Council of Akwesasne (MCA) is a government whose representatives are elected within the northern districts of the territory on the Canadian side of the border. The MCA was developed from the Indian Bands system introduced by the Indian Act of Canada and the Act's historical and legal predecessors. They are known to Canada as Mohawks of Akwesasne Bands 59 and 15. The MCA operates as a non-partisan, representative democracy, divided into three geographic and administrative districts. The districts are Kana:takon (Saint Regis, Quebec), Kawehno:ke (Cornwall Island, Ontario) and Tsi Snaihne (Snye, Quebec). The several islands of the St. Lawrence River within the jurisdiction of the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne are generally counted as being a part of the nearest mainland. General elections are held triennially, with 12 representatives (Chiefs) chosen from the districts and one Grand Chief. Each district elects four Chiefs, and all districts vote at-large to elect a Grand Chief. Thus the council is 12 plus 1. A by-election may also be held if one or more of the seats become vacant. Chiefs of the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne Grand Chief: Abram Benedict Kana:takon District Chiefs: Cindy Francis-Mitchell Ryan Jacobs Julie Phillips-Jacobs Timothy "Dooley" Thompson Tsi Snaihne District Chiefs: April Adams-Phillips Sarah Lee Sunday-Diabo JoAnn Swamp Dwayne Thomas Kawehno:ke District Chiefs: Vanessa Adams Jackie Benedict Edward Roundpoint Vince Thompson Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe (SRMT) is a government elected by Mohawk Tribal citizens of the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation, a southern district of the territory within the border of the United States. The SRMT operates as a Constitutional republic. The Tribal Council is composed of three Chiefs, three Sub-Chiefs, and a Tribal Clerk. Elections are held each year on the first Saturday of June to choose one Chief and one Sub-Chief for a three-year term. The Tribal Clerk is chosen every third year. Council of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Chief Beverly Cook Chief Ronald LaFrance, Jr. Chief Michael L. Conners Sub-Chief Benjamin J. Herne Sub-Chief Agnes 'Sweets' Jacobs Sub-Chief Kenneth Jock Tribal Clerk Summer Bero Chief Judge Carrie Garrow Traffic Court Judge #1 Lois Terrance Traffic Court Judge #2 Victor Martin Chief Legal Counsel Dale White Governance: Canada and the United States In 1960, First Nations people were enfranchised in Canada. In 1985, Status Indians who voted in a Canadian election were allowed to retain their status. Previously they would have become non-Status,