Radiothon a resounding success
The K1037 team and volunteers engage with community members during the radiothon, working together to raise funds for the new Cultural Arts Center. Courtesy Joe Delaronde
The recent K1037 radiothon has once again highlighted the power of community and collaboration in Kahnawake. What began as a weekend fundraiser to support the new Kanatahkwèn:ke (where the village is picked up) Cultural Arts Center turned into a record-breaking event, raising over $660,000, well beyond the original target of $200,000.
For K1037, the community radio station that has long been a key foundation of Kahnawake the event was a testament to the generosity and engagement of local residents, volunteers, and donors.
“This year, it shattered the old record,” said Joe Delaronde, a founding voice at K1037. Delaronde described the atmosphere during the final hours as “just incredible,” with donations pouring in non-stop and volunteers and staff keeping pace with the fast-moving tally. “People were calling, donating, cheering, it really brings out the community spirit,” he added.
The radiothon was more than just a fundraising event, it was a celebration of local culture and what positive things can happen when the community comes together. Volunteers from all walks of life contributed, from serving food to managing phone lines and updating donation totals.
“All types of people came to help out. There were people serving food outside, sharing stories, people who were taking the pledges, running into the studio with updated numbers, people who were answering the phones, making sure guests were running on a timely basis, so it was a well-oiled machine,” Delaronde explained.
The success of the radiothon also emphasized the importance of the project it was supporting. The new Cultural Arts Center, set to open in spring 2026, will house a state-of-the-art museum, a theatre, and a space for cultural programs, providing a permanent home for the preservation and promotion of Kahnawake’s language, history, and arts.
“This project celebrates our ways, our history, and our language. That’s why people are behind it, it’s the right project at the right time,” Delaronde said.
Construction progress on the new Cultural Arts Center in Kahnawake. Courtesy Joe Delaronde
For Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer, chairperson of the Capital Campaign, the outcome of the radiothon was both expected and inspiring. “In my opinion, it was a smashing success, we beat our $200,000 target three times over by finally raising $664,648,” said Sky-Deer, who noted that the energy in the building during the event was positive energy and a good vibe.
“It was such an amazing outcome, all the people were coming in, in person and stopping in to say ‘hello’, have some food, give their donations. It was such a great community event, and everybody came together in such a good way.”
Community support, she said, was deeply rooted in the shared values of language, culture, and arts. “Our language, culture, the arts, this is the foundation of our nation and our community, we received 875 unique pledges,” Sky-Deer said.
“For myself, I got a chance to go to high school, but there wasn’t really any kind of museum to get a sense of our history. For young people to go into this space, see language classes, cultural programs, and participate in activities, it may inspire them to think, ‘When I grow up, I want to work here, to continue advancing our nation and identity.’ It’ll help strengthen revitalization and the transference of knowledge between elders and youth, creating opportunities to learn, engage, and build understanding both within and outside our community”
Peter Montour, a local donor, emphasized the importance of giving back to the community through initiatives like the radiothon. “The theatre group is an amazing program, so we need to support that as well as the language program. The languages throughout our confederacy are dying, and these programs are turning them into speakers within two years. So, it’s an amazing program,” he said.
Montour also spoke to the significance of the cultural center itself. “By having a cultural center with the museum, people are going to be able to come and actually learn from the people, about the people, they’re going to open their eyes and realize we’re not the bogeyman that the government puts out to be.”
For Montour, the radiothon was also a reminder of the lasting impact of community-driven fundraising. “By the community digging in to raise the money for this cultural center, this gives us an opportunity to support the community back,” he said.
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The event provided a festive, almost party-like atmosphere. “The phone was ringing off the hook every 15 minutes, people hanging out, sharing stories, getting food; our community needs more events like that,” he added.
While the weekend event is over, the work continues. The Capital Campaign still has several million dollars to raise before the Cultural Arts Center is fully funded. Sky-Deer emphasized that community involvement will remain critical.
“I can’t stress enough how thankful we are to the community and our neighbours, we couldn’t do it without their involvement,” she said. Montour echoed this sentiment, noting that initiatives like the radiothon ensure that future generations will have the tools and resources to understand and celebrate their heritage.
