Edward Roundpoint elected as Akwesasne's new grand chief

UPDATE: These results were set aside in July after an appealfoundconcernssome residentshad been left off the voting list. Leonard Akwiratekha Lazore was elected as grand chief in September.

Edward Roundpointhas been elected as the next grand chief in Akwesasne, according to the unofficial results of Saturday's general election.

One of theKawehno:ke (Cornwall Island) district chiefs last term, Roundpointwon by 30 votes and will serve as the community's first new grand chief in nine years.

The results can still be appealed until July 4, however.

In a statement to CBC,Roundpoint saidhe wasrefraining from engaging with both the community and media until the results become official.

Once the results are confirmed he will take office in the first few weeks of July, according to Shannon Roundpoint, communications manager for the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne(MCA).

The MCA is the elected body for the Canadian portion of Akwesasne, which is located about 120 kilometres southeast of Ottawa and straddles the Ontario-Quebec border. It represents about 12,000 people.

Akwesasne's general election happens every three years, with voters electingone grand chief and four district chiefs from each of the territory's three districts.

Shannon Roundpoint said this year's pool of candidates was large compared to previous elections, with four women and two men running to be grand chief.

"I think that it's going to bring a lot more community members out just because of the sheer number of [candidates]," she said before Saturday's vote.

"So that's really interesting and good for the community, to have more people involved."

Former grand chief didn't run again

Abram Benedict had been grand chief for the past nine years and involved with the MCA for twice that.

But hechose not to run in 2024 in order to focus on being electedregional chief for theChiefs of Ontario, which representsmore than 130 First Nations in the province.

Benedict won that election earlier this monthby two votes, beating Dean Sayers, former chief of the Batchewana First Nation.

Benedict told CBC on Sunday that he was "definitely going to miss" being grand chief in Akwesasne.

"Being involved in the community on the daily is obviouslyself-rewarding ...being in the schools and meeting with community membersis a great privilege and honour of the job," he said.

He added that Edward Roundpointhas been instrumental in some of the work the MCA has been doing both regionally and nationally, and that he "has what it takes to do the job."

More women on council

Mike Mitchell, who spent 32 years as grand chief in Akwesasne, said he was"very happy" for Roundpoint.

He was alsothrilled to see 10 of the 13 people elected were women.

"That's what's making me very happy this morning. It's a change," he said. "Women will get their chance to lead the community, to be responsible for the community and take us to a new era.

"I will offer them whatever assistance and help to help the process. I'm sure other past leaders will feel the same way, but we are in a very exciting period here."