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The MCK’s Client Based Services is offering an update to an earlier report regarding community members who have been receiving notices concerning their U.S. Social Security Benefits. ‘CBS’ now saying that anyone who receives U.S. Social Security benefits and who have been receiving notification letters from the U.S. Social Security Administration that they should expect an upcoming change to regular benefit payments. The letters are notifying beneficiaries that payments to Canadian bank accounts associated with a Post Office Box and not a physical address can no longer be processed by direct deposit. According to Social Security’s new process, these payments must now be processed by cheque and mailed out to beneficiaries. Lindsay Leborgne from the Mohawk Council of Kahnàwake saying this situation is not unique to Kahnàwake:

“The woman at the Social Security Administration said that there a lot of very small towns in the U.S. that also don’t have regular house delivery, they use post office boxes. So, apparently this is the system that everyone is going to be using so we’re going to have to adopt the same thing. So, remember whatever your Post Office box is, you write your post office number, don’t put ‘P.O. box’ though, your number and ‘River Road’ Kahnàwake, Quebec, J0L 1B0 and it’ll be delivered to their box.”

To ensure there are no delays to receiving benefits, it is being recommended anyone affected confirm their mailing address by contacting the U.S. Social Security Administration’s regional office in Burlington, Vermont at 1-877-840-5776 on or before March 23^rd. Client Based Services saying that although some individuals have been able to speak to a representative fairly quickly, there have been delays of upwards of 30-minutes for others so patience will be required. For questions or further assistance, please contact the MCK’s Client Based Services at 450-638-0500.

Individuals who receive U.S. Social Security benefits have been receiving notification letters from the U.S. Social Security Administration regarding an upcoming change to their regular benefit payments. The MCK’s Client Based Services saying that the letters are to notify beneficiaries that payments to Canadian bank accounts associated with a Post Office Box and not a physical address can no longer be processed by direct deposit. According to Social Security’s new process, these payments must now be processed by cheque and mailed out.

Client Based Services is recommending that to ensure there are no delays to your next payment, that you confirm your mailing address by contacting the U.S. Social Security Administration’s regional office in Burlington, Vermont at: 1-877-840-5776 on or before March 23^rd. If you require further assistance, you are asked to contact the MCK’s Client Based Services at: 450-638-0500.

The Council of Chiefs met with Canada’s Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino this afternoon where they discussed matters related to the federal government’s Bill C-21-gun control legislation. The meeting was requested to bring forward Kahnawà:ke’s concerns regarding the potential to restrict or ban certain guns that have long been used for hunting purposes by Kahnawa’kehró:non and other Indigenous hunters. The meeting was held in Kahnawà:ke.

It’s pink shirt day around the globe, highlighting anti-bullying support with campaigns and planned events. The same holds true for the KEC schools, where speakers, projects and discussions were on the schedule. The list of activities that the schools have done for Pink Shirt Day today includes: staff members discussing bullying prevention; arts and crafts activities on kindness; a random act of kindness challenge; wellness snacks were provided to students; the Peacekeepers presented the DARE bullying prevention program; counselors delivered Second Step Bullying Prevention lessons; there were presentations from Konwatsi’tsawi Meloche from Vista Seminars; KSCS Prevention activities; and round dances.

The Kahnawà:ke Cannabis Control Board (KCCB) is comprised of three Kahnawa’kehró:non who are responsible for the ongoing development of the regulations required within the Kahnawà:ke Cannabis Control Law, as well as the administration and enforcement of the law in the Territory. The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) is seeking one individual to serve on the Board and are seeking a candidate who fits the eligibility criteria: They must be Kanien’kehá:ka of Kahnawà:ke and be a resident within the Territory: must be at least 21 years of age; must have no criminal conviction for an indictable offence or have received a full pardon for any such conviction; must not have an interest in a private entity that has applied for or has been granted a Cannabis-related license; and must not have a family member who has an interest in a private entity that has applied for, or has been granted, a cannabis-related license.

Kahnawà:ke will host aquatic and fisheries experts and community members are invited to attend  a virtual conference. Tomorrow, Wednesday, February 22^nd, the Kahnawà:ke Environment Protection Office (KEPO), Kanien’keháka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language & Cultural Center (KOR) and Kahnawà:ke Longhouse on the 207 (Longhouse) will be hosting a group of aquatic systems and fisheries experts from across Turtle Island, who will be in the area to attend the Society for Canadian Aquatic Sciences (SCAS) Conference in Tiohtià:ke this week. The group of 35 Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals will visit KOR and the Longhouse and will be escorted on a tour of Kateri Tekakwitha Island between 10 am and 1:30 pm. Their visit will include talks on the history of Kahnawà:ke, the river and the Seaway, to provide important context for the Conference. It will serve to further foster relationships among Indigenous-led aquatic systems researchers from across Turtle Island. All guests will be accompanied by KEPO and/or KOR staff while on the Territory.

The SCAS conference will be held from February 22^nd through  the 25th in Montreal and all Kahnawa’kehró:non are invited to virtually attend the session entitled: ‘Indigenous Fisheries – Knowledge, Science, and Futures.’ This will event is scheduled for Saturday, February 25^th from 8:30am – 5pm and is being led by Indigenous researchers at the forefront of fisheries research in Canada. Attendance is free for community members.

You can contact KEPO if you are interested in virtually attending the session with more information on the special session can be found at: https://www.scas-scsa.ca/Sessions

A reminder that this Saturday marks KEPO’s community Ice Fishing and Fish Knowledge event. The Kahnawà:ke Environment Protection Office (KEPO) has partnered with the Kahnawà:ke Youth Center (KYC) and Reel ‘Um In bait shop from 1pm to 6pm tomorrow for this event. Fishing supplies and a meal will be provided to registered participants. KEPO will be sharing how to check for abnormalities and how to contribute to the current Fish Health Study and have been working to collect community-provided fish samples as part of a study to test flesh for contaminants.

To register for the Ice Fishing event, contact the KYC at 450-632-6601. To contribute to the Fish Health Study, please contact KEPO at 450-635-0600 or environmentprotection@mck.ca

The 3-year Electronic Gaming Devices Pilot Project in Kahnawà:ke has officially come to an end after almost 5 years, with delays that were brought on by the pandemic. The Kahnawà:ke Gaming Commission (KGC) presented a report at the Special Community meeting in December. It contained important and positive information concerning the operational and social impacts of EGDs in the territory. The report also indicated that more infrastructure development is required. Mike Delisle is on the gaming portfolio at the MCK:

“I would say as successful as anticipated, maybe even beyond that. We haven’t gone through financial numbers at this point, that’s not my portfolio, as gaming portfolio my responsibilities are on the regulatory side and some of the operational aspects in terms of the report that was compiled by the KGC, but we know that it has been successful based on some of the monies that have come in through general coffers here at the Mohawk Council.”

Delisle saying there’s more work to be done:

“There’s lots of work moving forward, just because we’ve declared the pilot project over, yes number 1: because it was successful; number 2: because there hasn’t been identified large social impact but the operational impacts need to be assessed, addressed. There is co-operation, we are going to talking obviously to the 2 proponents as well and most importantly engaging with community on all of these aspects as well.”

Currently, there are two operational EGD licenses issued by the KGC for Magic Palace and Playground. Those will remain in place.