Gamebridge Solar Project paused as company seeks Indigenous partnerships
By Danielle Pitman, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, OrilliaMatters.com The Gamebridge Solar Project is on pause until further notice. “We realized we could make the project stronger if we took more time to develop some stronger partnerships with some Indigenous communities,” said Darius Sokal, senior communications and stakeholder adviser with Atura Power. The proposal is led by Atura Power, a subsidiary of Ontario Power Generation, which partnered with James Dick Construction Ltd., operator of the Gamebridge quarry. The plan is for 120 acres of quarry land to be used for a solar farm. Plenty of work has been done to garner support for the project. In July, a public meeting was held and the company reported favourable feedback. At an August meeting, representatives presented to Ramara council in an effort to...
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Six Nations Police charge two with drug trafficking related charges
OHSWEKEN, ON- A Six Nations Police Drug Enforcement Unit investigation has resulted in police seizing bulk cocaine, oxycodone and laying trafficking charges. Six Nations Police executed warrants Tuesday, October 21, 2025, as part of a drug trafficking investigation at residence on Fourth Line near Cayuga Road. As a result of the Section 11 Controlled Drugs & Substances Act search warrants five persons were arrested and taken into custody, two of which had outstanding warrants with Six Nations Police. One individual was released from police custody unconditionally. A search was conducted resulting in the seizure of bulk cocaine, oxycodone, currency, a cell phone and drug packaging materials. As a result of the investigation, Robbe Beaver, 50, and Mackenzie Bomberry-Whitlow, 24, both of Ohsweken were arrested and charged with: Possession for the...
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Kahnawake Mohawk Council may use future tolls to offset Indigenous Services Canada funding cuts
By Olivier Cadotte, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Eastern Door The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) is making progress on its potential plan of setting up tolls on major roads that go through the community. The presence of those cars results in significant traffic as vehicles drive through the territory to the Mercier Bridge or to avoid slowdowns elsewhere. To that end, the MCK announced it is seeking to consult the community on the project, including at a community meeting and in the future through polling and kiosks, as well as launching a request for proposals (RFP) to determine the feasibility of tolling and creating an internal team to do so; which will include specialists in infrastructure, public safety, and financials, according to MCK grand chief Cody Diabo. Tolls have...
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Six Nations Police arrest two after spotting man with outstanding arrest warrant
OHSWEKEN, ON- A 27-year-old Ohsweken man is facing stolen vehicle and possession of house breaking tools after Six Nations Police spotted a man, “known to have an outstanding arrest warrant.” Police arrested a man while he was putting fuel in a vehicle police said was later found to have been stolen from another area. The man was taken into custody. Police seized tools from within the vehicle they said were commonly used to assist in the theft of vehicles. At the same time a male passenger was also taken into custody. Brayden Doxtator, of Ohsweken, Ontario was arrested and charged with: – Possession of Stolen Vehicle over $5,000 – Possession of House Breaking Instruments – Operation While Prohibited X3 – Driving While Under Suspension Dennis Hill, 43, of Ohsweken, Ontario has been...
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Three Six Nations people facing gun charges
OHSWEKEN, ON- Three people are facing weapon charges afer Six Nations Police raided a Sixth Line residence October 2nd, 2025. The Six Nations Police Drug Enforcement Unit said they executed a Section 487 Criminal Code Search Warrant at a residence on Sixth Line near Oneida Road as part of a firearm investigation. A search was conducted, police seized a handgun loaded with ammunition. The facing criminal charges are: Kalab Powless, 23, of Ohsweken, Ontario has been arrested and charged with: – Firearm: Unauthorized Possession – Possession of Firearm: Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession – Possession of Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition – Firearm, Weapon, Ammunition: Careless Use – Firearm Contravention to Storage Regulations – Firearm: Possession contrary to Prohibition Order X4 – Fail to Comply with Release Order: Other Than to...
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Inukjuak hydroelectricity project earns kudos for climate protection
By Dominique Gené, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunatsiaq News A project that provides Inukjuak with clean, renewable energy received two national awards this month. The Innavik hydroelectricity project is a 7.5-megawatt run-of-river hydro dam on the Inukjuak River in Nunavik. It supplies 90 per cent of the energy needed to power the community of about 1,800 residents, which previously relied entirely on burning diesel fuel to generate electricity, said Tommy Palliser, president of Pituvik Landholding Corp. Pituvik runs the project in partnership with Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. On Oct. 8, the Innavik project received the Indigenous Reconciliation and Partnership Award from WaterPower Canada, a national association representing the waterpower industry. The award recognizes Innavik’s contribution to the well-being of Inukjuak and the environment. On Oct. 15, the project also won...
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‘History repeating itself’: First Nations vow resistance as Doug Ford accelerates Ring of Fire mining
By Jon Thompson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Ricochet Ontario’s rush to develop mines attempted two steps forward on Wednesday, while impacted First Nations warn they intend to assert their role as rights holders. A new infrastructure deal that includes a supply road in the Ring of Fire mineral deposit, and the first enactment of the province’s controversial Bill 5 legislation drew stern responses from First Nationsleaders whose communities and territories stand to be impacted.In the morning, Premier Doug Ford and Indigenous minister Greg Rickford signed a $39.5-million agreement with Webequie First Nation, which includes $1.5-million for mental health supports, a new arena, training and meeting space. It also includes over $10 million for the Webequie Supply Road Project, a proposed 107-kilometre link between the fly-in First Nation and the proposed...
