Inter-Community Relationship Building

The Blackfoot Confederacy visited Kahnawà:ke yesterday. The intention was  to further develop the relationship that was initiated last October when the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke/Iroquois Caucus and the Blackfoot Confederacy signed an Alliance that saw agreements where both parties would work collectively on issues of common interest, such as border crossing. Ietsénhaienhs Jessica Lazare on who was at the meeting and its purpose:

“The meeting yesterday (Tuesday) with The Blackfoot Confederacy was with the Directors that are employed by the Confederacy, Dennis Diabo has been leading on the relationship so far, stemming from the Iroquois Caucus and this was essentially a ‘prep-meeting’ for us until The Chiefs of The Blackfoot Confederacy come down in May to meet with us.”

Lazare in the importance of the gatherings:

“During an Iroquois Caucus that took place in Kahnawà:ke a representative from The Blackfoot Confederacy had come to the meeting and introduced themselves and introduced the idea that The Blackfoot Confederacy wanted a relationship with the Iroquois Caucus and we were agreeable to that.”

Agenda items for the meeting included:

• An overview of the MCK Portfolio structure
• An overview of Blackfoot Confederacy structure and roles
• The Iroquois Caucus/Harvest Working Group
• Discussions on the Jay Treaty Border Alliance
• And, the ‘White/Montour’ Case