Category: Featured

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke’s Ohén:ton Í:iente ne Ratitsénhaienhs Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer and Ietsénhaienhs Tonya Perron will meet with Quebec Premier François Legault this afternoon in Quebec City. This is the first meeting with Legault since he became Premier in 2018. The long delay in scheduling this meeting has been a cause for concern for the MCK, as meetings between Quebec’s premiers and Kahnawà:ke’s grand chiefs have been held as a matter of routine for many years. There has been added urgency to meet due to Kahnawà:ke’s strong concerns over Quebec’s Bill 96 language legislation. The meeting will take place at Legault’s office from 1 to 2 pm.

A statement by the Jesuits of Canada on the repatriation of Fr Leon Lajoie’s remains:

“Respect for human remains are deep spiritual beliefs in both Catholic and Indigenous cultures. The repatriation of Fr. Leon Lajoie’s remains has been planned in consultation with the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK), the Community and the Parish Council of St. Francis-Xavier Mission. We continue to consult with the MCK, regarding public relations and media communications. Out of respect for everyone who has consulted with us in reaching this solution, we cannot comment at this time except to say that the Jesuits will be welcoming home one of their own to his intended resting spot.  We have faith that the repatriation will lead to a peaceful solution to this situation and promote healing in the community of Kahnawà:ke.”

The Public Safety Division says there are high concentrations of E.coli in the water by the falls in Tioweró:ton. Swimming is not permitted until further notice. And recent water sampling in the Recreation Bay area in Kahnawake has detected elevated levels of E.coli and that beach is closed until further notice.

“We became aware yesterday afternoon that the Environmental Health Officers at KSCS got results of high E.Coli in Tioweró:ton as well as at the beach area in Kahnawake,” Commissioner of Public Safety Lloyd Phillips told K1037 News. “We took immediate action to minimize any risk to the public by restricting and closing access to areas for swimming.”

Testing was conducted at the Onake dock area, those samples were deemed to be acceptable for recreation. They will continue to monitor the water over the next few days.

But Phillips says that since the elevated levels of E.Coli in the water are naturally occurring, it’s simply a waiting game. “There’s not much we can do. Exactly, let nature take its course and hopefully with the flow of the water and over time it will fix itself. We’ll know with more testing over the next few days,” Phillips said.

Signs have been posted closing the Recreation Bay Beach as well as the water in Tioweró:ton.

Free COVID-19 Rapid Test kits will once again be available for Kahnawa’kehró:non Wednesday and Thursday. They will be given out in the Public Safety Division parking lot, formerly the old Peacekeeper Station, where everyone will receive one kit via drive-through/curbside pick up. Walkers are also welcome. They will be handing them out from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.

The Ministère des Transports de Quebec (MTQ) says that the Mercier Bridge will be down to one lane in each direction this coming weekend. The closure is slated to begin on Saturday July 30^th at 2 am until Monday August 1^st at 5 am. This lane closure is required for slab repairs. The access ramp from Airlie Street will also be closed. The work could be cancelled due to weather or operational constraints.

Several Ratitsénhaienhs will make themselves available for the latest kiosk style meetings with community members. The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake announcing the dates. They are:

• Friday, July 29^th from 1pm to 4pm
• Tuesday, August 2^nd from 1pm to 4pm

Both Community Engagement sessions will be located at the green space next to the Golden Age Club.

As well, the next Quarterly Meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, September 13^th. The time and location will be confirmed at a later date.

It may be hot outside but there are several people in Kahnawake looking forward to the season on the ice. The Kahnawake Minor Hockey Association (KMHA) is looking to fill some very big shoes at the top of their leadership structure. With the retirement of Peter “Pitt” Jacobs as President last year, they are holding a vote for a new leader.

“What goes on in the day to day operations with the league, with our region and boy ooh boy do things happen.  Lots of things,” Lou Ann Stacey told K1037 News. She is the KMHA’s scheduler. “I’m still finding out things that Peter was doing and lots of people wouldn’t know. So now we have to find people to help fill the positions. I’m organizing, with the help of one of the other directors, an opportunity for us to meet with the parents to set up nominations for the President, Vice-President and Treasurer.”

There will be a KMHA Meeting Thursday from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Legion Branch 219. Then on Friday, nominations will be held for President, Vice President and Treasurer from 11 am to 7 pm at the Kahnawake Sports Complex. The elections will then take place on Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm at the Sports Complex.