Multipurpose building on track
The Eastern Door was led on a tour of the facility in September 2025. File photo
As 2025 gives way to 2026, Kahnawake is getting one step closer to inaugurating its new multipurpose arts and culture building.
And so far, everything is on track for the almost $56 million project to be fully operational by April 1, said Trina C. Diabo, a member of the building committee for Kanatahkwèn:ke, the official name that was revealed last year.
A testament to the progress has been the increase of tours taken by committee members and future tenants. Diabo said two had taken place this week alone, and more will happen in the next few weeks.
Not everything is going to be revealed on those tours, though.
“We also want to save some surprises for when the grand opening does happen,” said Diabo.
For her, knowing that the Kanien’keháka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center (KOR) and Turtle Island Theatre will soon be moving long term into a space built specially for them is tremendous, as has been their staffs’ ability to come and see the project as it advances, giving their input, coming up with ideas, and figuring out the space that will soon be theirs.
As Kanatahkwèn:ke approaches completion, more and more tours are being given to those that will be moving in in the coming months. Courtesy Sequoia Soaps
The KOR is currently on the second floor of the Kahnawake Office Complex, having been placed in aging buildings for five decades beforehand. Turtle Island Theatre, meanwhile, currently has a partnership with the Kahnawake Youth Center to have a space to practice and perform.
“This is going to be everybody’s final home now,” said Diabo.
“I’m actually getting goosebumps just thinking about it.”
They should slowly be able to start moving in after the month of February, Diabo said.
Right now, work continues inside Kanatahkwèn:ke, with a lot still needing to be done for the museum portion, along with fine tuning the rest of the building.
“These next two months of work inside the building are going to be hustle and bustle over there,” said Diabo.
Although the new building should be fully operational on April 1, the date of the grand opening is still being discussed.
Previously, the thought was to have it open as soon as possible, but instead, a later spring date opening is being considered, so the outside elements of the building can be enjoyed.
File photo
That includes the outside amphitheatre as well as the landscaping work that will be done.
“That’s something that maybe six months ago we hadn’t considered, but now that we’re so close, part of our consideration now is that we want the community to be able to walk around the site. We want it to be nice out, no snow,” said Diabo. “We’re not rushing it.”
It will be worth the wait, she assured.
Even though images have circulated for the last few months of the inside of the building as construction continues, Diabo said there is nothing quite like being inside.
“They’re going to be in awe. It’s going to be something so amazing for the community and all visitors. It’s so beautiful there,” she said.
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Diabo said the theatre especially would blow people away.
“The theatre is just so professional and gorgeous. There’s no other word to explain it, and I think the community is going to be in shock when they see it,” said Diabo.
She said that while Turtle Island Theatre has done a great job of making its existing space a nice one to be in, this new space at Kanatahkwèn:ke is leaps and bound above it.
“To be in this state-of-the-art, professional theatre is going to be amazing,” she said.
