Council Communiqué – Monday, 16 Enniskó:wa/March 2026

communique

Meeting at Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke

In: Ratitsénhaienhs Cody Diabo (Chairperson), Jeremiah Johnson, Paul Rice, Ryan Montour, Jeffrey Diabo, David Diabo, Stephen McComber, Ross Montour, Tonya Perron, Arnold Boyer

Out: Nitsénhaienhs Iohahí:io Delisle (Wellness), Melanie Morrison (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), Tehosterihens Deer (Public Relations Specialist, Political), Dawn Marquis-Deere (Executive Administrative Officer/Interim Executive Director), and for Housekeeping only: Sarah Delisle and Taiawentetie Hemlock (Executive Assistants to the Kahnawa’kehró:non Ratitsénhaienhs)

Housekeeping

  • Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen by Paul Rice
  • Public Relations Items: Ratsénhaienhs Report — Tonya Perron confirmed / Ross Montour and Paul Rice confirmed for MCK Friday
  • Invitation as speaker for April 16, 2026: Montreal Climate Summit — Stephen McComber & Ross Montour to attend
  • Invitation: The Electrify Society Summit at Concordia University in Montreal on May 5, 2026 — Stephen McComber to attend
  • Gaming invitation: Enoch Cree Nation in Saskatchewan from April 27th – May 1 — Cody Diabo and Paul Rice to attend
  • 2026 Harvest Summit Update – David Diabo presents lodging contract — Approved
  • Grant request and signage approval of Indigenous Habitat Participation Program (IHPP) grant agreement (MCED) for Kanien’kehá:ka Rights and Research — Approved
  • (3) Land Allotments — Deferred
  • Jeremiah Johnson: Wednesday: Social Supports Development Portfolio meeting; Thursday: Kahnawà:ke Legislative Services (KLS) working group
  • Paul Rice: Wednesday: Strategics review, Finance Administration and Operations (FAO), Office of the Council of Chiefs (OCC) internal, and Multi-Purpose Building meetings; Thursday: Investment Revenue Committee (IRC), Economic Development Portfolio, Mercier Bridge design sub-committee meetings, and Multi-Purpose Building donor announcement; Friday: Relationship framework, Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated, Phone-call with Senator Scott Tannas, and Ombudsman working session meetings 
  • Ryan Montour: Wednesday: Kahnawà:ke-Canada Relations, Land fund update, and Social Supports Development Portfolio meetings; Thursday: Economic Development Portfolio, IRC, meetings; Friday: OCC Outing 
  • Jeffrey Diabo: Wednesday: Quebec Revenue Tax exemption, and Mayor of Delson scheduled meetings; Thursday: Economic Development Portfolio, IRC, and Community Member meetings; Friday: Wellness 
  • David Diabo: Wednesday: Kahnawà:ke Labor Code, and Land fund update meetings; Friday: Jay Treaty Border Alliance safety and security table discussion and OCC Outing 
  • Stephen McComber: Wednesday: Kahnawà:ke Collective Impact (KCI) visit to Kanesatake; Thursday: KCI Meeting; Friday: OCC Outing 
  • Ross Montour: Wednesday: ALTO Rail meeting, Land fund update, Terrapure working group, interview with Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, and W8banaki virtual meetings; Thursday: Montreal port authority consultation meeting; Friday: ALTO Rail funding agreement 
  • Tonya Perron: Wednesday: FAO, OCC Internal, and Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre Board of Directors meetings; Thursday: Internal OCC meeting, and K103.7FM noon hour talk show attendance, KLS working group meeting; Friday: Relationship framework working group, Ombudsman working session meetings, and Ratsénhaienhs Report filming; Saturday: Ratitsénhaienhs Terms of reference presentation
  • Arnold Boyer: Monday: Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable meeting; Wednesday: Kahnawà:ke Shakotiia’takéhnhas Community Services (KSCS) ethics sub-committee, Terrapure working group, Social Supports development Portfolio, and KSCS Board of Directors meetings; Thursday: 2026 Kidney Walk preparations, and Mercier Bridge design sub-committee meetings; Friday: Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated bi-weekly meeting
  • Cody Diabo: Wednesday: Strategics review, FAO, Terrapure working group, and OCC Internal meetings; Friday: Confidential item, Relationship framework working group, and meetings with JFK Quarry; Saturday: Ratitsénhaienhs Terms of Reference presentation

Agenda Items

Meeting with External Legal Counsel
Presence of: IMK Legal Attorneys
This item is Client Attorney Privilege

Land Purchase
Presence of: Veronica Leborgne (Director of Lands), Steven Diabo (Land Management Technician), Patrick Ragaz (Director of Kahnawake Environmental Protection Office), Chris Stacey (Executive Infrastructure Officer), Portfolio Lead: David Diabo
This item is Confidential

Confidential Discussion
Presence of: Justus Polson-Lahache (Director of Public Relations), Katie Spillane (Legal Counsel), Portfolio Lead: Cody Diabo
This item is Confidential

Mohawk Council Executive Directive: Suspension of Sections of the Internal Complaints Process
Presence of: Portfolio Lead: Cody Diabo
Issues were identified with certain sections of the Internal Complaints Process; therefore, the table suspended them. Council will handle current complaints while Governance Portfolio team continues to work on the policy — Approved with one objection from Ratsénhaienhs Jeremiah Johnson to the decision

Executive Office Updates
Presence of: Dawn Marquis-Deere (Interim-Executive Director)
Deferred

Ratitsénhaienhs Updates
Deferred

Adjournment
Meeting closed by Cody Diabo at 4:23pm

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Easter Holiday office closure

Friday, April 3rd & Monday, April 6th, 2026

All administrative offices of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke will be closed.

 

Please note the following changes to Waste Management Department services during this period:

 

  • Friday, April 3rd – Administrative offices closed
  • Monday, April 6th – Waste Management services resume as usual; however, there will be no cardboard drop‑offs
  • Monday, April 6th – Transfer Depot will operate with reduced hours, from 8am to 2pm

 

Garbage pickup service will continue through the holiday without interruption.

 

All essential services will remain operational throughout the office closures. Regular administrative office hours will resume on Tuesday, April 7th, at 8:30am.