Local security pines for two-year fund

The Kanesatake Perimeter Security (KPS) is in the process of acquiring a two-year fund that would increase security staff and give the community 24 hours of security services, among other defensive and safety upgrades.

“We can have some better training and better equipment and more employees,” said KPS coordinator Kane Montour. “We’re just waiting to see if it’s going to get funded. From what I hear, it’s positive and it’s most likely going to go through.”

Mohawk Council of Kanesatake (MCK) caretaker council member Brant Etienne confirmed discussions regarding the funding are moving along well.

“We’d be surprised if we don’t get it,” said Etienne.

“Through our discussions, our lobbying and everything like that, it was realized that the situation here is pretty critical.”

MCK caretaker council member Amy Beauvais and MCK consulting communications officer Justine Germain were the two to find the funding, which is under the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador. The funding is under a children and families program that includes security initiatives.

“Safety is one of those components of a society. If you’re lacking it, you can’t function,” said Etienne. “If you want to have a safe and healthy community, or a community in which children can operate normally; if you want to have a community in which families can function normally, you need to have a certain level of safety and the infrastructure and ability to do this.”

In March, KPS acquired funding to cover expenses for six months. The funds were allocated from a community mobilization fund the MCK had received from the First Nations Quebec-Labrador Health and Social Services Commission.

The re-allocation came just before the KPS ran out of a five-year funding program under Indigenous Services Canada on March 31, 2026. This temporary solution covers 12 full-time KPS employees working from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

“I really would like to do more where we can, but right now we’re limited,” said Montour. “It’s one of the hardest things, is not being able to do something.”

However, the potential new increased funding would allow the KPS team to receive more security training, such as learning to operate drones for search and rescue missions, said Montour. It would also increase the presence of the KPS in the community.

“It would give us a 24-hour shift so we can be out there at nighttime, really having a positive impact on the community,” said Montour. “And we can start doing more things to try to combat these fires and these shootings. And I think if KPS is out there more, I think there will be more eyes for the community.”

The KPS has grown from a COVID-19 response unit to a respected community security team that trains with local emergency and safety forces, such as the First Nations Paramedics and the Oka Fire Department. Several organizations and notable figures have advocated on behalf of the KPS receiving funding, including Oka mayor Patrick Hardy and the Surete du Quebec.

“The community seems to back us and seem to appreciate KPS work within the community,” said Montour. “With some training and a better budget, we can really expand.”

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Hadassah Alencar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter