A majority of Akwesasne residents -- albeit a very small one -- have endorsed a proposed settlement with Ontario Power Generation which could see millions in compensation and several small islands in the St. Lawrence transferred to Akwesasne.
A total of 130 people from Akwesasne voted yes -- while 88 said no -- to accepting the proposed settlement with OPG during a community referendum on Saturday. The settlement is aimed at addressing grievances stemming from the construction of the R. H. Saunders power dam 50 years ago.
Akwesasne Grand Chief Tim Thompson said he was pleased with the result, but disappointed with the low turnout in the referendum.
Thompson said he expects the outcome will stand, even with the low turnout. The rules stated a simple majority would constitute a "yes" vote. "It's based on the rules . . . We'll go with what's written in the rules," he said on Sunday.
The grand chief said the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne -- the government for the Canadian portion of the community -- worked hard to inform people about the proposed settlement through advertisements, radio talk shows, meetings and direct visits to homes. The full proposal was also printed in newspaper form and distributed throughout the community.
"We did everything we could to get the people out (to the referendum) and educate them," he said.
The unofficial results were made available on Sunday, and Thompson said the MCA will be issuing a formal statement on the referendum today.
The result will be subject to an appeal period until Friday, after which it's expected the deal will be formalized. Asked whether he anticipates any appeals being filed, Thompson said he was unsure.
Thompson said the settlement is a "big accomplishment for Akwesasne" and will help to forge a new relationship between the community and OPG on things like education, contracting and possible employment opportunities at the power dam. "There's lots of opportunities there (in the settlement) for Akwesasne," he said.
Some of the highlights of the proposed settlement include:
* Compensation to Akwesasne of $20,363,520 (Can.) up front and $2,560,000 annually for 10 years, for a total of $45,963,520.
* Adams, Toussaint, Presquile and Sheek islands -- all located between Cornwall and Morrisburg -- will be placed into the Additions to Reserve (ATR) process for conveyance back to Akwesasne.
* A formal written apology will be issued by OPG "to acknowledge its regret for the disregard" of Akwesasne.
* Protection of rights, privileges and freedoms of the people of Akwesasne.
No decisions have been made yet on how the money or new land will be used by Akwesasne.
Residents of the Canadian portion of Akwesasne were able to visit polls on Cornwall Island and in Snye and St. Regis throughout the day Saturday to cast their vote in the referendum.
As the unofficial results show, the feelings of those who voted was somewhat mixed.
Voter Leona Delormier saw good things in the settlement and decided to put a yes next to her name.
"It's only one (claim) in many we've got coming," she said on her way out of the polling station. "It's like the first step."
Delormier said she was pleased with the MCA's efforts in educating residents about the proposed deal.
"There's only so much you can do to try and educate the people," she added.
Meanwhile, fellow Akwesasne resident Jay Benedict had too many concerns with the proposed settlement to offer his endorsement.
Benedict's biggest fear was that the settlement would tie Akwesasne's hands from seeking further restoration from OPG in the future. Benedict said Akwesasne shouldn't give up its ability to negotiate over the ongoing impacts of the power dam down the road.
"That thing (the power dam) will still be there (and) we'll still be suffering the impacts," he said.
The MCA has already expressed support for the agreement, but it agreed to not sign anything unless it gained the support of a majority of its residents through a referendum.
A number of islands belonging to Akwesasne were flooded to make way for the power dam, the MCA states.
"It was the wrongful taking of these islands that are at the heart of the OPG claim," wrote Thompson in a message to Akwesasne residents ahead of the referendum.