Alto survey reveals concerns, opportunity

Survey results regarding Alto, a proposed high-speed train project by the federal government, reveal Kanehsata’kehró:non have many concerns with land claims, and cultural and environmental ramifications the project may bring.

In the draft survey results released May 15, all Kanehsata’kehró:non who engaged with council over Alto expressed the community must have decision-making authority over the development projects on ancestral lands, with the caretaker council maintaining the project can be used to the community’s benefit.

“Across all responses, there is a shared expectation that Kanesatake must retain authority over decisions affecting its lands and future,” reads the survey results report compiled by the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake (MCK) communications department and the Kanesatake Economic and Business Development department.

“Any path forward must be grounded in a rights-based approach that recognizes Kanesatake not as a stakeholder, but as a rights-holder with authority over its lands,” reads the report.

More than 50 community members provided their input in various ways for the draft survey report, including by filling out the survey, calling into council, or attending the engagement session in-person, according to MCK consulting communications officer Justine Germain. More community input is necessary to finalize the draft report, said Germain.

Alto, the proposed high-speed railway project connecting Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City, is planned to travel 300 KM/H on a route that will connect almost half of Canada’s population.

The Alto project, which will cost an estimated $60-90 billion, will not travel through what is currently designated as Kanesatake, but the projected train line is set to run through Kanesatake ancestral lands north of the territory.

Survey results show Kanehsata’kehró:non have many concerns regarding the Alto train project.

One of the main concerns is whether the project will infringe on or jeopardize Kanesatake’s ancestral land claims.

“There is a clear expectation that the project must avoid undermining land claims, but rather be structured in a way that acknowledges and supports long-term self-determination,” reads the report.

Another concern revealed in the report is whether the project will hurt cultural practices, such as collecting medicinal plants or hunting, by destroying natural habitats and wildlife necessary to support tradition and a healthy ecosystem. Environmental destruction could hurt Indigenous practices and therefore jeopardize Indigenous knowledge from being passed down.

“Community members repeatedly emphasized that the entire territory holds significance: Cultural sites, teaching spaces, ecological systems, and harvesting areas are understood to exist throughout the landscape, and the notion of isolating specific ‘sensitive areas’ was widely challenged. Many stated that the territory as a whole must be respected and protected,” reads the report.

But there is the possibility of this project being used to benefit Kanesatake, said MCK caretaker council member Brant Etienne. He thinks the community should consider using Kanesatake’s unique territorial position as leverage to cover essential costs in the community.

“This is a massive cross-country impacting project the government wants to get done and is clearly signaling they’re willing to spend the money necessary to achieve it,” said Etienne. “Looking at all of the issues that Kanesatake faces, a lot of time boils down to a lack of resources. Actually negotiating and trying to come to an agreement where we’re no longer begging and scraping and relying on project-based funding for everything from policing, security, infrastructure costs, cultural programming, all of that stuff, and use this as leverage to get a better deal out of the government for all of these different things.”

Results from the survey show that some other community members also see a potential upside, including for employment and training, depending on the approach.

“Any socioeconomic benefits must be meaningful, equitable, and long-term; in short, it should reflect the value of the land and the rights of the community,” reads the survey report.

Last month’s survey and information meeting was part of the early stages of Alto’s engagement sessions with the community, according to the report. Other engagement sessions will occur in the future.

The MCK also plans to hire a third party to complete an environmental study on the effects of the Alto train project, said Etienne.

“We feel that it’s best if funding is made available to have our own third-party agents investigate this, according to Kanesatake’s priorities,” said Etienne.

In a statement, Alto spokesperson said the Kanesatake community’s “perspectives and knowledge will help inform project planning and design.”

Input from the community will be used “to inform approaches to protect sensitive habitats and sites, and to avoid or reduce impacts where possible,” reads the statement.

The results of the survey were shared with the community, the MCK, and Alto representatives.

There is no agreement between Kanesatake and Alto concerning the high-speed train project.

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Hadassah Alencar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter