New funding envelope stokes hopes for Kanesatake Perimeter Security
By Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Eastern Door Timed for a high-profile meeting between first ministers and First Nations leadership in Ottawa this week, the federal government announced $140 million for crime prevention and culturally sensitive community safety initiatives in Indigenous communities over four years, part of $2.5 billion in new spending. The announcement perked up the ears of those searching for new financial avenues for Kanesatake Perimeter Security (KPS), which faces an uncertain future after its current funding runs out on December 15. According to Public Safety Canada, more details on the new funding will be provided in the coming weeks. It’s so far unclear how crime prevention and culturally sensitive safety initiatives will be selected, or on what timeline the money could flow to community projects....
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Creating space for questions at Kanesatake women’s wellness centre
By Fern Marmont, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Eastern Door The Tekontateriéntare Multigenerational Center for Women’s Wellness hosted its second moon teaching sleepover for its girls’ mentorship program, this time welcoming an older group to explore sexual health and childbirth in greater depth. The two-day gathering, held from October 23 to 24, combined the fun of a slumber party with frank conversations about relationships, contraception, pregnancy and the importance of women supporting women. “Yes, we’re their teachers in a sense, but we’re really like their aunties, and they feel comfortable with us,” said Patricia Gabriel, a community birth keeper at the Kanesatake Health Center (KHC). She added that the girls, ages 12 to 15, are part of the KHC mentorship program and that she has been teaching them for many...
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Chiefs advocate for improvements to northern Ontario airports
By Sam Laskaris, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Windspeaker.com First Nations leaders from across Ontario held a news conference on Oct. 28 to call on the provincial and federal governments to provide funding for an airport infrastructure crisis. The Chiefs of Ontario (COO) and Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) held their event at the Sheraton Toronto Airport Hotel. There are 29 remote airports in northern Ontario and 27 of those directly service First Nations. “Many of them were built 40 years ago or 50 years ago,” said NAN Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler. “Over the course of their lifetime there’s been very little or no effort made to improve those airports. And here we are in 2026 to give notice again to Ontario and Canada that we need resources to improve the safety...
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Family of First Nation woman who died amid lack of medical travel asks for OPP probe
By Liam Casey The family of a northern Ontario First Nation woman who died after she couldn’t get to crucial medical appointments following open-heart surgery has asked provincial police to investigate her death. Eva Mamakwa said her 31-year-old daughter, Miranda Mamakwa, died in September after Indigenous Services Canada’s non-insured health benefits program did not arrange travel for her followup appointments after the April surgery. Miranda Mamakwa lived in Fort Severn First Nation, a remote fly-in community on the mouth of the Severn River on Hudson Bay, with her three children and her parents. The NIHB program for First Nations and Inuit people covers medical, dental and mental health care not available through private insurance or provincial health plans. The family now wants Ontario Provincial Police to launch a criminal investigation...
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Two Nunavut Inuit associations advising on sale of Baffinland Iron Mines
By William Koblensky Varela, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunavut News Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association will receive advisory fees for their participation in the sale of Baffinland Iron Mines, an Ontario Superior Court document dated Oct. 23 confirms. A participation agreement was signed by the two Inuit organizations on the condition that it remain confidential, the document states. “The participation agreement contains a confidentiality clause and was agreed to by the QIA and NTI on grounds that this agreement would be kept confidential and not form part of the public record,” the court document reads. Exactly how NTI and QIA will participate is confidential, in part due to the agreement containing “commercially sensitive information.” How much in advisory fees the Inuit organizations receive will also not be...
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Jean Marie River’s new chief wants to help others come home, like him
By Claire McFarlane, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cabin Radio Tthets’éhk’édélı̨ First Nation elects Paul Simon as new chief Simon ran against incumbent Melanie Norwegian Menacho, who was acclaimed to the role in 2023. Speaking with Cabin Radio, Simon said he felt overwhelmed and speechless about the result. “I wasn’t sure how membership was going to vote, but I thought I’d throw my hat in the ring and see how it went,” said Simon. He describes Jean Marie River as his hometown, though he said he has spent most of his life living in Fort Simpson. In March, he returned to the community after working in Whatì as a public servant for the territorial government. Since July, he’s worked as the acting public works foreman for the First Nation. He said...
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Nunavimmiut Futures Fair completes 3-year tour of Nunavik
By Dominique Gené, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunatsiaq News The Nunavimmiut Futures Fair has completed a three-year tour of Nunavik, bringing employers, educational institutions and other organizations into high schools across the region to introduce students to potential career paths. This edition of the fair wrapped up in Kuujjuaq on Oct. 27 and 28 at Jaanimmarik School after visiting Puvirnituq, Inukjuak, Quaqtaq and Tasiujaq. More than 10 organizations were on hand to give presentations to high school students. Evening sessions were also held in the school gym Oct. 28. Participants included the FCNQ Co-op, Kativik Regional Government, Air Inuit, the Canadian Coast Guard, Ungava Tulattavik Health Center, Sanajiit, Kativik Ilisarniliriniq and Pijunnaqunga. The goal of this initiative is to introduce the work of different organizations and the opportunities available to...
