Meeting at Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke
In: Ratitsénhaienhs Cody Diabo (Chairperson), Jeremiah Johnson, Paul Rice, Melanie Morrison, Ryan Montour, Jeffrey Diabo, Stephen McComber, and Arnold Boyer
Out: Ratitsénhaienhs David Diabo (Harvest Summit), Ross Montour (Harvest Summit), Tonya Perron (Vacation)
Also Present: Jaime-Lynn Deere (Council Meeting Administrator), Abbey Diabo (Director of the Office of the Council of Chiefs), Tehosterihens Deer (Public Relations Specialist, Political), Dawn Marquis-Deere (Executive Administrative Officer/Interim Executive Director), and for Housekeeping only: Olivia Diabo (OCC Coordinator), Tyanna Kirby (Virtual) (Executive Assistant to Ohén:ton Í:rate ne Ratitsénhaienhs), and Taiawentetie Hemlock (Executive Assistant to the Kahnawa’kehró:non Ratitsénhaienhs)
Housekeeping
- Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen by Jeffrey Diabo
- Public Relations Items: Ratitsénhaienhs Report: Jeremiah Johnson; MCK Friday: Arnold Boyer and David Diabo confirmed
- Minutes for Approval – February 16 & 23, 2026 — Approved
- Invitation: Next Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador Chiefs Assembly (AFNQL) in Montreal May 26-28 — Jeffrey Diabo to follow up
- Invitation: Inauguration of the NGCC (Navire de la Garde côtière canadienne) on May 29th — Cody Diabo to follow up
- Indigenous Language Symposium – Tsitewata:ti Let Us Speak Again McGill University Indigenous student program event on April 23rd — Melanie Morrison to follow up
- AFNQL’s Diplomatic Mission in Europe invitation on June 7-16 — Deferred
- Playground Poker Club support request for Summer Internship Program – IndigenousTech.ai Program — Jeffrey Diabo to follow up
- Request for Intergovernmental Meeting with MCK and Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) in Manitoba in June — Executive assistant Taiawentetie Hemlock to follow up and coordinate
- (1) Travel Request: Ryan Montour — First Nations Major Projects Coalition Conference April 29-May 1 in Toronto — Approved
- Impromptu item: House of Commons Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) invitation April 21 — Jeremiah Johnson to follow up (virtual)
- Jeremiah Johnson: Wednesday: Artificial Intelligence (AI) information government planning summit, and Kahnawà:ke Governance (K-GOV) meetings; Thursday: AFNQL First Nations Education Council (FNEC) meetings; Friday: Arcadis tolls working group
- Paul Rice: Monday: Council meeting; Tuesday-Friday: Vacation
- Melanie Morrison: Wednesday: Multi-Purpose Building Capital campaign, and K-GOV meetings; Thursday: Multi-Purpose Building meeting; Friday: MCK/Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI) bi-monthly, and Aboriginal Financial Officers Association meetings
- Ryan Montour: Wednesday: 2026 Harvest Summit attendance; Thursday: Investment Revenue Committee (IRC), Economic Development Portfolio, and Gaming working group meetings
- Jeffrey Diabo: Wednesday: Tax claims (virtual), IRC, Economic Development Portfolio, and AFNQL meetings; Friday: Arcadis tolls working group
- Stephen McComber: Wednesday: John Abbott College speaking engagement; Friday: Food sovereignty meeting Kahnawà:ke Collective Impact
- Arnold Boyer: Wednesday: AI information government planning summit, and 2026 Kidney Walk meetings; Thursday: Meet and greet with Montérégie Public Health Director, Terrapure working group, and Mercier Bridge sub-committee meetings; Friday: Arcadis tolls working group, JCCBI bi-weekly, MCK Friday, and (tentative) Mayor of Chateauguay Eric Allard Quebec Transport and Sustainable Mobility meetings
- Cody Diabo: Wednesday: Office of the Council of Chiefs internal meeting, and JFK Quarry meetings; Thursday: Iroquois Caucus Grand Chief, Terrapure working group, and GWG meetings; Friday: Arcadis tolls working group, relationship framework, and Governance Advisory Team meetings
Agenda Items:
Record of Decision: Restoration of Funds to Program 76080
Presence of: Veronica Leborgne (Director of Lands), Portfolio Lead: Ratsénhaienhs Ryan Montour
The Land Unit requests the restoration of $185,000 to the program 76080 Tiowero:ton Roads and Bridges for the continuation on the design and assistance with the Request for Proposal process of a second bridge – Approved by consensus
Executive Office Updates
Presence of: Dawn Marquis-Deere (Interim-Executive Director)
Dawn Marquis-Deere provided updates on out of offices, HR matters, MCK renovations, and policy matters
Ratitsénhaienhs Updates
Jeremiah Johnson provided updates on Kahnawà:ke Legislative Committee, and Kahnawà:ke Residency Law technical drafting
Paul Rice provided updates on First Peoples Gaming Association, Gaming bill S241, Hertel Line Project, and upcoming tasks
Ryan Montour provided updates on windmill projects, Housing Reconciliation, and the Federal Assault‑Style Firearms Compensation Program (ASFCP)
Jeffrey Diabo provided updates on border crossing discussions, Tobacco, Metis border crossing
Arnold Boyer provided updates on Old Chateauguay Road (OCR) roadworks and paving, road flagman training, and 207 roadwork
Cody Diabo provided updates on the Seigneury of Sault St. Louis Land Grievance, and meetings with Minister Mandy Gull Masty, the Alsig8ntegwiak Council of Odanak, and Prime Minister Mark Carney, and JFK Quarry file
Adjournment
Meeting closed by at 12:05pm by Cody Diabo
