$444 000 Handed Out From Relief Measures Fund in Kahnawake
Written by Paul Graif on 8 April 2020
Over 300 payments totaling over $444 000 have been issued in recent days for those seeking relief in Kahnawake from a loss of work due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Mohawk Council of Kahnawake Chief Gina Deer said that they have finalized the applications for the business that were forced to shut down. They will begin the process of paying out to the businesses as early as tomorrow (Thursday). 120 business have called and 112 have completed the surveys according to Deer.
After receiving an early $1 million divided from Mohawk Online Inc. earlier in the day, there is now $10 million in the Kahnawake Emergency Relief Fund. “We realize the $10 million will go quickly,” Deer said. “We are hoping this will be a 90 day fund that we can utilise and then we can reasses.”
19 signs were erected in Kahnawake today, limiting access to the territory to residents, deliveries and essential workers. Peacekeeper Chief Dwayne Zacharie said that they are receiving a great deal of calls about non-locals coming to Kahnawake in search of cigarettes. “Please continue to do that so we can deal with it. Don’t intervene,” Zacharie said.
“I appreciate all the good work you’re doing. The task force is working very hard for your safety and security. Good job Kahnawake. Keep it up, continue to do what you’re doing.”
Zacharie asked drivers to please obey the rules of the road and drive safely. He says his department is getting a huge number of calls about 4-wheelers and similar vehicles on the roads. We are hearing of really young kids riding them. Please don’t allow it. Many are riding without helmets. Please stay off the roadways with those vehicles.”
Commissioner of Public Safety Lloyd Phillips says that based on Quebec’s projections, the numbers of positive cases and deaths will continue to rise in the province. “We are at the beginning of the wave and there is a larger wave to come,” Phillips said. “It may hit us hard and hit us fast and hopefully pass us as quickly as possible.”
“The next few weeks are going to be the most difficult weeks. We have to keep preparing for what is to come,” Kateri Memorial Hospital Center (KMHC) Executive Director Lisa Westaway said.
