Kahnawake council issues another notice telling non-natives to move out
'Marry out, stay out' rule was created in 1981 but hasn't always been enforced
The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake has sent out another notice telling residents who are illegally living there that it's time to leave.
- Mohawks seek to remove non-natives from Kahnawake
- Kahnawake mixed couple subject of 'marry out, stay out' protest
The notice refers to a law established in 1981 which states that any Mohawk resident who marries or lives with a non-native must move away from Kahnawake.
"It was felt to remind people that if they are here illegally, they shouldn't be. They should vacate the territory," said Joe Delaronde, a spokesperson for the council.
"Hopefully this will be something along the lines of peer pressure to say, 'look ,come on now, there's a law, follow it.'"
Lawsuit pending, human rights complaint filed
Seven mixed-race couples are taking the band council to court over the law.
Barry and Sandy Stacey, who moved from Kahnawake when they married, are participating in the lawsuit.
"It's not right, I feel, because we're all human beings. I married my wife not because of her colour or her race, but because she's a lovely person. She loves me for who I am and I love her for who she is," said Barry Stacey.
The case is not expected to be settled until 2017.
Some couples also filed a human rights complaint against the reserve in June.