MCK commits to collective effort to address drug issue in community

03/10/2021

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke wishes to offer its sincerest condolences to the family and friends of the young man who passed away last week.

As a community, we cannot ignore the fact that certain issues remain, even as we bravely face the on-going pandemic with perseverance, compassion, and pride. One of the biggest problems modern society faces is that of illicit substances and their devastating effects. We have seen, once again, that the issue is not relegated to the outside world but is one that affects us directly. We must find better, more effective ways to prepare, protect and heal our community members from this disease.

We must, as a collective, come together to look at every possible means of improving the situation that affects every family. Mind-altering substances are all around us, from alcohol to prescription medication to illicit & illegal drugs. We must gather our best minds to look at ways to make the people who are most affected feel worthy of seeking and receiving the help that they need.

We must realize that each and every person among us is a role model for the younger generation. We all need to be better role models.

With that being said, the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke wishes to inform the community that the Ratitsénhaienhs met at length to discuss this issue. They have made a commitment to work directly with community members and organizations to come up with a strategy to provide effective means of combatting these problems.

“We all know the problem has existed for a long time and, unfortunately, it took the loss of a human life to bring it back into focus,” said Ratsénhaienhs Frankie McComber, who has been designated as the lead on behalf of the MCK. “Kahnawa’kehró:non are frustrated and afraid. We share that frustration and fear, as we are all community members first, and each of us has been affected at one point or another. Therefore, we are making a commitment to work towards finding solutions. We should not fear taking new approaches, as it is clear that all of the good words and best intentions are not enough.”

“The Mental Health Working Group, Shakotiia’takéhnhas, Onen’tó:ken, and others have worked hard to address these problems,” he continued. “We need to ensure that any additional assistance and resources they need are made available.”