Eastern Door Volume 4 Number 3

Volume 4 Number 3

February 17, 1995

Businessman Feels Practice Unfair
By: Chad Rice

Local businessman John Stacey is angry with the practices of the Kahnawake Service Complex building Committee (KSCBC). He says that their decisions are unfair and slight Native contractors. He also maintains that the KSCBC broke tender policies.

Stacey, owner of Total Comfort Kahnawake, a local ventilation company, says "the tender process was not done properly" and stated that bids were accepted after tender deadline. "Not only in my case (for the ventilation bid), but for the steel tender as well."

He said the steel tender was originally given to a non-Native contractor. The bid was then re-negotiated after the tender date and awarded to Meloche steel, a local contractor.

"Why can't I get the same chance?", asked Stacey, "my bid was high, but I came back with another bid almost matching Manic." Manic is the nonnative ventilation contractor who has apparently been awarded the contract in a verbal fashion.

Stacey told The Eastern Door that "We took a year to train four Natives in ventilation to prepare ourselves for such a project. We weren't given the chance or the respect." He went on, "We have the capability to do the job, its a matter of them (the committee) having confidence in us." He also said that his newer bid was within the budget allowed for the ventilation contract.

Stacey then sent a letter to the KSCBC. Copies were also sent to the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK), Community Services Board of Directors, the Kahnawake Economic Development Authority (KEDA) Board of Directors, and the Kahnawake Chamber of Commerce. The letter stated his position and indicated his feelings that awarding contracts to non-Natives contributed to 'economic leakage'. "This situation must be resolved immediately" he wrote, "I am requesting that the process of securing the contract for ventilation be stopped immediately."

The KEDA responded to the letter with a recommendation to the building committee that Stacey's proposal (tender bid) be reexamined.

The Chamber of Commerce wrote the MCK, requesting that Stacey's views be considered "in order to arrive at a mutual understanding and an agreeable (sic) outcome."

The building committee, MCK and Community Services apparently did not respond.

Stacey then put together a fourteen page document, including copies of the rules of tender, his letters to various offices, responses to his letters, and an internal memo apparently written by the building committee.

The memo, which Stacey had obtained, listed pros and cons as well as possible ramifications to a full-blown reconsideration of bids. Basically, the memo explains possible community reaction, legal liability, impacts on previous contracts awarded, costs, quality, and the tendering process if bid exceptions were made. Final recommendations included sticking to present policies until a better process can be found and implemented.

With said documents in hand, Stacey brought his concerns to the MCK during the public meeting on February 14. During the meeting, he voiced his position, which turned into a lengthy discussion.

A source at the meeting commented that the public generally agreed with Stacey and supported his position. The discussion heated up and became somewhat displeasing and Stacey began losing sympathy. The source said "Yes, I was with him all the way, but he started to contradict himself. He wanted his men employed, but then he wanted the whole job".

The MCK understood Stacey's position and realized that different procedures must be put into place in the area of Native content on projects.

When questioned after the meeting, councilor Davis Rice said that "Through his (Stacey's) tenacity and diligence, he opened our (the MCK) eyes to show that we need more Native content in our programs...he has made us aware of a serious inadequacy and we are trying to remedy the situation."

Rice said that Joel Jacobs of the KEDA was in the process of developing new policies to allow and guarantee more Native content. Rice "hopes to have something by the end of the month." As of press time, Jacobs could not be reached for comment.

An MCK document shows that "Manic will utilize 50% local labor content" and that the overall project (commercial building) will utilize a 86-90% local labor content."

General manager of Manic, Daniel Turner said he was at a meeting (February 15) with the committee (KSCBC), "They told me to go ahead and that we will sign the contract tomorrow." Turner said that Manic, which has done "many ventilation jobs...Kateri Memorial Hospital, Moose Lodge", will easily hire 50% Natives if they're qualified. Speaking of legal action, he said that if the contract was turned down, Manic will "not make noise, its not worth that much."

At press time, the Kahnawake Service Complex Building Committee was not able to comment on the issue.

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Betting on the Youth Center
By: Chad Rice

There was the wheel of fortune, poker games, dice throwing, and several bookies walking around taking bets for the upcoming horse races.

No, I'm not talking about Las Vegas or Atlantic City, but instead, Casino Night at the Knights of Columbus. The event was held last Saturday night, February 11, a benefit for the Youth Center.

Upon entering the hall, a patron would exchange cash to casino money, which looked similar to Monopoly money. The casino money was then accepted at all games of chance. At the end of the night and if the person was lucky enough, he could exchange his winning casino money back to hard cash.

It's the biggest fund raiser (for the Youth Center) of the year" said director Davy Diabo. Over forty volunteers gave a helping hand at the eight blackjack ('21') tables, three poker tables, two horse race venues, 'wheel of fortune', 'crown and anchor' wheel, and the dice game. Also on the premises were raffles and 'Nevada' style pull cards.

