Steven Bonspille

Steven Bonspille was Grand Chief (2005-2008) of the Kanesatake Mohawk 1700-member community located near Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

History

Bonspille was one of the key figures in a power struggle in the early 2000s in the community. He and three other chiefs at the time, Crawford Gabriel, Pearl Bonspille and John (sha ko hen the tha) Harding opposed then-Grand Chief James Gabriel (1993-2004). Among the issues, they were concerned about Gabriel's having hired private police forces for a raid in the community in January 2004.[1]

In 2005 Bonspille defeated Gabriel in the election for grand chief. In this election Harding and Pearl Bonspille lost their seats on the band council, and most of the six members were supporters of Gabriel. After finishing his term in 2008, Bonspille moved with his family to adjacent Oka, Quebec.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Jeff Heinrich, "Wide-open race in Kanesatake", The Gazette, 27 Jun 2008, La Nation Autochthone du Quebec, accessed 29 Jan 2010