Meeting at Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke
In: Ratitsénhaienhs Cody Diabo (am only), Arnold Boyer, Ross Montour, Stephen McComber (am only), David Diabo, Jeffrey Diabo, Melanie Morrison (am only), Paul Rice, Ryan Montour, Jeremiah Johnson, Tonya Perron (am only)
Out: Ratitsénhaienhs Iohahí:io Delisle (Wellness), Cody Diabo (HR matters pm), Melanie Morrison (HR matters pm), Tonya Perron (HR matters pm)
Also Present: Meagan Ottereyes (Council Meeting Administrator), Tricia Diabo (Administrative Support Coordinator), Gene Diabo (Public Relations); and for Housekeeping only: Sarah Delisle and Tyanna Kirby (Executive Assistants)
Housekeeping
- Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen by Cody Diabo
- Cheque Signers: Paul Rice, Tonya Perron
- Invitation – 2nd Canadian Division Speaking event May 20-23, 2025 – Cody Diabo Declined
- Native American Economic Development Conference – Chief Ryan Montour Approved
- Invitation – Chateauguay Kidney Walk- June 1, 2025 – Chief Arnold Boyer Accepted
- Invitation – Commemoration of the 1775 American siege of Fort Saint John August 15 – 17, 2025 Accepted
- Minute Approvals – October 1 (Passed), 21 (Passed), & 28, 2024 (Deferred)
- Public Relations Items: Ratitsénhaienhs Report – Paul Rice (Thursday, March 13)
- Jeremiah Johnson: Wednesday: Route 207 discussion, Cannabis Working Group; Thursday: Cannabis File, Friday: Housing Press Conference, Air Quality meeting, Wellness in the afternoon
- Paul Rice: Wednesday: Multi-Purpose Building (KMPB) capital campaign, and Gaming Commission weekly meeting; Thursday: Kahnawà:ke Quebec Relations (KQR) Transport Sectoral Table meeting, potential wind farm project meeting; Friday: Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK)/Jacques Cartier & Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI) coordination meeting
- Melanie Morrison: Wednesday: Trauma Informed Approach training, Route 207 discussion, KMPB capital campaign, and Building Committee meetings; Thursday: KQR Transport Sectoral Table meeting; Friday: MCK/JCCBI coordination meeting
- David Diabo: Wednesday: Land Purchase Process, and Harvest Team strategic planning; Thursday: Animal Control meeting; Friday: Indigenous Rights and Research (IRR) meeting
- Ross Montour: Wednesday: Route 207 discussion, Hydro Quebec Relationship Agreement meeting, Hunting strategic meeting; Thursday: Northvolt meeting, St. Lawrence River (SLR) consultation meeting, Seigneury of Sault Saint Louis internal team meeting; Friday: IRR meeting
- Tonya Perron: Wednesday: Cannabis Working Group; Thursday: Cannabis file and Governance advisory meetings
- Arnold Boyer: Wednesday: SLR consultation meeting, KQR Transport Sectoral Table meeting; Friday: MCK/JCCBI coordination meeting, vacation April 7 – 11
- Stephen McComber: Monday:University of Montreal Women’s Day presentation
- Jeffrey Diabo: Thursday: External Government Relations (EGR) Portfolio Team meeting; Friday: IRR meeting, Wellness March 21 & 28
- Ryan Montour: Wednesday:Housing Press Conference prep meeting; Thursday: EGR meeting; Friday: Housing Press Conference
- Cody Diabo: Wednesday: Housing Press Conference prep, and Grand Chief’s Office meeting; Thursday: EGR meeting; Friday: Housing Press Conference
Agenda Items
Mohawk Council Executive Directive: Approval of the Justice Services mandate
Presence Kevin Fleischer (Commissioner of Justice) & Shotehra Rice (Justice Development Technician), Portfolio Chiefs: Tonya Perron & Ryan Montour
Request to approve a revised mandate for Justice Services. Revised draft mandate has been updated to better reflect current realities and practices. Approved by consensus
Mohawk Council Executive Directive: Approval of the Justice Services Team mandate
Presence Kevin Fleischer (Commissioner of Justice) & Shotehra Rice (Justice Development Technician), Portfolio Chiefs: Tonya Perron & Ryan Montour
Request to approve a revised mandate for Justice Services. The major proposed revision is the removal of the “strategic direction” element from the Justice Portfolio Team Mandate and placing it in the Constitution of the Justice Commission. Approved by consensus
Executive Office Updates
Presence of Executive Director Onerahtókha Marquis
Onerahtókha updated on a request for Board governance documents, Director of Office of the Council of Chiefs, Tewatohnhi’saktha funding agreement, External organization financial requests, and the Sovereign Wealth Fund.
Ratitsénhaienhs Updates
Paul Rice updated on the 2025-26 Budget presentation, Kahnawake Gaming Commission priorities and regulatory assessment, Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway negotiation meeting, Kahnawà:ke Multi-Purpose Building Capital Campaign, potential additional Wind Farm project, Regulatory Securities Group draft mandate, Indigenous Services Canada financial agreements, and First Nations Lenders Authority issue
Jeffrey Diabo updated on the Proposed Kahnawà:ke Tobacco Law
David Diabo updated on Lands issues, the recent Deer Cull in the Montérégie, and the proposed Kahnawà:ke Labor Law
Ross Montour updated on the Indigenous Services Canada agreements, Onkwehón:we Rights and Research meeting, and a Consultation Committee meeting
Arnold Boyer updated on Mirabel Water Systems meeting
Jeremiah Johnson updated on Housing Reconciliation meetings, Montérégie Deer Cull, Blainville Stablix/Quebec agreement
Ryan Montour updated on Housing Reconciliation meetings, and the CPKC rail crossing safety assessment
Special Item: Mohawk Council Executive Directive: Indigenous Habitat Participation Grant agreement approval
The Council of Chiefs authorize Onerahtokha Marquis, Executive Director of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke, to sign the Grant Agreement with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans on behalf of MCK. Approved by consensus
Adjournment Closing by Ryan Montour. Meeting ended at 3:41pm
