Meeting at Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke
In: Ratitsénhaienhs Cody Diabo (Chairperson), Jeremiah Johnson, Melanie Morrison, Ryan Montour, Jeffrey Diabo, Ross Montour, Tonya Perron, and Arnold Boyer
Out: Paul Rice (Travel to Toronto to host the First People’s Gaming Association (FPGA) Stephen McComber (Vacation), David Diabo (Kahnawà:ke Labour Office (KLO) Training)
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: Iris Montour, Olivia Diabo (Office of the Council of Chiefs Coordinator), and Tyanna Kirby (Executive Assistant to Ohén:ton Í:rate ne Ratitsénhaienhs)
Housekeeping
- Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen recited by Arnold Boyer
- Out of Offices: Paul Rice May 19-22 (Travel to Toronto to host the First People’s Gaming Association (FPGA), Stephen McComber May 19-22 (Vacation), and David Diabo May 19-22 (KLO Training)
- Public Relations Items (5): Political update filming — Cody Diabo confirmed, Media requests, internal requests, and May Kahnawà:ke Stop initiative
- Minute Approval – March 30, 2026 & April 7, 2026 — Approved without any requested changes
- Request for change of venue – Knights of Columbus scheduled for May community meeting
- Invitation: Regional Committee on First Nations Languages Representatives Meeting scheduled for June 3, 2026– Melanie Morrison to attend
- Invitation: FUSION 2026 National Planning Conference in Montreal on July 7, 2026 – Stephen McComber to attend
- Invitation: Native American Economic Development Conference taking place June 16-17, 2026, at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California -– Declined
- Training Request: MCK Microsoft CoPilot course on Wednesday May 27th from 8:30am-4pm — Stephen McComber and Melanie Morrison to participate
- Impromptu item: Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL) Chiefs Assembly agenda and attendance — Scheduled for May 26-28 at the ALT Hotel in Montreal with Cody Diabo and Ross Montour to attend
- Jeremiah Johnson: Thursday: Mortgage Reconciliation; Turtle Bay Elders Lodge (TBEL) visit, Kahnawà:ke Legislative Services (KLS) Working Group; Friday: Kahnawà:ke Fire Brigade (KFB) operational update meetings, and May Kahnawà:ke Stop initiative from 8am-12pm, and Client Based Services sub-committee meetings
- Paul Rice: Tuesday: Hosting and attending the inaugural First Peoples Gaming Association (FPGA) Meeting in Toronto, meetings with Six Nations Gaming Commission (SNGC) and SBC Summit Canada gaming event attendance; Wednesday: Strategic Review Meeting, Regulatory Boards & Commissions and Labour (RBCL) Strategist meetings, and Attending SBC Summit Canada gaming event; Thursday: SBC Summit Canada Breakfast event. Speaking Panel and attending SBC Summit Canada, bi-Weekly Meeting with Kahnawà:ke Gaming Commission Chairperson, and Bill S241 and FPGA follow up meetings; Friday: Transport and User Fee Agreement (TUF) Negotiation, and Investment and Revenue Committee (IRC) meetings, afternoon flex
- Melanie Morrison: Thursday: TBEL visit; Friday: Transportation and User Fee negotiation meeting, KFB operational update, and Client based services committee team meetings
- Ryan Montour: Thursday: TBEL visit, Comprehensive Community Planning discussion, and Kahnawà:ke-Canada Relations internal meetings; Friday: May Kahnawà:ke Stop initiative from 8am-12pm, Investment Revenue Committee, Mortgage Reconciliation, KFB operational update, and CBS sub-committee meetings; Sunday: Gaming Working Group (GWG) special community meeting attendance at the Royal Canadian Legion Mohawk Branch 219 – Kahnawà:ke
- Jeffrey Diabo: Thursday: Kahnawà:ke Library meeting, and TBEL visit; Friday: May Kahnawà:ke Stop initiative from 8am-12pm
