Kahnawake Declares State of Emergency
Written by Paul Graif on 21 April 2020
Mohawk Council of Kahnawake Chief Tonya Perron said that the MCK held a duly convened special council meeting today (Tuesday). In it consensus was reached to declare a state of emergency in Kahnawake. The MCK resolution, according to Perron, is the logical final step in the process of implementing the Emergency Preparedness Law.
“We did this because we don’t know how much longer this situation is going to last,” Perron said. “It allows us to make sure our jurisdiction is protected. That our community is protected. And that our people have access to any available funding. It allows much easier access to that funding.”
The state of emergency allows the MCK to repeal laws under the Community Decision Making Process (CDMP) and draw up new ones as related directly to this crisis. The MCK has the authority to do that by a simple majority vote.
Perron says all other laws on the books still fall under the authority of the CDMP.
“Nothing has changed,” she said. “We are still at the same level of emergency. It’s more or less a formality.”
Commissioner of Public Safety Lloyd Phillips says it helps the Kahnawake Covid-19 Task Force
“That’s just the evolution of the emergency preparedness,” Phillips said.
Kahnawake originally declared a Public Health Emergency more than a month ago, on March 16th.
Kateri Memorial Hospital Center (KMHC) Executive Director Lisa Westaway says that five more people were tested at the site in Kahnawake today. Because the numbers are low, Westaway said that over the next week they will review whether or not they will keep the testing site open. “We will always will be able to test all in-care patients, or home care patients, our essential service workers who need to come back to work,” Westaway said.
While there has yet to be a case that required hospitalization in Kahnawake, the risk is real according to Phillips.
“Of all the new cases being diagnosed in Quebec, 40 percent of them are between the ages of 20 to 49,” he said. “Chances are you may have a rough time if you get it, but chances are that you will recover. No guarantees though. These people may show very little symptoms, or moderate symptoms, mild symptoms. That’s the age group that if you don’t take it seriously and practicing your social distancing, you may be carrying the virus to a loved one who is more vulnerable. Or worst case your scenario, you may feel fine, but you’re going to visit someone who is over 70 and taking it to them.”
The Task Force will issue a release on Wednesday that is a one stop shop for all the directives that have been implemented over the last six weeks.
