Six Nations Elected Council is building a large Visitor’s Welcome Centre
Six Nations Elected Council is building a large Visitor’s Welcome Centre at the E. Pauline Johnson mansion historic site on Highway 54. Construction has begun. The building will be further back, close to the mansion. The mansion can be seen in the background. (Photo by Jim C. Powless)...
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AFN to hold emergency meeting with chiefs on major projects bill
By Alessia Passafiume The Assembly of First Nations will hold an emergency meeting next week to discuss the implications of federal legislation that would speed up approvals for major projects. National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak met Thursday with Prime Minister Mark Carney about his government’s new bill, tabled Friday. She said she remains “deeply concerned” about the legislation’s potential impact on First Nations. “First Nations support efforts to protect Canada from economic uncertainty and advance resource revenue sharing agreements,” she said. “However, First Nations are very concerned that this proposal may violate many collective rights … Failure to obtain free, prior and informed consent will likely result in protracted litigation.” The legislation has two parts — one to break down internal trade barriers and the other to fast track major...
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Six Nations woman loses life in trailer fire
SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND RIVER- The Ontario Fire Marshall and Six Nations Police are investigating a house trailer fire on River Range Road that has claimed the life of a 68-year-old woman. Six Nations Police received a call at 1:03 p.m. on Wednesday, June 4., and Six Nations Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and police were on scene at 3493 River Range Road within minutes, blocking the road. The 68-year-old woman was found inside the house trailer that she lived in. She was pronounced deceased at the scene. Six Nations Police have not released the name of the deceased. “I heard something, and went out, and then saw the smoke,” said a bystander who asked not to be identified. He had arrived moments after he heard an inexplicable...
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Despite financial concerns some Six Nations band staff continue to be housed in Brantford
Some Six Nations staff will continue to operate from Brantford for the next five years despite financial issues raise by two councillors. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) approved a five-year office space lease at Six Nations Polytechnic’s Brantford campus, following a split vote at the General Finance meeting. The decision directs the new CEO Tracy Brant to sign the lease and utilize department funds for the space starting July 1. The lease was brought forward by the Data Governance Committee and presented by Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Court. The office space has already been in use since August 2024 by departments including Data Analytics and Insights, Communications, and Health Planning. Court explained the site is also being used as a “hoteling” office — a shared space for rotating staff who...
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Six Nations Elected Council sets aside up to $125,000 to help pow wow
Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) is setting aside up to $125,000 for this years Grand River champion of Champions Pow Wow. The possible funding allocation was among four recommendations from the Six Nations Community Committee approved by SNEC last week, covering issues ranging from fire service fees to funding support for the 2025 Grand River Champion of Champions Pow Wow. The motions were presented during the General Finance meeting on June 2 and introduced by the Community Committee. Grand River champion of Champions Pow Wow The funding allocation of up to $125,000 is to offset costs associated with the 2025 Grand River Champion of Champions Pow Wow. Councillor Alaina VanEvery raised the possibility of delaying the motion, noting that new grassroots funding streams from Six Nations of the Grand River...
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ISC funding amendments include increase for special education funding
Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) has approved several new funding amendments and additions as part of its ongoing five-year Comprehensive Funding Agreement with Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), which covers the period from 2021 to 2026. SNEC approved four additional funding amendments totaling nearly $300,000 at the General Finance meeting held on June 2. These amendments will provide increased support for health, education, and community services across Six Nations. Jennifer Court, Director of Finance, presented the latest amendments to SNEC. One of the largest additions includes $127,500 in funding for the Supplementary Health Program Navigator initiative. These navigators help community members access and understand various health benefits and services, supporting a more streamlined and accessible health care experience. The Six Nations Education Department is also set to receive $116,463 in targeted...
