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 Kahnaw�:ke (MCK) wishes to inform the community that Oh�n:ton �:iente ne Ratits�nhaienhs (Grand Chief) Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer, along with Ratits�nhaienhs 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 Kahnaw�: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 Kahnaw�: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�k�ha 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.