The Kahnawake Mohawk Council (MCK) and the Six Nations of the Grand River (SNGR) have inked a “Gaming Mutual Cooperation Agreement” to safeguard Indigenous gaming rights in Canada. The accord also articulates their collective opposition to the ongoing liberalization of gaming.
The agreement was formalized at the Kahnawake Mohawk Council and is in effect immediately.
The MCK and SNGR will collaborate to uphold Indigenous rights to manage gaming nationwide through joint legal and political tactics. As per the agreement, this encompasses striving to safeguard the economic advantages that Indigenous communities will reap.
The agreement also initiates the establishment of a national Indigenous gaming regulatory body.
In a joint statement announcing the accord, the MCK and SNGR expressed their dissatisfaction with the recent reinterpretation and amendment of the Canadian Criminal Code. These modifications empower the Ontario government to institute an online gaming program under its iGaming Ontario division.
The tribal agencies stated that this will not yield economic benefits for the SNGR or the MCK’s online gaming venture, Mohawk Online.
The province of Ontario will officially open its digital gambling marketplace on the fourth of April and has granted initial permits to three companies.
“We are delighted to re-establish the connection and fortify the partnership with our fellow Indigenous peoples,” stated Orton Ient Ne Latisonhaans Carsonenhaave Sky Deer. “Rebuilding a long-lasting relationship grounded in shared identity is a crucial initial step to bolster our collective endeavors, safeguard our interests, and maintain a leading position in the gambling sector and other vital areas we pinpoint in the future.”
The agreement also signifies that both parties will collaborate to establish a mutual understanding with local gambling regulatory bodies to discuss online gambling opportunities that benefit both communities.
“The agreement reached today represents a significant achievement as our communities unite to address our shared concerns,” remarked Mark Hill, the leader of the Six Nations of the Grand River. “This collaboration is an initial step in showcasing what we can accomplish as Haudenosaunee communities working together.
“We are more powerful as a collective, not as individuals, and these connections will strengthen us as we assert our rights and authority in the gaming industry and beyond.”
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