New director for Environment Protection

In 12 years with the Kahnawake Environment Protection Office (KEPO), Patrick Ragaz has seen a lot of work done to try and make Kahnawake and its environment better and has been a part of a lot of that work, too.

Now, he’ll be the one to lead KEPO into its next challenges, having taken on the role of director left vacant by the departure of Benjamin Green-Stacey at the end of June.

“I’m really excited to take on this role. There’s a great team at the Kahnawake Environment Protection Office. I’m proud to be a part of the team there for the last 12 years, and excited for the opportunity to lead this group,” said Ragaz, who officially started on Monday.

Ragaz is not the only one excited, with many taking the time to congratulate him privately and publicly online.

“Through the journey here, I’ve been hearing from a lot of community members and others, just with words of support, and it really means a lot to me,” said Ragaz.

“With Patrick’s leadership, KEPO will continue to be guided by the values and knowledge of our community as we protect and preserve Kahnawake for future generations,” said executive infrastructure officer, Chris Stacey, in the statement that confirmed Ragaz had taken on the role of director.

“Our environment is more than just the land - it’s the foundation of our identity and strength.”

Even though Ragaz is not from the community, he said he is taking that responsibility towards the land to heart and is taking account of what community members have to say to do so.

“As a non-local, it’s really important for me to hear where the community wants us to go and get a better understanding of those viewpoints to that end,” said Ragaz.

“I really want to be open to hearing community voices and taking the lead from where they want to see the environment go in Kahnawake. I’m not trying to impose my own vision, but really go with the vision for the community.”

He also said the fact that KEPO has many employees who are community members and the recently put together Kahnawake Environment Advisory Committee (KEAC), made up of 10 members, will also help him get the perspective he wants from the community on what KEPO is doing.

There are a lot of challenges ahead for KEPO, one of which is the dumping problem that continues to persist, despite steps being taken to track and punish those who come to the community to illegally throw away their garbage, big and small.

“It’s a big concern for community members and a priority for them, so we have instituted a few programs, including a tracking app where people can notify us if they encounter that type of garbage dump there, and we are working on cleaning up some of those areas, and certainly through public awareness and just patrolling the territory, we’re trying to limit that,” said Ragaz, who added that they are also looking at potentially reducing access to Seaway Road during certain times of day.

There is also the potential problem of contaminated landfill as Kahnawake continues to build up; landfill used by community members during building could prove problematic for the environment, Ragaz said.

That topic will be part of what will be looked upon for the update to the current Kahnawake Sanitatary Conditions Law.

“Through this new environment law process that we’re initiating, we’re going to look at that as well,” said Ragaz on the potential limitations to bringing landfill to the territory.

The designation of more protected areas, the continuing work on the North Creek Restoration project, invasive species management, and the effects of climate change on the community are also on the docket for KEPO.

For Ragaz, his time in Kahnawake will help steer the ship in the right direction.

“I want to continue building with KEPO and the community,” he said.

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