Meeting at Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke
In: Ratitsénhaienhs Chairperson Cody Diabo, Jeremiah Johnson, Iohahí:io Delisle, Paul Rice, Melanie Morrison, Ryan Montour, Jeffrey Diabo, David Diabo, Stephen McComber, Ross Montour, Tonya Perron, Arnold Boyer.
Also Present: Jaime-Lynn Deere (Council Meeting Administrator), Abbey Diabo (Director of the Office of the Council of Chiefs), Justus Polson-Lahache (Public Relations), Iris Montour (General Manager of Kanien’kehá:ka Rights and Research), Dawn Marquis-Deere (Executive Administrative Officer/Interim Executive Director) and for Housekeeping only: Sarah Delisle and Taiawentetie Hemlock (Executive Assistants to the Kahnawa’kehró:non Ratitsénhaienhs).
Housekeeping
- Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen by Cody Diabo.
- Cheque Signers: Paul Rice and Melanie Morrison.
- Public Relations Items: Ratitsénhaienhs Report (Jeremiah Johnson).
- Minutes for Approval: July 7 & 22, August 4, 2025. Approved.
- Last Council meeting in December scheduled for December 15. First Council meeting in January is January 12. Approved.
- Chiefs Breakfast to be scheduled on December 3, 2025. Approved.
- Upcoming Holiday Event Planning: Trunk or Treat, Christmas Parade Float, Karonhiarástha’s Winter Wonderland
- Request to register for Effective Leadership & Communication training. Declined.
- Request from representatives of the Spanish Residential School to visit Kahnawà:ke between October 21-24, 2025. Approved.
- Request to MCK to attend Quebec Bridge Disaster Site Visit on September 17-18, 2025. Unconfirmed.
- Arnold Boyer speaking at Indigenous Equity and Health Roundtable on September 16, 2025 (Virtual).
- Request to meet with former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Jody Wilson-Raybould on September 26, 2025. Unconfirmed.
- Land Allotments (3) – All approved by consensus.
- Jeremiah Johnson – Tuesday: Land Funds discussion; Thursday: Canadian Pacific/Kansas City Rail (CPKC) prep meeting, pre-meeting discussion for two Housing Reconciliation meetings; Friday: Meeting with St. Lawrence Seaway Authority (SLSA) for potential east-boundary security gate; Saturday: Challenger Program Baseball Game.
- Iohahí:io Delisle – Monday: Multi-Purpose Building (MPB) visit; Tuesday: Kahnawà:ke Youth Center Board meeting.
- Paul Rice – Monday: MPB visit; Tuesday: Mi’gmawei Mawiomi Business Corporation (MMBC) meeting regarding Wind Farm in Gaspesie; Wednesday: Solar Project meeting, Administrative Affairs Portfolio, Panorama Real Estate Launch event, and MPB Capital Campaign bi-weekly; Thursday: Finance and Technical meeting for MPB, MCK Hydro Quebec Working Group for Hertel Line, Krueger engagement activity; Friday: Request for Proposals meeting for Toll System. Note: Invited by Hydro-Quebec to speak at event on October 1, 2025.
- Melanie Morrison – Monday: MPB visit; Tuesday: Wellness Day; Wednesday: Effective Communication Training, MPB Capital Campaign weekly meeting, MPB Committee meeting; Thursday: Finance and Technical Committee for MPB; Workplace Training; Friday: Out of office (Flex time). Note: September 21-26 in training and attending march for Joyce Eschequan events from September 26-28 in Trois Rivieres.
- Ryan Montour – Monday: MPB visit; Wednesday: Housing visit, Peacekeepers Services Board, Technical Drafting Committee (TDC) for Disciplinary Measures Draft Regulations, MCK Disciplinary Measures meeting with Justice Commission; Thursday: K1037 Radio Partyline Talkshow for Challenger Program Baseball Game; Friday: Working with Housing clients and Housing Reconciliation meeting; Saturday: Challenger Baseball Game.
- Jeffrey Diabo – Monday: MPB visit; Wednesday: Kahnawà:ke/Quebec Relations; Thursday: Kahnawà:ke Library meeting; Saturday: Challenger Baseball Game.
