Tom Fennario
APTN National News
The Kahnawake Mohawk Territory has taken Kanesatake Territory to court to recover costs incurred to maintain land both Mohawk nations in Quebec share.
The land is known as the Tioweró:ton territory.
Kahnawake alleges it has been carrying the costs to maintain the land since 1999.
The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake believes more than $1.2 million is owed to them and wants Kanesatake to pay up.
“It is distasteful to go to the courts. Nobody wants that, especially us,” said MCK spokesman Joe Delaronde Friday, adding the outstanding balance had been brought up at ‘countless’ meetings year after year with Kanesatake council.
“Every year there was a bill sent.”
Kahnawake and Kanesatake share Tioweró:ton in the proportion of two-thirds to one-third, respectively, according to a statement from Kahnawake.
Both nations had previously tried to establish a plan to have the money paid, said Kahnawake in the statement, but Kanesatake recently denied any liability for the costs.
Kahnawake said the court action is preserve their rights.
“In any court case you hope there isn’t a court case. We sit and talk, find a way out,” said Delaronde.
It is hard to have a dialogue when one side, Kanesatake, does not want to come to the table. More troubling is they initially acknowledged there is a debt owing to Kahnawake. Then they denied any liability and are now, not even responding to requests to meet with Kahnawake and other creditors. A poor strategy and I am not sure who is advising the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake chiefs. It looks like all creditors owed money will have to take legal action to protect their assets and property.