A joint project to modernize Route 132 has been stalled because Kahnawake refuses to collaborate with elected officials from surrounding municipalities. The prefect of the Roussillon regional county told The Eastern Door he’s been urging the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) to come to the table for years now, but they won’t budge.

MCK grand chief Cody Diabo said they’ve been holding out over concerns their participation will be perceived as them consenting to the project.

“We have to be very careful,” he said. “We don’t want it to be perceived that we’re being consulted and we’re okay with the project, meaning the provincial government can now sidestep and say, ‘Well, you’ve been consulted, and you didn’t raise any concerns.’

“I’ll say it bluntly, it’s a really racist and paternalistic top-down approach,” the MCK grand chief said of the regional county’s approach. “But the project’s still going through at the end of the day, so it’s a really frustrating situation.”

The project revolves around turning the route into an urban boulevard.

“Route 132 needs to be redone,” prefect Christian Ouellette told The Eastern Door in a recent interview.

“We haven’t been able to move forward, because of the demands surrounding the Seigneury of Sault St. Louis,” said Ouellette, also the mayor of Delson, referencing the long-standing land grievance the band council has filed against Canada.

The project dates back to 2017, when the cities of Delson, Sainte-Catherine, and St. Constant announced a joint commitment to modernize the five-KM stretch of the highway that runs through their municipalities. A committee was created then too, grouping together elected officials from surrounding municipalities, in addition to former Council chief Rhonda Kirby. 

Other priorities identified for the committee back then included the creation of a “shared vision” for the project, finding solutions for traffic-related problems, and the drafting of a master plan intended for stakeholders who’d come to be involved in the project. 

Kirby and then MCK technician David Lahache only participated in a few meetings that year before pulling out. A 2021 report in The Eastern Door said the decision to stop attending meetings came down to concerns over development within Seigneury lands.

In the time since then Ouellette said he’s made repeated attempts to encourage the band council to collaborate on the project.

“We don’t want to construct buildings, we want to replace the road,” Ouellette emphasized, adding much of the work will involve repaving the five-KM stretch of highway.

The prefect brought up the offer to collaborate again while meeting with Diabo in late February, who he said told him it was off the table. 

“The grand chief informed us that he wants to wait on the (federal) government’s next steps before going any further. This has prevented us from moving forward with our projects,” Ouellette said.

Discussions between Kahnawake and Canada over the Seigneury of Sault St. Louis land grievance resumed about two years ago, Diabo said. The hope now is to finalize how formal negotiations over the grievance will be conducted, the MCK grand chief said. 

“All of these developments are happening on Seigneury lands, and our intent is to get our land back, so we’re at an impasse,” Diabo said.

“I understand they want to grow and develop, but they’re growing and developing on land that’s not theirs. Those are those hard conversations that we’re going to have to have, and that’s where Canada needs to come in and do their job, the province needs to get involved and do their job,” he added, mentioning the need for consultation. 

The MCK grand chief also expressed concerns over the nature of the proposed work. 

“They want a Decarie-style industrial boulevard,” he said. 

The hope is to expand parts of the road up to four lanes, Diabo said he was told.

“But then you’re going to get to Kahnawake and it’s going back down to a two lane. So, what really is it going to do, besides bog up traffic at the end of the day on our end?”

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A Quebec Superior Court judge has ruled that two Ahkwesahsró:non allegedly involved in a human smuggling operation that led to the deaths of nine people in the St. Lawrence River may be extradited to the United States. 

Stephanie Square and Rahsontanohstha Delormier, both of Akwesasne, are accused of being involved in an operation where migrants were transported to Cornwall Island before being taken across the river by boat, with drivers eventually transporting them deeper into New York State.

It’s alleged one of those operations went wrong in late March of 2023, when the bodies of eight migrants were found in the river. Those pulled from the water were identified as Florin Iordache, 28, Cristina (Monalisa) Zenaida Iordache, 28, and their children, two-year-old Evelin and one-year-old Elyen. The family was Romanian, and both children were Canadian citizens.

The other family found deceased was the Chaudhari family, who were from India, and were identified as Praveenbhai Chaudhari, 50, Dakshaben Chaudhari, 45, Meet Chaudhari, 20, and Vindhi Chaudhari, 23.

The body of Ahkwesahsró:non Casey Oakes, who was allegedly driving the boat, was found in July of that year.

According to authorities, Square asked Delormier to drive the boat that night, but hired Oakes as an alternative when the original vessel broke down.

The allegations are yet to be heard in court. Others involved in the case have already pled guilty in the States, including Dakota Montour and Kawisiiostha Celecia Sharrow.

The decision from Justice Gregory Moore means that it will be up to federal justice minister Arif Virani whether the two will be extradited.

Joel Girard, Square’s lawyer, said that extradition should be rejected by Virani. She is currently facing eight counts including alien smuggling for profit and alien smuggling causing death.

“The bodies were found in Canada, the boat was found in Canada, the police investigation was mostly done by the Akwesasne Mohawk Police,” Girard said. 

“The autopsy was done in Canada, the death certificates are in Canada, the firemen who picked up Delormier on the island were on Canadian water, the screaming in the middle of the river was still a person on Canadian land. So, I do believe that it’s a Canadian court that should prosecute her.”

Delormier, who is facing five counts, is being represented by Antonio Cabral, who, like Girard, is also planning to appeal Moore’s decision.

Both lawyers are planning to send Gladue reports to the justice minister – these are reports that specifically address systemic factors like racism and trauma experienced by Indigenous people which should be uniquely considered throughout the criminal justice process.

While Justice Moore denied a request that Gladue reports be prepared for the Superior Court portion of the process, they can still be raised with the justice minister.

Girard said that the minister has a legal responsibility to consider the reports.

“We talk about detention, rehabilitation, family, and different programs that are offered in Canada but not in the US,” Girard said. “The minister should, or must, take knowledge of these factors before he renders his decision.”

Square and Delormier have 30 days to file for an interim release and appeal, and Girard added that they plan to request a delay so that there is enough time for the minister to read and consider the reports.

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This is a photo collection curated by AP photo editors.

The Associated Press

This is a photo collection curated by AP photo editors.

The Associated Press

After pushback from the community on the recently passed Kanesatake Law-Making Process (KLMP), Mohawk Council of Kanesatake (MCK) chiefs Brant Etienne and Serge Otsi Simon hosted a community meeting online and on Reviving Kanehsatà:ke Radio (RKR) 101.7 FM.

The session was notable for two reasons, one being the meeting’s content, with many community members skeptical of the new lawmaking process, and the other being the format itself.

Live on Microsoft Teams and Reviving Kanehsatà:ke Radio (RKR) 101.7 FM, the community had the chance to hear directly from Council chiefs about the legislation and to pose their questions and concerns – albeit filtered through a moderator.

“I’m really grateful for people who took the time to ask those questions,” said Simon in an interview with The Eastern Door. “It really felt good as a governance. I think me and Brant took away that there’s hope that there are members out there that are serious about their governance and their own security.”

Some community members, however, took issue with the meeting, given the schism on Council and the absence of MCK grand chief Victor Bonspille, who was not involved in the KLMP’s passage. Bonspille hosted his own meeting in person on Tuesday, which he billed as an emergency community meeting. 

A message from the office of the grand chief was read out at the end of the RKR broadcast, informing community members of Bonspille’s meeting and its agenda.

That agenda included an update to the Emergency Response Unit investigation, which he has frequently invoked, as well as “Ethic Committee” and the KLMP.

Bonspille has voiced opposition to the KLMP, circulating a notice to local businesses suggesting the legislation could harm their interests.

On Monday, the recently formed Ethics Commission, which is comprised of legal professionals from outside the community, will meet to consider an appeal on whether Bonspille has vacated his position as grand chief.

The Kanesatake Custom Electoral Code dictates that a Council member who has missed three Council or community meetings without a valid reason or “engages in, during their term, any wrongful conduct that affects, interrupts, or interferes with the performance of their duties” has vacated their seat. Bonspille has rarely attended Council meetings this term, but he has argued only meetings he calls are valid.

Bonspille did not return a request for an interview on the public meeting he hosted this week.

Radio meeting

Etienne and Simon began the broadcast by outlining the process behind the KLMP, which included the publication of a draft law nearly nine months ago, followed by online and in-person sessions with the community, before outlining their view that opposition to the KLMP is primarily due to misinformation.

“I think we could dispel some misinterpretations of the KLMP, and not only that, dispel a lot of fear that people have about this,” said Simon on the program.

He mentioned the word zoning as an example of something that made some people reticent and argued that Kanien’kehá:ka have long demarcated areas for different activities, such as ceremonies or hunting.

The early part of the discussion focused on the law’s legal basis, which cites several sources, such as the Indian Act and inherent rights, as well as the Kanesatake Interim Land Governance Act (KILGA), also known as S-24.

“Creating Mohawk laws via the KLMP is not accepting jurisdiction from any outside authority,” said Etienne on air, who emphasized Kanesatake laws have the same standing as federal laws. “We are pushing back the authority of outside governments, whether it’s provincial, municipal, or federal.”

The Council chiefs also spoke about the consultations that would take place for laws pertaining to certain categories.

“Council can’t just unilaterally pull stuff and pass whatever they want,” said Simon.

Several questions were submitted, mostly pertaining to the KLMP. MCK chief Amy Beauvais, who attended the Teams meeting, occasionally chimed in on the air while Etienne and Simon spoke from the radio’s studio.

The first question of the night was how laws will be upheld.

Etienne said security who could uphold more serious infractions is still “a ways off,” but that the Kanesatake Perimeter Security Team or another similar entity could handle something like ticketing vehicles if, for instance, a Kanesatake law modified the speed limit.

Simon emphasized the importance of a security force to provide a buffer.

Another question asked, if only members can vote, whether there is a valid membership code. The MCK chiefs said there is no valid membership code, but that the KLMP means a membership law is now possible.

Other questions asked about the land code, matrimonial law, whether future councils can alter the threshold needed if a law is put to vote, and other issues, including  Tioweró:ton – Kanesatake laws are not in force there.

Expanding on the question of enforcement, one question asked whether a court of competent jurisdiction has been negotiated.

“That’s something that has to be developed,” said Etienne, who said the ultimate goal is to appoint a justice of the peace. In the meantime, he suggested the MCK could negotiate with sister communities to enable Kanesatake cases to be taken to their courts, such as the Court of Kahnawake.

New format

“Overall, it was successful,” said Karahkóhare Syd Gaspé, president of Mohawk MultiMedia Inc., which oversees RKR.

Typically, MCK-led community meetings have been limited only to those community members who are present in person, with many Kanehsata’kehró:non unwilling to participate, with some citing the hostility that can be present.

The local radio station offers a means of informing the community that is more accessible and less prone to such discord; many radio stations, including K1037 Radio in Kahnawake, routinely invite politicians to speak directly to constituents.

“I think we have to be innovative today and use technology to our advantage,” said Gaspé.

“The format provides a safe space to exchange with the elected leaders. It doesn’t replace an in-person meeting, it’s a complementary way to communicate and reach as many people as possible. Each format has its challenges,” he said.

“RKR has provided the medium as a communication tool. We are a neutral, non-partisan, independent organization providing a service, a service that MCK paid for, i.e., RKR is renting the airwaves. We are not favouring one political party. We offer equal opportunity.”

He said the programming was not a consultative process with community members because a lack of a profanity delay system meant the station could not provide a live connection, as it must uphold broadcast rules under its license to operate on the airwaves.

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Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Columbia University on Thursday said it had doled out a range of punishments to students who occupied a campus building last spring during pro-Palestinian protests.

Heaps of refuse from a bathroom renovation found at the lacrosse box Monday morning marks the fifth or sixth similar incident in recent months.

“Right now, it’s like we’re becoming a dumping ground,” said Kane Montour, coordinator of the Kanesatake Perimeter Security Team (KPS). “We’ve got all kinds of toxic chemical waste being dumped here, all these contaminants being dumped here, and now to add to it, bathroom renovations? What else is there to dump?”

Montour and his colleagues spent two hours combing the trash for clues, trying not to prick their fingers or feet with stray nails, a task that was none too pleasant.

“It’s just disgusting, flipping over a toilet bowl and a bathtub,” said Montour.

But the team couldn’t turn up any receipts or mailing addresses. From the boxes they found, it appears the mystery renovator bought materials in high-traffic Laval, meaning KPS can’t exactly stroll into a store and ask if anyone bought a toilet lately.

“It’s very disheartening. It’s sad. At the same time, I’m angry. Myself, I don’t even throw a piece of paper out the window. It’s sad to think that it could be somebody coming not from here dumping it and thinking they can do what they want,” said Montour. “At this same time, which would make it even worse, is if it’s a local community member. This is their territory too.”

After Public Works hauled away the garbage, KPS asked community members to check nearby cameras, but this didn’t turn up any evidence either.

“We pulled the surveillance from a couple of the stores, and we had the surveillance pulled from the (Onen’to:kon Healing Lodge), and we weren’t able to find anything in the time frame,” said Montour.

KPS believes the person who dumped the trash came up through the baseball field, where there are no cameras. He feels more cameras around the community could be one potential tool to stop this kind of dumping.

“I know people here in Kanesatake, they don’t like cameras. They feel they’re being spied on. Someone will probably just break it down anyways, but at the same time I think a lot of people are pissed,” he said.

There are no easy solutions, according to Mohawk Council of Kanesatake (MCK) chief Serge Otsi Simon, who is on the environment and justice portfolios.

“It all comes down again to enforcement,” he said. “We don’t have the resources. I really wish we could be allocated these resources to have environmental officers patrolling our community.”

He said if anyone sees anything suspicious, whether at night or during the day, they should report it to KPS.

“It’s the only resource we have right now,” he said. “People like that, we have to get them out of here. These are non-Natives.”

This advice was echoed by Montour, who would like to see community members help hold those who are disrespecting the environment accountable by speaking up.

“If you’re scared and you don’t want to approach somebody, call me. I’m not scared. I’ll approach somebody. When it comes to the environment and it comes to hurting our community, hurting our children, hurting what we have left, I’ll stand up to anybody. It’s not right,” said Montour.

“This I can say, if we find out who’s doing it, and we catch who’s doing it, they’re going to be dealt with.”

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Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Karonhienhawe Nicholas had never tried her hand at creative writing before last year, but now that her first piece is published she’s got confidence under her wings – particularly since she gets to see her words in print alongside the words of her children.

“I’m really glad that my kids that are in there, because it’s something that’s going to be solidified in history, in literature,” Nicholas said.

Nicholas and her children Sage Harrington, 15, and Nation Harrington, 16, are the writers of three of 37 creative works compiled in a book titled Poetic Echoes From The Land: Poems for Truth and Reconciliation, which was published as part of a two-year art project with McMaster University as part of the Future of Canada Project.

The project seeks to create visual art for each of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action, and the poetry collection was created as a companion book to the project.

Patsea Griffin of the Thunderbird Sisters Collective created, edited, and contributed to the book along with Deanna Nishi. 

“People might hear about truth and reconciliation, but sometimes they don’t truly know it, they don’t get deeper into it,” said Griffin, who found contributors mostly through community referrals and word of mouth. 

“I think this gives people an opportunity to actually see it with their own eyes and read the poems and stories that are in there.”

The Thunderbird Sisters Collective was started in 2017 and brings together First Nation, Metis, and Inuit women for activities like beading circles, skill-sharing workshops, and knowledge sharing sessions with Indigenous youth and allies.

Griffin said that bringing together non-Indigenous and Indigenous authors from across Turtle Island for the book was important, and something the Collective has sought to do in much of its programming in recent years.

“That’s what really brings together community, and brings us together as one in a sense,” Griffin said. “Sometimes that doesn’t happen, and it’s hard to get people to agree on anything, but I find art and poetry can do that, everyone’s welcome.”

Nation wrote a diary-style piece, Spirit Children’s Walk of 2021, about his journey walking to Shingwauk Residential School, which his great-grandfather and great-uncle had attended. The piece described the blisters and leg cramps he got as he embarked on the walk, and charts his thoughts throughout the trip.

Sage wrote a poem called Onkwehonwe, which describes her own process working through her feelings of learning to love her Indigenous features and coming to terms with the realities of racism faced by her community.

Nicholas said she was proud to read what her children had written.

“It was remarkable, actually, when I read it,” Nicholas said. “It was quite insightful, it almost hurt a little bit when I read it, thinking ‘Aw, my baby.’”

Though writing requires vulnerability, Nicholas’ kids were eager to participate in the project.

“There was no pushing, no coercing, they submitted their work and now they have a part in literature on these pages with their thoughts, their experiences, and their lives,” she said.

Nicholas herself wrote a poetic piece about her childhood, where she expressed the trauma of growing up in a home touched by alcoholism and violence. The piece is called The Promise and describes her experiences being raised by someone dealing with addiction, and her promise to herself and her children never to drink.

“For me it was really personal. I was raw, because I relived those experiences,” she said. “This is about a promise I made to myself at six years old, and I stuck to my guns.”

For Griffin, bringing together folks from all different walks of life to share their own personal experiences, like Nicholas and her family did, was the most rewarding part of the project.