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Inquest into death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet on hold for investigation: coroner
By Paola Loriggio A coroner’s inquest into the death of a Toronto woman who fell from a 24th-floor balcony while police were in her home was put on hold indefinitely Thursday just as it reached the final stretch of the proceedings. “I know everyone has been working extremely hard during this inquest. Unfortunately, I will be adjourning the inquest until further notice,” said Dr. David Cameron, the coroner presiding over the inquest into the death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet. “The reason for this is that we have some quite unanticipated investigation that needs to be done before we can continue.” The coroner gave no details on the nature or focus of the investigation but said jurors and the public would be informed when the inquest was ready to resume. The inquest...
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Sask Rivers continues to outperform province in FNMI graduation rates
By Prince Albert Daily Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Saskatchewan Rivers School Division report on student achievement shows the division continues to outperform the province in First Nation, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) graduation rates. Superintendent Jennifer Hingley presented the report at the Oct. 5 school division board meeting. Hingley presented numbers from Early Years Evaluation (EYE), developmental reading assessments for Grades 1, 2 and 3, graduation rates, both on time and extended, and credit attainment for Grade 10 to 12. Hingley said that the data in the report shows the impact that the division is having on student reading. She explained that the data as a whole shows that the division is impacting students from the start of school to the end of school “And I think that’s also evident...
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Ontario Superior Court throws out move by SNEC and Men’s Fire to join forces against Haudenosaunee Development Institute
By Lynda Powless Editor BRANTFORD, ONT-An attempt by the Six Nations Elected Band Council (SNEC) and Men’s Fire to join forces in a court action against the Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI) has been ruled out. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice, in a decision Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, dismissed the move saying it would “add complex constitutional questions and cause further delay,” to a case already a decade before the courts. The Davey vs Hill suit was launched 10 years ago. The HDI is the development arm of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council (HCCC). The court also said, SNEC/the Band, was “not a necessary party to the existing action.” In a statement released today ( Oct., 29 2026) The HCCC welcomed the decision saying it is “a positive step forward.” The...
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Ottawa launches telecom roadmap to improve competition, consumer choice
By Sammy Hudes The federal government says it is launching a roadmap to boost competition and choice within Canada’s telecommunications sector. The plan, announced late Wednesday by Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, is meant to break down regional barriers and promote cross-Canada competition in the internet and mobile services sector. Ottawa says it will take action to give consumers more choices and make it easier for providers to access existing networks, or expand the infrastructure they own. It also wants to help consumers take advantage of more affordable plans, noting cellular plan prices are down 49 per cent compared with 2019, and says the government “will spotlight” competitive offers on the market. The government says it will help companies deploy the latest fibre-optic networks, experiment with new technologies and strengthen access...
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Diabo slams First Ministers’ Meeting and signals changes forthcoming
By Sam Laskaris, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Iori:wase While some praised the First Ministers’ Meeting that took place in Ottawa on Monday, Cody Diabo was certainly not one of them. In fact, Diabo, the Grand Chief of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake, didn’t mince his words of what he thought of the historic event, which focused solely on First Nation issues and included federal, provincial and Indigenous leaders. “I think it was a complete shit show,” Diabo said. “The organization of it I found was very disheartening.” Diabo, who is also the chair of the Iroquois Caucus, was hoping to have his voice heard at the meeting. He cited a protocol agreement that had been signed in July between the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) respecting the Iroquois Caucus autonomy....
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In Manitoba, community protests legislation that would fast-track resource projects: ‘Have we not lost enough?’
By Crystal Greene, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, IndigiNews Indigenous people in Manitoba are protesting against proposed federal legislation that aims to fast-track resource development — saying it undermines their rights and sovereignty over their lands. Activists point to several pieces of legislation that they worry would cause more harm to their territories, which are already impacted by climate change and the biodiversity crisis. They also have safety concerns over “man camps” created by industry and potential harms to vulnerable Indigenous women and girls. Both Bill C-5 and Bill C-39 are set to fast-track major infrastructure projects in “Canada,” by designating them to be of “national interest.” C-5 was passed in 2025, and C-39 is in its third reading. Meanwhile, the proposed Bill C-37 — under review after a second reading...
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New flag rules coming to Crowsnest Pass schools
By Nicholas L.M. Allen, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Crowsnest Pass Herald Crowsnest Pass schools will be required to follow new provincial rules governing which flags can be displayed on school property beginning Jan. 4. Alberta’s new Flag Display Regulation requires the Canadian and Alberta flags to be flown outside every school building during the school year. Each flag must be flown from a separate flagpole and displayed according to federal and provincial protocols. The requirements will apply to public, separate, francophone, charter and accredited independent schools across the province. In the Crowsnest Pass, the rules will apply to Livingstone Range School Division facilities including Horace Allen School, Isabelle Sellon School and Crowsnest Consolidated High School. The division’s existing flag protocol already requires Canadian and Alberta flags to be displayed at...
