Project – Kahnawà:ke Multi-Purpose Building

Partnership as the heart

The Beginning

The Multi-Purpose Building project began as a need for a permanent home for the Kanien’kehá:ka Raotitióhkwa Language and Culture Center (KORLCC – Cultural Center and Museum). It grew quickly into adding an auditorium for the Turtle Island Theatre group, as they also needed a permanent home. Kahnawake Tourism was also added as a fundamental partner to be part of the building. A partnership between KORLCC, Turtle Island Theatre, Tourism and the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (The Partners). This relationship is the heart of this project, as The Partners, also known as the Building Committee make the decisions on all the developments to ensure a collaborative approach in making this project a reality.

The Multi-Purpose Building project began with an extensive year-long Feasibility Study in 2017. Since the completion, there has been continuous work to get this building project off the ground. There have been several funding applications submitted to secure funds for the infrastructure portion of the Project. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, there have been delays in the project schedule.

In June 2018, two community consultations resulting in community-wide voting took place, to determine the continuation and completion of the Feasibility Study. And in January 2019, where the community was asked if they supported the project proceeding on the selected site. Both consultations and votes resulted in the majority support for the continuation of the project, and of the project being built at the chosen site.

In early 2022, the project was a successful applicant to CIRNAC’s Cultural Spaces Indigenous Programs (CSIP) for $16 million. This funding launched the project forward, requiring an update of information (ie. cost estimates). The Project Team understands the inflation of construction costs due to impacts of Covid -19 and is therefore currently revising the overall project costs, incorporating these impacts.

The Capital Campaign is well underway and being led by PlanIT Consulting & Communications. The Capital Campaign in comprised of exceptional folks from across Turtle Island, including enthusiastic allies and influential Indigenous persons, dedicated to soliciting funds for this amazing project. The Project has secured $21 million to date.