“The age range was from 14-76, and it was just amazing to read it all, pull it all together, and get people to participate,” she said. 

The book is not currently for public sale, having been run as a limited print, but those interested in hearing more about the project can reach out to [email protected] to inquire about available copies.

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After a shutout period in goal at Provincials with the Laurentians Junior AA ringette team this month, Tewehshon Patience Nelson has been asked to join the team in Ottawa for Nationals.

It’s an impressive feat for a Benjamin goaltender, but it comes as no surprise. After all, her older sister Kahsennine Nelson played in the Eastern Canadian Championships a decade ago.

Tewehshon is too young to remember it, but she was there to cheer her older sister on from the stands in PEI – and now it’s her turn to ply her skills on one of ringette’s biggest stages.

“All I know is it’s going to be tough and there are a lot of teams going,” said Tewehshon, but she’s still unfazed. After all, she stopped six out of six shots on net at Provincials, even though she was playing with girls two and three years older than her.

“At the start, I was scared, but when I got on, I was fine,” said the goaltender, who has been getting time in with the squad in addition to her Blainville Cavaliers Benjamin A team.

Her game has grown by leaps and bounds since she starting playing with the Junior AA squad, said her father, Jeffrey Nelson.

“They even have a goalie coach on their team, so she’s been getting basically private lessons while practicing with the team,” Jeffrey said.

“It’s just awesome that she’s still only 13, and being moved up to play an age level and a level higher is a huge accomplishment.”

The Junior AA team’s third-place finish at the Ligue Elite de Ringuette du Quebec Provincial Championships from March 6-9 in Quebec City punched their ticket to Nationals. They were 3-2 heading into the semi-final match for a chance to go against the top-seeded Quebec City team, but just barely fell to the South Shore squad in a tight 4-3 loss.

But because of the location of the Nationals, Quebec is eligible to send three teams, so the Laurentians’ bronze was enough to earn a spot at the Canadian Ringette Championships, which will take place from March 30 to April 5.

“To say I’m proud of my sister is an understatement,” said Kahsennine. “She’s really grown out of her shell and has put in the work, day in and day out, to get to that spot, especially when it’s not even her team.”

Kahsennine said she benefitted from taking part in the Eastern Canadian Championships, getting her out of her comfort zone coming from a small community and being the only English speaker on the team. Now her sister gets the chance to compete on an even bigger stage, she said.

“I’m happy I’ve gotten to watch her grow and love the same sport I play and love,” said Kahsennine, joking that it’d be “iconic” if they ever got to play together.

“I’ll always be her biggest fan,” Kahsennine said. “She’s going to do amazing things on and off the ice.”

As if playing in Junior AA Nationals wasn’t enough, Tewehshon has a major Benjamin A tournament the same week, so she’ll be travelling back and forth between Ottawa and St. Eustache to provide her goaltending talents wherever they’re needed.

“I know I’m going to be really tired from the travelling and everything, but I’m just excited for both of them,” said Tewehshon.

It’ll be an equally busy week for her father Jeffrey, who will be taking her to and fro and coaching the Benjamin A squad.

That may not be the end of the road either. If her Benjamin A team takes the St. Eustache tournament, that team will be headed to Nationals too.

And it might just happen.

“Having her as the goalie, we obviously have a chance every game,” Jeffrey said.

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Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

It was past bedtime one night when Justine Deer’s six-year-old son Wallace Zachary turned to his mother with a heart-warming request.

“He said to me that he wanted to help the homeless and give them everything that they need,” she said. “He just kept going on and on about it, so we ended up putting it together, we picked a date, and we did it.”

Deer said that she believes her child learned about the hardships faced by others from his excellent teachers at the Mackay Centre School, who she said have helped him thrive in the classroom.

“He’s opened up a lot, so I really give kudos to the school he’s in,” Deer said.

The young Zachary was passionate about helping the homeless in an interview with The Eastern Door. 

“They don’t get to eat for years,” Zachary said, adding that it makes him sad to know that people are going hungry.

Deer and Zachary were joined by Carla Deer, Corrine Zachary, and Kiona Deer to hand out 40 bags of food to homeless people in Montreal. The team packed bologna sandwiches with cheese and lettuce, as well as apples, oranges, ramen noodles, peanuts, apple juice, and water. 

“It felt nice,” said Wallace, who spent five hours with the group walking around Montreal, stopping whenever they saw someone who looked like they needed help. The team distributed the packages in the streets and in metro stations, and gave away every last bag to people who were struggling.

“A lot of them were very grateful and happy,” Justine said, adding that as a parent, it’s a good feeling to hear your kids wanting to do good for others. 

“It’s really wonderful.”

Justine had initially shared a video on her Facebook account of Wallace talking about his desire to help the homeless back in February, and she was touched when community members reached out to support her in helping Wallace fulfil his mission.

One individual donated money to buy bologna for sandwiches, which Wallace took to Mohawk Market proudly, and donations ended up covering all the expenses for the food, which helped the group increase the number of food packs they were able to distribute.

Wallace and Justine are hoping to head back to the city in the future and continue to help those in need.

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A new interactive, online map of the Montreal metro system was launched this past weekend, which aims to “pay tribute to the women who have played a vital role in the making of Montreal and its social, cultural, and economic prosperity,” according to the project’s website.

The project is inspired by a similar project, first done in New York City in 2016 and also created for cities like London and Barcelona.

The author and scholar Chantal Ringuet was the creator of the project, which is supported by the Université de Montréal, in partnership with the Société de transport de Montréal (STM).

Among the 73 women who are in the project are four Indigenous women: Indigenous women and children’s rights activist Mary Two-Axe Earley from Kahnawake; news anchor, radio host, and activist Myra Cree from Kanesatake; Abenaki artist, activist, and documentary filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin; and Innu poet, director, and documentary filmmaker Joséphine Bacon.

“We wanted to give space to Indigenous communities, and the Mohawk community, as the territorial issue is important,” said Ringuet. 

Ringuet said that each living person considered for the map was contacted by the project team to give their authorization to be included. 

In the case of Two-Axe Earley and Cree, who have both passed, they instead spoke to their family and, for Two-Axe Earley, the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK).

“I think it’s a wonderful thing, to educate people and make people understand that the Indian Act affected our people in many different ways and different aspects of their life,” said Council chief Stephen McComber, who is on the heritage file. 

McComber was the contact for the project on the MCK side.

He discussed the project with Annie Pullen Sansfaçon, the professor at the School of Social Work at the Université de Montréal, who is also Indigenous and said that Two-Axe Earley’s efforts to restore the rights of Indigenous women who marry non-Indigenous men helped her and thousands of women like herself.

“She wanted to honour her that way, with this project,” said McComber. 

Although McComber did not know Two-Axe Earley personally, he was a good friend of her son, Edward Earley, prior to his passing.

“I think he would really appreciate a little bit the part that I played in making this happen,” said McComber.

Ringuet spoke with Cree’s daughter, Myra Cree-Bernier, to get her blessing for the project.

“She was rejoiced to learn that we had retained her mother among the women we were honouring. She liked our process, the project itself, and what it stands for,” said Ringuet.

The stations chosen for each woman were chosen based on where they were born or where they lived, as well as their field and where they worked or studied.

For example, according to Ringuet, Angrignon station was chosen for Two-Axe Earley, as it is the closest to Kahnawake, where she was born and lived. For Cree, Papineau was chosen because of her career at Radio-Canada.

Along with the interactive online map, it will also be displayed in STM stations.

Ringuet said the project has garnered a lot of positive reactions, and she hopes to continue the debate on the question of recognition of women in the city and their presence in urban place names.

The Montreal Metro does not have any station named specifically after women, although three are named for locations that include women’s names – Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Square-Victoria-OACI, and Villa-Maria.

The STM, while a supporter of the project, said that there are no plans to permanently rename any Metro station at this time.

“The overall direction of the STM is to preserve current station names, which are part of Montreal’s toponymic heritage and are integrated into the habits of our customers. Furthermore, any name change would entail significant expenses due to the necessary changes to signage and customer information tools. These expenses would not be wise in the current financial climate.” said Renaud Martel-Théorêt, spokesperson for the STM.

“However, we fully support the objective of the Montreal, City of Women project, which aims to highlight the women who have shaped today’s city.”

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Throughout her decades-long career in the field of Community Economic Development (CED) – the practice of building local economies through community engagement and collaboration with governments and the private sector – Kahnawa’kehró:non Allison Deer has accomplished a lot.

That includes obtaining her master’s at Cape Breton University, consulting for the Women’s Economic Council, and her current senior advisory role at Bimaadzwin, an organization which seeks to promote Indigenous economic development.

But before that, in 2001, Deer, who at the time already had more than 15 years of experience in the field, graduated from Concordia University’s inaugural graduate program on CED.

“I was driven by a deep desire to deepen my understanding of CED methodologies and theories, which led me to enroll,” said Deer. “It was there that I truly found my calling and a community of like-minded individuals passionate about the field.”

That calling and her connections are what allowed her to come back to Concordia for the 2025 winter semester – only this time, it’s as the teacher of the new Participative Management course of the CED program, which she also assembled the curriculum for.

“Flying the plane and building the plane at the same time is really challenging,” said Deer. “But it’s going very well.”

According to Deer, Participative Management is a leadership style that is a “democratic governance model and process,” as it encourages collaboration between all levels of the organization.

“It is how I conduct my business, consulting work, and build partnerships,” said Deer. 

The curriculum includes older research from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, but it also includes case studies based on real projects Deer or others have worked on in Indigenous communities.

She believes that showing these case studies of Indigenous economic development will help her students, none of which are Indigenous in her current cohort.

She explained that making sure they know the situations in Indigenous communities for economic development are not going to necessarily be the same than in a non-Indigenous one.

“For an Indigenous community, there’s an added level of risk and responsibility. You have to be sure that you’re not giving up the way you live or putting the entire community in jeopardy. It’s a big responsibility, a little more than, let’s say, Chateauguay, for example. If it doesn’t work out, I can always go to Lachine. But in an Indigenous community, that’s not going to be the case,” said Deer.

“Sometimes communities are faced with that economic opportunity, and it could be a source of pain as well. There are challenges to that. It brings community consultation, it brings in scarce resources, and that we’re not all the same into focus.”

It’s something she’s found out for herself while working in the field, too.

“I had the opportunity to work from coast to coast to coast with Indigenous communities. I myself being a Native person, I thought, when I first got that job, that it’s going to be easy. I’m Native, they’re Native, how hard could it be?” said Deer.

“It was not easy, but I found out how different people operate, the different protocols, different opportunities, and different sectors of development.”

So far, she said her experience and passion for the subject have shone through to her students and made the classroom enjoyable for everyone during the intensive 27-hour course.

“They like my pedagogy, my approach to learning – which is sharing my own stories, case studies, and just bringing a more personal approach,” said Deer. “They don’t want to hear somebody just lecturing at the front of the room, they want to be part of it. That’s what CED is all about.”

Dr. Anna Sheftel, principal of Concordia’s School of Community and Public Affairs, said that having an alumnus as experienced as Deer come back to develop and teach the new CED class.

“It’s a real get for us to have someone with so much experience working in the community sector and doing really important community development work,” said Sheftel. 

Sheftel said that the program has undergone a program review to help Indigenize and decolonize it.

“Having an Indigenous professor with her level of expertise, it’s just an invaluable contribution to the program,” said Sheftel.

Next year’s class will be given in French, so Deer said she will not be the one to teach it.

“I would be interested again in 2027, having built a program now that will be in my back pocket,” said Deer.

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A “Blood Moon” will bathe a large swathe of the world in red light overnight Thursday during a rare total lunar eclipse.

Skygazers will be able to witness the celestial spectacle in the Americas and Pacific and Atlantic oceans, as well as in the westernmost parts of Europe and Africa.

The phenomenon happens when the Sun, Earth and Moon line up, causing our planet to cast a giant shadow across its satellite.

But as the Earth’s shadow creeps across the Moon, it does not entirely blot out its white glow — instead, the Moon turns a reddish colour.

This is because the only sunlight that reaches the Moon is “bent and scattered” as it goes through Earth’s atmosphere, Daniel Brown, an astronomer at the U.K.’s Nottingham Trent University, said.

It is similar to how the light can become pink or red during sunrises or sunsets on Earth, he added.

And the more clouds and dust there are in Earth’s atmosphere, the redder the Moon will appear.

The lunar eclipse, which will last around six hours on Friday morning, “is an amazing way to see the solar system in action,” Brown said.

The period when the Moon is completely in Earth’s shadow — called the totality — will be just over an hour.

This particular event has been dubbed the “Blood Worm Moon,” after one of the names given to March full moons by some Native Americans.

When can you see it?

In Canada and the rest of North America, the Moon will start to look like a bite is being taken out of it from 1:09 a.m. ET, then the totality will be from 2:26 am to 3:31 a.m., according to NASA.

However, only the most western parts of Europe, such as France’s Brittany region, will get any chance to see the totality before the Moon sets.

