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THE MOHAWK COUNCIL OF AKWESASNE NEWSLETTER VolumeONKWE’TA:KE 9 Issue 8 FREE ISSUE Seskéha/August 2020 PUBLIC CONSULTATION MEETING HELD FOR IN THIS DEMOLITION OF OLD ADMIN 2 BUILDING ISSUE: MCA SENDS NOTICE TO RCMP AND SUCRETE DU QUEBEC MCA ISSUES FIRST RETAIL CANNABIS BUSINESSES LICENSES DTS UPDATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REPORT The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne’s Department of Infrastructure & Housing (DIH), along with Public Works AND UPDATES and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), hosted a public consultation Zoom meeting to inform and engage the community on the upcoming demolition of the former Administration 2 building at 92 Third Street, Kana:takon (St. Regis). The building was the former location of Mohawk Government and offi ces of the chiefs. MCA GARBAGE It was vacated in 2014 due to poor air quality and building conditions. PICKUP FOR DISTRICT RESIDENTS The MCA is working to restart meetings, including the monthly General Meetings, by utilizing different avenues of information-sharing, such as ZOOM, to help ensure that our community stays informed and up-to-date. ONLY CHILDREN’S PAGE UPCOMING MCA MEETINGS & SPECIAL DATES: August General Meeting A Zoom General Meeting will be held on August 27, 2020. Please send an email to [email protected] to receive a link. You can also send any questions you may have to [email protected] as well. MOHAWK COUNCIL WAT’KWANONHWERA:TON/GREETINGS OF AKWESASNE 2018-2021 She:kon/Wat’kwanonhwera:ton, Grand Chief Abram Benedict The MCA Communications Team is proud to bring you a new issue of our print Kana:takon District newsletter, Onkwe’ta:ke. The name Onkwe’ta:ke means “For the people” and the Chief Theresa Jacobs newsletter is our way of reporting MCA news and information to those we are Chief Darryl Lazore Chief Julie Phillips-Jacobs serving…you, the people. MCA prides itself on transparency and accountability, Chief Tim Thompson and the news and reports in the pages to follow are MCA’s attempt to ensure you Kawehno:ke District receive informative and helpful news. Chief Carolyn Francis Chief Edward Roundpoint Chief Vince Thompson Chief Vanessa Adams There is always a lot to learn about Council and the MCA departments, so we hope you fi nd the newsletter both interesting and useful. We look forward to sharing our Tsi Snaihne District Chief April Adams-Phillips most valuable news with you in this format, and welcome you to provide feedback Chief Connie Lazore Chief Joe Lazore or suggestions by emailing our team at [email protected]. Chief Tobi Mitchell Administration Heather Phillips Executive Director Daryl Seymour A/Director, Department of Infrastructure & Housing Joyce King Director, Akwesasne Justice Department Heather Phillips A/Director, Department of Community and Social Services Keith Leclaire Director, Department of Health Donna Lahache Director, Ahkwesahsne Mohawk Board of Education Shawn Dulude Chief of Police, Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service Kylee Tarbell A/Director, Tehotiiennawakon Page 2 ONKWE’TA:KE AUGUST 2020 NEWS MCA SENDS NOTICE TO RCMP AND SURETE DU QUEBEC In response to community com- at hand is why the RCMP appears to be unwelcome policing in Akwesasne plaints over several concerning in- overly enthusiastic about maintaining territory and only intervene if they stances of outside agencies policing a presence in Akwesasne’s territorial are invited to do so. in Akwesasne, the Mohawk Council waters when they are not needed of Akwesasne submitted notice in and their presence has not been In a response dated July 15, 2020 writing to both the Royal Canadian requested. The Akwesasne Mohawk RCMP confi rmed their intentions Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Police Service (AMPS) continues to to work mutually and respectfully, Surete du Quebec to remind them of be the community police service and outlined recent efforts to build the proper protocols. The capabili- responsible for the safety and positive relations. One measure ties of the community’s own police security of the community of is a training program the RCMP is department – the Akwesasne Mo- Akwesasne under the jurisdiction of offering to AMPS offi cers on marine hawk Police Service – was highlight- the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne. vessel patrol which will enhance the ed as well as the long history of po- Akwesasne is our territory and we capacity of AMPS to patrol the rivers. lice issues our community members have jurisdiction here.” have experienced. “Once the AMPS members have “AKWESASNE IS OUR received their vessel operator In the letter to the RCMP dated TERRITORY AND WE training, they (AMPS) will be independently conducting the June 29, 2020, Grand Chief Abram HAVE JURISDICTION Benedict wrote, “As the federally majority of the patrols in that area with recognized local government, the HERE.” the assistance of the Cornwall RCMP MCA takes the position that AMPS marine members when required,” is the police force responsible Similar messaging