Boost for Church reno

A substantial contribution from the federal government is the latest infusion for a planned 10-year, $3 million restoration of the St. Francis Xavier Mission and Fort St. Louis.

“There are some projects that are more urgent than others, so we’re doing the projects in terms of ensuring the site remains safe and secure and restored as per the requirements to retain its historic site status,” said Rheena Diabo, a member of the Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine Finance and Administrative Committee.

The committee has been granted $250,000 for the conservation of the presbytery’s windows and doors, with work planned to begin spring 2026. This funding comes from the National Cost-Sharing Program for Heritage Places, a Parks Canada program.

The restoration is a complicated endeavour, Diabo said, because of strict requirements for buildings that have heritage status, such as using the same materials that were used when the building was constructed, with some exceptions.

“There are both environmental and safety requirements, so it makes the restoration more costly,” Diabo said.

In the case of the windows, they are being restored rather than replaced, and the original paint contains lead.

“I’m very heartened by the work we’ve been able to do,” said Diabo. “I recognize that there is a lot of anger toward the church as an institution because of residential schools, because of the Indian day schools.

“That anger, I think, first of all, it’s well founded, however the mission and the fort play a pivotal role in attracting visitors to the community.”

She referred to the importance of Saint Kateri, who is interred at the church.

“We’re really strongly a tourist attraction, and people want to come here to do pilgrimages. That affords our community and our people an opportunity to share our history,” she said, noting the mission’s partnership with Kahnawake Tourism.

“I think by us preserving the mission and the fort, we are helping the community in providing a vehicle for those who want to continue to practice the catholic faith, for those who want to ensure that visitors who come here receive insightful, accurate, and authentic information and experience in coming into contact with First Nations people.”

Funding for the restoration has so far has come from a variety of sources, including $350,000 from Quebec’s program for the restoration of the province’s historic religious sites, and the committee is working on additional funding applications.

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) has conducted restoration work on the fort, also with earmarked government funding.

[email protected]

Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter