Sovereignty, Bill 96 and its effects on Indigenous communities near Montreal

Savanna Craig, CUTV

October 16, 2022

MONTREAL – Quebec provincial party Québec solidaire came close to becoming the official opposition in Quebec, but lost to the Québec Liberal Party. Many have cited Québec solidaire as being the most progressive party in Quebec and even Canada. But how progressive are their policies to marginalized communities? 

Local 514 invites Mohawk Council of Kahnawake Chief Kakwirakeron Ross Montour to discuss.

Montour said he doesn't understand how the French language, with seven million speakers in the province, is under threat. 

"Indigenous languages in the province of Quebec are endangered," said Montour. "Our languages have been under assault for generations now." 

"Its still struggle for our students to enter Cegeps," he said, citing additional French requirements.

"Were looking for an exemption from Bill 96 provide-wide, not just in Kahnawake," said Montour. Kahnawake is a Mohawk reserve on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River in Quebec, just across from Montreal.

Montour said the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake has had meetings with the leader of Québec solidaire, stating that those have been decent meetings and conversations. Montour said it's fine to be open to improving the situation for Indigenous communities, but that the party needs to prove themselves.

He cited sovereignty as another point of concern for Québec solidaire, wondering how Montreal and Indigenous reserves and communities will be affected. 

"We're not siting at determination tables," he said. "We're already practicing self determination," adding that what matters is how governments' continue to get out of our way and interfere with Mohawk and Indigenous self determination.

"I have a nation, I don't have an issue with Canadians or people saying they're Canadian," said Montour. "But some people enfranchised me and deemed me to be Canadian, never asked me or my mother."

He said this advanced enfranchisement of Indigenous people granted them citizenship of Canada and that Canada may consider them as Canadians, extending a vote to them. But Montour Mohawks on Kahnawake do not vote as rule. "There may be individuals, but we are already a nation." 

"This is our homeland they reside in our homelands." said Montour.