MCK announces Political Priorities and Principles for 2021-2024 Term

02/02/2022

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke wishes to announce the Political Priorities and Principles for the 2021-2024 Council term. The priorities were set through deliberations of the Ratitsénhaienhs, and took into consideration the Shared Kahnawà:ke Vision Statement.

As in the previous term, three (3) priorities were set, as follows:

• Language & Cultural Revitalization: including the support and realization of the new Cultural Center/Museum/Theatre; and the advancement and support of Language & Cultural Revitalization initiatives and actions;
• Social Supports & Wellbeing: including the establishment of a Housing Strategy to adequately address community needs and strengthen family units; establishment and implementation of a holistic and comprehensive approach for Social Development & Wellbeing; and the implementation and support of a comprehensive COVID-19 response and Mental Health & Wellness Plan; and
• External Government Relations: reset and restructure the relationships with Quebec and Canada; and reset and restructure the negotiation mandates for the Seigneury of Sault St. Louis

For comparison, the Political Priorities for the 2018-2021 term were: 1) External Government Relations, 2) Membership, and 3) Social Supports.

The Ratitsénhaienhs also felt it is important to inform the community that they take into account the following Political Principles throughout their decision making:

• Self-Determination and Jurisdiction;
• Holistic Support & Wellbeing;
• Language & Cultural Revitalization;
• Environmental Stewardship;
• Unification;
• Responsible Decision Making; and
• Self-Sufficiency

“We are at an important time in our ongoing history,” said Ohén:ton Í:iente ne Ratitsénhaienhs (Grand Chief) Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer. “Our priorities have been renewed, and we agree that the revitalization of our Language and Culture is of utmost importance in grounding us as Onkwehón:we people. We truly need to understand exactly who we are and what our place is in this world in order to govern ourselves accordingly.”

“We will always have to deal with the governments that surround us,” she continued. “However, we need to restructure the mechanisms and processes we use to engage with these governments. The current model no longer suits our needs and the governments need to understand that, in order to succeed, they can no longer simply pay lip service to our concerns and ideas.”

“Finally, we are still addressing the effects of the pandemic, and the challenges that it created for all of us,” she concluded. “We cannot downplay the difficulties that it has brought to our collective well-being. The work to support the efforts to take care of our mental and physical health must continue, and it is truly one of the top priorities of this term.”