Serge Otsi Simon
For Kanesatake

Experience you can trust

Progress through peace, respect and mutual understanding

My vision for a sustainable and prosperous future for ALL Kanesata'kehro:non

My Platform

Just like every strong foundation, my platform starts with security for all.

Any just society that aspires to values such as peace and equality has some form of security.

After my 10 years as the head of this council, and after having advocated to governments the fact that security is that basic foundation upon which children and elders can be protected, a foundation where our laws and some form of justice can be enacted, where our infrastructures and our Economic Developments can prosper, lands and the environment can also be safeguarded and upon which ALL KANESATA’KERÓ:NON can feel secure, speak freely and live out a good and peaceful life free of fear.

10 years of accomplishments ... and counting!

Getting finances under control (2011 to today)

Thanks to 10 years of good management, MCK is on the verge of being debt free, a first in over 30 years!

Click the link below to check all MCK verified audited statements :

Addressing the pressing issue of MCK’s massive debt

Upon entering council in what now seems like ages ago, MCK’s financial situation was very dire.

Our debt was upwards of $3.2 million dollars, the payables list was so long we had to pick and choose which ones we could address everyweek. We were on the very verge of third party management … again … and on top of that, our co-management status cost the band close to 500,000$ per year.

Tough and careful decisions had to be made in regards to spending, all while doing our best to not impact programs, a very difficult balance to strike.

I personally refused my salary for a year, and asked my chiefs on council to also make some sacrifice, hoping that one day our finances would be better and then the band would reimburse all salaries lost.

All those sacrifices and caution paid-off, today, Kanesatake is on the verge of being debt-free!! (around 300,000$ remain, which should be adressed next quarter)

Now that Kanesatake is debt-free, so many opportunities are now open for getting loans which will accelerate investments in housing, economic development, etc.

Achieving independance of the Kanesatake Health Center from the political branch (2011-2012)

KHC independance

Achieving this was no easy task, as at the time the political had a habit of running like the band council, a lot of fighting with little progress. This had to change if the community was to benefit from the programs or see new ones implemented.

Because I was cut off from the financing at the office, I had to rely on my own savings to defend this independence so that community members may vote for members of the KHC board.

Eventually I was successful, but it did cost me $20k, that I was lucky to get reimbursed by the next council.

So now KHC was free from political interference and programs as well as funding increased for the community’s benefit and most likely saved jobs in the process.

Some of the programs include: mom’s and tots, learn n play, breast feeding initiatives for young mothers, KYOT activities and the takeover of riverside elder’s home for better care of the residence.

Palliative care is now on the to do list, with KHC and MCK working together to make it happen.

Lands - Kanesatake's Specific Claim

Kanesatake’s Specific Claim

In May of 2011, 3 months before I took office, the previous council had signed a resolution to start the Specific Claim process for the small commons.

Our claim should never have been in Specific Claim. First, Canada’s policy is cash pay-out only, which forces some sort of surrender. Additionally, the monetary cap to a specific claim it set at $150 million dollars, which is less than half of the monetary value of our claim. The systemic racismin the whole process hit me at some point when I realized Canada didn’t negocitate under the laws it had to adhere to, but under policy. Additionally, Canada has unlimited resources to fight such land claims with their Justice (or injustice) department, while the band was only allowed 25,000$ per year in lawyers fees. Many other problems are involved which I will not go into detail for lack of time and space on this page, such as : resources, jurisdiction, etc.

The risk with walking out was that Canada would close the books on the claim, and Kanesatake would be left with taking Canada to court as the only recourse, which would have been a devastating blow to the community considering our dire financial situation of the time.

The accomplishment here is the fact that Canada would not recognize more than 1200 acres of the small commons in the first years of negotiations and our position was over 4400 acres that made up the small commons. Thanks to the study by Gaetan Nolet we did get 3600 acres recognized and to later claim the 800 acres left out.

