MCK announces end to Boycott of Chateauguay

09/20/2016

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) would like to inform the community that Chief & Council have formally decided to end the Boycott of Chateauguay, effective immediately.

The boycott has been in effect since 13, Seskéha/August of last year as a pressure tactic in regard to Chateauguay Mayor Nathalie Simon’s role in the lawsuit that has prevented Kahnawà:ke from taking full and ‘official’ possession of approximately 700 acres of land on the northwest side of Highway 30.

“We believe that the boycott was effective in sending a political message to the leaders and people of Chateauguay,” said Grand Chief Joseph Tokwiro Norton. “But Madame Simon is no longer the Prefect of the Roussillon (consisting of municipalities adjacent to Kahnawà:ke), so now we turn our attention to exploring other means of addressing our continued displeasure and frustration with their legal maneuvering. We must continue to find ways to prevent their lawsuit from holding back the transfer of these lands back to Kahnawà:ke.”

The lawsuit is technically between the municipalities and the province; however, the fact that it is unresolved has prevented the lands from being returned to Reserve Status as promised earlier.

“We would like to thank the Kahnawa’kehrò:non who participated in the boycott,” he concluded. “We also wish to thank our friends in Chateauguay who understood  the reason for our actions. This was never about them but, rather, it was action taken due to the words, actions and attitude of their mayor.”