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The Mohawk Council of Kanesatake (MCK) has launched a redesigned website aimed at improving access to information and services while showcasing Kanehsata’kehró:non history, culture, language, and artistic talent.
“Improving communications was a big focus for council this mandate,” said Justine Germain, the communications officer for the MCK.
“More information and more transparency were a constant ask from the community, so that’s what became the most important objective.”
Among the old site’s issues, it lacked a mobile version, despite mobile devices accounting for about half the website’s visits, said Germain.
“You don’t make a website just to have a website; it has to be a solution to something or else it won’t be used,” said Germain.
Over roughly two years, the development involved gathering community feedback, surveying community members about the information and services they wanted online, and consulting MCK departments about their needs.
Caretaker council member Brant Etienne said the website had not been working well.
“It was actually quite difficult to upload simple documents to the website,” said Etienne.
Community identity for the website was another priority. Rather than rely on stock photography, the MCK invited local artists to submit their work for use on the website.
Samantha Wenniseriiostha Pepin, who has spent 17 years photographing Kanesatake, said the opportunity offered a way to share her photos that had remained largely unseen.
Her photographs capture community locations, nature around Kanesatake, cultural activities, baskets, wampum belts, and lacrosse sticks.
“They could have used AI to create their website, but they didn’t,” said Pepin. “I think that’s a testament to how important community is and how important people are.”
Amongst multiple other contributors, artist Shayla Chloë Oroho:te Etienne also has artwork displayed throughout the website.
Her illustrations feature the Three Sisters plants, the Two-Dog Wampum Belt, a red blazing sun, and a cornhusk doll wearing traditional clothing.
“The cornhusk doll is more personal to me since I made a lot of cornhusk dolls when I was younger,” said Shayla.
Shayla said seeing her work displayed on such a community hub makes her proud of both her accomplishments and what the community is trying to achieve.
The Tsi Ronterihwanónhnha ne Kanien’kéha Language and Cultural Center also collaborated on historical and cultural content and the inclusion of Kanien’kéha throughout the website.
“Ultimately, the challenge was bringing all these different elements together into one accessible, coherent website and making sure it could evolve and keep being built upon, so it was as useful as possible for as long as possible,” said Germain.
Germain said the launch is not the end of the project. The website will continue evolving as departments identify new ways to share information and deliver services.
“The door is always open to anyone who wants to give feedback,” said Germain.
The goal, Germain added, is to make information easier to find while encouraging residents to engage with their council.
fern@sharing-our-stories.com
Fern Marmont, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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