- Ross Montour: Wednesday: Environment Portfolio meetings; Thursday: TBEL visit, Terrapure working group, and Investment Revenue Committee, and McGill University discussion
- Tonya Perron: Tuesday: Goodman Cancer Institute phone call, and community wellness program appeal committee meetings; Thursday: TBEL visit, KLS working group meeting; Friday: Governance Portfolio team meeting, and Governance Advisory Team meeting (tentative)
- Arnold Boyer: Tuesday: Quebec Kidney Foundation press conference attendance at the Kahnawà:ke Office Complex; Thursday: TBEL visit, Terrapure Working Group, and Kahnawà:ke Shakotiia’takehnhas Community Services (KSCS) Board meetings; Friday: May Kahnawà:ke Stop initiative from 8am-12pm, afternoon flex
- Cody Diabo: Wednesday: Strategics; Thursday: Vacation; Friday: Vacation
Agenda Items:
Additions To Reserve (ATR) Updates
Presence of: Francis Walsh (MCK Legal Counsel), Veronica Leborgne (Director of Lands ), Alex Belser (KRR Strategist), Kahonwentha Stacey (KRR Strategist), Patrick Zachary (KRR Strategist), and Portfolio Lead: Cody Diabo
Discussion on exploring options for implementing art installations on the route 207 and surrounding the 162 acres located in St. Remi and St. Isidore. Additional discussions focused on the restoration process of the lands
Municipal Files Updates
Presence of: Trina C. Diabo (OCC General Manager), Kahonwentha Stacey (OCC Strategist), Patrick Zachary (OCC Strategist), Dawn Marquis-Deere (Interim-Executive Director), and File lead Ross Montour
Municipal file updates provided
Record of Decision (ROD) Litigation Update
Presence of: Joelle Perron-Thibodeau (MCK Legal Counsel), Francis Walsh (MCK Legal Counsel), Alan John Rice (Executive Operations Officer)
This item was Client Attorney Privilege & Confidential
Impromptu item: Public Safety discussion
Presence of: Jody Diabo (Assistant Chief of Peacekeepers), Lloyd Phillips (Commissioner of Public Security), Justus Polson-Lahache (Director of Public Relations Unit), Robyn Montour (Director of Public Safety), Alan John Rice (Executive Operations Officer), Mark Horne (Team Leader of Environmental Health Services of Kahnawà:ke Shakotiia’takehnhas Community Services), Trina C. Diabo (OCC General Manager), Joelle Perron-Thibodeau (MCK legal Counsel) and Portfolio Lead: Ryan Montour
Addressing public safety and environmental concerns surrounding potential events with large audiences in the community
Executive Office Updates
Presence of: Dawn Marquis-Deere (Interim-Executive Director)
Dawn Marquis-Deere provided updates on out of offices, Inflationary Benefit, QPP matters, and Blue Collar Park public service announcements
Ratitsénhaienhs Updates
Arnold Boyer provided updates on Meetings with KSCS Long-Term Reform for Child and Family Services (CFS), JCCBI discussion regarding Mercier Bridge cleanup and demobilization, installations of Orange Shirt Day banners, and the Green Space Project
Cody Diabo provided updates on meetings with Iroquois Caucus, Assembly of First Nations (AFN), ALTO Rail, and Major Projects Office (MPO)
Ryan Montour provided updates on the Regulatory Security Group, Playground property operations tour visit, and GWG/ MCK Friday discussions on Community Engagement regarding gaming
Ross Montour provided updates on the Onkwehonweh Project 1st Annual General Assembly
Tonya Perron provided updates on attending the Information Governance and AI and working group meetings and the Community Wellness Program Initiative Appeals Committee, discussions with KSCS Long-Term Reform for Child and Family Services (CFS) Jordan’s Principle funding, phone call conversation with the Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute to become an ambassador, and on McGill University Collaboration discussions for the Cure Momentum 2026 Synthese
Adjournment
Meeting closed at 3:45pm by Cody Diabo