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Goose Harbour Lake wind farm officially opens
By Alec Bruce, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Guysborough-Antigonish Journal MULGRAVE – Seven years in the making, the first of Guysborough County’s new generation of large-scale wind farms is officially open – if not quite ready for business. Port Hawkesbury Paper Wind (PHP Wind) declared the $450-million Goose Harbour Lake development complete during a technical tour of the site near Mulgrave on Oct. 20. But its published timetable still places commercial operation before year’s end. The project comprises 24 Nordex N163 cold-climate turbines with a combined generating capacity of 168 megawatts. Their output is expected to equal at least 60 per cent of Port Hawkesbury Paper’s annual electricity requirements. “This project represents much more than 24 turbines,” said mill owner Ron Stern in the opening announcement. “It is an investment in...
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Youths tell trial of climate change toll, from anxiety to flood and heat impacts
By Brieanna Charlebois Sadie Vipond says she was just seven years old when she began noticing the impacts of climate change. Now a 20-year-old plaintiff in Canada’s first youth-led climate trial, Vipond described experiencing catastrophic floods in Calgary in 2013, that the city says resulted in mass evacuations, one death and $6 billion in financial losses. “I was beginning to see different actions in my community around the climate crisis, and so I was also feeling very anxious about my future,” she told the Federal Court in Vancouver. Vipond is one of 15 plaintiffs who are arguing that federal legislation violates their constitutional rights by continuing the trajectory of greenhouse gas emissions. The trial that began Monday heard in an opening statement from the youths’ lawyer, Catherine Boies Parker, that...
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Six Nations Elected Council land rights trial hears story of Haudenosaunee land rights
By Barbara Latkowski Writer Oral histories are playing an integral role in the Six Nations Elected Council’s (SNEC) long awaited land claim trial now entering its fourth week. SNEC’s case is centering around Haudenosaunee culture, histories, stories and teachings. Six Nations of the Grand River (SNGR) has waited over 31 years since suing Canada and Ontario over sold land and mismanaged trust funds spanning more than 150-years. Six Nations community member, Dr. Darren Thomas’s testimony laid out a history based on oral transmission. “The Haudenosaunee, we exist as a collective society, one of which is absolutely dependent on your relational connections and relational well being. When you are doing chores for an elder for example, that’s where that learning happens, that’s when they freely share their stories and teaching,” Thomas...
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Mohawk Chapel showcases history and artists’ festival
By Barbara Latkowski Writer It was a celebration of coming together. Six Nations’ Mohawk Chapel rolled out the welcome mat in an outdoor artists’ gathering giving the public a chance to enjoy featured art and the historic Mohawk Chapel. Artists, writers, poets, storytellers, vendors, dancers and musicians all gathered at the Mohawk Chapen to celebrate their ‘past, present and future’. “We wanted to bring the community back to the chapel,” said event organizer Taima Beaver from Six Nations Tourism. “This is to celebrate our amazing crafters, dancers, singers, artists and just to reconnect. The youth are important. I really wanted to showcase that. And our elders are here too. There’s a bluegrass band here that I have seen play since I was a kid. And we are also showcasing our...
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Over $200,000 in education funding costs prompts SNEC to look at costs for students attending off reserve schools
Six Nations approved a funding agreement amendment supporting tuition assistance for community members whose children attend school off territory, while councillors called for better data collection and communication about the program. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) approved Amendment No. 211 to the comprehensive funding agreement with Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) during its October 19 General Finance meeting. The amendment provides tuition funding of $206,365 and a five per cent administration fee of $10,318.25 for Six Nations to process the payments. Donna Dodson, CFO and Linda Parker, the Chief of Staff, explained that the program helps parents who choose to send their children to schools outside the community, including public and private institutions. The tuition assistance is capped at an amount equivalent to what the relevant provincial school board receives to...
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Six Nations Police hoping to host youth hockey camp
Six Nations Police are hoping to hold a three-day youth hockey camp over the Christmas break at the Six Nations arena. The SNP youth hockey camp is aimed at building positive relationships between police and young people through sport. Constable Tyson Bomberry, Six Nations Police Community Services Officer presented the request to Six Nations Elected Council’s (SNEC) General Finance meeting on October 19, outlining plans for the camp, scheduled for December 28 to 30, 2026. The camp will feature the 3NOLANS and will host 25 youth, primarily ages 11 and 12. 3NOLANS was co-founded in 2013 by Ted Nolan, Brandon Nolan, and two-time Stanley Cup winner with the LA Kings, Jordan Nolan. The request is for arena access and ice time while the facility is scheduled to be closed...
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