Grand Chief Sky-Deer to join AFNQL Regional Chief Ghislain Picard at National Assembly to deliver anti-Bill 96 message

05/10/2022

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to inform the community that Ohén:ton Í:iente ne Ratitsénhaienhs (Grand Chief) Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer, along with Ratitsénhaienhs Barton Goodleaf, Jessica Lazare, Alan John Rice, and Cody Diabo, will be in Quebec City today to participate in a press conference with Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador Regional Chief Ghislain Picard and others to deliver a message to the Legault government regarding Bill 96.

The legislation will have far-reaching impacts on English-language CEGEPS and, notably, many Kahnawà:ke students who are or plan to be, attending these institutions. These, and other concerns about the impending legislation, will be brought to the attention of the Quebec government at today’s event, which will take place at the same time as a community-driven protest in Kahnawà:ke.

“We strongly support the actions being taken today to peacefully bring the message that the government MUST listen to our concerns,” said Grand Chief Sky-Deer. “The entire rollout of Bill 96 has been an insult to our people, especially those like us who speak English and Kanien’kéha on a daily basis. While we understand that Quebec wishes to protect its linguistic integrity, it cannot do so at the expense of others who happen to have lived here for hundreds – if not thousands – of years before them. Once again, it seems that the government will only listen when we take extreme measures, but that is the only choice we have been left with.”