Meeting at Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke
In: Ratitsénhaienhs Chairperson Cody Diabo (departed for other meetings), Jeremiah Johnson, Paul Rice, Melanie Morrison, Ryan Montour, Jeffrey Diabo, David Diabo, Stephen McComber, Tonya Perron (departed during housekeeping, returned at 1pm), Arnold Boyer.
Out: Ratsénhaienhs Iohahiio Delisle (Vacation in AM, Wellness in PM), Ross Montour (Marriage Leave).
Also Present: Jaime-Lynn Deere (Council Meeting Administrator), Abbey Diabo (Director of the Office of the Council of Chiefs), Justus Polson-Lahache (Public Relations); for Housekeeping only: Taiawentetie Hemlock (Executive Assistant); and for Ratitsénhaienhs Updates only: Tricia Diabo (Executive Assistant and Administrative Support Coordinator).
Housekeeping
- Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen by Cody Diabo.
- Cheque Signers: Paul Rice and Tonya Perron. For week of August 25: Paul Rice and Melanie Morrison.
- Public Relations Items: Ratitsénhaienhs Report (Arnold Boyer), MCK Friday (Arnold Boyer and Jeremiah Johnson), Press Scrum (August 29 at 10:30am).
- Minutes for Approval: April 7 – Approved, April 22 and 28: Deferred.
- Invitation: Request to attend St. Lawrence and Great Lakes Leaders Roundtable in Montreal on September 29, 2025. Paul Rice to attend – Approved.
- Request to appoint an MCK liaison to the Church Committee – Approved.
- Jeremiah Johnson – Wednesday: Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited Preparatory; Thursday: Kahnawà:ke Legislative Services (KLS) Working Group; Friday: Vacation; Wednesday (August 27): Community meeting; Thursday: Environment Portfolio; Friday: Press Scrum.
- Paul Rice – Wednesday: Finance, Administration and Operations (FAO) Committee, Kahnawà:ke Gaming Commission Chairperson bi-weekly update, Capital Campaign and First Nation Gaming Summit (related to Bill S-268) meetings; Thursday: Heritage Portfolio, MCK/Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges, Incorporated (JCCBI) bi-weekly meeting; Friday: Investment and Revenue Committee, Economic Development Portfolio Team and MCK Golf Activity; Wednesday (August 27) Multi-Purpose Building Finance and Technical Committee, Capital Campaign and Community meeting; Thursday: External Government Relations (EGR) Portfolio; Friday: Press Scrum. Scheduled vacation in April 20-24, 2026.
- Melanie Morrison – Wednesday: FAO Committee, Language and Culture Network and Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center Board of Directors; Thursday: Heritage Portfolio, JCCBI bi-weekly; Friday: Gerald Alfred Oral History Project, MCK Golf Activity; Wednesday (August 27): Multi-Purpose Finance and Technical Committee, Capital Campaign weekly meeting, Multi-Purpose Building Committee, and Community meeting; Thursday: EGR Portfolio; Friday: Press Scrum.
- Ryan Montour – Tuesday: Hot Mix Asphalt Consultation at 6pm at Golden Age Club; Wednesday: Tobacco Kiosk; Thursday: Peacekeeper Services Board; Friday: Investment Revenue Committee, Housing Reconciliation Meeting, MCK Golf Activity; Monday (August 25): Kahnawà:ke/Canada Relations (KCR); Tuesday: K1037 Radio appearance for Tobacco; Wednesday: Communtiy meeting, Community Prevention Action Group; Thursday: EGR Portfolio Team; Friday: Wellness.
- Jeffrey Diabo – Wednesday: Tobacco Kiosk, United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples meeting; Thursday: Justice Canada; Friday: MCK Golf Activity; Tuesday (August 26): K1037 Radio appearance for Tobacco; Wednesday: Assembly of First Nations, Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL) Quebec Constitution (tentative); Thursday: EGR Portfolio.
- David Diabo – Thursday: Kanien’kehá:ka Rights and Research Consultation; Friday: MCK Golf Activity; Wednesday (August 27): Internal meeting with Ministry of Natural Resources and Fauna, Tioweró:ton Committee, Margaret D’Youville Wildlife Reserve, and Community meeting; Thursday: EGR portfolio, K1037 Radio appearance; Friday: Press Scrum, Tioweró:ton meeting.
- Stephen McComber – Wednesday: Engagement at Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre (KMHC); Thursday: Heritage Portfolio; Friday: MCK Golf Activity; Saturday: Attending Festival in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue; Wednesday (August 27): Community meeting.
- Tonya Perron – Wednesday: FAO Committee, Governance Advisory Team; Thursday: KLS Working Group; Friday: MCK Golf Activity. Vacation August 25-29.