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Councillor says $100M project denied loan over Cowichan case, bank says not a factor
By Nono Shen and Wolfgang Depner A Richmond, B.C., councillor says a company based in the city has been refused financing for what she says is a $100 million project because of uncertainty over their site due to the Cowichan Tribes Aboriginal title ruling. But the bank identified by Coun. Alexa Loo said the issue was “not a factor” in its financing decisions. Loo said the company, which she wouldn’t name, is now working with the provincial government to get the certainty it needs to go ahead with what she described as a manufacturing facility in the title area. “This company, they had a deal already in place with one of the major banks to finance their project,” Loo said in an interview on Wednesday, identifying the potential lender as...
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Councillor says Cowichan title ruling saw bank deny financing for $100M B.C. project
By Nono Shen and Wolfgang Depner A Richmond, B.C., councillor says a company based in the city has been refused financing for what she says is a $100 million project because of uncertainty over their site due to the Cowichan Tribes Aboriginal title ruling. Coun. Alexa Loo said the company, which she wouldn’t name, is now working with the provincial government to get the certainty it needs to go ahead with what she described as a manufacturing facility in the title area. “This company, they had a deal already in place with one of the major banks to finance their project,” Loo said in an interview on Wednesday, identifying the potential lender as National Bank. She said the company already owns land for the planned facility in the Cowichan area...
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Controversial Ontario landfill will move ahead without federal assessment
By Abdul Matin Sarfraz / Canada’s National Observer / Local Journalism Initiative The federal government has rejected an impact assessment for Ford’s first Bill 5 project — a controversial “town killer” landfill proposal in the small southwestern Ontario community of Dresden. The project is one of the first three high-profile developments exempted from Ontario’s provincial environmental assessment under Premier Doug Ford’s Bill 5. For months, Dresden’s council, residents and advocacy groups have been fighting the proposed project, warning it could threaten water sources, farmland, air quality, public health and endangered species. When the Ford government removed the provincial review, residents turned to Ottawa to step in and assess the project under the Impact Assessment Act. Despite acknowledging the project “may cause adverse effects” to areas under federal responsibility such as...
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First Nation files lawsuit demanding Aboriginal title over lands in western Quebec
By Miriam Lafontaine An Algonquin First Nation has filed a title claim in Quebec Superior Court over large swaths of territory across the west of the province in an effort to address what it described as historic injustices against its peoples. Jean-Guy Whiteduck, chief of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation, says his people need to have a say in the way water, wildlife and forestry are managed in their traditional territory. He said that meaningful reconciliation can’t exist until that happens. “Quebec refuses to recognize that Aboriginal people, traditional people, have any rights outside of reserve territory, except for basically subsistence fishing and hunting,” Whiteduck said in an interview, speaking from the First Nation located on the shores of the Gatineau River, near Maniwaki, Que. “When we talk about...
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Law specialists from Eskasoni honoured at Indigenous convention
By Rosemary Godin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cape Breton Post Four Cape Bretoners from Eskasoni have received awards and recognition from the Indigenous Bar Association (IBA). The association’s annual conference was held in Vancouver earlier this month, where honours were given to lawyer Tuma Young, law graduate Suzanne Patles, and Dalhousie law school students Neylan Stevens and Mairi Denny. The Indigenous Bar Association in Canada is a national non-profit association of First Nation, Metis and Inuit persons in Canada trained in the field of law. Membership includes judges, lawyers, political leaders, academics, articling and law students. Young, the first Mi’kmaq speaking lawyer in Nova Scotia, has taught at Cape Breton University and has his own private legal practice. He was awarded the prestigious Indigenous People’s Counsel (IPC) designation, given annually...
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Pilot’s response to engine failure led to fatal Yukon crash last year: safety board
By Brenna Owen The Transportation Safety Board has found a pilot’s actions led to a crash that killed one passenger and left four others seriously injured in the Yukon last year. The board has released its report on the crash that took place at the Haines Junction Aerodrome as the pilot of the Cessna 206 was preparing to land after a sightseeing flight over Kluane National Park and Reserve in July 2024. It says the plane was approaching the aerodrome when it ran out of fuel in the selected tank, leading to a complete loss of power from “fuel starvation.” The report says the pilot had routinely relied on memory in his job instead of checklists that would have indicated the need to switch to the fuller fuel tank, and...
