Ironworkers: A Long and Continuing Tradition

Mohawk men are renowned for their skill and agility in high-steel construction. In 2008, the governments of Canada and Québec awarded the contract to replace the deck of the Honoré-Mercier Bridge, one of the busiest bridges in the West Island (Montréal), to the Kahnawake-based Mohawk Bridge Consortium. However, there were a number of obstacles in executing the contact. Because Mohawk territory straddles both the Ontario-Québec and Canada-U.S. borders, the Commission de la construction du Québec, the body that regulates the conditions of employment for all construction work in Québec, had authority, which was a major irritant, as was application of occupational health and safety rules to the construction site. Since the Mohawk Nation has had its own workplace health and safety regime for over 20 years, an agreement with the Québec government, entered into in 2011, recognized the autonomy and authority of the Mohawk Nation in such matters. (Dutrisac 2011) The agreement enabled more harmonious relations in a key sector of activity for economic development in Mohawk communities.

A structural steel erector for nearly 30 years, John Stacey of Kahnawake said in a private interview that it is only recently that Mohawk ironworkers have been able to work in Québec. During his career, Stacey worked on major construction sites throughout North America, particularly in the United States, including in Texas, Pennsylvania, Maine, New York, Minnesota, New Jersey, Vermont and New Hampshire. In his view, what sets Mohawks apart in this high-risk sector is “our ability to memorize, follow orders and pay careful attention to the work to be performed – an inherent quality of our people.”

For the last 15 years, Mohawk ironworkers have showcased their talent, ability and knowledge at the annual Ironworkers Festival. Held in Akwesasne in July, the festival brings together hundreds of people to watch competitors battle for the title of Ultimate Ironworker. For John Stacey, it’s an event not to be missed and a chance to see his friends. “We share stories,” he said, adding with a chuckle, “kind of like fishing stories, the tallest structure, the juiciest tale . . . ” It’s also a time to pay tribute to the greatest ironworkers of all time, including some who lost their health and many who lost their lives to the industry.