The horse races ran every fifteen minutes. A board held six wooden horses, numbered 1 to 6 and their race is thirteen spaces long. A die was cast once, indicating which horse will move, then a second time to show how many spaces the horse will 'run'. The process was repeated until one of the animals travelled the thirteen spaces to the winner's circle. Bet were one dollar minimum and 30% of the take wen to the benefit the Youth Center. Payoffs were calculated on how many people bet on each horse, if less people bet on a certain horse, the payoff goes up and vice versa.

The Kahnawake Youth Center depends heavily on fund raising to meet its fiscal budget. "Our only guaranteed income is on gym rental" says Davy Diabo. Monies from the rental represent only 25% of the yearly budget. The balance is made up from various sources, including the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake, from direct contribution as well as work related programs, and in-house canteen, a video/pinball arcade, and personal donations.

Apart from these areas, the Youth Center creates fundraisers, such as raffles, dances, Spring Into Action, Mohawk Miles, Kanawaki Vegas Tournament, and the Knights of Columbus Casino Night.

The Casino Night is responsible for approximately half of all yearly fundraising. This year, the gala night brought $7,700, down considerably from last year's record breaking $13,000 +revenue.

Diabo is not sure why the amount is down so much and speculates on the availability of disposable income; there was perhaps more 'cigarette' money last year. He went on to conjecture, "Many of the usual people weren't there, but I don't know why. I've heard they could be working away and couldn't show up."

He does acknowledge that the people of Kahnawake are quite generous when it comes to helping out the various organizations in need of operational dollars and especially when it deals with the youth. "People usually say 'it's for the kids' and are quick to pull out their wallet," said Diabo.

Other suggestions have been taken into consideration for raising money, including two Casino Nights per year, with different games, or perhaps a radio telethon. But Diabo doesn't feel the telethon is quite the answer yet, and holds that option open for a time when the Center is in dire need.

Whatever the method used, fundraising is a required activity and Diabo pointed out that "If we do not raise at least $20,000 per year, we would operate in deficit.

The evening of gambling for a good cause provided a lot of fun for most everyone. Smiles could be seen everywhere, even if Lady Luck wasn't smiling back.

On behalf of the Youth Center, Davy Diabo expressed his appreciation, "We would like to thank everyone for coming out and supporting us."

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Editorial

Mr. Parizeau has little time left
By: Kenneth Deer - The Eastern Door

Michel Venne of Le Devoir's Quebec City bureau in a five-part series on 'Five questions about sovereignty' noted that "Parizeau promised to give Aboriginal People a veto right over any changes in the new constitution that would affect them." He said "This promise in not in the draft bill". Venne went on today "Aboriginal People think they have title over Quebec territory. They have requested Ottawa's protection and some have claimed the right for their people to decide whether they prefer staying as part of the Canadian confederation. They themselves refer to article 35 of the Canadian constitution which defines the federal government's trust in the matter. Quebec and international experts consulted by the Commission on Sovereignty, state that article 35 cannot be an obstacle to Quebec secession. They state that these people's right to self-determination does not give them a right to state sovereignty, but gives them a right to participate which defines itself as a right to govern themselves as stated in the draft bill."

Premier Jacques Parizeau, in his bid to create a separate Quebec and a new society, may have lost the opportunity to really change history.

Mr. Parizeau had said that the Parti Quebecois recognizes the Native Peoples of Quebec as distinct Nations. If the party had really meant that, Parizeau would have the chance to show the world how a real Nation to Nation relationship would work. The opportunity he has to make his mark in the world of human rights history is now. With his plan of setting up a new country, he could demonstrate to the world how equality, respect and justice can be attained with the right approach to Native People. He could recognize our homelands and begin to negotiate a real land use agreement with the original owners. He could recognize our spirituality as equal to their own. He could make resource sharing a genuine partnership. He could recognize our languages as being as important as his own language. He could recognize our culture as being as vital as his own.

He could recognize our governments as equals. He could recognize our laws as equal. All of these understandings could lead to a real Two-Row relationship where each side would recognize the others right to exist and not interfere with their development. That would set the standard for other countries to follow. That would make Mr. Parizeau a world leader in Human Rights.

But this is not the case. Verbal assurances have only led to more suspicion. The statements and actions of the PQ government have betrayed and threatened the Native Peoples of Quebec. If Parizeau wishes to change the direction of Quebec-Native relations, he has very little time left.

Shop Kahnawake

Shop Kahnawake can lead to some interesting situations for the proponents of this slogan. Pay Kahnawake has become a battle cry of some businessmen. The latest flap over tenders at the Complex sit is another indication of the complications of supporting such a slogan. If this community is to develop and compete internally and externally, our local businesses must be given the opportunity to grow and expand.

Ways must be found to fairly tender out contracts that would keep the money circulation in the community and get the best service for the best price.

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