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Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) is an epidemic of violence against Indigenous women in Canada, the United States, and Latin America; notably those in the FNIM (First Nations, Inuit, Métis) and Native American communities. October 4th marks MMIWG Day of Action. 2006 might seem as a date that is a long-time in the past, but for Melanie Morrison whose sister Tiffany went missing that year, later found murdered, every day is a painful reminder:

“Today is a day of honouring and raising awareness on the MMIWG issue here across Canada and in the United States and for me it’s personal because of my sister’s murder that happened back in 2006 and the fact that we are still fighting to get answers.”

Morrison knows that someone knows:

“Absolutely knowing that there are people out there, they know what happened and they’re not coming forward because I’m sure, growing up here, you know that nothing happens in this community without somebody knowing what happened. So, for her to be found, right here not far from her house in our community is unfathomable that this is still carrying on after 16 years.”

Marches and events were staged across the country today marking the MMIWG Day of Action.

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke has offered congratulations Kateri Champagne Jourdain on her election in yesterday’s provincial election, becoming the first Indigenous woman elected to the National Assembly. She has stated publicly that her Innu culture will help her in her work with Indigenous communities.  Ohén:ton Í:iente ne Ratitsénhaienhs Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer is confident that her heritage will be an asset to her and that, hopefully, as an Indigenous woman Member of the National Assembly, she will be able to inspire a greater understanding by the CAQ of the challenges faced by Indigenous peoples across the province, something that has been sorely lacking during the first term of the Legault government:

“I definitely know that women in politics have some level of influence and coming from that space, her culture, her heritage, her upbringing will definitely help shape the positions that she takes on different political initiatives and hopefully raise awareness and try to educate at the same time because a lot of these politicians really have no idea about Indigenous issues and what our reality has been, so if she can use that as a strength to push our issue forward, then we support that.”

Jourdain is from the Innu community of Uashat Mak Mani-Utenam easily defeated the Parti Quebecois candidate. The PQ had held the riding for 40 years.

Another night, another planned closure in the Mercier Bridge corridor. The Ministère des Transports du Québec informing the MCK that inspection work on the Montreal-bound Mercier Bridge will require a partial right lane closure in the area between both superstructures. The lane closure will take place tonight (Monday) from 9pm until 5am on Tuesday morning.

The first engagement session for the proposed Kahnawà:ke Tobacco Law will take place at the Golden Age Club this coming Wednesday, October 5th, from 12pm (noon) until 4pm. Although the draft law was entirely reviewed and consensus reached during the Community Decision Making Process (CDMP) hearings back in 2015/2016, there are several legal issues that need to be addressed in the sections of the draft law under review.  Ratsénhaienhs Cody Diabo, who is the lead on this file on behalf of the MCK says it’s time for interested residents to step forward to give their input on the proposed law. The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke is making the updated draft of the proposed law available to kickstart community engagement. This updated draft focuses solely on the highlighted sections of the draft law which can be viewed on the Kahnawà:ke Tobacco Law page on the KLCC website at www.kahnawakemakingdecisions.com. Another engagement session is scheduled for Wednesday, October 26th, from 3pm to 6pm. at the Golden Age Club

Louise Tekahawáhkwen Mayo of Kahnawake is currently serving as the Indian Day School Coordinator for the community. The MDSSC Legacy Fund will be administered to support Federal Indian Day School Survivors, their families, and communities. Mayo, who attended an Indian Day School for six years, has now been appointed as 1 of 4 new members to the MDSSC Advisory Council. The Council are representatives of Federal Indian Day Schools and their families who have been authorized by the Board to develop theguidelines and procedures for the distribution of the MDSSC Legacy Fund.

‘Team E’ of the Kahnàwake Mohawk Peacekeepers spent the morning conducting a red-light operation. The results: 16 vehicles were intercepted with 2 local and 14 non-local drivers issued 18 total citations. $3,100 dollars worth of fines were dolled-out during the operation with 1 vehicle impounded during the process.

Repair work to a copper water line will require a road closure on the River Road between the Moose Lodge and the Marina Road. The work according to The Public Works Unit of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke will begin tomorrow, Tuesday, September 20^th , at 7am and is expected to be completed, weather permitting, in one day.

Public Works is stressing that there may be a temporary water pressure loss to homes in the immediate area of the repairs, while traffic will be rerouted if deemed necessary.