Meetings at Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke
20, Onerahtókha/April Meeting
In: Ratitsénhaienhs Cody Diabo (Chairperson), Jeremiah Johnson, Melanie Morrison, Ryan Montour, Jeffrey Diabo, David Diabo, Stephen McComber, Ross Montour, Tonya Perron, Arnold Boyer
Out: Ratsénhaienhs Paul Rice (Vacation)
Also Present: Jaime-Lynn Deere (Council Meeting Administrator), Abbey Diabo (Director of the Office of the Council of Chiefs), Lloyd Phillips (Chief Political Advisor), Justus Polson-Lahache (Public Relations Director), Dawn Marquis-Deere (Executive Administrative Officer/Interim Executive Director), Trina C Diabo (Interim General Manager Office of the Council of Chiefs), Chris Brown (Community Member) and for Housekeeping only: Olivia Diabo (Office of the Council of Chiefs Coordinator), Tyanna Kirby (Executive Assistant to the Ohén:ton Í:rate ne Ratitsénhaienhs) and Taiawentetie Hemlock (Executive Assistant to the Kahnawa’kehró:non Ratitsénhaienhs)
Housekeeping
- Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen by David Diabo
- Public Relations Items: Ratsénhaienhs Report – Ryan Montour confirmed, Melanie Morrison confirmed for next week
- Approval of Minutes for March 9, 2026 – Approved
- Invitation to Kateri Memorial Foundation Golf Tournament Fundraiser on June 1, 2026 – Paul Rice, David Diabo and two employees to attend.
- Request to meet Ratitsénhaienhs from Council of Pasqua Nation on June 14, 2026 – Approved.
- Request to attend The Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples: On the Outside Looking In: The Implementation of the Cannabis Act and its Effects on Indigenous Peoples – Tonya Perron to attend virtually.
- Monthly Community meeting date change from Wednesday, April 29 to Tuesday, April 28th. Approved.
- Agenda for Community Meeting: Community Meeting Upcoming Changes, Client Based Services Program Updates, Community Initiatives Fund, Community Decision Making and Revision Process Legislative Agenda, Harvest Summit Update, Open Discussion. Approved.
- Jeremiah Johnson: Wednesday: Administrative Professionals Appreciation Breakfast, Legislative Portfolio team and Golden Age Club Members meetings; Thursday: Kahnawà:ke Legislative Services Working Group; Friday: Client Based Services (CBS) Team meeting, Monthly Press Scrum, Kahnawà:ke Legislative Services (KLS) Working Group and Environmental Sectoral Table mandate and composition meetings.
- Melanie Morrison: Wednesday: Administrative Professionals Appreciation Breakfast, Golden Age Club members meeting; Friday: CBS Team meeting, Monthly Press Scrum, Smudging Lunch Activity
- Ryan Montour: Monday: Project Autochtone in Montreal; Wednesday: Sports and Recreation Unit update meeting, Golden Age Club Members meeting; Thursday: Kahnawà:ke Justice Committee and Peacekeepers Services Board meetings; Friday: CBS Team, monthly press scrum, Gaming Working Group (GWG) Consultation meetings
- Jeffrey Diabo: Tuesday: Doctor’s appointment (personal), First Nations Education Council and Jordan’s Principle meetings; Thursday: Library meeting; Friday: Gaming Working Group meeting
- David Diabo: Wednesday: Additions to Reserve (ATR) Training, Administrative Professionals Appreciation Breakfast, Kahnawà:ke Labor Code and Golden Age Club Members meetings; Thursday: MCK and Kahnawake Mohawk Peacekeepers meeting; Friday: Ottawa Paddlers and Double Tree Hilton meetings
- Stephen McComber: Tuesday: Ceremony for Indigenous Science and Food Sovereignty event opening; Wednesday: ATR Training, Administrative Professionals Appreciation Breakfast, Community Prevention Action Group, Golden Age Club Members meeting; Friday: Monthly Press Scrum
- Ross Montour: Wednesday: Archaeology Conference in Wendake, Quebec for remainder of week. Requested to be away May 6, returning May 15 for personal
- Tonya Perron: Wednesday: Governance Advisory Team meeting, Legislative Portfolio Team meeting, Golden Age Club Members meeting, Working Group meeting for Justice related documents; Thursday: Technical Drafting Committee for Administrative Tribunal, KLS Working Group, Justice Commission meeting; Friday: Relationship Framework Working Group, Monthly Press Scrum, KLS Working Group
- Arnold Boyer: Monday: City of Chateauguay and MTQ meeting; Wednesday: Administrative Professionals Appreciation Breakfast, Water and Sanitation Committee, Golden Age Club Members, and Kahnawà:ke Shakotiia’takéhnhnas Community Services Board meetings; Thursday: Interagency Elder Abuse Gathering event; Friday: CBS meeting, discussion with Mayor Allard regarding communication measures, Kidney Foundation meeting.
