MCK receives unilateral offer from Quebec on A30 Lands

08/30/2018

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to inform Kahnawa’kehrò:non that the Quebec government  has passed a Decree authorizing $3.1 million dollars to Kahnawà:ke for the purpose of purchasing 211 acres of land as part of A30 expansion. To date, approximately 500 of the 700 acres have been returned to Kahnawà:ke.

The MCK has been made aware that the Decree was finalized on 15, Seskéha/August and, by law, will be published by the government within three weeks of being signed. For clarity, the MCK was not aware that the Decree was passed until after it was signed.

“While we appreciate that Quebec is making what I consider a conciliatory effort to finalize its commitment on the return of lands, we must be clear that our long-standing position is that we do not purchase land to settle land grievances,” stated Grand Chief Joseph Tokwiro Norton. “Canada and Quebec have always been unable to fully understand our reasoning on this but, for us, it is a matter of principle.”

The issue has been complicated by the fact that the government has been officially dissolved in preparation for the upcoming provincial election, so Quebec cannot amend or rescind the Decree. Grand Chief Norton met with Quebec Minister of Native Affairs Geoffrey Kelley to discuss the MCK’s concerns.

“We need to keep this door open,” he concluded. “The fact remains that, regardless of which party is elected in October, we expect the government of Quebec to fulfill its obligations. The right thing to do is sit together to find solutions that would satisfy our more than reasonable expectations.”