We also looked at a study from a Dr. Hosios who was an expert in cannon law, the law that governs the Catholic church to see about the contradictions of the Sulpicians owning any lands here, but unfortunately Dr. Hosios passed away before we could get a study done.

The Beal study, unlike the other studies, this one was not jointly done with Canada and its purpose was to analyze the compensation offer Canada had made. It was determined that the claim had been severely undervalued by more than half according to Dr. Carl Beal of the university of Saskatchewan using a model Dr. Hosios developed.

The Servitech study was done jointly with Canada, but we didn’t trust what the government’s model calculated, which led us to the Beal conclusion.

Many have accused me of selling out in the last year and this I can assure you is not the case and that I would swear on my father’s soul to it.

Lands -Repatriation of OUR Treaty Lands

Discussion with Mr. Grégoire Gollin (english)

Discussion avec M Grégoire Gollin (français)

Working to repatriate our Lands

In June of 2019, Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Mr Grégoire Gollin, the private owner of the artificial title of a portion of our Ancestral Lands, the famous Pines Forest. The Memorandum’s goal is to facilitate the transfer of around 800 acres of land (3.25km2) which would increase Kanesatake’s territory by 25%, as well as permit the protection of the sacred Pines Forest from development.

We looked at different mechanisms to facilitate the land transfer such as the Ecological Gift process, but that process was not entirely satisfactory as it presented major hurdles in regards to financing, jurisdiction, etc.

We are still looking at mechanisms to repatriate those lands and will continue to hold the federal Crown responsible for the breach in treaty with all our lands.

Lands - Fighting for OUR Heritage

GBD development stopped

In March of 2019, we will remember a company called GBD development getting an agreement with Oka to develop a number of house on the small commons land claimed by our band.

The issue got heated between us and Oka, to the point that this plan would throw us into another possible confrontation. So I called MCK’s lawyer and made clear that a strong warning to GBD was needed so they understand that we will tie them up in federal court on a constitutional fight if they cleared one blade of grass from that land.

The strategy worked and GBD abandoned the project.

Oka’s attempt to designate the Pines as their Heritage

In September of 2020, the municipality was working to designate the Pines as being the municipality’s heritage under the guise of Ecological protection.

The fact is that those lands had already been rezoned an Ecologically protected area by the municipality.

This gesture of bad faith towards our people, especially knowing our historic land claim on those lands as well as the sacred nature of the Pines to us, forced me into action to prevent this from happening.

Additionally, it was a blatant attempt by the municipality to exercise control over lands that we were trying to repatriate through the Memorandum of Understanding with Mr Gollin.

Mr. Gollin had suffered pressures from the Municipality as well as abuses of procedures such as drastic tax increases, etc., and designating the Pines Oka’s Heritage would have added an extra layer of complexity to an already complex file regarding the repatriation of those lands.

The other matter of importance on this issue is the fact that the Mayor of Oka’s consultation was extremely flawed when he lumped us in with his constituency then says he consulted us.

That’s the main reason’s a court case had to be enacted, this simply cannot go unchallenged.

Had this went through, it would have taken Council probably years and a lot more resources to undo the damage.

Environment

Establishment of our Environment Department and Eco Center

Due to the ongoing problems with illegal dumping, I convinced Governments to provide us with more governance tools to address our issues. After much work and networking with different levels of government, we were able to get appropriate funding to create and run our own Environment Department.

Later on and in the same vein, I was also able to convince governments of the importance of having our own community-run Eco Center, which was inaugurated in October of 2018.

TransCanada Pipeline Fight

TransCanada pipeline fight – First Modern Day treaty with 150 Chiefs signing in Canada and US

This was the first treaty of its kind in what I was told, in over 200 years between First Nations.

Trans Canada approached MCK in 2014 wanting to engage in consultation about building a pipeline that would have gone through our territory then under the Ottawa river posing a threat to us down river.

