The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne has elected Leonard Akwiratekha Lazore as its new grand chief, according to the council.
This was the second general election in Akwesasne this year after the results of the first election were appealed and thrown out over concerns that some residents had been left off the voting list.
The first results, released in June, showed former district chief Edward Roundpoint had won by 30 votes. The second results, released Saturday, show Lazore won by 124 votes.
Cindy Francis-Mitchell, a Kana:takon district chief, has been serving as the acting grand chief because Abram Benedict, who held the position for nine years, left to work as the Ontario regional chief.
Benedict said that it was unfortunate that the results of the election were delayed, and he’s glad the council can now be installed.
“Our council [in Akwesasne] is predominantly newer members,” he observed. The next few years might be difficult for Indigenous leaders because of the uncertainty of the upcoming election, “so it is now more important than ever that people like myself in regional positions support one another to continue to advance our nationhood.”
As the Ontario regional chief, he said his focus is on the additions to reserve mining and the local rights assertions across the province. In his position, though, he interacts a lot with the federal and provincial governments; he said he misses the “day-to-day” interactions with community members he had as grand chief.
Benedict said the incoming grand chief has spoken about the need for transparency and accountability on the council, which he said was important, “but executing them is equally important.”
“You have to be strategic,” he said. “You have to create alliances. You have to communicate to very extreme extents. What you may feel you’re able to achieve from the outside looking in is not always the same from the inside looking out. Continue to work hard, build your team, and embrace the community to advance your priorities.”
Official results
The second results were made official on Thursday; the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne received no appeals to these results by the deadline.
The council elects one grand chief and four chiefs in each district every three years. The full results for the second election are:
- Leonard Akwiratekha Lazore will be Akwesasne’s grand chief with 468 votes.
- Lisa Francis-Benedict will be a Kawehno:ke district chief with 165 votes.
- Vincent Thompson will be a Kawehno:ke district chief with 157 votes.
- Vanessa Adams will be a Kawehno:ke district chief with 149 votes.
- Lacey Sarah Pierce will be a Kawehno:ke district chief with 131 votes.
- Fallon David will be a Kana:takon district chief with 101 votes.
- Cindy Francis-Mitchell will be a Kana:takon district chief with 84 votes.
- Teresa Oakes will be a Kana:takon district chief with 83 votes.
- Theresa Jacobs will be a Kana:takon district chief with 74 votes.
- Scott Peters will be a Tsi Snaihne district chief with 257 votes.
- Sarah Lee Sunday-Diabo will be a Tsi Snaihne district chief with 176 votes.
- JoAnn Swamp will be a Tsi Snaihne district chief with 172 votes.
- Tesha Sunday-Rourke will be a Tsi Snaihne district chief with 132 votes.