Tsi Nitiawén:'en ne Ratitsénhaiens Wahontkennísa

Weekly Council Communique

To increase transparency between the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke and the community, a weekly Council Communique is provided, briefly outlining decisions, reports, or issues addressed at the regular duly convened Monday Council meetings.

Monday, 13, Tsothohrhkó:wa/January 2025

Meeting at Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke

Out: Ratitsénhaienhs Paul Rice (Medical Leave), Iohahí:io Delisle (Vacation)

Also Present: Meagan Ottereyes (Council Meeting Administrator), Winona Polson-Lahache (Chief Political Advisor), Lisa Lahache (Public Relations), and for Housekeeping only: Tyanna Kirby and Taiawentetie Hemlock (Executive Assistants), Brandon McComber (OCC Project Technician), Kahonwentha Stacey and Iris Montour (OCC Project Leaders)

Housekeeping

• Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen by Cody Diabo
• Cheque Signers: Tonya Perron and Melanie Morrison
• Montreal Irish Monument Foundation: Request to appoint a fundraising committee member for a fundraising committee for the creation of Black Rock Park in Montreal and provide a Approved, Heritage Portfolio to appoint
• Urgent Call for a Meeting Regarding the Survival of the Indigenous Peoples’ House in Mont Ste-Helene Approved
• Letter to US President-elect: Draft letter to be circulated for feedback
• Invitation: Invitation for Cody Diabo to Provide keynote address at the Net-Zero Quebec Summit Canadian Renewable Energy Association (May 15, 2025 – Montreal) Accepted
• Incoming letter – Vertical Farming – Request declined
• Scheduled Infrastructure Maintenance Work – Ratsénhaienhs Arnold Boyer Approved
• BELL Let’s Talk 2025 - Ratsénhaienhs Arnold Boyer Approved
• 2024 National First Nations Water Leadership Award Nomination - Ratsénhaienhs Arnold BoyerApproved
• Invitation: Meeting and information session on Language Revitalization Planning (February 4-5, St. Sauveur) Melanie MorrisonApproved
• Public Relations Items: Community Meeting (January 29, 6-9pm @ Golden Age Club); Ratitsénhaienhs Report - Stephen McComber (January 20); Polar Plunge – Staff to vote on who will represent the Ratitsénhaienhs at the event, pledges will be gathered by the Council of Chiefs (February 7)For information purposes
• Travel Request: Canadian Red Cross Annual Conference (January 30, 2025) Public Safety Portfolio Chiefs David Diabo and Melanie MorrisonApproved
• Community Meeting: Location - Golden Age Club; Agenda – KQR MOU presentation, Housing update, Governance document review, Public Safety update, Open Discussion
• Out of Office Request (Iohahí:io Delisle): Vacation approved following bereavement leave
• Deer Cull & distribution of antlers, hides and meat: Antlers – 2 matched sets each to be shared with 207 and Mohawk Trail Longhouses, the rest will be offered to directly to community members on a first come, first served basis; Hides (in the raw, requiring tanning) – 5 each will be shared with 207 and Mohawk Trail longhouses, 5 set aside for projects, remainder to be offered to interested community members on a first come, first served basis; meat not yet available.
• Bell Let’s Talk photo scheduling: January 20, 2025 at 11:30 am
• Jeremiah Johnson: Tuesday: Kahnawà:ke Cannabis Control Board (KCCB) meeting Wednesday: Public Security meeting, Justice Services and Kahnawà:ke Legislative Services (KLS) mandate review meetings; Thursday: Office of the Kanien’kehá:ka of Kahnawà:ke Registry meeting, Kahnawà:ke Legislative Committee (KLC) monthly meeting, Kahnawà:ke/Canada Relations (KCR) internal meeting; Friday: Homelessness working group meeting
• Melanie Morrison: Tuesday: Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa (KOR) Board meeting; Wednesday: Public Security meeting, weekly Multi-Purpose Building (MPB) campaign and weekly check-in meetings; Thursday: KOR meeting, MPB Technical & Finance Committee, Infrastructure, Transport & Operations (ITO) Portfolio, and Language & Cultural Network meetings; Friday: bi-monthly Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI) and Language Portfolio meetings
• Ryan Montour: Monday: Tewatohnhi’saktha Board meeting; Wednesday: KCR and Seigneury of Sault St Louis SSSL internal meetings
• Jeffrey Diabo: Monday: Tewatohnhi’saktha Board meeting; Wednesday: KTV filming for Governance Community Consultation project , KTV filming; Thursday: SSSL meeting; Friday: Specific Claims meeting
• David Diabo: Wednesday-Friday out (Iroquois Caucus @ Akwesasne); Saturday: Tioweró:ton meeting
• Stephen McComber: Tuesday: Out pm (Wellness); Wednesday: Seed Bank meeting
• Ross Montour: Wednesday: Indigenous Rights and Research (IRR), and St. Regis water shed meetings; Thursday: KCR, KQR, Environment Canada, and internal SSSL meetings; Friday: Specific Land Claims and Consultation Committee meetings, Consultation Committee Strategic Planning session
• Tonya Perron: Tuesday: KCCB meeting; Wednesday: Governance Portfolio meeting, KTV filming for Governance Community Consultation project, Justice Services, and KLS mandate discussions; Thursday: KLC monthly meeting
• Arnold Boyer: Wednesday: Peacekeeper ride-along; Thursday: Kateri Memorial Hospital Center meeting with Centre Intégré de Santé et de Services Sociaux de la Montérégie-Ouest (CISSMO), ITO Portfolio team meeting; Friday JCCBI, Homelessness working group, and internal Mercier Bridge knowledge transfer meetings
• Cody Diabo: Wednesday: Review of strategic discussions, Gaming meeting, Public Safety and Security meeting, Caisses des Depots et Placements du Quebec meeting downtown, Thursday: internal briefing for KQR Northvolt, Meeting with Quebec, SSSL/EGR meeting; Friday: GCO meeting, Consultation meeting with Quebec Ministers