This pipeline would have carried the dirtiest oil on earth from the tar sands of Alberta to the world market. The impact on not only us, but on the world was too much to just let this go as we did with the Enbridge line.

So I asked the AFNQL Chiefs for a resolution to band together against this project, but some Chiefs were looking at possible revenue from it for their band and would not support that kind of resolution at the time.

So I changed my question to “Can you support Kanesatake’s right to say no?” and they agreed.

With a resolution in hand, I flew to BC to meet the Chiefs of the UBCIC (Union of British Colombian Indian Chiefs) where I met the Regional Chief of Manitoba Derek Nipinak and Chief Arnold Gardner of treaty 8, who were there for the same reason, to see if an alliance could be done between east and west? The Chiefs were enthusiastic on the possibility as they were fighting against the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline and needed allies.

Over a year I travelled across the country to gain understanding of First Nations and the environment and became convinced that the alliance was the only option left to us. So the evolution to a treaty was a natural step for us and on September 22^nd 2016, a formal treaty signing took place in Montreal with all the Chiefs of Quebec and our allies in Vancouver. This treaty is still alive today with 150 chiefs across Canada and the U.S., the Trans Canada pipeline is not.

Scientist have come to the conclusion that mankind is in the middle of a 6^th mass extinction due to human activity and over population, as many species are dying off on land and sea.

So those who think it has no importance to you, think again, because Kanesatake will not be spared from this unless we all do our part to save our children from the worst that is coming.

Infrastructure

Working to improve Kanesatake’s Departments, Employee Benefits and Infrastructure

2012 – Construction of the Daycare in its new location which had been in the works for 20-25 years

2015 – Environment Department

2015 – Retroactive pay raises for all MCK employees and teachers, Christmas bonuses, Friday afternoons off, Paid Friday afternoon Kanienke:ha classes

2018 – Archiving Department

2018 – Eco Center

2019 – Economic Development Department

2020 – High Speed Internet

2020 – COVID-19 Pandemic Fight through the creation of the Emergency Response Unit (Meals-on-Wheels, Food Baskets, Business compensations, Oka Park blocked, Access Control Points in Oka, ACT, advocated so Governments not consider Pandemic Allocations as Revenue protecting SA recipients

2020 – Repatriating control of our Youth Protection under C-92

2021 – Community Services Building construction. The new facility will permit our community to streamline and better integrate culturally sensitive services, decolonized, inter-disciplinary and prevention focused intervention for our community’s families.

Language and Culture

Striving to Restoring our Language and Culture

In June of 2021, through targetted communications with the media, I pushed back against Quebec’s proposed Bill 96’s, whose purpose is to strenghten the French language and culture as well as assert its nationhood.

As is the case for every law that Quebec and Canada brings to the senate floor, I questioned myself on the impacts that such a law may have on the rights of our people, and it was clear to me that this law would be passed without having First Nations input, yet could have very real detrimental effects on our peoples’ language, culture, education, economy and more.

So, I decided to make a capsule and write a press release with the catchy title ‘Bill 96 – A second colonization‘. With a little push from our communications, it wasn’t long that journalists picked-up on it. The issue quickly became viral, gathering tens of thousands of views, receiving hundreds of likes and shares as well as countless comments from people of all backgrounds across Quebec showing their support to First Nations.

Journalists called in and I made the case if Quebec was to go ahead with the bill in its present format, it would be at the expense of the much more fragile First Nations languages and culture, which were here since time immemorial, thousands of years before French or English made it to our shores.

The result was that only 36 hours after my statements, Manon Massé from Quebec Solidaire filed a motion to ammend the law and impose on Quebec “A part of responsibility towards the protection and promotion of First Nations languages in Quebec.

I am very proud of this accomplishment, as the benefits will not only be felt for the Mohawk culture and language, but for all 11 Nations in Quebec and 55 communities.

