Meetings with Ministers Miller, Lafrenière today

02/04/2022

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke wishes to inform the community that separate meetings are taking place today, with the Canadian and Quebec ministers holding the portfolios relating to Indigenous relations.

This is the first-time meetings are taking place on the same day with the federal and provincial ministers at this high level.

First, Ohén:ton Í:iente ne Ratitsénhaienhs (Grand Chief) Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer, Ratsénhaienhs Michael Delisle, Jr. and Ratsénhaienhs Ross Montour will meet with Canada’s Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Marc Miller. Agenda items include the Kahnawà:ke-Canada Relations table and the Seigneury of Sault St. Louis (‘Seigneury’), with the goal of reinvigorating both processes; the Ministerial Special Representative appointment; and the Gaming issue (including the engagement with Minister of Justice David Lametti).

Second, Ratsénhaienhs Delisle, Jr. will meet in-person with Quebec’s Minister Responsible for Aboriginal Affairs Ian Lafrenière to discuss overall relationship issues, including the Statement of Understanding and Mutual Respect; Framework Agreement; wording of the Aboriginal Initiatives Fund agreement; the Mercier Bridge; and cannabis matters.

Ohén:ton Í:iente ne Ratitsénhaienhs Sky-Deer is the lead on the overall External Government Relations Portfolio (EGR), as well as the lead on Nation Relations. As part of the EGR Portfolio, Ratsénhaienhs Delisle is the lead on the Quebec-Kahnawà:ke Relations and Seigneury files, while Ratsénhaienhs Montour is the lead on Kahnawà:ke-Canada Relations.