A Voice from the Eastern Door
A Voice from the Eastern Door
Kana:takon District Chief Larry King hands AANDC Minister Valcourt an information packet on the proposed Ferry Service. During Valcourt’s visit on August 6th, he was able to join members of Council on a pontoon boat ride to view the proposed Ferry Service Route and landings. Photo courtesy of MCA Communications Unit.
There is a survey available at http://www.akwesasne.ca/ferrysurvey that intends to gauge community interest in a ferry service running from Kanatakon to Kawehnoke. For the future, including a pickup site in Snye is being considered as well. The aim here is to figure out how the community would use a ferry. Even though that may seem obvious, there are other issues that need to be considered too, such as if the community would be willing to support operation and management costs associated with running a $2.65 million dollar ferry. Initial projections, according to Kanatakon District Chief Larry King, are close to $7 million.
The survey asks questions about the times you would use the service, where you would ride the ferry to and from, what types of vehicles and even number of passengers. Up for considerations are the potential trip cost per type of vehicle as well as the potential structures at loading sites. The survey consists of 14 questions and the last one is to enter for the iPad drawing. Bonus points go to MCA for having a simple privacy statement that consists of two sentences.
This project is very important to District Chief King who has even brought the Minister of Indian Affairs Bernard Valcourt out on his pontoon boat to see, first hand, what the unique challenges that we in Akwesasne face. In addition to meeting with Minister Valcourt, District Chief King has met with many federal and provincial officials and has given the presentation with the ferry proposal “at least 100 times.” In fact, District Chief King will be in Quebec City next week, again proposing the ferry project to federal and provincial officials.
The plan aims to use the same ferry sites as used back in the 50’s. There was a pre-existing ferry service during the time that the bridge was constructed; however, it was never for community use. Now the original site in Kanatakon, at the end of Johnson Rd. which used to be called Ferry St., and likely the very eastern end of Kawehnoke, will be a landing site.
All of the relevant agencies support, at least, doing the feasibility study. This is an early step in a long struggle, with many more to go.
If you are not interested in taking the survey online, or to get more information, you can get a hard copy at Admin II or call 575-2250.
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