First Nations TV

01/17/2024

Kahnawake:ronon Devery Jacobs(Reservation Dogs) on the craft of playing other indigenous characters.

01/16/2024

Kahhori 🪶 — What If? Representing the Haudenosaunee, specifically the Mohawks!

01/16/2024

After 20 years on council, Chief Lindsay LeBorgne announces his upcoming retirement! Along with some important information surrounding emergency planning.

03/03/2023

The Kahnawake Mohawks Minor Lacrosse Association is getting a huge financial shot in the arm from Kahnawake Shakotiia’takehnhas Community Services for the upcoming 2023 lacrosse season.

11/04/2022

No charges laid in Housing Fraud case

In relation to the fraudulent activities that took place from 2010 to 2018, affecting the MCK Housing Department and its clients, the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake(MCK) stated in a press release — “the Quebec Crown Prosecutor has declined to lay charges against a former MCK employee (the Social Housing Administrator).”

The MCK says the Kahnawà:ke Peacekeepers played a pivotal role in the investigation and worked tirelessly and diligently on the file. “From the beginning, the aim was to ensure that those responsible were held accountable.”

Since 2018, the MCK has taken action towards corrective measures in areas that were identified as vulnerable to these types of fraudulent activities, including strategic re-structuring to improve accountability and more efficient programs and services.

From the onset, the MCK has treated this situation with extreme priority and urgency. The investigation had made it difficult to provide timely updates and information to the community, which understandably caused frustration and uncertainty among many in the community. Although today’s announcement is unfortunate, the MCK is relieved that it is now able to shift its focus towards providing improved and more secure services to Kahnawa’kehró:non.

The MCK Executive Director, Ohénton I:iente ne Ratitsénhaienhs Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer and Ratsénhaienhs Ryan Montour formally addressed the community at a press conference today at 1pm in greater detail on this matter.

Despite the current evidence not being sufficient “beyond a reasonable doubt,” we do not for a second doubt the pain caused by the greed and selfishness of certain individuals, as well as the MCK’s lack of control mechanisms that allowed for such actions to occur.

The MCK is grateful for the patience that has been shown as we navigate through these challenges,” said MCK Executive Director Onerahtókha Marquis. “We ask for forgiveness from those who were victims of these cruel acts. We ask that you grant us the opportunity to rebuild the lost trust that we once had.”

The formal address can be watched in its entirety on YouTube. https://youtu.be/DPUh5aDSVyw

Community members who have questions specific to housing matters should contact the Housing Unit at 450-635-0600. Those who have questions regarding other questions in regard to this release should contact the Public Relations Unit at 450-632-7500.

10/30/2022

Indigenous students honoured to celebrate a historic collaboration between McGill university and the Kahnawake Education Center.

10/28/2022

Longhouse Opposed to Mohawk Council of Kahnawake’s(MCK) proposed To***co Law

In a press release issued earlier this week, the Kanien'kehá:ka Nation at Kahnawà:ke - People of the Longhouse says they do not recognize the proposed to***co law. “At a duly-convened General Council of the People held on October 18th, 2022, the clans discussed the proposed to***co law that is in the final stages of assent in the MCK's Community Decision Making Process. The clans in council have expressed their opposition to this proposed law for various reasons.”

The release went on to say: Firstly, the Kanien'kehá:ka Nation at Kahnawà:ke contends that the Mohawk Council of Kahnawä:ke does not have the political jurisdiction nor the legitimacy to enact a law that regulates a rights-based issue. Rights-based issues exist under the umbrella of sovereignty provided by the Rotinonhsión:n Confederacy as established through the Kaianere'ko:wa.

The proposed law itself uses language that suggests that it is a part of the Kanien'kehá:ka Nation and the Rotinonhsionnión:we (Confederacy) and that is consistent with the Two Row Wampum, intended to mislead the reader into thinking that MCK and its law making process exists within the political sphere of the
Kanien'kehá:ka Nation and the Rotinonhsión:ni Confederacy, when it is a colonial construct of Canada.

The Longhouse feels challenged as the proposed law declares that it is paramount over any other authority and is subject to coercive enforcement by the Peacekeepers.

