Meeting at Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke
In: Ratitsénhaienhs Ryan Montour (Chairperson), Jeremiah Johnson, Melanie Morrison, Jeffrey Diabo (remotely), David Diabo, Stephen McComber (AM only – medical appointment PM), Ross Montour, Arnold Boyer
Out: Ratitsénhaienhs Cody Diabo (Wellness), Tonya Perron (Wellness), Paul Rice (Travel)
Also Present: Jaime-Lynn Deere (Council Meeting Administrator), Abbey Diabo (Director of the Office of the Council of Chiefs) AM only, Lloyd Phillips (Chief Political Advisor), Gene Diabo (Public Relations), Dawn Marquis-Deere (Executive Administrative Officer/Interim Executive Director) AM only, and for Housekeeping only: Tyanna Kirby, Sarah Delisle, and Taiawentetie Hemlock (Executive Assistants to the Kahnawa’kehró:non Ratitsénhaienhs)
Housekeeping
- Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen by Jeremiah Johnson
- Public Relations Items: Ratsénhaienhs Report — Arnold Boyer confirmed
- Minutes for Approval for February 9 – Approved
- Summer Council Meeting Schedule for review – Last regular meeting June 22 (29 urgent matters only). Bi-weekly meetings resume from July 13 to August 31. Regular weekly meetings resume September 8
- CIRNAC Event – Cody Diabo – Deferred
- Travel Request – Paul Rice – Canadian Gaming Summit in Toronto, May 19-21, 2026 – Approved
- Land Allotment (1) – Approved by consensus
- Ratitsénhaienhs Kanien’kéha Language Class from noon to 1pm
- Jeremiah Johnson: Tuesday: Housing Reconciliation meeting; Wednesday: Attending soft launch of the Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language & Cultural Center (KORLCC) at the new Kanatahkwèn:ke building
- Melanie Morrison: Tuesday: Quebec Native Women unveiling of the MMIWG2s Mapping Project; Wednesday: Attending soft launch of the KORLCC at the new Kanatahkwèn:ke building; Thursday: Meeting with Federal Minister Mandy Gull-Masty, and a Client-based services meeting.
- Paul Rice: Monday – Thursday: In San Diego, California, to attend the 2026 Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention
- Ryan Montour: Monday: Peacekeeper Services Board meeting; Tuesday: Housing Reconciliation meeting; Wednesday: Wellness (AM), Aboriginal Financial Officer’s Association meeting (PM);Thursday: Meeting with Federal Minister Mandy Gull-Masty, Housing Reconciliation and Client-Based Services Committee meetings, and Animal Control Focus Group
- Jeffrey Diabo: Wednesday: In Toronto to attend Jay Treaty Border Crossing meetings on ‘experience’ and ‘entry of goods’; Thursday: Jay Treaty Border Crossing main table meeting, also in Toronto, Ontario
- David Diabo: Wednesday: Safety & Security, Intersectionality, and Governance meeting in Toronto, Ontario; Thursday: Safety & Security, Intersectionality, and Governance meeting in Toronto, Ontario, and Ile-aux-Tourtes Bridge meeting
- Stephen McComber: Wednesday: Attending soft launch of the KORLCC at the new Kanatahkwèn:ke building; Thursday: Kahnawà:ke Collective Impact meeting
- Ross Montour: Wednesday: Alto Working Group, Terrapure Working Group, and Archaeology meetings; Thursday: Seigneury of Sault St. Louis (SSSL) meeting, Weekly Consultation Update, and Ile-aux-Tourtes Bridge Consultation meeting
- Tonya Perron: Wednesday: MNP Workshop Development of Services Office,attending soft launch of the KORLCC at the new Kanatahkwèn:ke building; Thursday: Donations Policy Working Group, Kahnawà:ke Legal Services Working Group, Onkwata’karitáhtshera meetings, and Terms of Reference Community Presentation at the Golden Age Club
- Arnold Boyer: Tuesday: Ministère des Transport/Ville de Chateauguay Industrial Boulevard Project meeting; Wednesday: Meeting with Jacques Cartier Champlain Bridges Inc.; Thursday: Meeting with Federal Minister Mandy Gull-Masty, and Onkwata’karitáhtshera
- Cody Diabo: Tuesday: Memorandum of Understanding Signing with W8banki; Wednesday: Alignment, and Terrapure working group meetings; Thursday: Meeting with Federal Minister Mandy Gull-Masty, SSSL meeting, Terms of Reference, community presentation
Agenda Items
Mohawk Council Executive Directive (MCED) – Request for Amendments to the Council of Chiefs Disciplinary Process
Presence of Dawn Marquis-Deere (Interim Executive Director) and Marylee Armstrong (Director of Legal Services), Portfolio Lead: Cody Diabo.
Deferred to a Strategic Discussion
MCED – St. Lawrence Regional Assessment – Approval of Terms of Reference
Presence of Patrick Ragaz (Director of Kahnawà:ke Environment Protection Office), Timothy Law (General Manager Environment Protection Office), Francis Walsh (Legal Services), and Alan John Rice (Executive Operations Officer), Portfolio Lead: Ross Montour. Council of Chiefs requested to approve the Terms of Reference for the Regional Assessment of the St. Lawrence River (RASL), and that the Executive Infrastructure Officer be designated as the signatory for contribution agreements and grants providing funding and other documents related to MCK’s participation in the RASL. Passed by consensus
Confidential Item
Presence of Steven Diabo (Land Management Technician), Patrick Ragaz (Director of Kahnawà:ke Environment Protection Office), Georgia MacLeod (Coordinator, Kahnawà:ke/Canada Relations, OCC), Portfolio Lead: David Diabo. This item is Confidential
ROD – 2026 Kahnawà:ke Harvest Summit
Presence of Iris Montour (General Manager of Kanien’kehá:ka Rights & Research), Portfolio Lead: David Diabo. Request for Chief and Council to approve a budget of $250,000 from the general reserves to support the 2026 Kahnawà:ke Harvest Summit to cover the costs for travel, accommodation, and hospitality for invited Chiefs, speakers, and presenters. Passed by consensus
MCED – Portfolio Re-Allocation
Portfolio Lead: Cody Diabo. Deferred
Executive Office Updates
Presence of: Dawn Marquis-Deere (Interim-Executive Director) No Updates
Ratitsénhaienhs Updates
Jeremiah Johnson updated on Community-ship training, External Government Relations (EGR) portfolio meeting, and Saturday’s Community meeting
Melanie Morrison updated on Community-ship training, an upcoming visit from the First Nations Executive Education Council, and Saturday’s Community meeting
David Diabo updated on Community-ship training and Land Purchases
Arnold Boyer updated on Community-ship training, a Kidney Foundation of Montreal meeting for an upcoming 5K Walk, the Route 207 Rehabilitation Project, and works on Industrial Boulevard in Chateauguay
Ryan Montour updated on Community-ship training, EGR portfolio meeting, Saturday’s Community meeting, and a meeting with the Commission de Protection du Territoire Agricole du Quebec
Jeffrey Diabo updated on Community-ship training, EGR portfolio meeting, Saturday’s Community meeting, and Education issues regarding Jordan’s Principle
Ross Montour updated on various EGR issues
Adjournment
Meeting closed by Ross Montour at 3:53pm