Although the Quebec government made this change they couldn’t help themselves, by adding an insult to us by saying “for the First Nations that occupy the Quebec territory!” IT’S THE OTHER WAY AROUND!

Because the First Nations of Quebec never surrendered or were conquered, the whole province with the exception of the Cree under the James Bay agreement have never given anything up to Quebec or any other foreign power. As a matter of fact, our ancestors told the first colonizers that they would “share the land” not give it.

So I would demand that Quebec show us the deed or bill of sale for any part of this Province that has rightfully belonged to the First Nations by inherent right to prove they acquired the land rightfully.

Quebec did not conquer this land or its original Nations, they did not acquire it through treaty…. They just took it!

Economic Development

Setting the basis for equitable economic growth

I’ve always understood that if we are to ever truly be soveign and autonomous as a Nation, we have to build our economy. Our people need to own businesses, not only to feed their families, but so other families can work for those businesses and feed theirs. With strong businesses, we can also have more funds come in the territory, as outsiders will buy our wares, products, services. This way we can also save and promote our culture, as well as promote tourism which will create a self-accelerating cycle for all our businesses.

Though the department was already established, we reformed it, hiring experts from outside the community to evaluate projects and make sure that ALL projects would be analysed on their merits rather than on who you know and family ties.

Since 2019, the department helped a total of 29 community businesses to access Governmental funds for a total grand total of $1.38 million dollars.

The principles guiding the team are circular economy, Mohawk economy … etc.

The team is also very invested with the Youth, trying to teach them the skills to start, manage and advance their businesses. One such project was the famous Lemonade stand at the 2019 Pow Wow. The kids ended-up giving all the proceeds of sales from the lemonade to buy gifts and sweets for the elders of Kaniaktarakta (Riverside) Elders Home.

Projects like Bayside, Garden of Hope, etc

That momentum just keeps accelerating, the team in place is doing amazing and have established great relations with the different Government levels and institutions and are a great asset for the community.

Taking care of our employees

Getting our finances in order finally permitted MCK to :

Increase payscales for all MCK employees
Retroactive payscale increases for eligible MCK employees
Instated christmas bonuses for all MCK employees
Instated friday afternoon Kanienké:ha classes paid for by the MCK

Striking the fine balance between peace with our neighbors and fighting for Indigenous Rights

Building bridges with the MRC to promote peace, stability and mutual economic benefit

Accepting Mayor Quevillon's apology after his insulting and instigative comments

Witnessing the Apology of Quebec to First Nations following the Viens Commission

Treaty Alliance - TransCanada Pipeline Fight

The historical signing of the Treaty Alliance against Tar Sands Expansion - The first modern treaty of its kind - 150 Chiefs signatures acress Canada and the US

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Click here to access the PDF version of the letter —————->

My Positions on ...

Security within Kanesatake territory

This I cannot stress the importance enough when it comes to security.

Since the event of 2004 when the police station was surrounded and the officers forced out, we’ve been without policing since and the Surete du Quebec police have been much less than adequate to provide protection for our members and at times they seem to even create situations on purpose.

The necessity for policing is not only for criminal action, but to help us take over child protection from the Province while also protecting any economic investments that could be brought here.

I’ve also mentioned many times that a new policing service will be different than the last one as I’ve said, we learn from the mistakes of the past so we can do better the next time, and that’s what I’ve proposed to Governments.

One, we don’t hire any members as officers for some time, we can train people, but not to serve here.

Two, the police commission members would also be of an impartial nature, as we ask the members of our sister communities who have some policing, law, even social back grounds to come manage our policing until confidence and peace becomes our way of life again.

Three, the ethics of the policing service will flow from the CALEA international standards with offer a higher standard than the SQ.

For more details

Land Claims Issue

Shé:kon sewakwe:kon,

I would like to take this opportunity to answer some questions in the hope that some will understand the restrictions I faced with lands issues.

First question you should ask yourself is : Do you really trust the federal government when it comes to our interests or rights related to the lands?

