Kruger supports Kanatahkwèn:ke
The Kruger Energy team with members of the Kanatahkwèn:ke Building Committee. Courtesy Mohawk Council of Kahnawake
A $500,000 donation from the team at Kruger Energy has brought the Kanatahkwèn:ke Building Committee closer to its $16 million fundraising goal, ahead of the centre’s soft opening in the coming weeks.
Kanatahkwèn:ke, Kahnawake’s new multi-purpose cultural arts centre, will house the Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center (KOR), the Turtle Island Theatre, and Kahnawake Tourism, and will serve as a meeting place for arts and culture in the community.
Though no formal date has been announced for the opening of the building, a soft opening is anticipated next month, with a comedy show slated for the end of April.
Construction has been running smoothly on the nearly $56 million project, with the building committee continuing to fundraise for The Capital Campaign ahead of the opening.
Kahnawake Tourism development manager Kimberly Cross said that totals are still being tallied, but that the $500,000 donation from Kruger Energy has meant that the team has nearly reached its $16 million Capital Campaign goal.
Kruger Energy operate the Des Cultures Wind Farm project, which is co-owned by the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake.
“One of Kruger’s intentions when they met with chiefs many years ago to create the wind farm project was to be generating revenues and eventually have that come back to the community, and now they’re able to do that,” said Cross, who is a part of the building committee for the centre.
“They’re really happy to support us and I see it as a true partnership with us building that relationship. We’re keeping that balance, walking together in this world, and helping each other out.”
Jean Roy, senior vice president and chief operating officer of Kruger Energy, said his team were impressed when they toured the facility during construction, and that they’re more than happy to support the building.
“We’re very proud to be able to support the cultural centre and participate in this,” said Roy. “It’s important that we invest in culture and invest in our youth, so we’re proud to be able to participate with this little contribution which I hope is going to be a great project for the community.”
Keisha Goodleaf, MCK’s director of revenue and business development said the donation shows how Kruger’s partnership with MCK can continue to benefit the community.
“Their team is always willing to engage with us and recognize the importance of Kahnawake’s involvement and consent when developing projects within our traditional territory,” she said.
“Donations like this can help establish relationships that go beyond a single project or transaction. When external organizations invest in community initiatives, it creates opportunities for trust‑building and long‑term collaboration.”
She hopes that Kruger’s donation can be something mirrored by other companies that partner with Kahnawake in the future.
“This donation reinforces that Indigenous‑led and/or co‑owned energy projects can play a meaningful role in community development. These projects create opportunities not only for economic participation and reconciliation, but also for reinvestment into community priorities and our people,” she said.
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“We hope contributions like this encourage more partners to engage with our community in a way that is respectful, informed, and supportive of our goals, while also opening the door to future partnerships that align with our values.”
The soft opening for the centre is expected to happen in the first week of April.
