$11 million to the Kahnawà:ke Cultural Arts Center project
Written by Jeremy Zafran on 16 May 2023
A press conference was help at the Kahnawà:ke Peacekeeper Station today, with a major announcement from the provincial government. The Government of Québec will contribute $11 million to the Kahnawà:ke Cultural Arts Center project, put forward by the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke. The Minister Responsible for Relations with First Nations and Inuit, Ian Lafrenière, making the commitment today. Ohén:ton Í:iente ne Ratitsénhaienhs Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer and Executive Director of the Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Centre, Lisa Phillips were on hand for the announcement. The project aims to bring the community’s cultural organizations together under one roof to promote and preservation Mohawk language and culture. It will be a gathering place for Mohawks, citizens of the surrounding areas, and visitors from around the world to provide an overview of the language, culture, art, and history of the Mohawks of Kahnawà:ke. The Kahnawà:ke Cultural Arts Center has been envisioned by the community for several years and will benefit several players in the local cultural scene as partners in its realization. Among them are: The Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center (KORLCC); The Turtle Island theatre Company; and Kahnawà:ke Tourism.
The new building includes spaces dedicated to language teaching, the transmission of Mohawk culture, and media content production, as well as a theater, multi-purpose community room, museum exhibition space, and amphitheater to teach and gather outdoors. Government funding for this project comes from three different portfolios: the Government Action Plan for the Social and Cultural Well-Being of First Nations and Inuit 2022-2027 ($4M), the one reserved for the implementation of the calls to action of the Commission of Inquiry into relations between Aboriginal people and certain public services in Quebec ($1M) and the Community Infrastructure component of the Aboriginal Initiatives Fund IV of the Secrétariat aux relations avec les Premières Nations et les Inuit ($6M). That totals $11 million in investment with the Minister not closing the door to furthering the partnership.
Sky-Deer on the provincial investment:
“We are extremely pleased that Québec has allocated $11 million towards the Multi-Purpose Building Project. We would like to acknowledge the Government of Québec and the Minister Responsible for Relations with the First Nations and the Inuit, Ian Lafrenière, for his dedication to this important project that will provide Kahnawà:ke with a much-needed building and new home for our Language & Cultural Center, Museum and Theatre.”
Lisa Phillips, Executive Director of the Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center, Kawennanóron, on behalf of the multipurpose building project committee:
“KORLCC is extremely happy for this major contribution, as it now puts the project in a very good financial position to begin construction by the fall. The collaboration, teamwork, support, and commitment of the partners, Cabinet members, and our community is amazing, and it will be a moment of pride when we open the doors to the community.”
The Multi-Purpose Building project began as a need for a permanent home for the KORLCC, Cultural Center and Museum. It grew quickly into adding an auditorium for the Turtle Island Theatre group, as they also needed a permanent home.
