Dual High Level Meetings Friday in Kahnawake With Feds and Province
Written by Paul Graif on 4 February 2022
The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) held meetings today with both the Federal and Provincial Ministers who hold the offices relating to Indigenous relations.
Ohén:ton Í:iente ne Ratitsénhaienhs (Grand Chief) Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer, Ratsénhaienhs Michael Delisle and Ratsénhaienhs Ross Montour meeting this morning with Canada’s Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Marc Miller. On the Kahnawà:ke-Canada Relations discussion and The Seigneury – with the goal of reinvigorating both processes; Sky-Deer says there was some commitment:
“Well what we asked for in those 2 areas being the overall relationship as well as the Seigneury was the appointment of what we call ‘SMR’ or a Special Minister’s Representative. There was definitely a commitment I would say on the part of the Minister to really look into this, we actually provided a short list of some names for consideration and he also expressed his commitment to be more involved with the relationship with Kahnàwake which, to me, I’ve never really heard out of a Minister’s mouth so it’s promising.”
As for the 2nd rendez-vous, Mike Delisle met in-person with Quebec’s Minister Responsible for Aboriginal Affairs Ian Lafrenière and Geoff Kelly at 2:30 this afternoon to discuss: the Statement of Understanding and Mutual Respect; the Mercier Bridge; and cannabis matters. Delisle is less expectant with the provincial discussions. According to the MCK this is the first-time meetings are taking place on the same day with both ministers.
