b'We do have a regulatory frame- the project sooner rather than later, whenWe have always set out to ensure work in our community for cannabis,funding will be made available from thethat the services we are providing to Benedict says. Weve never said we arefederal government.the community are in line with our doing this to make moneywere doingAt time of writing, construction of thecustoms and values as Mohawks, as this to make sure were regulating a$13-million project is currently underway,well as ensuring that were protecting commodity that is sometimes controver- with portions of the network anticipated toand meeting the needs [of the sial. We have a number of licences issuedbe operational by late 2021 or early 2022.community]. I would say that we have to community businesses for retail ofWith a number of accomplishmentskept in line with the spirit and intent cannabis, and we have a few communityunder the communitys belt, Grand Chiefof it, he says. Hopefully over the next businesses licensed for cultivation.Benedict says they will be re-visitingcouple of months, as we re-evaluate Every licensed business enters into atheir 10-year-old mission statement asand work on our strategic plan, community contribution agreement withthey work through another phase ofthis vision and mission will remain the Mohawk Council and agrees to pay astrategic planning.the same. set fee per gram. Another initiative Akwesasne is proud of is their partnership with the City of Cornwall. Benedict says they received 15 acres of land in 2015 in partnership with the City, which included a deep water shipping port. This joint venture is a property that were in consultation with our community for development of that land, he says. Weve always [told] our community that we want our partner-ship with the City of Cornwall to be beneficial for both our communities, and also [for] our community businesses. I think that this project is, can be, and will be a model of how a local muni-cipality and a First NationAkwesasne and the City of Cornwallcan work together to create an economic driver for our region, he adds. On top of those initiatives, Benedict says they are proud to be a step closer to bringing much-needed high-speed internet to the community. That, too, has not been without its jurisdictional challenges and struggles throughout the pandemic. According to the Grand Chief, that project started close to six years ago, but paperwork was only signed earlier this year. All-Weather Roads & RunwaysIce Roads & RunwaysAs you can imagine, the pandemic Contract MiningMine Site Remediation, highlighted the reliable high-speedCare & Maintenanceinternet gaps that existed in our Dams & Frozen Core Damscommunity, he says. So, prior to DikesRemote Infrastructure Planninghaving a signed agreement, we advanced a significant amount of capital to be Earthworks & Site DevelopmentSite Services & Crushingable to start the project now. With the Vertical Cutter Miningpandemic, we have no idea how long Exploration Supportthese impacts will be felt.The high-speed internet project is vital not only to community sustaina- Nuna welcomes opportunities for additional Indigenous bility, but also to the community educa- partnerships in Ontarios mining sectortion system, which was a predominantly impacted sector during the pandemic. It was important for Akwesasne to roll out I ssue2 2021/22C hIefs ofo ntarIoA dvocAte magazIne l 25'