A guide from the people on environment

Years spent collecting the environmental thoughts and concerns of Kahnawa’kehró:non  have culminated in the now-released first draft of the Kahnawà:ke Environmental Vision.

The vision shares both realities and ideals of what the community should be like in the eyes of the community members who took part in the focus groups and surveys that shaped the first draft.

That includes strength of culture and maintaining hunting and gathering traditions; respect of the environment and the animals and plants in it; fresh air, clean water, protected wetlands and an abundance of fish; and protected and restored lands for now and future generations.

The points that make up the vision will serve as a guide to the Kahnawake Environment Protection Office (KEPO)’s work while serving as a goal for every initiative across the community, explained their environmental projects coordinator - policy & outreach, Carlee Kawinehta Loft.

“We pursue a lot of different projects, all with the goal of protecting the environment, but it’s often from the office’s perspective,” said Loft.

“Of course, there are community members who work here. At the same time, we try to open up as many avenues as possible to include more community perspectives about how we go about pursuing funding, what kind of projects we create, and where we prioritize our time.”

The first draft is now open for further community consultation, with PlanIt Consulting organizing kiosks and engagement sessions over the summer.

KEPO will also be organizing its own focus groups. Organizations in the community can even request to participate in the focus groups if so desired, Loft said. Those interested in participating can find KEPO at community events as well as at their office accross from the Kahnawake Sports Complex.

“We’re asking if there is anything missing or something they think could change, but a really important part of this step in the consultation is asking what steps they or we should take to bring this vision to life,” said Loft.

That means having deeper conversations than what you would get in a survey, she said.

“You’re never going to get everybody all in agreement, we know that,” said Loft.

“This vision is something that we can all strive for. Maybe we differ on certain aspects, but in general, this hope for the future of our environment is something that we can all collectively work towards.”

Needing a lot of answers and participation while having a small team like KEPO’s would be very difficult, said Loft. KEPO had previously done its own information gathering during the North Creek Restoration project’s beginning phases, which proved very time consuming and difficult for their staff.

Having PlanIt on board will make things a lot easier for KEPO, said Loft.

“PlanIt has that broader reach, it’s incredibly helpful for us,” said Loft.

“They found their niche, and they’re great at it.”

For Patrick Ragaz, director of KEPO, having a shared vision as Kahnawake’s environment changes and projects ramp up -  restoration projects, but also the environmental law, for example - was important to the organization.

“With all the changes and opportunities, we just wanted to confirm a vision with the community so that we can be sure we’re going on the right track, and everyone’s on board with some of the steps that we’re taking,” said Ragaz.

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