SIX NATIONS — A Six Nations man found guilty of repeatedly raping a 14 year old child in the United States was working with indigenous youth at Six Nations and Niagara Region as late as 2019.
On January 23, a Wisconsin court found Hayehe:s Matthew Joseph Myke, 35, guilty of Repeated Sexual Assault of Same Child (At Least 3 Violations of 1st or 2nd Degree Sexual Assault). He has been taken into custody and is now facing sentencing in March.
Myke is originally from Six Nations and was hired by at least one school and one historical site in the community after his 2016 arrest — teaching Haudenosaunee traditions, songs, dance, and ceremonies to children as late as 2019.
In another instance, Myke was responsible for teaching Haudenosaunee ceremonies, songs and dances to children ages 5-15 at a Niagara Region facility.
It is not known if Myke was required to disclose his charges prior to being placed in positions of authority over children in the area. TRT has reached out to the facilities for comment.
He acted as a lacrosse coach in the state of Wisconsin in 2012 and for the Six Nations Rebels in 2016.
Myke was also being considered for a traditional role with the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chief’s Council.
In 2019, Myke was delegated to speak on behalf of the HCCC at the injunction hearing for the Niagara Reinforcement Project by Hydro One. Myke was one of the named parties to the injunction.
Myke was also sanctioned by the hereditary chiefs in 2019 as part of the group’s administrative leadership to develop a Haudenosaunee Natural Resources department with lawyer Paul Williams.
TRT has not confirmed if hereditary chiefs or clan mothers were aware of the accusations against him or the upcoming trial.
Myke was arrested in October 2016. Court documents show the assaults took place in March 2013. The victim was 14 years old at the time of the assault. Myke was 28.
He was arrested in October 2016 and released on a $10,000 cash bond and ordered to have no contact with the victim.
Myke pled not guilty in February 2017 to the charges. A jury found him guilty on Thursday. The Brown County District Attorney says he was immediately taken into custody and the bond revoked. Sentencing is set for March 27.
The conviction is a Felony C in the state of Wisconsin and carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison and a maximum $100,000 fine.
