MCK agrees to implement Kahnaw�:ke Trades Qualifications Program

01/10/2011

The Mohawk Council of Kahnaw�:ke (MCK) wishes to inform the community that it passed a Mohawk Council Executive Directive today to implement the Kahnaw�:ke Trades Qualifications Program to verify that trades operating within Kahnaw�:ke, on the Mercier Bridge, meet minimum requirements to ensure competency within the workforce.

Included is a Qualifications Policy, which will provide for various categories of workers in high-risk trades. We (MCK) will create a pool of qualified Kahnawa�kehr�:non and affiliated Indigenous workers who will then have access to the work on the Mercier Bridge.

�This Program was created to ensure that our jurisdiction is respected and maintained and that our workers have guaranteed access to the work on the bridge,� said Grand Chief Michael Ahr�hrhon Delisle, Jr.

A Qualifications Committee will be formed shortly; their role will be to verify the competencies of the workers. A call for participation on this committee, as well as a call for those who wish to apply for certification, is expected to be announced tomorrow (Tuesday).

�We (the MCK) will take care of the political aspects of this important initiative,� Delisle continued. �We�ll also make sure that the various agencies, governments and contractors are informed for a smooth implementation process.�

The Kahnaw�:ke media will be invited to a special meeting Tuesday afternoon for further explanation.