Trio of new supports announced

Three new support programs through the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) Client-Based Services department aim to fill in gaps for those in need of financial assistance in Kahnawake.

“As a team, we have all worked together to create these different things to address all of the needs we have been seeing either through working through social assistance or working on issues that have arisen in the last few years,” said Alexis Shackleton, director of Client-Based Services. “We’re making an effort as much as possible to be able to address the main ones that we’ve seen.”

The targeted measures each have differing eligibility criteria, but all require the applicant to be on the Kanien’kehá:ka of Kahnawake Registry or authorization under the Kahnawake Residency Law to live in the community.

The funding, made available by the Community Wellness Plan Initiative, is currently in place until March 31, but Shackleton hopes to see the programs extended as long as they are needed.

Social Funeral Support Program

This benefit was created to help grieving community members defray the cost of gatherings where they can enjoy the support of family and friends.

“It’s just to strongly encourage the bonds of family and being together to help families through this hard time,” Shackleton said.

Some who would have wished to honour their loved one this way may have gone without social meals or traditional 10-day feasts because they couldn’t spare the cash, or else might have stretched their budgets to accommodate it.

“It’s a priority because we really want to strongly encourage families to have those gatherings,” Shackleton said. “You’re seeing more and more frequently that people have not had these gatherings, necessarily, and we’re strongly trying to encourage that and providing the support to do so.”

The benefit totals $1,000, and the money is disbursed directly to providers for services like catering or hall rentals. If any money is left over, it can help offset the cost of funeral arrangements, according to Shackleton.

The program is retroactive to April 1, 2025, so anyone who has incurred related costs since then can apply for reimbursement. Only the person who is responsible for the arrangements can apply, and there is no income threshold for this benefit.

Social Health Support Program

This assistance, which is provided as a last resort, is meant to ensure community members with unfunded medical needs don’t fall through the cracks.

Applicants must demonstrate that the treatment they need funded is medically necessary - not cosmetic, for instance - and that coverage has been denied by federal or provincial funding agencies or by insurance.

“It gives the opportunity for the community to take another look and to establish if it is a required need that’s just not being met,” said Shackleton.

Examples could include a prescription or a necessary dental procedure.

This benefit is available to community members identified as low income and facing financial hardship. Funding is available up to $5,000, depending on the item.

Social Parental Support Program

This benefit is for expectant and new parents who have been employed by a local business for at least 26 weeks, whose employer does not deduct QPIP or EI, and who are facing a loss of income.

“It’s to fill that gap until there are systems in the community for individuals. Right now, it’s to identify that and to provide that support so we don’t have families who have been working, who normally would be entitled to this type of benefit, but would have to look at social assistance as an alternative.”

Some of these parents may not qualify for social assistance but still face hardship following a loss of income related to parental leave.

Only the baby’s primary caregiver would be eligible to receive this assistance, which is $350 for people who were working full time, defined as 30 or more hours per week, and $230 for part-time workers.

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Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter