Revised Version: MCK remembers contributions to Kanienkeha:ka language efforts of the late John Moshal

10/27/2021

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke wishes to offer condolences to the family of the late John Moshal, who died earlier this week at his home in Durban, South Africa. Mr. Moshal had a long relationship with Kahnawà:ke through his position as owner of Microgaming, a world leader in gaming software development.

A noted philanthropist, since 2002 Mr. Moshal donated thousands of dollars to essential local language initiatives, such as the Ratiwennahní:rats adult language program and the Rosetta Stone Kanien’kéha software still in use today. He most recently donated $50,000 per year to Ratiwennahní:rats for the five-year period from 2017-2022, which funded the creation of a second class for the program. Discussions were planned to see a further extension of the funding for a further five years.  

“The late Grand Chief Joseph Tokwiro Norton and I were fortunate to meet with John personally at his home in Durban a few years back,” said Ohén:ton Í:iente ne Ratitsénhaienhs (Grand Chief) Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer. “He was proud to contribute to our language revitalization efforts, and made it very clear that our relationship was very special to him. He was a very generous man who will be greatly missed by his wife, his sons, his brother and their families. Though very few people in Kahnawà:ke actually knew John, his impact had a positive impact on many of our people, and that impact will be felt for years to come.”