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613-396-3424

Council

Velma Hill-Dracup, Councillor

Portfolio: Sustainable Development / Housing, Nation Building

Contact information: (W) 613-396-3424; (H) 613-967-4704; (C) 613-848-0114

  • Councillor of Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte 6 years
  • Executive Director Kagita Mikam
  • MBQ Administration 6 years; proposed, planned, implemented many successful programs including Journeyman Carpentry
  • Supported local business development, recruited and encouraged summer students
  • Experienced and knowledgeable of MBQ issues
  • Former Chair of Native Women’s Association
  •  Member of Pow Wow Committee
  • Member of Mohawk Singers
  • Director Quinte Hospice Board
  • Former Warden for All Saints and Christ Church

 

Douglas Maracle, Councillor

Portfolio: Education, Culture, Nation Building

Contact information: 613-396-3424

  • Councillor of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte for 22 years
  • Past Grand Chief at Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians (AIAI) for 6 years and Deputy Grand Chief 7 years
  • Former Chair of Loyalist College Board of Governors 2006-07
  • School Trustee 18 years
  • Past Chair Hastings Board of Education
  • Past Chair of Woodland Cultural Centre
  • Past Chair of First Nations Technical Institute (FNTI)
  • Honorary Member of Board of Directors, Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)
  • Retired from Ontario Hydro
  • Certified in Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution

 

Roy Maracle, Councillor

Portfolio: Community Wellness, Nation Building

Contact information: 613-396-3424

I was born and raised here at Tyendinaga the son of Gladys and Jack who were also born and raised here.  My wife Marilyn and I have two sons and two grandchildren, who also reside on the Tyendinaga Territory.  I care about what is going to be here for future generations.

I was elected to my first term on Council in December of 1997.  I have been on Council for five terms.  It was apparent to me during that first term that changes would have to occur if we were going to survive into the future as a Mohawk community.  Our infrastructure was old and in disrepair, roads needed upgrading, buildings used for program delivery were inadequate and unhealthy and Council spent too much time involved in the day to day activities of administration, leaving little time for engaging with other government agencies.

With change comes anxiety and stress, but over the ensuing years many positive changes have been made with the involvement and the cooperation of the administration staff.  With a plan in place roads have been upgraded and rebuilt, buildings are being replaced and the administration has been reorganized.  Infrastructure and organizational structure are areas that are always in transition as things change.  Each day brings new challenges and for us to survive as Mohawk people we need to meet these challenges with a community that’s willing to work together.

It seems to me that there is a prevailing view that the dependency on federal dollars is normal, or in some cases even preferred.  This has lead us nowhere except to more dependency.  We need to keep working toward self sufficiency because dependency isn’t part of our traditional values.

What I could consider as one of the most important changes that have been made is the addition of Nation Building to our organizational structure.  Nation Building is how we approach and plan for self determined social, political, and economic development to take effective control of our future.  In other words, making decisions for ourselves.  For example working toward having our own stand alone police service is Nation Building.  It will take some time for us to accomplish the task of self determination but we’ve already taken the important first step by creating this position.

My vision for the future of the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory is that we will be a healthy, sustainable Mohawk community into the future.
 

Keith Sero, Councillor

Portfolio: Infrastructure, Nation Building

Contact information: 613-396-3424

  • 30 years of public service with federal and provincial governments; National Indian Brotherhood
  • Developed Treaty Relations Commissions; managed negotiation/ implementation of major Land Claims
  • Former Treasury Board Officer responsible for financing of government departments
  • Operates his own successful consultation business working with First Nations
  • Currently developing a banking and financial centre for the Territory
  • BA in Psychology; post graduate studies in Negotiation, Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution; ongoing management, public administration and finance related courses to maintain and update skills

Tyendinaga Mohawk Council