MCK supports Kahnawake Education Center action in response to Bill 96

06/15/2022

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to express support for the Kahnawà:ke Education Center’s (KEC) exploratory actions in response to Quebec’s Law 96 – An Act respecting French, the official and common language of Quebec, which was formally passed in the Quebec National Assembly on June 1st. Particularly, the KEC will explore offering a Grade 12 option in order to provide alternative learning opportunities that do not deter Kahnawà:ke students from post-secondary studies that have been made increasingly difficult by Quebec’s passage of Bill 96.
 
“We are fully supportive of the preliminary steps that the KEC is taking to foster the development and futures of their students,” said Ohén:ton Í:iente ne Ratitsénhaienhs Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer. “By continuing to work together on all fronts to combat future impacts of Bill 96, we are better equipped to continue fighting against this oppressive Bill while lessening potential effects of its implementation.”
 
To date, there has been no official position that the concerns from Kahnawà:ke, and other Indigenous communities alike, are being taken serious by the Quebec government. Although this legislation would not apply in Kahnawà:ke, the impacts will be far more widespread than education.  
 
“We call on Premier Legault to declare the commitment that his government has towards finding real and meaningful resolve for Indigenous communities, in regard to the impacts that Bill 96 will have on our people,” continued Sky-Deer. “Understandably, the Bill promotes French culture and language amongst Quebecois. However, this should not be prescriptive and come at the expense of our own languages and cultures through the forced imposition of legislation.”
 
The MCK continues to explore alternatives to ensure the rights and interests of our community are protected from this legislation. We commend the community on the efforts that have and will continue to be taken in this collective fight against Bill 96.