Voter intimidation allegations surface in Kahnawake

Mohawks in Kahnawake considering voting in the coming provincial election possibly for the first time in their lives are being met with resistance, and even intimidation, from their community.

CBC News reporter Tanya Birkbeck spoke to one member of the Kahnawake community who said they intended to vote in the April 7 Quebec election, but who would only speak under the condition of anonymity.

Were not going to stand in anybodys way. They have the right, but its an individual choice.- Mike Delisle, Grand Chief of Mohawk council

Its a right that we have.Its a democratic right thats given to all citizens, the person said. Although the would-be voterdoes not consider him- or herself to be a Quebecer or Canadian, the threat of the province separating from the rest of Canada and the hypothetical possibility of having to re-negotiate land treaties with a new countrys government is a major motivator in their decision to vote.

• Quebec Cree want environmental protection to be election issue
• Visit CBC Aboriginal
• Quebec Votes 2014

But the culture of intimidation around voting is real in Kahnawake, this person said. They asked for anonymity because they are afraid, "of being judged orpolitically persecuted."

Unprecedented interest in voting

Grand Chief of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake Mike Delisle agreed that some people feel intimidated for good reason.

He pointed to social medias role in spreading intimidation around in Kahnawake with regards to voting in the coming Quebec election. He said hes never seen as many Mohawks express interest in voting before.

Some of my community are actually going to register and vote in the upcoming provincial election. I wont say thats unprecedented, but the number and the interest in this election I think is unprecedented, Delisle said.

Steve Bonspiel, editor and publisher of Kahnawakenewspaper The Eastern Door, said hes surprised at how people are reacting to this election in particular.

We asked the question last week in our nosy news poll and at least one person mentioned, Well, you know what, if you want to make a change, go out and vote, and thats an attitude we havent seen before especially in a provincial election, Bonspiel said.

He personally doesnt believe Mohawks have any responsibility or business in voting in provincial or federal elections. He said the 5,000 or so eligible voters in Kahnawake wouldnt make much of a difference anyway because the riding the territory falls into (Chteauguay) is a Liberal stronghold.

Besides, Bonspiel said, none of the parties care about native people.

Grand Chief Delisle said he wasnt encouraging people to vote he himself has never, and probably wont ever, vote but that he wasnt actively trying to discourage people from voting either.

Were not going to stand in anybodys way. They have the right, but its an individual choice, Delisle said.

Threat of separation

Delisle said the increased interest in voting is related to the threat of Quebec separating from Canada. Hesaid a sovereign Quebec would prompt a lot of questions.

Maybe not everybody is for band council, maybe not everybody is for the longhouse.- Anonymous source to CBC News

Our question is to Canada, who has a fiduciary obligation to not only Kahnawake in this territory, but everywhere across Indian country, he said.

The anonymous person who spoke to CBC News said the possibility of Quebec separation is a good reason to consider voting in the provincial election, and in a possible future referendum.

Were trying to just make the best of what we have. And right now, if voting is the only option we have and its a viable option, then I dont see why people should be judged for exercising the right that they have that they could be using at the moment to advance themselves and get a proper representation out there. Because maybe not everybody is for band council, maybe not everybody is for the longhouse. Maybe people want to try something new. We dont know, they said.

No voter cards

But its not as clear-cut as some would like.

Because there are no civic addresses orstreet names in Kahnawake, Mohawks have not received voter cards in their post office boxes.

Although the Elections Act prevents the Chief Electoral Officer from sending voter cards to post office boxes, the anonymous source said they previously received a card for federal elections.

They said they called Quebec City about the lack of provincial voter cards and was told the cards were sent to the band council and that they had been returned to sender.

Mohawks interested in voting can register to vote at the revision office in Chteauguay before April 3 at 2 p.m.

The Quebec election is April 7.