was included in a the RCMP wrote. The RCMP is also to patrol our waters and we are July 20, 2020 letter to the Surete du in the process of updating previous committed to strengthening border Quebec (SQ), in which Grand Chief Memorandums of Understanding to security and addressing threats. Benedict wrote, “It would be most refl ect joint patrols with AMPS on We take the concerns raised by benefi cial for the SQ to maintain board. our community about outside law their role of being willing and able enforcement agencies patrolling to provide assistance to AMPS, only The RCMP continued, “We our waters seriously. It would be upon request, and to cease entering completely agree that AMPS is and most benefi cial for Canada to assist our territory under any other will continue to be the community Akwesasne, rather than dictate to us circumstance.” police service responsible for the or to our community members. We safety and security of the community cannot assume that our community In response, both the RCMP and SQ of Akwesasne.” members would passively accept the agreed to support the Akwesasne imposition of an outside enforcement Mohawk Police. Should community members have agency attempting to enforce laws additional concerns or questions, on our territory without jurisdiction.” The SQ’s response, dated July 23, please contact the Mohawk The letter continued, “The larger issue 2020, stated that the SQ will cease Government Offi ce at 613-575-2348. AUGUST 2020 ONKWE’TA:KE Page 3 NEWS SAINT REGIS MOHAWK TRIBE & MOHAWK COUNCIL OF AKWESASNE REPORT TWO NEW COVID-19 CASES TODAY (JULY 27, 2020) The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe and as a priority. The coronavirus is all virus at bay. We ask that you follow Mohawk Council of Akwesasne are around us however, protecting all the preventive measures being confi rming two (2) new positive and keeping our community safe recommended by both Emergency cases of COVID-19 in the Akwesasne from the virus begins with your Operation Centers. community. The two cases are own personal actions. You are the being reported by the Tribe’s frontline in our community’s fi ght As a reminder, we ask that these Health Services and are in addition to prevent the further spread of situations not be used to judge, to the eight (8) cases announced COVID-19 in Akwesasne. mistreat or slander any person last week. The new cases make a or family. We strongly advise the cumulative total of ten (10) active “ WE ASK THAT community to come together cases reported since Monday, THESE SITUATIONS and show compassion for those July 20th and fourteen (14) total who are ill or infected, and to NOT BE USED TO cases reported in Akwesasne unite in our strategy to keep the since the start of the Coronavirus JUDGE, MISTREAT COVID-19 virus at bay. We ask pandemic, with four (4) resolved. OR SLANDER ANY that you follow all the preventive measures being recommended Following contact tracing, it PERSON OR FAMILY.” by both Emergency Operation has been determined these two Centers. new cases are not related to the As a reminder, we ask that these cluster from last week and were situations not be used to judge, If you have a non-medical emergency not contracted in the community. mistreat, or slander any person matter or require essential No further information is being or family. We strongly advise the items, please call the Tribe’s provided to protect patient privacy. community to come together and Emergency Operations Center We are strongly encouraging show compassion for those who at (518) 320-0019 or MCA’s EOC at community members to place the are ill or infected, and to unite in (613) 575-5005 or (613) 575-2331. health and safety of our community our strategy to keep the COVID-19 We are all in this together. Page 4 ONKWE’TA:KE AUGUST 2020 NEWS MCA ISSUES FIRST RETAIL CANNABIS BUSINESSES LICENSES The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne The licensed cannabis businesses application process in accordance has offi cially licensed the fi rst are: with their community’s interest businesses in the community to • Green Chief Naturals, located in having a regulated cannabis enter the recreational cannabis at 341 Island Road, Kawehno:ke industry. Any other cannabis industry. Two retailers and one (Cornwall Island). businesses operating in the territory cultivator have been licensed in • Island Flower, located at 155 are unlicensed, unregulated and compliance with the Akwesasne Akwesasne International Road, Unit there can be no assurances of their Interim Cannabis Regulation and #5, Kawehno:ke (Cornwall Island). safety or legitimacy. thorough application process. • Bright Sky Growers, located on Kawehno:ke (Cornwall Island) - These licensed businesses have “We have received several Cultivator also entered into community applications for licensing throughout contribution agreements which will the past year and we appreciate “ MANY BUSINESSES provide benefi ts to the community our business community’s patience HAVE WORKED HARD at large, which unlicensed cannabis as our staff worked to develop the businesses do not contribute to.