Agenda Items

Mohawk Council Executive Directive: Health Portfolio Mandate 2024 – 2027
Presence of Kahonwentha Stacey and Iris Montour (OCC Project Leaders) Portfolio Chief: Arnold Boyer. Request to the Council of Chiefs to approve the Health Portfolio Mandate for the 2024-2027 Council Term.
Passed by Consensus

Mohawk Council Executive Directive: Social Supports and Development Portfolio Mandate 2024 – 2027
Presence of Kahonwentha Stacey and Iris Montour (OCC Project Leaders) Portfolio Chief: Iohahí:io Delisle
Request to the Council of Chiefs to approve the Social Supports and Development Portfolio Mandate for the 2024-2027 Council Term.
Passed by Consensus

Record of Decision: Approval in Principle and Delegation
Presence of Alexis Shackleton (Director of Client Based Services) and Melanie Gilbert (General Manager OKKR) Portfolio Chief: Iohahí:io Delisle
Request to the Council of Chiefs to support funding applications for several Social Support pilot projects through the Kahnawà:ke Community Wellness Plan.
Approved by Consensus

Record of Decision: Indian Registry Administrator for Kahnawa’kehró:non
Presence of Alexis Shackleton (Director of Client Based Services) and Melanie Gilbert (General Manager OKKR) Portfolio Chief: Iohahí:io Delisle
Request to the Council of Chiefs to create a third Indian Registry Administrator position with in the MCK
Request denied

Executive Director Updates
Onerahtokha Marquis updated on Human Resources matters, Finance, and the Lands Unit.

Ratitsénhaienhs Updates
Cody Diabo updated on the KQR MOU matters
Stephen McComber updated on Language
Melanie Morrison updated on Indigenous Rights file, MPB Operational Plan

Adjournment
Closing by Cody Diabo. Meeting ended at 3:54pm