Restructuring of Economic Development in Kahnawake

07/17/2019

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) would like to inform the community that it is working on restructuring the governance of Economic Development in Kahnawà:ke. At a duly convened Council meeting held on Wednesday, July 17, 2019, Council adopted two Mohawk Council Executive Directives (MCED) and a Mohawk Council Resolution that pertain to governance of Economic Development in Kahnawà:ke.

The Council adopted an MCED approving a new mandate for Tewatohnhi’saktha, which empowers them to focus on Workforce Development and Small and Large Business Development. Effectively, Tewatohnhi’saktha will no longer be charged with the mandate of Community Owned Businesses and Community Revenue Generation.

The Council also adopted an MCED approving a new mandate for the Business and Economic Development Fund (BEDF), which will be tasked with partnering and resourcing community-based revenue generation initiatives.

As Community Owned Businesses and Community Revenue Generation are no longer contained within the new Tewatohnhi’saktha mandate, there is no longer a need for the mandate to be supported by legislation and Council therefore also repealed the Kahnawà:ke Tewatohnhi’saktha Economic Development Commission Law K.R.L. c. T-1. The MCK had originally overseen Community Owned Business and Revenue Generation before creating Tewatohnhi’saktha in 1999. MCK will now resume that responsibility on behalf of the community through the BEDF, forwarding revenues generated to the Business and Economic Development Fund.

“We have been working hard to clarify the roles of all the key players in Economic Development in Kahnawà:ke,” said Ietsénhaienhs Gina Deer. “Establishing these mandates and creating clarity around who does what in Economic Development is a big step in the direction of Kahnawà:ke truly being open for business. We will now focus on supporting these two entities in the implementation of their new mandates, and actively pursue smart and innovative revenue generation opportunities for our community. We want to thank Tewatohnhi’saktha for their dedication to the economy of Kahnawà:ke for the past 20 years,” she concluded.

There were 10 Ratitsénhaienhs in attendance with 9 agreeing to the new mandates, MCEDs and MCR. Ratsénhaienhs Frankie McComber was opposed to all three decisions.