COVID-19 Task Force Notice – ALL stores in Kahnawake closed to Non-Locals, subject to fines

04/03/2020

The Kahnawà:ke COVID-19 Pandemic Task Force is reminding the general public that ALL STORES ARE CLOSED TO NON-COMMUNITY MEMBERS at this time, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes all tobacco stores on the Territory. Please note the following:

According to Section 31 of the Kahnawà:ke Emergency Preparedness Law, “Every person who contravenes any provision of this Kahnawà:ke Communal Law, or incites a person to do so, is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of not more than $1,000 in the case of a natural person, or to a fine of not more than $10,000 in the case of a corporation or partnership.”

Section 180 C.C. (1) states, "Every person is guilty of an indictable offense and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than two years, or is guilty of an offense punishable upon summary conviction who commits a common nuisance and by doing so a) endangers the lives, safety or health of the public or b) obstructs the public in the exercise or enjoyment of any right that is common to all.”

The Kahnawà:ke COVID-19 Task Force has the mandate to address the pandemic on behalf of the community. The decision to close the stores to non-locals was made to reduce the number of persons entering Kahnawà:ke, which puts the community at a high risk of the virus being transmitted.

There are no exceptions to this directive.

“We need to make it absolutely clear that we are doing everything we can to reduce our risk,” said Ratsénhaienhs (Council Chief) Tonya Perron of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke. “The directive has already been posted in French and English on electronic billboards located on the highways running through Kahnawà:ke, but some people are still coming into the heart of the community searching for tobacco products – which is unacceptable.”

“We appreciate everyone who has respected our directive during this challenging time,” she concluded.