By Olivia Timm [1]
BELLEVILLE – The Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte [2] have elected their chief and councillors for the next two years.
Donald Maracle [3], who has been chief for 24 years, was easily re-elected for the 2018 and 2019 term. Maracle received 726 votes while the runners-up were Brenda Green-Edwards with 106 votes and Balin (Spider-Man) Hill with 25.
The election for the Tyendinaga Mohawk Counci [4]l took place Saturday. After the results were in, there was a request for a recount; it took place Monday evening, and the final results were posted at 11 p.m. that day on The Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte Facebook page [5].
Elected to fill the four councillor positions were Josh Hill with 505 votes, Carl (Ted) Maracle with 396, Debra Vincent with 379 and Stacia Loft with 371. Hill is the only new member of the council; Maracle, Vincent and Loft were re-elected.
Candidates who failed to win election were Christopher M. Maracle, Kelly Brant Maracle, Kathleen Brant, Curtis Maracle, Manson Loft, Melissa Rose Ann Maracle and Glen (Smoke) Maracle.
Indigenous elections in Canada fall under two federal acts, according to the Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada website [6]. Indigenous communities can choose which of the two they want to use.
The Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte are among about 200 First Nations who hold elections under the Indian Act [7]. Under this act, an election must be held every two years. By contrast, non-Indigenous communities in Ontario hold municipal elections every four years.
The other law under which Indigenous elections can be held is the First Nations Elections Act [8]. It came into effect in April 2015, intended to improve the election process and “to provide frameworks that support stronger, more stable and effective First Nations governments,” according to the Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada website.
The First Nations Elections Act sets a term of four years rather than two for councils.
QNet News is reaching out to Michelle Maracle, the electoral officer for the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, as well as Chief Maracle, for an interview about the election results.
QNet will also be speaking with Paul Latchford, co-ordinator of Indigenous services at Loyalist College.
More to come.