Kahnawake takes action on Highway 30 Lands

08/13/2015

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) announced today that it has begun implementing plans to use lands on the Kahnawà:ke side of Highway 30 for communal benefit.

These lands belong to Kahnawà:ke, but technically remain in the hands of Quebec’s Ministry of Transport due to a lawsuit initiated by mayors of surrounding municipalities that has delayed the return of the lands in question to ‘Reserve status.’

“We’ve had enough of this lawsuit, which is nothing more than a delay tactic by the mayors – in particular Chateauguay’s mayor, who can’t seem to stand seeing Kahnawà:ke being successful,” said Grand Chief Joseph Tokwiro Norton. “Today, we say we’re moving forward with our plans to develop the area according to our needs. We’re open for business.”

Construction crews began building an access road on the entrance ramp from Route 207 to Highway 30. A sign has been erected declaring the MCK’s intentions.

“We’re also holding the Quebec government responsible for the lack of action,” Grand Chief Norton continued. “Pierre Moreau (the member of the National Assembly from Chateauguay and the Minister Responsible for Municipal Affairs) hasn’t returned our calls for months, despite the fact that we had a fairly good working relationship in the past. What happened to the good faith we had seen during the past several years as we jointly worked towards repatriating our lands in the aftermath of the Highway 30 project? What is he afraid of?”

“Now that Quebec has what it wants (Highway 30), it seems any promises to Kahnawà:ke are empty ones,” he concluded. “The mayors and the province have to do much better than this.”