The Federal Court has authorized five departing chiefs from the Kanehsatà:ke community, located south of Montreal, to establish a temporary council following the sudden cancellation of an election over two months ago. The court’s decision on Thursday grants the five chiefs of the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake a restricted mandate to provide essential services to community members and handle administrative duties.
The ruling stipulates that the establishment of a caretaker council is crucial to prevent a governance vacuum in the community after the election slated for August 2 was called off by the chief electoral officer the day before. Subsequently, the chiefs have encountered difficulties in accessing band facilities and their council email accounts. The court emphasized that the ensuing uncertainty and confusion could result in “irreparable harm” to the community.
Kanehsatà:ke is currently facing significant internal divisions, with certain community members, including a former grand chief, accusing the five chiefs of attempting to cling to power. The current chiefs have sought the court’s intervention to determine the process and timing for a new election, but a comprehensive hearing on the matter is not expected until 2026.