In evaluating the proposed law, itself, it is clear that it is being developed from a non-Rotinonhsión:ni perspective and uses the concept of coercive authority to enforce the rules outlined in this law.

The Longhouse does not recognize this law as being legitimate and will not abide by it. In the coming weeks, the clans will be discussing its own solutions concerning to***co under the principles and values defined by the
Kaianere'kó:wa.

At this time, the MCK has not responded to this release.

05/03/2022

(Updated: she’s been found) A 14 year old girl has gone missing in Kahnawake. Gene Deer is out looking for his daughter Abigail.

A 14 year old girl that was missing in Kahnawake has been found safe and is being returned to her family, according to the Kahnawake Peacekeepers.

03/26/2022

Kahnawake's Thomas Deer, who is an Indigenous comic book colorist and illustrator, created imagery in the spirit of peace, friendship and reconciliation!

Kahnawake's Thomas Deer created imagery in the spirit of peace, friendship and reconciliation.

03/22/2022

Kahnawake — Ietsénhaienhs Tonya Perron discusses Fr. Lajoie issue, victims of crime project and justice commission.

Ietsénhaienhs Tonya Perron discusses Fr. Lajoie issue, victims of crime project and justice commission.

03/13/2022

The coming-of-age drama “Beans” has won the $100,000 best Canadian feature prize from the Toronto Film Critics Association.

TORONTO — The coming-of-age drama “Beans” has won the $100,000 best Canadian feature prize from the Toronto Film Critics Association. Director Tracey Deer was named the winner of the Rogers Best Canadian Film Award at a glitzy dinner gala Monday night, where the film’s co-writer and executiv...

03/01/2022

Kahnawake -- Cigarette store robbery suspect charged

The Kahnawake Peacekeepers are advising the community that the suspect in the recent cigarette store robberies has appeared in Longueuil Court on the afternoon of February 28th.

Serge Tremblay Jr. (DOB 1971/07/18) was formally charged with two (2) counts of robbery, one (1) count of assault, and two (2) counts of breach of probation.

Tremblay is being remanded to a holding facility until his next court appearance.

RECAP -- According to a press release issued by the Kahnawake Peacekeepers, on the evening of February 22nd, a male of slim build wearing a black jacket, black pants, and a camouflage face mask entered the Monsieur Tabac store and stole the contents of the cash register. The male spoke English, with a Kahnawà:ke accent. The male left the store on foot and entered a small blue vehicle that had an unlit taxi marker on the roof.

On the evening of February 24th at 19:04, Peacekeepers responded to a panic alarm. A male fitting the same description entered the Bear Claw cigarette store on Hwy 138. The suspect moved to get behind the counter but fled the scene when the cashier pressed the panic alarm.

At 19:17, the same suspect entered the 138 Discount store and stole cash. The suspect left the store and entered a white taxi, and drove away in the direction of the Mercier Bridge.

On Friday, February 25th, Peacekeepers reported they have a suspect and were in the process of obtaining a warrant.

01/29/2022

Beans, a film by Kahnawake:ronon Tracey Deer, has been nominated for Rogers Best Canadian Film Award

Indigenous storytelling is everywhere! Although this is nothing new, it’s still needs to be said — congratulations to the teams behind Beans and Night Raiders — on their nominations for the Toronto Film Critics Association’s (TFCA) Rogers Best Canadian Film Award.

The director of the winning film, voted by members of the TFCA, receives $100K from Rogers Communications Inc. The two runners-up each receive $5K.

Beans, written and directed by Tracey Deer, is a coming-of-age story told from the perspective of a 12-year-old girl during the Oka Crisis. The film previously won the John Dunning Best First Feature Film Award at the Canadian Screen Awards.

Beans, is Deer’s first narrative feature, which was named best picture at the Canadian Screen Awards this year and has collected more than 20 prizes on the film-festival circuit. The newly released drama is a long-sought milestone for Deer, 43, a screenwriter, director, documentarian and television showrunner. She was a creator of the comedy-drama series “Mohawk Girls,” streaming on Peacock, as well as a writer for “Anne With an E” on Netflix.