People in New Zealand will have the opposite problem, with the eclipse only partially visible as the Moon rises.

In the U.K., the weather forecast is poor, but Brown said he hoped to “snatch a peak at the Moon with clouds above the horizon.”

Brown dislikes the term “Blood Moon,” saying it has a negative connotation and “originates from a misinformed theory of the end of the world.”

But not all societies took a negative view of these celestial shows.

Some people in Africa traditionally viewed a lunar eclipse as a conflict between the Sun and Moon that could be resolved by people “demonstrating on Earth how we work together” and laying old feuds aside, Brown said.

“An amazing story that should inspire us all at the moment,” he said.

Solar eclipse soon

It will be the first total lunar eclipse since 2022, but there will be another one this September.

Thursday’s event will be a “Micromoon,” meaning the Moon is the farthest away it gets from Earth, making it appear about seven per cent smaller than normal, according to the website Earthsky.

This is the opposite of a “Supermoon,” as was seen during 2022’s lunar eclipse.

Some skygazers will be in for another treat later this month — a partial solar eclipse, which is when the Moon blocks out the Sun’s light on Earth.

This eclipse will be visible on March 29 in eastern Canada, parts of Europe, northern Russia and northwest Africa.

Viewing even a partial solar eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous, and people are advised to use special eclipse glasses or pinhole projectors.

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As more and more Kahnawa’kehró:non hit the runway at prestigious events like Akwesasne Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week, and the International Indigenous Tourism Conference, it’s becoming clearer than ever that there’s space for the taking for local talent in the elusive world of modelling.
While half the battle is taking that first step onto the catwalk or in front of the camera, there are plenty of logistical tasks that come with starting modelling. That’s why local model Kendall Horn wants to make things easier for newcomers on the scene, by organizing composite card sessions with Akwesasne-based photographer Babes Thompson.

“This will improve your chances of being selected for whatever you’re applying for, because it’s professional and it makes you stand out from the rest of the applicants,” Horn said.

Composite cards, also known as comp cards, are photo sets used by models, actors, and others in the entertainment industry. The photos include details about an individual’s body measurements and height, as well as their headshots, full body shots, and contact information. 

For many auditions, comp cards are required, and a good set of comp cards allows places like agencies to get a feel for a model’s look more quickly.

Horn and Thompson are joining forces with their business Show Stopper Studios, and will be holding photoshoots next month, on Saturday, April 5. 

“My favourite part of doing comp card photoshoots is seeing where it takes them,” said Thompson. “For example, seeing them get into fashion shows, or one of our clients just recently signed with an agency.”

Thompson said that it’s normal to be nervous if it’s your first time doing a shoot, but she and Horn will help models with posing and answer any questions that they might have before, during, and after the session. 

“I’ve had a client say they were nervous before their photoshoot but then after they messaged us saying they felt confident and empowered and they had fun, and that’s really what we’re going for,” Thompson said. “If you’re feeling hesitant but been wanting to do it, I’d say just give it a try.”

Models that have taken comp cards with Show Stopper Studios in the past include Vanessa Martin, who recently walked at New York Fashion Week, and Tewasohkwatenies Jacobs recently signed with a modelling agency using photos from her session.

“Our people are so beautiful. We deserve to be shown on international stages. With the rise of Indigenous people in the fashion and entertainment industry, Babes and I wanted to help our community members kick through those doors and enter these spaces,” she said. 

Part of her and Thompson’s decision to offer the shoots is because of their shared passion to make sure that there’s more Onkwehón:we behind the cameras, as well as in front of them.

“When I was a teen, there wasn’t any Indigenous representation in the modelling industry, and there were no fashion shows. I always had to outsource for photoshoots or shows, or wait until I was scouted by someone,” Horn said. “Sometimes, I even had to get together with someone and take photos ourselves. I really had to work hard to be known in this Indigenous modelling industry.”

Horn has had many big breaks, including on the cover of Snotty Nose Rez Kids’ album Red Future, which has been on billboards in Toronto and beyond.

She’s excited to be in a position to now help her peers who want to follow a similar path, and said that she’s hopeful that even those with little to no experience will be confident enough to reach out for a shoot. 

“To me, I feel like having confidence shines brighter than experience,” Horn said. 

Prices vary based on outfit changes and backdrops, and those interested should reach out to @showstopper_studios on Instagram to get a quote and book a session. Locations for the shoots are still being finalized.

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