Council Communiqué – Monday, 31 Seskéha/August 2026

communique

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

Also Present: Tehosterihens Deer (Public Relations Specialist, Political), Dawn Marquis-Deere (Executive Director), and for Housekeeping only: Iris Montour (General Manager of Kanien’kehá:ka Rights & Research), Tricia Diabo (OCC Admin Support Coordinator), Tyanna Kirby (Executive Assistant to Ohén:ton Í:rate ne Ratitsénhaienhs), Sarah Delisle and Taiawentetie Hemlock (Executive Assistants to the Kahnawa’kehró:non Ratitsénhaienhs)

Housekeeping

  • Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen by Cody Diabo
  • Out of Offices: Stephen McComber on September 4 (vacation), Tonya Perron on September 2 (PM)- September 4 (vacation), Jeffrey Diabo and Arnold Boyer on September 3-4 (vacation)
  • Public Relations Items: Ratitsénhaienhs Report; Paul Rice confirmed (Rescheduled); K1037 MCK Friday Cody Diabo confirmed 
  • Invitation to Visit the Canada Border Services College in Rigaud on September 28— Cody Diabo to attend
  • Assembly First Nations Quebec-Labrador Chiefs Assembly November 3-5 — Jeffrey Diabo to attend
  • Let’s Grow Canada & The Logic (September 14 in Montreal) — Stephen McComber to attend
  • Visiting Kahnawà:ke During the Puamun Meshkenu (The Path of a Thousand Dreams) Expedition — Health Portfolio (Tonya Perron) representative to follow up
  • Review of letter to community leadership: Letter addresses the need and desire for the development of an Indigenous-led post-secondary institution — Jeffrey Diabo and Ross Montour to follow up per Education Portfolio
  • Save the Date: Information Governance & AI Summit at the Knights of Columbus – October 6, 2026 — Melanie Morrison, Ross Montour, and Tonya Perron all to attend
  • Support Letter: Request for an MCK Letter of support for a community elder attending the 6th Annual World Nomad Games in Kyrgyz Republic — Jeffrey Diabo and Sarah Delisle to follow up
  • Land Allotments (6): DEFERRED
  • Jeremiah Johnson: Friday: Meeting with a community member, and Hydro Kinetic turbine Consultation Committee meetings 
  • Paul Rice: Tuesday: Tewatohnhi’saktha board meeting; Wednesday: Review of strategics; Thursday: Kahnawà:ke Sovereign Wealth Management (KSWM) Board, Revenue & Business Development Unit (RBDU), and Kahnawà:ke Sovereign Wealth Fund Limited Partnership (KSWF LP) diagnostic presentation meetings; Friday: MCK Jaques-Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI), and RBDU KSWFLP meetings 
  • Melanie Morrison: Wednesday: Review of strategics, MCK Indigenous relations meeting with City of Montreal representatives, Kahnawà:ke Cultural Arts Center (KCAC) Committee building; Thursday: Lacolle Border interior/exterior Indigenous artwork presentation; Friday: MCK JCCBI meetings
  • Ryan Montour: Wednesday: RBDU restructuring stakeholder meeting; Thursday: KSWM Board, and RBDU/KSWFLP presentation meetings; Friday: RBDU/KSWFLP presentation meetings
  • Jeffrey Diabo: Wednesday: Specific claim, and Kahnawà:ke-Quebec Relations (KQR) meetings
  • David Diabo: Wednesday: Review of strategics; Thursday: Information Governance and Artificial Intelligence (AI), and JFK meetings
  • Stephen McComber: Wednesday: MCK Indigenous relations meeting with City of Montreal representatives; Thursday: meeting with KEPO; Friday: out of office 
  • Ross Montour: Wednesday: MCK Indigenous relations meeting with City of Montreal representatives, meeting in City Hall with the Mayor of Montreal; Thursday: Municipalités regionales de comté (MRC), and JFK meetings; Friday: Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) relationship meeting (tentative), and Hydro Kinetic turbine Consultation Committee meetings 
  • Tonya Perron: Wednesday: Review of strategics; Wednesday (PM)-Friday: out of office 
  • Arnold Boyer: Wednesday: Review of strategics; Thursday-Friday: out of office 
  • Cody Diabo: Wednesday: Weekly project meeting, and meeting in City Hall with the Mayor of Montreal; Thursday: JFK, and RBDU/KSWFLP presentation meetings; Friday: RBDU/KSWFLP presentation meetings