- David Diabo – Monday: MPB visit; Wednesday: Kahnawà:ke Labor Law, Land Funds discussion; Thursday: Tioweró:ton Fall Community meeting prep, CPKC touchbase, and training; Friday: Tioweró:ton site visit, meeting with SOPFEU (Wildfire prevention, detection and suppression organization).
- Stephen McComber – Monday: MPB visit; Tuesday: Attending Metro-stop ceremony in Montreal, Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa event; Thursday: Cote du Lac conference (Virtual).
- Ross Montour – Monday: MPB visit; Wednesday: Internal discussion on Protected Areas, Land Funds discussion; Friday: Internal discussion on co-developing approach for St-Regis.
- Tonya Perron – Monday: MPB visit; Wednesday:Administrative Affairs Portfolio, Justice meeting on Draft Regulations for Disciplinary Measures of Decision Makers on the Administration Tribunal, MCK Disciplinary Measures with Justice Commission; Thursday: Potential Governance Working Group meeting; Friday: MCK Governance Portfolio.
- Arnold Boyer – Monday: MPB visit; Wednesday: Kahnawà:ke Schools Diabetes Prevention Program (KSDPP) meeting, KSDPP Health Summit, Vacation in PM; Thursday: Kidney Foundation of Canada meeting; Friday: Meeting with SLSA for potential east-boundary security gate, and Request for Proposals meeting for Toll System.
- Cody Diabo – Monday: MPB visit; Wednesday: Land internal discussion; Thursday: Meeting with Community Member; Friday: MCK Governance Portfolio.
Delegation of Authority to Interim Executive Director
Portfolio Lead: Cody Diabo. Request to delegate Executive Director authority to Dawn Marquis-Deere (Executive Administrative Officer) while the Executive Director is on leave. Kyle Delisle (Executive Financial Officer) will be assigned as the secondary designate in the absence of Ms. Marquis-Deere. The delegation authority is set for a flexible period up to six months, as the return date on the Executive Director’s leave is not currently determined. Approved by Consensus.
ILCEPP Funding Agreement
Presence of Chris Stacey (Executive Infrastructure Officer), Patrick Ragaz (General Manager of Field Sciences for the Kahnawà:ke Environment Protection Office) and Katie Spillane (MCK Legal Counsel). Portfolio Lead: Ross Montour. Request to formalize terms and conditions of a contribution agreement with Transport Canada to fund the Kahnawà:ke Environment Protection Office’s involvement in engagement work on marine safety work planned through the Indigenous and Local Community Engagement Program. Approved by majority with one objection (Iohahí:io Delisle).
Addition of Designated Inspectors Under the Kahnawà:ke Sanitary Conditions Law (KSCL)
Presence of Chris Stacey (Executive Infrastructure Officer), Patrick Ragaz (General Manager of Field Sciences for the Kahnawà:ke Environment Protection Office). Portfolio Lead: Ross Montour. Request from the Kahnawà:ke Environment Protection Office to appoint eight (8) additional employees as designated Inspectors under the KSCL. The appointment of eight additional inspectors serves to enhance the MCK’s capacity to enforce the KSCL and its associated regulations. Approved by Consensus.
Executive Office Updates
Presence of Interim Executive Director, Dawn Marquis-Deere. Updated on Interim Executive Director role, Housing Reconciliation Project, Client Based Services Social Programs, completion of Phase 1 of the New Rink Project, work on the Old Malone Highway, pension, MCK activities, quarterly reporting.
Ratitsénhaienhs Updates (updates were kept short due to time)
Iohahí:io Delisle: Updated on St. Francis Xavier Church Committee meeting regarding burial management and the Alcoholic Beverages Control Board electoral process.
Paul Rice – Updated on First Nation in Saskatchewan that is interested in Economic Development, MMBC meeting, Toll RFP Project, Transport meeting, CPKC update, Office of the Council of Chiefs Re-Structuring Project.
Ross Montour: Updated on Assembly of First Nations
Tonya Perron: Updated on Governance Advisory Team Kiosks, Justices of the Peace Governance documents,
Arnold Boyer: Updated on St. Lawrence Seaway lands, Recycling facility, disappearance of falcons, and Board of Directors updates for the Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre.
Adjournment
Closing by Cody Diabo. Meeting adjourned at 2:46pm.
