Author: Paul Graif

Heather Bauersfeld is saying goodbye to K1037 one last time. Bauersfeld was called upon by the Board of Directors in January, 2020 to assist with the station’s financial situation.

“It was never my intent to stay for three years, however, Covid delayed my departure for a little while. I am proud of all that has been accomplished in this short time, including financial stability, I feel now is the best time to pass the reigns on to someone else. ”

Bauersfeld held the title of Station Manager twice before: In the mid and late 1990’s as well she served several terms on the Board of Directors. She will remain on to assist in the transition to the next Station Manager

We will be ringing in the New Year late Saturday night. In Kahnawake, it has become a tradition for several community members to fire off their weapons to celebrate at midnight.

Kyle Zachary is the Public Relations Officer with the Kahnawake Peacekeepers. He says that people must keep safety in mind. “It’s a no-brainer why we’re discouraging the practice, Zachary said. “Some of the projectiles from a firearm can travel anywhere up to and including one kilometer. That puts everybody in the surrounding community and even our neighbouring communities in danger so we discourage the practice. The Peackeepers will have additional patrols out on New Year’s Eve. We’re going to do our best but we need the help from our residents and the members of our community to look out for one another and to celebrate as safely as they can.”

There have been numerous reports of property damage and some near misses in recent years as a result of the gunshots.

Ahead of tonight’s storm, the Kahnawake Education Center (KEC) has decided to cancel all classes for students, teachers and administration for Friday.

Step by Step Child and Family Center, Karihwanoron Mohawk Immersion and Avery’s Daycare will also be closed. Indian Way School has been on holiday break since last Friday.

Kahnawake Education Center (KEC) Schools are closing early today due to the snow storm. Nursery and Kindergarten will end their day at 11:30. Grades 1-6 at noon. While KSS will end at noon as well, as scheduled after exams.

Karihwanoron Mohawk Immersion has the busses scheduled for 12:30. Avery’s Daycare will also close at 12:30 as parents are requested to pick up their kids at that time. Step By Step Child and Family Center will remain open. Indian Way School is remaining open.

Stephen Angus McComber captured Saturday’s by-election for one seat at the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake table. Running in his second straight by-election, McComber doubled the amount of votes he received a month ago. He was elected with 161 votes, ahead of Bobbi Dee Deere who received 108 votes in her favour. It was also her second attempt at achieving Council Chief status. Deere failed to receive a sufficient amount of votes in the 2018 General Election.

According to Electoral Officer Angus Montour, there were no spoiled ballots among the 269 votes cast.

McComber is expected to be sworn in first thing at the Monday morning MCK weekly meeting. He will stay on until the next General Election which is scheduled for the summer of 2024.

(Corrected from earlier version when we erroneously stated that Deere only received 101 votes)

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake extending its condolences to the family and friends of Dr Suzanne Jones who passed away on Wednesday. The funeral arrangements for Dr Jones have been announced. Her family will receive relatives and friends at the Centre funéraire Côte-des-Neiges in Montreal at 4525 Ch. de la Côte-des-Neiges on Saturday and Sunday, December 10^th and 11^th. The funeral will be held on Sunday, December 11^th at 5:00 p.m. A book of condolences is available for community members to sign at the main entrance to the Kateri Memorial Hospital Center (KMHC) during business hours.

Ohénton ĺ:iente ne Ratitsénhaienhs Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer, of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake, is at an historic groundbreaking ceremony in upstate New York for the Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE) transmission line which will deliver 1,250 Megawatts of low-cost renewable and clean Hydro electric power directly into New York City. The ceremony is being held in Whitehall, NY which is the main junction point for the line which will bring power to Astoria in Queens. It is expected to be up and running by Spring 2026.

“We’ve always looked at ourselves as leaders within First Nations communities and this is definitely something that I think sets the bar for other First Nations communities in terms of becoming partners with, you know this is a Crown Corporation in the province,” Sky Deer told K1037 News. “I know there’s definitely some, I’ll say envy on behalf of other First Nations. But I said ‘Look this is the start of something,’ and if we could help to facilitate better relations with specifically Hydro Quebec in the future with our brother and sister communities then we would like to be a part of that.”

Whitehall is just east of Lake George, NY. NY Governor Kathy Hochul and Hydro Quebec CEO Sophie Brochu are on hand for the ceremony.

Announced in May of 2021, a partnership between the MCK and Hydro-Québec will see the construction and joint ownership of the Hertel Line. This 58 kilometre, 400-kv underground transmission line will run from the Hertel Substation in La Prairie, Québec to the U.S. Border, where it will connect to the CHPE via a new underground and underwater line between Champlain and Astoria, NY.

Kahnawà:ke’s Magic Palace announced a $1,000,000 financial pledge to the soon-to-be-constructed Cultural Arts Center in the community.

Lisa Phillips, who is the Director of the Kanien’keháka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center (KORLCC), says they are up to $23 million raised  towards the goal of $32 million.

“It definitely does for sure, Phillips told K1037 News. “We’re thrilled. You know, I mean this is three community businesses that have taken on the roles of being the lead donators for this project. So yeah, definitely.”

The ground has been cleared for the site which will house the KORLCC, Kahnawà:ke Tourism, The Turtle Island Theatre Company and a Museum.

Stan Myiow is the Owner of Magic Palace and Mirella’s restaurant. He says this donation is very personal for him.

“Both my daughters went to Mohawk Immersion,” Myiow said. “All my grandchildren go to Mohawk Immersion. My kid’s mother is a Mohawk teacher. So this means a real lot to my family. The Mohawk language is the most important thing in our community that we could lose, and we don’t want to see that happen.”

Ohén:ton Í:iente ne Ratitsénhaienhs Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke.

“I’m just happy that another community organization stepped forward to contribute to this ambitious capital campaign,” Sky-Deer said. “We know this project, like we said, is probably one of the biggest in our lifetime—for most of us, to see a project of this magnitude and this cost. But at the end of the day, you know language and culture are at the forefront of our minds. The revitalization efforts, so just really inspired that another million dollars, we’re inching closer to our objective. And I just want to say hats off to Magic Palace.”

A single vehicle accident overnight took out a light pole at the circle along Highway 138 in Kahnawake. The Kahnawake Peacekeepers (PKs) say the non-local driver of a pick-up truck missed the turn and slammed into the traffic pole at 2:37 Friday morning. He was not injured. The PKs also say he was not inebriated. The Lights at the circle are flashing until repairs can be made.