MCK to meet with New Zealand Members of Parliament

09/26/2022

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke wishes to inform the community that the Council of Chiefs will meet with a delegation of leaders from New Zealand this afternoon.

The delegation is hoping to gain a better understanding of some of the issues and priorities the Mohawks of Kahnawà:ke are addressing, including reconciliation, but also economic development (agriculture, forestry), Indigenous rights (United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples), language, and social issues such as housing, health, education, and women & youth. 

The delegation consists of five Members of Parliament: Co-Leader of the (Indigenous) Māori party Rawiri Waititi; Shanan Halbert and Rachel Boyack Mayer from the Labour Party; and Simon Watts and Nicola Grigg from the National Party. They will be accompanied by New Zealand Parliament representative Winton Holmes, and New Zealand High Commission Senior Policy Adviser Iain Wood.

There is a representative who will sing a song/opening prayer in the Māori culture. 

Today’s meeting is a follow up to one held earlier this year between High Commissioner Martin Harvey and Ohén:ton I:iente ne Ratitsénhaienhs (Grand Chief) Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer and several other Ratitsénhaienhs.