Kahnawake, Akwesasne, Kanesatake to make joint presentation at today�s National Energy Board hearing

08/29/2016

The Mohawk Council of Kahnaw�:ke (MCK) wishes to inform the community that Council Chiefs from Kahnaw�:ke, Akwesasne and Kanesatake will be making a joint presentation today to the National Energy Board, which is holding public hearings on the proposed TransCanada pipeline project.

The Montreal hearings begin today .

�We intend to make it clear that this project will definitely have an impact on Aboriginal interests,� said Grand Chief Joseph Tokwiro Norton, who will be presenting on the MCK�s behalf. �Our message will be pretty simple: the crown has a legal obligation to consult with us; not the National Energy Board, but Canada.�

�We wish to make it clear that our presence does not constitute �consultation� on our part,� he added. �We have a message to deliver, and then we will leave.�

Elder Melvin Diabo will also participate in the MCK�s presentation. He will speak on our responsibility to look after the land. His presentation will be made entirely in Kanien�k�ha.