Sandy, Author at The Turtle Island News

The Feather Report – Black & White and Red All Over

July 19, 2023 3899 views

Black & White and Red All Over Photos by Carl Pascoe & Rachel A. Powless By Rachel A. Powless Feather…

Editorial

Find the women!

July 19, 2023 1744 views

It all comes down to one question. What if it was your mother? Across the country residents, politicians, Indigenous communities…

Cartoons

Weekly Cartoon

July 19, 2023 1179 views

Six Nations Fall Fair to get $70,000 injection

July 19, 2023 894 views

Six Nations’ 154th annual Fall Fair got a boost to help run the much loved fair amid skyrocketing inflation. The…

PHD student looking at First Nations autism programs

July 19, 2023 666 views

Six Nations may help Indigenous families nationwide deliver culturally appropriate autism programming. Grant Bruno, a parent of two autistic boys…

The North American Indigenous Games have officially opened. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attended as thousands of Indigenous athletes from across the continent filled the downtown Halifax Forum Civic Centre. A Team Ontario athlete carries a “Every Child Matters” flag on a lacrosse stick during the opening ceremony of the North American Indigenous Games 2023 in Halifax, Sunday, July 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

Six Nations well represented at North American Indigenous Games

July 19, 2023 1261 views

By Sam Laskaris Writer Dozens of Six Nations athletes are among those chasing some hardware at this year’s North American…

Sam Laskaris – BEHIND THE ACTION – Six Nations Rivermen

July 19, 2023 1196 views

By Sam Laskaris Writer That time of the year that all athletes live to play for has arrived for the…

Members of the public explore the Cultural Village on the Halifax Common during the North American Indigenous Games 2023 in Halifax on Saturday, July 15, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

Cultural sharing key part of North American Indigenous Games as sacred fire lit

July 19, 2023 696 views

By Michael Tutton The Canadian Press HALIFAX — Organizers of the North American Indigenous Games ignited a sacred fire on…

Mixed results for Six Nations junior lacrosse squads

July 19, 2023 789 views

By Sam Laskaris Writer Six Nations’ three junior lacrosse teams had varying playoff results in the past week. The Six…

Chiefs, band council members and delegates from First Nations across the country have gathered in Halifax for the Assembly of First Nations annual general assembly, pictured July 11, 2023. (CTV)

AFN opens finances, as calls for reinstatement fail

July 12, 2023 888 views

AFN controversy ends no vote to reinstate RoseAnne Archibald HALIFAX -Former Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Chief RoseAnne Archibald is…

