Montour Sues Diabo; MCK, for Defamation

A Ratitsénhaienhs currently in the running for Grand Chief is embroiled in a court battle. Ratitsénhaienhs Cody Diabo and the MCK have been sued for defamation by community member Dean Montour. . From the Eastern Door, the defamation claims stem from comments that were released from council, with the lawsuit, filed at Quebec Superior Court, alleging that defamatory statements were made by Diabo at the July 18th, 2023, meeting of Council, and that Sky-Deer, MCK chief Ross Montour, and then-MCK chief Mike Delisle, had separately informed Dean about the comments. Diabo saying that this was a breach. The lawsuit alleges that Montour was dismissed from his position as CEO of Mohawk Online over a year before his contract was set to expire. He claims that this move was done as retaliation for his demands that Diabo retract statements that put his integrity into question. Diabo weighs-in on the situation/how the news could impact the election:

“I have a job to do, I continue to do my job everyday and I ask questions. That’s what the community put me there for to represent them effective and efficiently and before any decisions is made, for myself, I need to ask all questions regardless how hard they are or anything like that. As it was also stated by the MCK in a response

When asked if he’s innocent of the charges:

“That’s my position, I was doing my job, you know elected leaders all over the world ask tough questions and that’s what I was doing.”

K1037 News reached out to Dean Montour when the story 1^st came to light a week ago and again today. On the advice of his lawyer, he remains without comment. Montour is seeking more than $300,000 in damages from Diabo and the MCK. The case, filed in Quebec court, highlights the issues in dispute, including: whether Dean’s contract constituted an employment contract, whether his termination was legal, and whether he was defamed or slandered. Montour has held various positions in the community including as Chairperson/Commissioner for the Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC) where he sat for 7 years and as Mohawk Online’s Chief Executive Officer. Diabo and MCK grand chief Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer are scheduled for pre-trial examinations by Montour’s lawyers on June 13th, just weeks before the July 6th MCK elections in-which both Council members are vying for the grand chief’s seat.