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The Kahnawake Fire Brigade (KFB) says they don’t have any concern over being able to continue running both of the ambulances in the community 24 hours a day, this after several Paramedics agreed to lend a hand in Unit 2 of the Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre (KMHC) which has been hit by a COVID-19 outbreak. Two positives were announced earlier this week.

“It does not affect the ambulances,” said David Scott the Fire Chief at the KFB. That was foremost in our minds that it can affect the day crews. It can affect the evening crews. We run two ambulances 24 hours a day. In the long term if it does start to hinder we will  have to reevaluate it. But right now it does not hinder any of our services to the community.”

Scott says he met with each Paramedic individually after the KMHC called with the request for assistance on Tuesday. “Kateri (KMHC) required Wednesday night, Thursday and Friday. I was able to fill that request for them, absolutely. It’s a positive collaboration for the KFB with the Kateri Memorial  Hospital inn their time of need. That’s what what we’re here for. Every member that’s here, Paramedic or Firefighter has joined up to serve this community. This is another way that we can give back to the community for the support we receive from them.”

The KEC is reassuring parents that they are not making vaccinations mandatory to attend our schools. Regarding vaccinations for 5–12-year old’s, the KEC will not be hosting or planning visits to the vaccination clinics at the Knights of Columbus Hall and are advising parents to keep informed through the Kateri Memorial Hospital Center, directing any questions they may have to Public Health.  Vaccination appointments for children between the ages of 5-12 years old will be the responsibility of parents.

The KEC saying that although the Quebec Health Minister is minimizing masking at the high school level to some extent, the Kahnawà:ke Education Center will be maintaining masking guidelines for all grade levels, to be re-evaluated after the holidays.

MCK elected officials will be gauging the opinions of community members by inviting them to share their concerns and feedback on the issue regarding the remains of Father Leon Lajoie. Recently, with allegations being made by individuals against Lajoie, and with the discovery of remains of Indigenous children from residential schools, the MCK are aware that some community members want the issue of Father Lajoie’s remains being on the Territory, revisited and have been meeting with various community members and groups and have been made aware of their opinions. The MCK is now moving forward with the engagement of the broader community with sessions for Kahnawa’kehró:non to be held at the Kahnawake Moose Lodge (upstairs) on the following dates:

• Tuesday, November 9 from 6pm-9pm
• Saturday, November 13 from 11am-2pm

A fund has been created to support Indian Day School (IDS) survivors, with the MCK saying that The IDS Legacy Fund will support survivors, their families and communities through projects and initiatives. These initiatives will fall under four (4) key themes: language & culture; healing & wellness; commemoration; and truth telling.

The McLean Day Schools Settlement Corporation (MDSSC) is seeking survivor input to better determine how this Legacy Fund should be administered and implemented. An event has been scheduled for Wednesday, November 10^th, at Tewatohnhi’saktha, from 10am until 2pm. The get together will be followed by 30 minutes of mental health aftercare, however, dud to to COVID-19 safety protocols, no more than 15 people will be able to participate in this session. A second engagement event will be held virtually on Thursday, November 18^th, from 1pm until 5pm, where 35 spots will be available.

Kahnawà:ke’s Indian Day Schools Settlement Coordinator Louise Mayo can be reached at 514-793-0662 or at louise.mayo@mck.ca

The Mercier Bridge will be down to one lane in each direction this coming for repair work on the slabs for the Montreal bound span. The Airlie street entrance will also be closed. The work is slated to start on Saturday at 2 am and wrap up by 5 am on Monday, November 8th. The work is weather permitting.

The Jesuits of Canada have hired an independent investigator to examine allegations of sexual abuse against the late Father Leon Lajoie in Kahnawake. He was a long-time pastor for the St. Francis Xavier Mission. The Jesuits are footing 100 percent of the bill to engage the King International Advisory Group. They are an investigation, intelligence, and enterprise risk management consulting agency.

“It’s part of our policies and regulations that when an accusation is made an independent investigation has to be undertaken,” said Father Gilles Mongeau, the assistant to the Provincial of the Jesuits of Canada. “King Advisory Group is excellent investigative firm that is impartial and does excellent work. We’ve used them before in other situations.”

Mongeau says the Jesuits are prepared to exhume the body of Father Lajoie. He is buried outside of the church.

“Our commitment from the beginning has been to cooperate with both the band council and the church committee,” Mongeau said. “We’ve been prepared from the beginning to exhume the body of father Lajoie at our own expense with proper respect and to repatriate his body. But we are not able to act without the decisions of MCK and the church committee. We don’t want to unilaterally impose anything. that would just be repeating the mistakes and the hurt, the sins of history.”

Community members can contact the investigators to share their concerns, stories and feedback by calling Brian King at (416) 628-6877 extension 222, or emailing  bking@kinginternationalgroup.com
Lajoie retired in the mid-1990’s and passed away in 1999.

The latest numbers from Public Health have been released for Covid-19 cases in Kahnawake as of 5pm, November 1^st. There are currently 5 active cases in the community, including 3 new reported cases. This makes for a total of 147 positive cases during the 4^th wave and 276 since the outset of the pandemic. There are currently 20 Kahnawa’kehró:non in isolation. Of the 147 recent cases, 125 are unvaccinated individuals, 17 were fully vaccinated and 5 people with one dosage.

Asphalt installation will take place on Route 207 south of Old Malone Highway, tomorrow, Wednesday. The Capital Unit of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke saying that the upcoming project will be in the area of Jacobs Commercial Center. The final grading is set to take place Wednesday, with the installation of the asphalt scheduled for Thursday, November 4^th, weather permitting.  Proper road signalization will be installed to warn of the construction limits with the roads affected will be closed to all traffic.

All vaccination clinics will take place at the Knights of Columbus Hall, effective immediately. This coming from The Public Safety Commission, who remind you that if you have an appointment for a flu vaccine or for a COVID-19 vaccine that your appointment will take place at the Knights of Columbus Hall. The vaccination clinics will no longer take place at the Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre.

The KMHC has provided an Update on the recent COVID-19 Outbreak in Inpatient Care Services at the Hospital Centre. They are reporting that all staff and residents from inpatient have been tested and the results are all negative at this time. As there had been 2 positive cases that designated the situation as an outbreak, this in the hospital’s Inpatient Care Services department. Screenings will continue throughout the duration of the outbreak. Further analysis is underway regarding the risk to visitation with the KMHC set to advise the community as soon as visitations can re-start.