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Ontario’s Bill 5 passes, amid Indigenous concerns
Indigenous leadership says it is mobilizing its membership and moving to shut down Ontario’s controverial Bill 5 the “Protect Ontairo by Unleashing our Economy Act.” Ontario First Nations leaders say the controversial bill infringes on treaty rights, and are warning of “conflict on the ground. Bill 5, or the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, passed last Thursday, includes major changes to the province’s endangered species and environmental protection laws. It creates “special economic zones” that would suspend provincial and municipal laws for certain projects and is taking aim at the “Ring of Fire.” Premier Doug Ford said the Ring of Fire mineral deposit in northern Ontario and his proposed tunnel under Highway 401 would be given that special status under the proposed law. Since it was tabled last...
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Mississauga Credit First Nation calls Bill 5 “dangerous”
MISSISSAUGAS OF THE CREDIT FIRST NATION- Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN) council says Ontario’s Bill 5 is “a dangerous rollback” on Indigenous rights. MCFN said the Ontario government’s, Bill 5, Protecting Ontario by unleashing our Economy Act, is “a dangerous rollback of Indigenous and environmental rights, and a troubling signal of modern-day colonization under the guise of economic development.” In a statement June 6, MCFN chief Claire Sault said the province had promised consultation after the bill was tabled. Instead, the legislation was rushed without any engagement with MCFN , whose treaty territory covers a large part of Southern Ontario. “This is not consultation,” she states. “This is legalized lawlessness,” she said. “Changing the law to bypass the duty to consult and fast-track industry’s priorities isn’t economic leadership,...
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How the Grand River is inspiring kids to read more books
Celeste Percy-Beauregard, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The Hamilton Spectator An ambitious challenge has youngsters from two schools on Six Nations of the Grand River racing to read 280 kilometres worth of books. The read-a-thon was hatched by the YMCA of Hamilton Burlington Brantford as part of its Beyond the Bell program, which provides after-school learning enrichment to students in priority areas. One example is this “playful competition,” which aims to get the students interested in reading and working as a team, area supervisor Patrick Pfeiffer said. It pits I.L. Thomas Elementary School and Emily C. General Elementary School — both with the Six Nations School District — against each other to see who can read the length of the Grand River first. No small feat, considering the waterway flows from...
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Two First Nations working on roads to Ring of Fire do not support new mining law
By Liam Casey Two First Nations in and around the Ring of Fire that signed deals with the provincial government are speaking out against a new Ontario law. Aroland First Nation Chief Sonny Gagnon says his community objects to the law known as Bill 5, which seeks to speed up development, particularly mining projects. The legislation passed last week allows Ontario to suspend provincial and municipal laws by creating so-called special economic zones for certain projects it chooses. Ontario intends to name the mineral-rich Ring of Fire as the first such zone, but the law has created a firestorm of anger among many First Nations. Aroland signed a shared-prosperity agreement with the province in January for major upgrades to roads that lead to the Ring of Fire, but Gagnon says...
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Brantford Sports And Entertainment Centre to be built on unceded Six Nations land
By Tara Lindemann Writer A new sports and entertainment centre (SEC) is going to be built on unceded Six Nations of the Grand River lands in downtown Brantford. The project is in the preliminary design phase, and while the City has confirmed it’s in consultation with Six Nations of the Grand River, it has not disclosed if it’s also consulted with the Haudenosaunee Confederacy or if the territory can expect rent money for the unceded lands. The site sits next door to Elements Casino: currently the territory is receiving $4.5 million annually in rent, part of a 20-year lease agreement with the Ontario Lotto and Gaming Corporation (OLG). Director of communications, community engagement and customer service, Maria Visocchi, confirmed that leadership from Six Nations of the Grand River (SNGR), stating...
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A hot summer is coming…
Thanks to Ontario Premier Doug Ford it could be a long hot summer! The Ontario Premier has decided he is going to speed-up development in Ontario and he is starting with the controversial mineral-rich Ring of Fire! He plans to designate the area as a “special economic zone,” and get shovels in the ground asap. Like waving a red flag in front of a bull, he is committing $1 billion to its development and plans to start with mining. With a PC majority there was no question the Premier was going to push through the controversial bill. But in a, oh by the way move, to get the Bill passed he says they will consult with First Nations on the issue over the summer. A number of First Nations communities have interest...
