First Nation in Canada
Mohawks of Kahnawà:ke Band No. 70Kahnawákeró:non Stop sign in Kahnawà:ke
People Mohawk Province Québec Main reserve Kahnawà:ke 14 Other reserve(s) Land area 128.02 km2 On reserve 8138 Off reserve 3537 Total population 11,675 Chief Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer Council
Arnold Boyer
Mike Delisle Jr.
Cody Diabo
Bart Goodleaf
Tonya Perron
Jessica Lazare
Ross Montour
Lindsay Leborgne
Ryan Montour
Alan John Rice
Harry Rice
kahnawake.com
Mohawks of Kahnawà:ke in 1869
Mohawks of Kahnawà:ke (Mohawk : Kahnawákeró:non )[ 1] are a Mohawk First Nation in Quebec , Canada. In 2024 the band has a registered population of 11,675 members. Its main reserve is Kahnawake 14 , located on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River opposite Montreal . It also shares the uninhabited reserve of Doncaster 17 with the Mohawks of Kanesatake for hunting and fishing. The band is governed by the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke .
The members of Kahnawà:ke First Nation are Mohawk who split with the rest of their tribe in the 1660s and left the Iroquois Confederacy to live in French territory. However, they may have been predominately assimilated captives of the Beaver Wars from the Huron and Algonquin tribes.[ 2] In October 2024, the band had a total registered population of 11,675 members, 3,537 of whom lived off reserve .[ 3] [ 4]
Kahnawake seen from Montreal
The band of Kahnawà:ke lives primarily on a reserve , Kahnawake 14 , located 8 km southwest of Montreal , Quebec . This reserve covers an area of 4,825 ha.[ 5] The band also shares an uninhabited reserve, Doncaster 17 , located 16 km northeast of Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts with the Mohawks of Kanesatake for hunting and fishing.[ 6] The First Nation is headquartered at Kahnawake. The closest major city is Montreal .[ 7]
The grand chief Poking Fire in 1937
The Mohawk of Kahnawà:ke are governed by a band council , called Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke. Members are elected to three-year terms according to a custom electoral system based on Section 11 of the Indian Act .
Appointed in July 2021, for a term lasting until June 2024, the current chief and council are:
Grand Chief Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer
Ietsénhaienhs Jessica Lazare
Ratsénhaienhs Arnold Boyer
Ratsénhaienhs Michael Delisle Jr.
Ratsénhaienhs Cody Diabo
Ratsénhaienhs Bart Goodleaf
Ratsénhaienhs Lindsay Leborgne
Ietsénhaienhs Tonya Perron
Ratsénhaienhs Ross Montour
Ratsénhaienhs Ryan Montour
Ratsénhaienhs Alan John Rice
Ratsénhaienhs Harry Rice [ 8]
The 2018 elections were held on Saturday, 7 July (Ohiarihkó:wa).[ 9]
Election for Grand Chief
Name of Candidate
Total Votes Received
Notes
Joseph Tokwiro Norton
--
Acclaimed
Total
--
Election for Council Chiefs
Name of Candidate
Total Votes Received
Tonya Perron
770
Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer
709
Mike Delisle Jr.
670
Gina Deer
589
Lloyd Phillips
556
Clinton Phillips
477
Carl Horn
456
Harry Angus Rice
395
Lindsay Leborgne
393
Rhonda Kirby
382
Ross Montour
374
William Diabo
368
Robert Patton Jr.
361
Martin Leborgne
337
Phillips Jacobs
318
Landon Meloche
304
Tonia Williams
297
Lindsay Jacobs
260
David A. Diabo
233
Louis Stacey
226
Timmy J. Montour
205
Curtis Jacobs
177
Bobbi Dee Deer
160
Dawn Melissa Montour
148
The 2015 elections were held on Saturday, 20 June (Ohiarí:ha).[ 10]
Election for Grand Chief
Name of Candidate
Total Votes Received
Joseph Tokwiro Norton
488
Mike Delisle Jr.
397
Lloyd Phillips
356
Keith Myiow
85
Total
1326
Election for Council Chiefs
Name of Candidate
Total Votes Received
Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer
728
Carl Horn
690
Clinton Phillips
673
Kenneth McComber
667
Gina Deer
585
Martin Leborgne
571
Robert Patton Jr.
571
Christine Zachary-Deom
556
William "Billy" Diabo
548
Arlene Jacobs
539
Rhonda Kirby
511
Ross K. Montour
434
Jeffery Diabo
394
Jonn Mayo
345
Gary A. Beauvais
274
Darlene Alfred
271
Kyle Diabo
238
Dawn Melissa Montour
234
John K. Diabo
229
The 2012 elections were held on Saturday, 7 July (Ohiarihkó:wa).[ 11]
Election for Grand Chief
Name of Candidate
Total Votes Received
Michael Ahríhron Delisle Jr.
754
Barry Alfred
612
Total
1366
Election for Council Chiefs
Name of Candidate
Total Votes Received
Christine Zachary-Deom
816
Kenneth McComber
805
Carl Horn
752
Lloyd Phillips
719
Clinton Phillips
709
Martin Leborgne
668
Billy Diabo
648
Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer
577
Rhonda Kirby
554
Bobby Patton
526
Gina Deer
509
Peter Paul
472
Mike Bush
460
Peggy Mayo-Standup
436
Jeffrey Diabo
413
Gary Beauvais
325
Kyle Diabo
257
Vernon Goodleaf
235
Keith White
203
The 2009 elections were held on Saturday, 4 July at Kateri School.[ 12]
Election for Grand Chief
Name of Candidate
Total Votes Received
Michael Delisle Jr.
715
Warren Lahache
449
Total
1164
Election for Council Chiefs
Name of Candidate
Total Votes Received
Ken McComber
684
Rhonda Kirby
593
Lloyd Phillips
561
Martin Leborgne
544
Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer
495
John Dee Delormier
494
Mike Bush
487
Johnny Montour
483
Peggy Mayo-Standup
478
Carl Horn
473
Kaniatari:io Gilbert
421
Clinton Phillips
409
Marvin Zacharie
353
Billy Two-Rivers
349
Travis Jacobs
332
Gina Deer
329
Tiorahkwathe Gilbert
279
George Montour
256
Wilbert Standup Jr.
177
Stuart "JR" Phillips
168
Wahiakeron George Gilbert
161
Daniel Montour
134
The 2006 elections were held on Saturday, 1 July (Ohiari'kó:wa).[ 13]
Election for Chief
Name of Candidate
Total Votes Received
Michael Ahríhron Delisle Jr.
897
Dan Kirby
233
Total
1130
Election for Council Chiefs
Name of Candidate
Total Votes Received
Martin Leborgne
627
Johnny Montour
610
Warren Lahache
596
Mike Bush
514
Rhonda Lynn Kirby
508
John Dee Delormier
496
Kenneth McComber
467
Marvin Zacharie
437
Peter Paul
427
Peggy Mayo-Standup
407
Keith Myiow
383
Arlene Jacobs
365
Michael Loft
356
George Montour
341
Dennis Leborgne
338
Watio Montour
338
Lindsay LeBorgne
319
Lori Jacobs
296
Trina C. Diabo
290
Daniel Montour
287
David Dearhouse
168
Donnie D'Ailleboust
147