Quebec announces private sector hotel funding

11/29/2021

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) is addressing the community to clarify information announced at Friday’s Grand Economic Circle of Indigenous People and Quebec held in Montreal.

The $3.3 million from Quebec’s Aboriginal Initiatives Fund (AIF) was granted for a hotel project to be located on Route 207. The application was made by a private citizen and is not an MCK initiative. The AIF was created as an opportunity for both private and public sector projects to gain financial assistance in projects. In Kahnawà:ke, the MCK’s involvement with AIF applications for individual community members is limited to providing a supporting Mohawk Council of Executive Directive for their projects, the same method used for all other individual AIF projects in the past. The MCK plays no part in the selection of which projects receive funding.

“This is good news for businesses that will result in adding to Kahnawà:ke’s economic base,” said Ohén:ton Í:iente ne Ratitsénhaienhs (Grand Chief) Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer. “However, Friday’s announcement was not ours to make. It was between the Quebec government and the individual applying for the funds. However, since I was a delegate at the same meeting where the announcement took place, some people assumed that the MCK was receiving money to build its own hotel, which is certainly not the case. More unfortunately, some individuals decided to make uninformed and irresponsible comments on social media before finding out the facts.”

The MCK reminds the community that it is both our collective and individual responsibility as Kahnawa’kehró:non to treat each other with respect. The MCK recognizes and supports that everyone has a right to their own opinion when it comes to matters facing our community. It is important that we all strive to raise our concerns and opinions in a healthy and respectful manner, in a way that is consistent with our cultural principles of respect. No one should be subjected to verbal attacks and threats. It is absolutely unacceptable.

The MCK is committed to ensuring the community is informed with proper information on positions, decisions, actions, and intents on all of its files. We encourage community members to engage respectfully and constructively on matters where you may have concerns, we welcome your questions and opinions, and we will always ensure that the information sought is responded to in a timely manner. To reach out, email communications@mck.ca or call 450-632-7500.