Meeting at Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke
In: Ratitsénhaienhs Cody Diabo, Jeremiah Johnson, Melanie Morrison, Ryan Montour, David Diabo, Stephen McComber, and Ross Montour
Out: Paul Rice (Leave of Absence), Arnold Boyer (Bereavement Leave), Tonya Perron (Vacation), and Jeffrey Diabo (Assembly of First Nations-Quebec Labrador Chiefs Assembly)
Also Present: Jessica Beauvais (Council Meeting Administrator), Abbey Diabo (Director of the Office of the Council of Chiefs), Dawn Marquis-Deere (Executive Director), Lisa Lahache (Public Relations), Gene Diabo (Public Relations), Tricia Diabo (OCC Admin Support Coordinator), and Tyanna Kirby (Executive Assistant to Ohén:ton Í:rate ne Ratitsénhaienhs); and for Housekeeping only: Sarah Delisle (Executive Assistant)
Housekeeping
- Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen by Cody Diabo
- Notice of Bereavement Leave for Arnold Boyer
- Public Relations Items: Ratitsénhaienhs Report – Ryan Montour (confirmed)
- Travel request: Ryan Montour – Kahnawà:ke/Canada Relations Main Table meeting (Ottawa, December 9) — Approved
- Canadian Archaeology Association (CAA): Request for Ratitsénhaienhs to attend a panel discussion led by the Archaeology Unit at the CAA Conference in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island on May 12-17, 2027 — Approved, attendee TBD
- December Staff Events: Leadership Breakfast – November 26, Leadership Brunch – December 23. Details to follow before dates are announced to Employees — Dates approved
- Holiday Council Meeting schedule and Strategic Discussion dates: Last Council meeting – December 14; last Strategic Discussion – December 8; first Council Meeting – January 11; First Strategic discussion – January 12 — Dates approved
- Giganawenimaanaanig’s Indigenous-led Red Dress Alert meeting request – Melanie Morrison (Montreal, November 16, 2026) Invitation accepted, meeting time TBD
- Space Climate Observatory (SCO) Virtual Congress – declined due to quorum issues, will reach out to request minutes etc — Meeting declined
- Land Allotment (1): Passed by consensus
- Jeremiah Johnson: Wednesday: Kahnawà:ke Legislative Services (KLS) Working Group meeting; Thursday: Environment Portfolio meeting; Friday: KLS Working Group and Client Based Services Housing Policy Review meetings
- Melanie Morrison: Monday: Language Class; Wednesday: Archaeology meeting in Montreal; Thursday: Administrative Affairs Portfolio meeting and meeting with Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa meeting regarding polit pilot project; Friday: Client Based Services Housing Policy Review meeting
- Ryan Montour: Monday: Language Class; Tuesday: Tewatohnhi’saktha Board meeting; Friday: Aboriginal Initiatives Fund follow-up discussion, Client Based Services Housing Policy Review meeting, and poppy campaign in Services Complex lobby; Saturday: Remembrance Day parade
- David Diabo: Wednesday: Kahnawà:ke Labor Office investigation meeting; Thursday: Emergency management in Hospitals webinar; Friday: Out (Wellness)
- Stephen McComber: Tuesday: Opening ceremony for Welcome National Environment Conference; Wednesday: Archaeology meeting; Thursday: Environment Portfolio meeting; Friday: Attending Ceremony in Kanesatake (Ceremony Day)
- Ross Montour: Wednesday: Dreams Take Flight (DTF) departure from MCK parking lot, Seigneury of Sault Saint Louis (SSSL) engagement sessions, DTF return flight to Kahnawà:ke; Thursday: Environment Portfolio meeting; SSSL kiosk, ALTO high speed rail preparatory meeting; Friday: Île Aux Tourtes preparatory session, SSSL kiosk, HICC, and ALTO high-speed rail meetings
- Cody Diabo: Wednesday: Strategic Review, SSSL engagement sessions; Thursday: Administrative Affairs portfolio meeting, SSSL kiosk, Mohawk Internet Technologies/Continent 8 discussion; Friday: out (Vacation); Saturday: Remembrance Day parade
Agenda Items:
Record of Decision (RoD): approval of budget to pave portion of Zachary Road
Presence of: Nikola Mirkovic (Director of Financial Services), and Brendan Montour (Director of Capital); Portfolio Lead: Arnold Boyer (Bereavement)
Request for the Ratitsénhaienhs to approve the use of $324,815 to be taken out or Capital Reserve funds to pave a portion of Zachary Road.
Outcome: Consensus declared
Discussion: Partnership Term Sheet (Client-Attorney Privileged)
Presence of: Keisha Goodleaf (Director of Revenue and Business Development), Brandon McComber (Business Analyst), and Eric Doucet (MCK Legal Counsel); Portfolio Lead: Cody Diabo
This item is client-attorney privileged. (Note – absence of Melanie Morrison due to conflict of interest, no quorum during this discussion)
Mohawk Council Executive Directive (MCED): Updated MCED Authorizing Loan Guarantee Application – CAP
Presence of: Keisha Goodleaf (Director of Revenue and Business Development), Brandon McComber (Business Analyst), Kyle Delisle (Executive Financial Officer, and Eric Doucet (MCK Legal Counsel); Portfolio Lead: Ryan Montour (Interim)
This item is Client Attorney Privileged.
Outcome: Passed by consensus
Mohawk Council Executive Directive (MCED): Financial Guarantee Agreement – CAP
Presence of: Alan John Rice (Executive Operations Officer) and Joelle Perron-Thibodeau (MCK Legal Counsel); Portfolio lead: Arnold Boyer (Bereavement)
This item is Client Attorney Privileged.
Outcome: Passed by consensus
Executive Office Updates
Presence of: Dawn Marquis-Deere (Executive Director).
Dawn Marquis-Deere provided updates on Executives Ins/Outs, Meetings scheduled for the week, Staffing updates, Active Shooter Event training for all management, Kanatahkwèn:ke cost-share agreements, a New Eco-Center, and MCK Open House report
Ratitsénhaienhs Updates
David Diabo: Updated on the Special Community Meeting for Judicial Candidates; Amendments to the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke Election Law hearing; Canadian Tire networking event in Châteauguay; Kahnawake Labor Code engagement activities; Lands Unit staffing and Tioweró:ton Siren Test
Ryan Montour: Potential CCTV Cameras lease for returned St. Remi lands; and potential Tewatohnhi’saktha First Nations Regional Adult Education Center building sale
Jeremiah Johnson: Amendments to the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke Election Law hearing
Cody Diabo: Seigneury of Sault Saint Louis engagement sessions; Bill S241 Standing Committee presentation; and Meeting with Special Ministerial Representative Deborah Corber
Stephen McComber: Meeting with Nature Conservancy of Canada
Ross Montour: ALTO high-speed rail meetings
Adjournment
Meeting closed at 4:01pm by Cody Diabo
