Meeting at Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke
In: Ratitsénhaienhs Ryan Montour (Chairperson), Cody Diabo, Jeremiah Johnson, Paul Rice, Melanie Morrison, Jeffrey Diabo, David Diabo, Ross Montour, Tonya Perron
Out: Arnold Boyer (bereavement), Stephen McComber (wellness)
Also Present: Jaime-Lynn Deere (Council Meeting Administrator), Tehosterihens Deer (Public Relations Specialist, Political), Kyle Delisle (Executive Financial Officer, in for Dawn Marquis-Deere, interim executive director) and for Housekeeping only: Olivia Diabo (Office of the Council of Chiefs [OCC] Coordinator), Iris Montour (General Manager of Kanien’kehá:ka Rights & Research), Mia Lucero-Armstrong (Rights Based Researcher Summer Student) Trina C. Diabo (OCC General Manager), Kelly Marquis (OCC Strategist), and Tyanna Kirby (Executive Assistant to Ohén:ton Í:rate ne Ratitsénhaienhs)
Housekeeping
- Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen recited by Paul Rice
- Out of Offices: Cody Diabo from July 12-16 (Assembly First Nations General Assembly); Paul Rice from July 13-17 (vacation); Melanie Morrison from July 11-18 (United Nations [UN] travel); Jeffrey Diabo July 10 and from July 13-16 (vacation); David Diabo July 10 (heritage meetings); Ross Montour from July 8-10 (vacation); Tonya Perron from July 11-18 (UN travel), July 30 (wellness), from August 6-7 (vacation), and August 26-27 (wellness); Ryan Montour on July 8-10, 16,17 (vacation), and August 24-28 (vacation)
- Public Relations Items: Ratitsénhaienhs Report: Ross Montour confirmed; David Diabo and Melanie Morrison, and Tonya Perron confirmed for MCK Friday
- Minute Approvals: May 19 & June 29, 2026 — Minutes approved
- Review of Ratitsénhaienhs summer schedule — Reviewed and approved
- Turtle Bay Elders Lodge BBQ Update – July 9, 2026 — Event details and deliverables discussed
- Invitation: 30th edition of Elder’s Gathering in Naskapi Innu Matimekush Lac John from September 10-20 — David Diabo and Jeremiah Johnson to follow up with Attended date to be determined
- Invitation: 2nd Annual Tribal Emergency Management Conference in Temecula California at Pechanga Resort Casino — David Diabo declines due to scheduling
- Invitation: 15-year celebration of Kiuna College on October 8, 2026 — Ross Montour to follow up
- Request for information: Representatives Meeting Regional Committee on First Nations Languages (RCFNL) — Jeffrey Diabo to follow up on request
- (2) Incoming letters from community members; (1) Letter read and acknowledged; (2) Letter requests for support to the 6th annual World Nomad Games in Kyrgyz Republic — Tyanna Kirby to respond to both letters
Tuesday: All-day Strategic discussions
- Jeremiah Johnson: Wednesday: Tioweró:ton, Artificial Intelligence (AI) Information Governance, MCK engagement on Bill S2, and Canadian Pacific Kansas City vegetative management meetings; Thursday: Turtle Bay Elders Lodge (TBEL) BBQ, Kahnawà:ke Legislative Services (KLS) Working Group; Friday: Community Initiatives Fund (CIF) Policy review meetings
- Paul Rice: Wednesday: Tioweró:ton meeting; Thursday: TBEL BBQ; Friday: out of office
- Melanie Morrison: Wednesday: Tioweró:ton, and UN advocacy meetings; Thursday: TBEL BBQ, St. Francis Xavier Mission Catholic Church tour invitation attendance; Friday: MCK Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI) monthly meeting (tentative)
- Ryan Montour: Tuesday: Tewatohnhi’saktha Board meeting; Wednesday-Friday: out of office
- Jeffrey Diabo: Wednesday: Tioweró:ton meeting; Thursday: TBEL BBQ; Friday: Meeting with community member
- David Diabo: Wednesday: Tioweró:ton meeting; Thursday: TBEL BBQ
- Ross Montour: Tuesday: Legal meeting; Wednesday-Friday: Out of office
- Tonya Perron: Wednesday: AI Information Governance, Tioweró:ton, UN, and Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre Board meetings; Thursday: Donation Policy application revision meeting, TBEL BBQ, and KLS Working Group; Friday: Relationship Framework Working Group (tentative), and meeting on Jordan’s Principle (tentative)
- Cody Diabo: Wednesday: Emergency strategics meeting (virtual), Hydro-Quebec meeting with CEO, Environment file internal discussion; Thursday: Terrapure Working Group, TBEL BBQ, and Iroquois Caucus coordinator meeting; Friday: Relationship Framework Working Group
Agenda Items:
Mohawk Council Executive Direction (MCED): (2) Band Transfer Requests – OKKR
Presence of: Melanie Gilbert (virtual) (Office of the Kanien’kehá:ka of Kahnawà:ke Registry General Manager), Portfolio Lead: Jeremiah Johnson
Request to the Council of Chiefs to approve two (2) band transfers to the Kanien’keháka of Kahnawà:ke Federal List, further to the previous addition to the KKR. — Approved by Consensus
Discussion: Transport and User Fee Agreement
Presence of: Robyn Montour (Director of Public Safety), Francis Walsh (Legal Counsel), William Lahache (OCC Strategist), Portfolio Lead: Paul Rice
The item is Client Attorney Privilege and confidential
Executive Office Updates
Presence of: Dawn Marquis-Deere (Interim-Executive Director)
Deferred
Ratitsénhaienhs Updates
Presence of: Tonia Jacobs (OCC Strategist), Trina C. Diabo (OCC General Manager), William Lahache (OCC Strategist), Georgia MacLeod (OCC Strategist)
Tonya Perron provided updates on the selection of Judges, Community Justice Center, and Governance Advisory Tea
Ross Montour provided updates on the Return of Lands press conference
Jeffrey Diabo provided updates on the Kahnawà:ke Library, and community member letter of support
Ryan Montour provided updates on Animal Control regulations, Gaming, External Government Relations, and Housing
Melanie Morrison provided updates on the Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Board of Directors meeting
Paul Rice provided updates on Transport and User Fee meetings, CPKC discussions, Regulatory Boards and Commissions, Gaming Working Group, Economic Development meeting, Administrative Affairs, Revenue Business Development Unit, Tolls engagement, and Infrastructure, and Transport & Operations meetings
Cody Diabo provided updates on site visit with Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) Rebecca Alty, Iroquois Caucus discussions, and St-Rémi land matters
Adjournment
Meeting closed at 2:06pm by Cody Diabo
In-Camera session held after Council Adjournment
