Recap of meeting with Minister of Indigenous Affairs Bennett

05/02/2016

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to provide Kahnawa’kehrò:non with an update on the meeting with Canada’s Minister of Indigenous & Northern Affairs, Carolyn Bennett that took place this past Friday in Kahnawà:ke.

Also participating in the meeting were Chateauguay Member of Parliament Brenda Shanahan and the Member of Parliament for Laprairie, Jean-Claude Poissant, while Ratitsénhaienhs Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer, Clinton Phillips, Kenneth McComber and Rhonda Kirby attended along with Grand Chief Joseph Tokwiro Norton.

"It was a good meeting," said Grand Chief Norton. "I think Minister Bennett has a better understanding of the issues we are facing. As expected, our discussions focused on the relationship between Kahnawà:ke and Canada. We were encouraged that the Minister clearly indicated that Canada is committed to starting the dialogue on building the nation-to-nation relationship that Prime Minister Trudeau stated as his priority."

"As I stated on Friday, we′re going to hold them to that promise," he concluded. "The follow up will be extremely important. The Minister agreed that we need to be courageous and creative."

Among the topics discussed were the Seigneury of Sault St. Louis land grievance, Membership, economic development, Highway 30 and other land issues.