- Cody Diabo: Monday: Project Autochtone in Montreal; Tuesday: Governance Advisory Team, Golden Age Club Members meetings; Wednesday: Administrative Professionals Appreciation Breakfast, Wellness; Thursday: Kahnawà:ke Gaming Commission, Transport Canada meeting regarding Federal Surplus lands; Friday: Relationship Framework Working Group, Terrapure Working Group, Monthly Press Scrum, Business Coalition members and Gaming Working Group meetings
Agenda Items:
Housing Reconciliation Amount Adjustment
Presence of: Alan John Rice (Executive Operations Officer), Nikola Mirkovic (Director of Financial Services), Areti Malliarou (Director of Housing Unit), Barbara Fernie (Finance Unit Credit Manager), Portfolio Lead: Ryan Montour
Request to allocate $1 million in future revenue from the Housing Reserve towards reconciling accounts for elderly clients and that the Client Based Services Financial Sub-Committee continue approving recommended adjustments of up to $175k per client (their current signing authority). The reconciliation of these client accounts would result in the Housing Reserve balance being reduced from approximately $14 million to $13 million. Approved by consensus
Executive Office Updates
Presence of: Dawn Marquis-Deere (Interim-Executive Director)
Asset Management Director interviews underway, two surveys for employees to be conducted (Summer hours, Workplace Culture), Administrative Professionals Appreciation Breakfast, Kahnawà:ke Environment Protection Office Walk ‘n’ Learn activity, North Creek bridge closure, Seconded employee to Director of Client Based Services, Election Law information.
Ratitsénhaienhs Updates
Arnold Boyer: updated on meetings with Monteregie Public Health Director, Artificial Intelligence, MTMD, and Environmental Sub-Committee meetings surrounding the Mercier Bridge, and Tolls.
Tonya Perron: updated on Governance Advisory Team reviewing feedback on the Terms of Reference for the Ratitsénhaienhs, Justice Commission Evaluation Committee review of applicants for Judges, Administrative Tribunal, Community Justice Center, Communal Arbitration revisions, and Criminal Code offences and ticketing system.
Ross Montour: Harvest Summit updates on Minister of Natural Resources of Ontario and Forest and Parks Quebec, One Dish One Spoon Presentation, and Contrecoeur.
Stephen McComber: updated on performing the Welcoming and Opening of the 5th Climate Change Summit in Montreal and the key discussions surrounding food sovereignty,
David Diabo: updated on the Harvest Summit roundtable discussions and sharing of information, including traditional knowledge, rights, legal issues, firearms, permitting information, and scientific studies.
Cody Diabo: updated on new Iroquois Caucus hire, Seigneury of Sault St.Louis Team activities, St-Remi lands upcoming works.
Adjournment
Meeting closed by Cody Diabo at 12:14pm
23, Onerahtókha/April Meeting
In: Ratitsénhaienhs Cody Diabo (Chairperson), Jeremiah Johnson, Melanie Morrison, Ryan Montour, Jeffrey Diabo, David Diabo, Ross Montour (Virtual), Tonya Perron, Arnold Boyer
Out: Nitsénhaienhs Paul Rice (Vacation) and Stephen McComber
Also Present: Jazmin Jacobs (Meeting Administrator), Lloyd Phillips (Chief Political Advisor), Justus Polson-Lahache (Public Relations Director), Dawn Marquis-Deere (Executive Administrative Officer/Interim Executive Director), and Tricia Diabo (Executive Assistant and Administrative Support Coordinator)
Housekeeping
Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen by Cody Diabo
Agenda Item
Discussion: New location of the Elder’s Lodge
Presence of: Chris Stacey (Executive Infrastructure Officer), Portfolio Lead: Arnold Boyer
Discussion on collaborative work with Kahnawà:ke Shakotiia’takehnhas Community Services (KSCS) to explore the locations for a new Elder’s Lodge. Council of Chiefs directs to collaborate with KSCS on stakeholder engagement and determine further feasibility of locations. Approved by consensus.
Adjournment
Meeting closed by Cody Diabo at 10:35pm