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First Nation buying two more B.C. casinos, including Richmond’s River Rock
The Snuneymuxw First Nation has announced it is buying two British Columbia casinos, including the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond. A statement from the Nanaimo-area nation says the deal to buy the River Rock and Chances Maple Ridge will make its wholly-owned Petroglyph Development Group the largest Indigenous gaming operator by revenue in Canada. It says the nation has entered into definitive agreements with current operator Great Canadian Entertainment to purchase the two casinos, although the deal remains subject to regulatory and other approval. Petroglyph bought Casino Nanaimo and Elements Casino Victoria earlier this year. Snuneymuxw Chief Mike Wyse says the purchases are a major step to economic self-determination and will create “lasting prosperity” for the nation. The Musqueam Nation, which owns the River Rock site on the Fraser...
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Iqaluit to bid on hosting Inuit Nunangat University
By Jeff Pelletier, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunatsiaq News Iqaluit would be a “great place” for Inuit Nunangat University, says Mayor Solomon Awa. Awa made the comments Tuesday night after city councillors voted to direct staff to begin preparing a proposal to Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami about why the Nunavut capital should be the planned university’s home. “[Iqaluit] is a natural home for a university,” Awa said. Inuit Nunangat University is ITK’s long-running plan to build a post-secondary institution somewhere in the Inuit homeland. Last month, ITK named Iqaluit as one of eight shortlisted communities to be the school’s potential host. The othes are Inuvik in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Nain in Nunatsiavut, Puvirnituq and Kuujjuaq in Nunavik, and Cambridge Bay, Rankin Inlet and Arviat in Nunavut. In an Oct. 6...
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Councillor says Cowichan title ruling saw bank deny financing for $100M B.C. project
By Nono Shen and Wolfgang Depner A Richmond, B.C., councillor says a company based in the city has been refused financing for what she says is a $100 million project because of the Cowichan Tribes case. Coun. Alexa Loo said the company, which she isn’t naming, is currently working with the provincial government to get the certainty it needs to go ahead with what she describes as a manufacturing facility. “This company, they had a deal already in place with one of the major banks to finance their project,” Loo said in an interview on Wednesday. Loo earlier spoke of the company’s situation with residents before a meeting with landowners on Tuesday about the impact of the landmark case that confirmed the tribes’ Aboriginal title over about 750 acres of...
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Ottawa’s new climate strategy being developed ‘behind closed doors,’ AFN says
By Nick Murray The Assembly of First Nations says Ottawa’s climate competitiveness strategy is being developed “behind closed doors,” without input from First Nations. Speaking at a House of Commons environment committee hearing Thursday, P.E.I. regional chief Wendell LaBobe said the government’s renewed focus on economic security could see it backslide on its climate commitments. LaBobe told the committee this isn’t the first time the government has developed climate policy without First Nations input, citing the 2050 net zero plan and Canada’s 2030 and 2035 emissions reduction targets. The climate competitiveness strategy, to be released with the federal budget on Nov. 4, is expected to mark a shift in Canada’s approach to climate policy. Prime Minister Mark Carney has said his approach prioritizes results over targets and emphasizes the economy,...
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Mohawk Council of Kahnawake seeks community input on proposed toll project
By Lucas-Matthew Marsh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Iori:wase The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) has initiated a Request for Proposals (RFP) process for its planned toll project across the community’s roadway network. First announced by MCK Grand Chief Cody Diabo in August, the initiative comes in response to severe upcoming budget cuts to Indigenous Services Canada (ISC). “This is yet another instance where governments cut and continue to take more,” Diabo stressed. The RFP will first determine whether the toll project is even possible and then what would be required to put it into effect. To carry out this assessment, MCK will form an internal team comprising of transportation, finance and infrastructure experts. The team will identify potential toll locations and assess any unforeseen operational, financial or political factors. The...
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What’s going on with the Vatican’s Wampum Belt?
By Lucas-Matthew Marsh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Iori:wase Not an emotional man by nature, Gerald Taiaiake Alfred was overcome with pride when he saw the Vatican’s Wampum Belt at the McCord Stuart Museum. For the activist who dedicated his life to preserving Kanien’kehà:ka traditional knowledge, its brief loan to the museum in 2023 was a reminder that “some right had been done.” Two years later, it seemed this wampum belt was on its way home. At least it seemed. Last week, reports that the Vatican planned to return dozens of First Nations artifacts to their home communities made international headlines. One of the items widely speculated to be included in the repatriation was the Vatican Wampum Belt: a colossal seven-and-a-half-foot-long belt consecrated in Kanehsatake during the 18th century. But when...
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Suicide for First Nations youth is four times higher than B.C. rate: report
By Nora O’Malley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Ha-Shilth-Sa British Columbia – This past summer, a 14-year-old boy hung himself in the rural First Nations community of Pacheedaht on the southwest coast of Vancouver Island. “It was the saddest, saddest thing ever,” said Pacheedaht Chief Councillor Arliss Jones. “He was just an innocent little kid. The youth are still really hurt about him.” Suicide deaths in Pacheedaht are high, says Jones. It’s a grim reality many Indigenous (First Nations/Métis/Inuit) communities in British Columbia face; a new B.C. coroner panel report shows Indigenous youth and young adults are disproportionately overrepresented among those who die by suicide in B.C. The report, Creating Connection, Supporting Strengths: A Review of Youth and Young Adult Deaths by Suicide In British Columbia, 2019-2023, found the rate of...
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