Kahnawake band council members apologize for opposing membership law
Chiefs Gina Deer and Christine Zachary-Deom forced to apologize after voicing concerns about controversial law
Kahnawake band council chiefs Gina Deer and Christine Zachary-Deom have apologized for making statements some members of the reserve's Mohawk community felt were unclear regarding membership law.
"I have always supported Mohawk law, both in my practice and in my life, and I will continue to do so. If my answers to the community in regard to my position on the membership law have been obscure or unclear, I apologize for the lack of clarity," reads a statement made by Zachary-Deom on June 1.
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An investigation into their positions on the controversial membership law — the rule that prohibits Mohawks from living in Kahnawake with non-native spouses — was conducted by lawyer Rish Handa after complaints from the public were lodged with council.
Tensions have been boiling over in Kahnawake over the past year, with mixed Mohawk and non-native couples reporting intimidation and even violence on the part of the pro-eviction movement.
Some Kahnawake community members have picketed outside of the homes of Mohawk and non-native couples, demanding they leave to respect a law that has been on the books — if inconsistently enforced — since 1981.
Lack of clarity on 'Yes' position
The complaints lodged against Zachary-Deom and Deer were regarding the way the two chiefs expressed their points of view on the membership issue at two particular community meetings in the fall and then in March.
"Basically there were a couple of complaints that came in and they were based on their positions on the membership law, and I guess there was lack of clarity on their support of the law, so that was clarified," said Mohawk Council of Kahnawake spokesman Joe Delaronde.
Deer, for her part, issued her apology statement on May 22.
Once a law's a law, you have to stand by that law.- Joe Delaronde, MCK spokesman
"On March 10, 2015 at a community meeting, a question was posed to Chief and Council at which time I did not provide a simple 'Yes' answer, causing confusion on my part for some community members. For that, I apologize for not clearly expressing my support for the membership law.
"I have personally put the law into practice by moving away from the community in 1988 when I married a non-native. The choice was not made because of pressure or by notice; rather, it was to uphold the wishes of the community," reads Deer's statement.
Delaronde said chiefs are free to speak out against any law they think is unfair. However, he said chiefs are required to support the laws that exist.
He also said Deer or Zachary-Deom had not personally broken the law.
"When I was on council between '88 and '90, there was consensus. It's consensus-based. Even if you're not in agreement with the law — you can lobby all you want, you can talk about the inefficiencies of the law, try and make some improvements — but once a law's a law, you have to stand by that law," Delaronde said.
He said the membership law is scheduled to be amended in the fall.