AKWESASNE — The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne (MCA) and the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe (SRMT) express our deepest condolences to all community members affected by the loss of a loved one. The ongoing global pandemic makes it difficult to be able to express our heartfelt sympathies and console our fellow community members as we normally would.

The MCA and the SRMT is reminding our community that physical distancing and the gathering of large groups are restrictions that continue to apply, even in times of grieving. The recommended precautions are safeguards to limit your individual risk and exposure and ultimately the community at large against the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Funeral homes that service the Akwesasne community are governed by their respective licensing authorities and those authorities have instructed the funeral homes to follow strict guidelines to protect the families they serve and the staff of the funeral homes. We have informed local funeral homes that wake services in homes and elsewhere within the community are not allowed at this time. We respectfully request that the community of Akwesasne continue to support and adhere to the guidelines and restrictions in place.

"The funeral homes have an understanding of our community’s customs and are doing their very best to accommodate our community members wishes during the pandemic however, large gatherings have made evident the need for additional protective measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Akwesasne. We ask that everyone continue to follow all prescribed guidelines to help keep the grieving family members and each other safe during their time of mourning," shared the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council.

The rapidly changing global pandemic has altered all of our lives and forced us to make unprecedented changes. We encourage our community to utilize the options offered by local funeral homes for live-stream viewing and providing online messages of condolences, as a way to express condolences to the grieving family.

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