Agenda Items:

Record of Decision (ROD): Additional Insurance for Employees That Do Not Contribute to QPP
Presence of: Dawn Marquis-Deere (Executive Director), Kyle Delisle (Executive Financial Officer), Portfolio Lead: Paul Rice
Confidential item approved by consensus

Mohawk Council Executive Directive (MCED): Project Submission- PlanIT Consulting & Communications
Presence of: Tammy Delaronde (Tewatohnhi’saktha Executive Director), Daryl Leclaire (Tewatohnhi’saktha Director of Business Services), Portfolio Lead: Ryan Montour
The discussion is confidential though the request for Tewatohnhi’saktha to seek an MCED from the MCK in support of a new project submission to the Indigenous Initiatives Fund (IIF) IV for PlanIt Consulting & Communications was approved with consensus declared. Paul Rice abstained due to owning a competing consulting firm and Jeffrey Diabo abstained due to conflict of interest due to familial relations

ROD: Request for approval of recognition award in the amount of $5,000 for the late Frank Marquis
Presence of: Veronica Leborgne (Director of Lands), Lanny Jacobs (GM Land Management), Portfolio Lead: David Diabo
Request for approval of the first recognition award in the amount of $5,000 for the late Frank Marquis’ estate through the OCC. This fund will be awarded in conjunction with the revamped Lori Niioié:ren Jacobs Memorial Recognition Award, which is presented to a member of the community who exemplifies the qualities of dedication, perseverance and volunteerism that contribute positively to the betterment of Kahnawà:ke — Approved by consensus 

White and Montour Case
Presence of: Marylee Armstrong (MCK Legal Counsel), Katie Spillane (MCK Legal Counsel), Francis Walsh (MCK Legal Counsel), Portfolio Chief: Cody Diabo
This item is Client Attorney Privileged & Confidential

Ile aux Tourtes Bridge litigation – DEFERRED
Presence of: Katie Spillane (MCK Legal Counsel), Francis Walsh (MCK Legal Counsel), Portfolio Lead: Ross Montour 

MCED: Approval of Kahnawà:ke capital contribution in the acquisition of the Sheraton Center Toronto Hotel via the Kahnawà:ke Sovereign Wealth Fund LP.
Presence of: Kyle Delisle (Executive Financial Officer), Keisha Goodleaf (Director of Revenue and Business Development Unit), Brandon McComber (Business Analyst), Eric Doucet (MCK Legal Counsel), Portfolio Lead: Paul Rice
This item is Client Attorney Privileged & Confidential. Though the request to pursue this initiative was approved by majority with one objection (Melanie Morrison) and one abstention (Paul Rice)

Executive Office Updates
Presence of: Dawn Marquis-Deere (Executive Director)
Dawn Marquis-Deere provided updates on MCK Compensation, Housing, Blue Collar Park RFP extension, out of offices, St-Remi demolition selection process, Orange Shirts, and Policy updates

Adjournment
Meeting closed at 4:25pm by Cody Diabo

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office closure

Monday, June 22nd, 2026

  • No Cardboard drop-offs
  • Transfer Depot will be closed
  • Recycling, compost, and cardboard pickup service will continue as usual

Regular office hours will resume on Tuesday, June 23rd, at 8:30am.

Labor Day office closure

Monday, September 7, 2026

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke wishes to inform the community that all its administrative offices will be closed for Rotiio’ténion Raonenhnísera, Labor Day on Monday, September 7th.

Service Schedule for Labor Day:

  • Recycling & Compost CollectionWill continue as usual – Please place bins curbside by 7am
  • Transfer DepotCLOSED for the day
  • Town GarageCLOSED – All cardboard drop-offs postponed to Tuesday, September 8th

 

All essential services will remain in operation. Regular business hours will resume on Tuesday, September 8th, at 8:30am.