- Arnold Boyer – Wednesday: Hydro-Québec and Waste Management (Tree trimming), Onkwata’karitáhtshera Elders visit, Engagement at KMHC; Thursday: Kahnawà:ke Shakotiia’takehnhas Community Services Board of Directors, JCCBI bi-monthly; Friday: MCK Golf Activity. Vacation August 25-29.
- Cody Diabo – Monday: Meeting with Special Ministerial Representative Deborah Corber; Wednesday to Friday: Vacation; Tuesday (August 26): Seigneury of Sault St. Louis Joint Meeting, Iroquois Caucus meeting; Wednesday: Review of Strategic discussions, Egyptian Salt Project, and Community meeting; Thursday: EGR Portfolio; Friday: Press Scrum. Week of September 1, 2025, travelling to Winnipeg to attend Assembly of First Nations.
Land Allotments (2) – Approved.
Mohawk Council Executive Directive: Corrections Services Canada Authorized Signing of Memorandum of Agreement with MCK
Presence of Lloyd Phillips (Commissioner of Public Safety) and Petal McComber (Supervisor of Community Offender Reintegration). Portfolio Lead: Ratsénhaienhs Ryan Montour. Request to approve the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement with Correction Services Canada, providing additional funding and formal recognition of the MCK Section 84 Team, providing community re-integration services for Kahnawa’kehró:non that have committed criminal offences and served prison terms. Passed by consensus (Cody Diabo and Tonya Perron were not present).
Mohawk Council Executive Directive: Band Transfers (2)
Presence of Melanie Gilbert (Office of the Kahnawà:ke Kanien’kehá:ka Registry General Manager) and Kiera Beauvais (Office of the Kahnawà:ke Kanien’kehá:ka Registry Officer). Portfolio Lead: Ratsénhaienhs Jeremiah Johnson. Request to approve the transfer of two individuals recognized as Kanien’kehá:ka of Kahnawà:ke, to the Mohawks of Kahnawà:ke Federal List. Both MCEDs passed by consensus (Tonya Perron was not present). David Diabo and Jeffrey Diabo abstained on one MCED due to personal relationship with individual.
Mohawk Council Executive Directive: Land Designation – Community Justice Center
Presence of Shotehra Rice (Justice Development Technician), Theresa Delisle (Justice Services General Manager), Steven Diabo (Land Management Technician). Portfolio Lead: Ratsénhaienhs David Diabo. Request to approve the designation of a portion of Reserve Lot 56-3-2 Block “B” (Parcel E), for the exclusive use of Justice Services for the placement of a Community Justice Center. A portion of Parcel E is to be used for the temporary Justice Center and the remainder would be used for the permanent facility in the future. Passed by consensus (Tonya Perron was not present).
Mohawk Council Executive Directive: Funding for Special Needs Students – Jordan’s Principle Issue
Presence of Kahonwentha Stacey (Office of the Council of Chiefs Project Leader). Portfolio Lead: Ohén:ton Í:rate ne Ratitsénhaienhs Cody Diabo, Portfolio holders: Nitsénhaienhs Jeffrey Diabo and Ross Montour. Request to approve a one-time payment to cover the balance of school tuition for twenty-five (25) special needs students, as a result of delays from funding through Jordan’s Principle. The funds would cover the remaining tuition costs for the 2025-2026 academic year, totalling $325,754.85, on the condition that the amounts are repaid from Indigenous Services Canada by end of fiscal 2025-2026. Passed by consensus.
Ratitsénhaienhs Updates
Jeremiah Johnson: Issue regarding the Kahnawà:ke Kanien’kehá:ka Registry, Kahnawà:ke Legislative Services, the Kahnawà:ke Occupational Safety and Health Law, Kahnawà:ke Residency Law, Alcoholic Beverages Control Law, and governance.
Melanie Morrison: Updated on Indigenous Language conference, revitalization efforts.
Jeffrey Diabo: Updated on communication activities regarding the Kahnawà:ke Tobacco Law, AFNQL and education, and Indigenous Real Estate event.
David Diabo: Updated on land management issues that need to be address by Indigenous Services Canada, Harvesting Summit
Tonya Perron: Updated on Alcoholic Beverages Control Board nominations, status on the Kahnawà:ke Residency Law in regard to eviction, and delays on processing wills and estates at Indigenous Services Canada.
Arnold Boyer: Kahnawà:ke Hunters Lacrosse donations provided through the Community Wellness Initiative, Hydro-Quebec trimming to begin September 15, Kahnawà:ke Labor Office activities regarding St. Lawrence Seaway Lift Bridge and Pedestrian Bridge, and Mercier Bridge closures discussion with MTMD and the Kahnawà:ke Mohawk Peacekeepers.
Cody Diabo: Updated on KCR discussions with Special Ministerial Representative, toll project.
Adjournment
Closing by Cody Diabo. Meeting adjourned at 3:13pm