By Lisa Iesse Writer SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND - Decked in a spectrum of bright colours, rainbow waves of cyclists, strollers, walkers and skateboarders swept through Six NationsSaturday, (July 8) marking the fourth annual Ride4Pride. The Ride4Pride took route starting at about 10 am in Veterans Park and headed west towards Seneca Road, “completing all 4 directions” of the community, Si Nations SN Outreach announced on their facebook site. The park was decorated with Pride flags, Haudenosaunee Confederacy flags, and flag designs fusing a celebrated Haudenosaunee sovereignty together with 2S & LGBTQ+ Pride. The rainbowed space of the park also featured a selfie station, and a colouring table. The ride celebrates 2S & LGBTQ+ resilience and inclusion in Six Nations. “This event is important to let community know that we (2S & LGBTQ+) have always been part of the community - despite the violence & ignorance we’ve experienced (and still continue to experience), we still continue to celebrate our community within the larger (the) community,” Micheal Hill told Turtle Island News. He said they promote healthy active lifestyles and raise awareness on those topics, along with providing space for those in the community who need it, who want to connect with others in their own community, said Hill. The ride is a way to mobilise change through awareness, said another organiser Myka. “I feel like more awareness needs to be around the Two-Spirit community and we need to foster an environment that is supportive in acknowledging.” The ride opens a space for hope and belonging through the love of community for Two-Spirit people, they said. “Just visibility, so all the other folks in the community that are maybe still struggling or maybe do not have families that are accepting of two-spiritedness, that they know there is a community out here for them, that there is people that accept them and love them, and acknowledge them,” said Myka. The ride is a time to acknowledge and honour the community. “I think it’s just important for us to have a day at least for Two-Spirit & LGBTQ+ people,” added Meryl Burning. The ride is a healing reclamation of 2S & LGBTQ+ and Haudenosaunee identity, explained Hill. “There is still a stigma that exists in this community and we want to show those people who might have negative opinions, that we’re just a group of community members who want the same betterment for their community and focus on inclusivity, acceptance, expression, love and strength.” She said they are battling misinformation.”We know this negative mentality is adopted from Western/Christian ideologies that the 2S & LGBTQ+ are somehow less than others. Because of that, our people have forgotten how to show care and love for each other and we want to help bring that back and emphasize that all people and all of creation is truly a gift and to be celebrated and that is our focus too as proud 2S & LGBTQ+ Haudenosaunee.” Hill is one of the original organisers of the event along with Felecia White. White and a group of 2S & LGBTQ+ community members decided to mobilise the event back in June 2020. Hill said a group came together and launched the celebration and it has grown each year. “There was a group that just decided that they were going to do it, and we did it, and then every year it has grown a bit more,” Hill said. The Six Nations 2SLGBTQ+ community and allies felt a Pride event was needed during the lockdowns in the territories here. “The Ride started as a very grassroots idea during lockdown,” said White back at 2021’s Ride4Pride. She said in the past he went to Toronto’s Pride event. “Being on lockdown, we couldn’t travel so I wanted to do a small bike ride around here,” White explained. Hill said it was a great success. So I figured I should just stick with it and here we are four years later.” Participants walked, biked, skateboarded, strolled and danced, even showing off their high kicks as they hit the centre of Ohsweken. After the ride, everyone gathered back in Veteran’s Park to take in the sun and summer breeze while classic 2SLGBTQ+ anthems like Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family,” filled the air. The Ride4Pride family then re-energized their mojos with a summer picnic barbeque in the park. Next up 6N Pride Outreach will host Paddle for Pride on August 26!

Walking, riding, dancing in show of support at annual Ride4Pride Six Nations

July 12, 2023 887 views

By Lisa Iesse Writer SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND – Decked in a spectrum of bright colours, rainbow waves of cyclists,…

While they weren't allowed to take photos of the meeting they did end up on the Royal's twitter and instagram. Mississauga Nation chiefs including Chief Chiblow and Chief Stacey Laforme met with King Charles III in Scotland. Posted to Chief Chiblow’s FB page.

Mississauga Nation visits United Kingdom and his Royal Highness King Charles III

July 12, 2023 989 views

By Lynda Powless Editor LONDON, ENGLAND- The Mississaugas Nation in Ontario sent a delegation of Chiefs and representatives to the…

Consultant to look at how to engage community

July 12, 2023 812 views

A long-time contentious issue between the Six Nations community and its elected council is how the community’s voice is heard…

Coming together to build a canoe (Photo by Lisa Iesse)

Mississaugas of Credit First Nation build birch bark canoes

July 12, 2023 1047 views

By Lisa Iesse Writer MISSISSAUGAS OF THE CREDIT – The Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN) are harvesting traditional…

Cartoons

Weekly Cartoon

July 12, 2023 1272 views

Editorial

Time for AFN to get down to business

July 12, 2023 1273 views

It’s over. Former Assembly of First Nations National Chief RoseAnne Archibald may not like it. Her supporters may not like…

Premier’s statement on the appointment of interim Assembly of First Nations national chief

July 12, 2023 682 views

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The following statement was issued today by Premier Blaine Higgs regarding Joanna Bernard’s appointment as the interim…

1492 Land Back Lane spokesman gets discharge, judge takes Haudenosaunee law into account

July 12, 2023 897 views

By Lynda Powless, Editor Three years ago Six Nations land defender Skylar Williams was facing a series of charges including…