Abram Benedict is seeking the title of Ontario Regional Chief, leaving the MCA

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AKWESASNE — After 18 years at his table, Akwesasne Mohawk Council Grand Chief Abram Benedict announced earlier this week that he does not intend to run in the upcoming MCA elections in June.

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Instead, he plans to run for another political role: leading Ontario’s chiefs.

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For some time, Benedict said he had his eye on the provincial title and its responsibilities, which is why he chose not to run for re-election. The upcoming Ontario Regional Chief election, which takes place June 11-12, is considered a traditional election where nominations will be held and each of Ontario’s 133 First Nations communities will have a vote.

Benedict was first elected as Kawehno:ke District Chief at age 24 and held that title for three consecutive terms before being elected Grand Chief for three consecutive terms. Over the years, the organization has seen significant growth, reflected in its budget, which has since nearly doubled over the past 18 years.

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After working under Mike Kanentakeron Mitchell and Tim Thompson, Benedict said he feels he had two strong mentors and gained invaluable insight from both. He said he has been inspired by many throughout his political journey to move forward for the betterment of Akwesasne.

“I really enjoy working for the community and doing the political work that comes with it, but I feel now is the time to take my skills and abilities and transfer them to something else,” he said, while assuring that he would always be a part of Akwesasne. “And from a community leadership perspective, we were young when we started … now it’s time for other new leaders to come on board and continue to move the community forward.”

Benedict said he feels he would be a great fit in the regional position to propel the lobbying and advocacy work forward while continuing to support community leadership. She enjoys community work on the ground and wants to serve Indigenous people in Ontario by helping to shape policy and legislation.

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“Ontario is challenged by a number of things. One of the files that we have actually pushed at the regional and national level is the carbon tax. I will continue to push this … First Nations are already disadvantaged and with a number of remote communities in Ontario, the carbon tax is significant,” Benedict said.

Climate adaptation, response and prevention is another area Benedict said he wants to focus on as more remote communities are affected by wildfires, leading to mass evacuations and community upheaval.

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At the federal level, Bill C-53 is something on Benedict’s radar. Last fall, he traveled to Ottawa to protest the bill, which he said recognized some illegitimate Meti governments that have no historical basis and do not meet legal thresholds, ultimately diluting the legitimacy of the rights of indigenous peoples, including those of existing Meti communities.

Reflecting on the past 18 years with the MCA, Benedict said he recognizes the organization has faced its fair share of challenges and achievements.

“We’ve had some significant settlements for our community. The Dundee settlement was settled some time ago, but we are now just finalizing a trust vehicle that will have some payouts in community investment. That took a while,” Benedict said.

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The settlement was a controversial one within the community, as the Akwesasronon who opposed it felt that accepting the settlement would not adequately remedy the fact that the land had been illegally taken from the community and given to European settlers. It wasn’t about the money, as the settlement did not return Akwesasne’s lands, but only provided compensation that the MCA could then use to purchase those lands (or others) through the federal additions to reserves process.

“My aspiration has always been to improve the governance structures and foundation of the organization and community so that the next great chief and board can continue to build on that,” Benedict said.

The challenges Benedict dealt with during his time with MCA included the pandemic, which was exacerbated given Akwesasne’s jurisdictional challenges. He also worked to establish local laws regarding cannabis, which was controversial following federal decisions that did not involve community consultation. Finally, Benedict participated in technical meetings with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and continues to work on the Jay Treaty, striving to amend existing legislation to recognize Indigenous peoples.

“I appreciate the support from my community over the past 18 years. It was an honor. I will never stop supporting my community in any way I can,” he said.

Nominations for the posts of MCA Grand Chief and District Chief will be held on May 18, with polling day set for June 29.

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