In an interview with the New York Times, Deer says “Beans”, the movie, is being released at “the most influential time that it could come out.” “I realized my biggest wish back then and even today is to be seen, to be heard, to be understood,” she added. She reflected on the film’s final scene, in which the camera lingers on Beans’ face. “That’s why I hang on her for those seconds that I do,” Deer said. “See her. See us.”

Another nominee — Night Raiders, takes place in a dystopian world where a Cree woman joins a group of vigilantes to free her daughter from the state in a military-run North America. The film was recently named to Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Canada’s Top Ten list.

The film was written and directed by Danis Goulet, executive produced by Lisa Meeches (NSI Indigenous training programs advisor and NSI Storytellers alumna) and starring Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers (NSI IndigiDocs program manager).

The award will be handed out at the TFCA gala in March.

(Source: National Screen Institute)

01/23/2022

Seven Leaf is the first Indigenous-owned cannabis producer to receive Health Canada approval. It recently launched its SEV7N brand — the name is a nod to the Kanien’keha:ka concept of considering the impact of a decision on seven generations of people — and is set to launch a new brand of cannabis products, SOVE7EIGN, in 2022.

Akwesasne’s Seven Leaf incorporates Kanien’keha:ka traditions into cannabis production.

10/30/2021

Kahnawake — Four youth from Kahnawake are heading to the United Nations climate change conference next week, hoping to bring back knowledge to help mitigate climate change in their community.

Four youth from Kahnawake are heading to the United Nations climate change conference next week, hoping to bring back knowledge to help mitigate climate change in their community.

10/26/2021

Akwesasne — It takes a team of people to bring clean drinking water to this Mohawk community.

10/26/2021

Tiohtià:ke/Montreal — Kahnawake’s Grand Chief repulsed by Quebec. “It holds the knowledge of our ancestors, our history and our presence, now and for the future," Sky-Deer said.

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake is blasting the Quebec government for questioning a land acknowledgment by the Montreal Canadiens that refers to the unceded territory of the Mohawk Nation.

The statement, which has been read before the NHL team's home games this season, acknowledges the hospitality of the Mohawk Nation "on this traditional and unceded territory where we are gathered today."

Quebec Indigenous Affairs Minister Ian Lafrenière told reporters on Wednesday the acknowledgment may be an error.

In a statement Thursday, the elected council for the First Nations reserve across the river from Montreal commended the hockey club's gesture as an example of true reconciliation and added it was "repulsed" by the province's attempt to politicize the effort, which it said undermines the Mohawk presence in the Montreal region.

On Wednesday, Lafrenière told reporters that referring to a specific nation may be a mistake as historians differ on which nation was the first to live in Montreal, while adding it was important to recognize that First Nations were the first occupants.


Grand Chief Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer said in a statement that land is an essential part of Mohawk identity.

“It holds the knowledge of our ancestors, our history and our presence, now and for the future," Sky-Deer said. "Opinionated commentary that challenge and discredit our presence are not only insulting, they are taken as displaced attacks on our existence.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2021.

Source: The Canadian Press
Photo: CTV Montreal

10/13/2021

The 215 project displays a variety of beautifully beaded moccasins that were created to honour children who never returned home from residential schools. Tune in now!

10/13/2021

Kahnawake schools have been reopened for in class learning for several weeks now — albeit still dealing with the coronavirus and maintaining high safety measures!

10/12/2021

Every indigenous community seems to have their fair share of Urban Legends — this spooky tale appears to have travelled far and wide!
(Repost from 2019)

This “shape shifter” is usually an outside unfamiliar person who could show up at times when our minds are weak and vulnerable and we don’t notice her hoofs. By: Kanatires Barreiro Growing up on an Iroquois reservation, you might have heard the legend of the ‘Hoof Lady’. The chilling tale ...

10/05/2021

Kahnawake — Community members have halted a small construction project near the Mercier bridge. They claim the work encroaches on the territory and that no permission was given.

"We want to know what's going on."

10/03/2021

Organizers in Kahnawake, located southwest of Montreal, wanted to keep the day emotionally light despite the somber story behind it, all while raising awareness about residential schools.

On Canada’s first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, about 100 members of the Kahnawake community gathered for a music-filled ceremony to celebrate the birthdays of all the children who were forced to attend residential schools.