MCK endorses plan for abandoned ship in Beauharnois

12/15/2016

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to advise Kahnawa’kehrò:non that it has endorsed a plan by the Canadian Coast Guard to scrap the Kathryn Spirit, a vessel that had been abandoned on the Beauharnois shoreline for the past five years.

The plan, which was announced a month ago, will see a protective embankment built around the ship to stabilize it in preparation to be dismantled on site. The work is expected to begin in early January.

“We met with several representatives of the Coast Guard yesterday (Wednesday), including Julie Gascon, who is the Assistant Commissioner of the Central and Artic Region,” said Ratsénhaienhs Kenneth McComber, who has been the liaison with the Canadian Coast Guard. “It was clear that they have come up with a solution that will offer the best possible protection of the environment.” 

“We made it clear to the Coast Guard that the Kanien’kehá:ka people consider ourselves as the stewards, or protectors, of the waterways,” he added. “We will always work towards finding solutions to environmental issues. In this case, our concerns – which were made at the outset of the problem – were acknowledged by both the Coast Guard and the federal Minister of Transport, Marc Garneau.”

“It may have taken a while, but the right course of action is being taken,” Ratsénhaienhs McComber concluded.