Right … neither do I. That’s why I’m glad that a member of council leaked the documents about the claim in an attempt to throw me and the rest of council under the bus. I had been expecting this to happen for some time, as it now removes the risk that I be blamed should the government close the negotiation because they view it as a consultation on the offer has begun. In this attempt to pander, this council member only gave me the opportunity to now talk about the claim openly and should the government make this offer final, all will know who is responsible.

The letter the Government sent on the sharing of information, I had been asking for over two years … Isn’t it a weird coincidence that all council received this letter just before an election ?

The letter states only that there was nothing preventing me from informing the community, but falls short of assuring me that it will not be seen as a consultation. This was the same tactic they used in the pipeline fights, where they have a discussion with you and then go back and say you were consulted and the project goes ahead.

The other document some have waved at me was the release itself, that describes the monetary offer that our study showed was less than half the actual worth of the denial of use of the small commons and the unacceptable conditions that I hope you now see why it was too risky to make public. You need to understand that this is Canada’s paper … not mine or council’s.

There are many dangers to that release, as compensation should not equal surrender or sale.

We should never have to use that compensation to buy back lands, as it is the Crown that is responsible for the breached treaty promises and THEY should be the ones responsible for compensating third parties … not us.

We should not have to go to Quebec or the municipality when we repatriate lands, the Crown should take care of that since they are its creation. There’s a lot more and little space here to describe my disagreement with it.

I do wish to press upon you that I and council has never sold out and never will, this I swear on my soul and all those I love, because I’m Mohawk, I was born on these lands, poured my blood sweat and tears on these lands and one day will be buried on these lands, so I will never stop fighting for them, same as you.

But it is however my fault for not doing better on the information, because of the fears I mentioned above and the anger that was promoted and stoked against me like a fire meant to destroy. It was my fault for giving that opportunity, because I could not inform the way I wanted too.

Hope you now understand.

Sken:nen.

Serge Otsi Simon

“ Whatever you do won’t be enough, I heard their voices say. Try anyway. “

– Barrack Obama, Norway, December 10, 2009

Setting the basis for economic growth

What I see are multiple band owned enterprises that would create real revenue outside of government contribution agreements that would allow for a growing capital that could in turn offer good jobs with retirement plans, medical and dental as well.

By having a growing capital for members, it would help us create a Kanesatake financial institution that would offer mortgages, loans for personal use, as well as economic.

Having our own capital would also help us assert or rights through legal actions and not have to worry about the programs we have that people depend on.

The other reason would be to encourage and support our youth to seek higher education and to implement a strategy through better funding to save and promote our language, not only in the home, but within this potential economy.

The potential I speak of starts with the people and their children and that’s why I looked at offering drivers ed courses for those who needed and cover the costs through some programs we have. A course can cost $1000 + today and not many can afford that type of cost, so with the help a few programs we have young people able to drive to cegep, University and find employment. Other courses will be offered soon.

The acquiring of more of our ancestral lands through dialog with governments so we may re-instate the benefits of the lands that were denied us for too long. Agriculture could be a vital part of this economy as we use modern techniques as well as old ones, for not only profit, but better food security for our members.

Partnerships with other First Nations is a real possibility, as I discovered when I visited the Mi’kmaq of the Gaspe region. For the Mi’kmaq, fisheries are a large part of their economy as well as tourism and presents itself as a large opportunity for both our Nations. We do agriculture and trade with them for sea food, they distribute our products and we do the same with theirs within our respective territories.

There’s so much more, but I have to respect the limited space on this site.

Cannabis

English version :

Click on the link below to watch on YOUTUBE, we have restricted the content to 18+ since it discusses the subject of cannabis.

Version française :

Cliquez sur le lien ci-bas pour regarder sur YOUTUBE, nous avons restreint le contenu aux 18 ans et plus en raison du sujet traité.

Lateral violence, intimidation, reconciliation and healing