm. Please note that this will be the final Consultation for the summer. Consultations will resume in the fall.

The official minutes and other information will be posted on Tuesday, 25 Ohiarí:ha/June at www.kahnawakemakingdecisions.com.