Working Group to formally study Mohawk Entertainment Resort project, NOT an endorsement to move forward

04/17/2018

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to advise the community that a Working Group has been established to research and determine the validity of a casino/hotel/waterpark complex being proposed by Thompson and Co.

The Working Group will be responsible to identify and produce the required information that will allow Chief & Council to make an informed decision about whether or not to revisit the public policy on a land-based casino.

“While Chief & Council have not endorsed such a project, Thompson and Co, produced a petition with over 900 signatures of support.  We felt that doing proper due diligence was the right thing to do,” said Ietsénhaienhs Gina Deer, who holds the Gaming portfolio for the MCK. “There are a significant number of concerns in three major sectors: existing public policy; a regulatory regime; and intergovernmental matters. While we have had some preliminary meetings in the past, it is now incumbent on us to ask direct questions and address our concerns with the proponents face-to-face – hence the formation of this working group.”

The Working Group consists of Nitsénhaiehns Gina Deer and Rhonda Kirby, along with representatives from the Office of the Council of Chiefs (Winona Polson-Lahache and/or Lloyd Phillips); Finance (Onerahtókha Karlie Marquis); Executive Office (Paul Rice); Kahnawake Gaming Commission (Murray Marshall); and Legal Services (to be determined).

“To put it as simply as possible, this project would have huge impacts,” stated Ietsénhaienhs Kirby. “At this point there is no certainty that it will reach the point where the community would be asked to decide whether or not to support it. We have been given 120 days (mid-August) to present a report to Chief & Council, so we have to roll up our sleeves and get to work.”

The decision to create the Working Group was supported by eleven (11) Council Chiefs at yesterday’s Council meeting, with Carl Horn objecting.