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UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY:And It Burns, Burns, Burns That Ring Of Fire
By Xavier Kataquapit www.underthenorthernsky.com The government of Ontario is pushing through Bill 5 which aims to designate the Ring of Fire as a so-called “special economic zone.” This bill is intended to reduce regulatory processes across major infrastructure, mining, and resource projects. The bill affects several key Acts, including: Ontario Heritage Act, Ontario Energy Board Act, Environmental Assessment Act, Mining Act, Environmental Protection Act, Electricity Act, Endangered Species Act and Rebuilding Ontario Place Act. The Ring of Fire is located in northern Ontario just west of the James Bay lowlands and my home community of Attawapiskat. The proposed development that is being pushed in this region is basically the head waters of the Attawapiskat River which would directly affect all the water flowing out to James Bay. According to the...
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Porter keen to participate in world qualifying tournament in Florida
By Sam Laskaris Writer Six Nations member Fawn Porter is already an accomplished box lacrosse player. And now Porter is being given another opportunity to show off her field lacrosse skills. Porter is one of 22 players that have been named to the Haudenosaunee Nationals roster. The club is gearing up to compete at the Pan-American Lacrosse Association (PALA) women’s tournament. This event will run June 26-30 in the Florida city of Auburndale. The PALA tourney will feature eight entrants. The top four finishers will qualify for the world women’s field tournament, which will be held next year in Japan. The Haudenosaunee Nationals are in a pool and will play round-robin matches against Canada, Argentina and Jamaica. The other division will feature Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico and the United States....
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Bomberry performing double coaching duties with Rivermen and Attack
By Sam Laskaris Writer Though he already had some coaching responsibilities this year, when called upon Tim Bomberry couldn’t refuse an offer to take on some additional bench duties. For starters, he’s an assistant coach with the Six Nations Rivermen, the local Senior B men’s box lacrosse squad. He committed to be on the Rivermen bench for 2025 last summer, after he joined the club late in its season. And then a couple of months ago Bomberry agreed to also take on the head coaching role for the Six Nations-based Grand River Attack, members of the Women’s Major Series Lacrosse (WMSL). His daughters Tiana and Timmia, aged 26 and 24, respectively, are in their first season with the Attack. “They signed up and then they said they didn’t have a...
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SPORTS BRIEFS:
By Sam Laskaris Writer Chiefs on a roll The two-time defending Mann Cup champion Six Nations Chiefs entered the week as the hottest squad in Major Series Lacrosse (MSL). Thanks to a pair of weekend road victories, the Chiefs found themselves on a four-game winning streak and tied for top spot in the standings of their seven-team league. The Six Nations club travelled north and squared off against the host Owen Sound North Stars on Saturday. The Chiefs earned a 12-5 triumph in that outing, which was held at the Meaford and St. Vincent Community Centre. Josh Byrne had a team high five points (one goal and four assists) for the Chiefs. Ryan Smith and Tyson Bell also had solid outings as they scored three goals each. Warren Hill picked...
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Trump administration says he has the authority to cancel national monuments that protect landscapes
By Matthew Brown BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Lawyers for President Donald Trump’s administration say he has the authority to abolish national monuments meant to protect historical and archaeological sites across broad landscapes, including two in California created by his predecessor at the request of Native American tribes. A Justice Department legal opinion released Tuesday disavowed a 1938 determination that monuments created by previous presidents under the Antiquities Act can’t be revoked. The department said presidents can cancel monument designations if protections aren’t warranted. The finding comes as the Interior Department under Trump has been weighing changes to monuments across the nation as part of the administration’s push to expand U.S. energy production. The Republican in his first term reduced the size of two Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante National...
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Northern Lights College honours Indigenous students with graduation ceremony
By Ed Hitchins, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Energeticcity.ca FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — For one convocation ceremony in Fort St. John, colonialism was replaced with pan-Indigenous culture. Caps and gowns were replaced with Métis sashes and commemorative feather carvings, as Northern Lights College (NLC) honoured its First Nations and Métis students with a graduation celebration and dinner at the Fort St. John Curling Club. It was a special moment for graduate Destiny Laprete. Laprete completed the Adult Dogwood, the B.C. certification for high school equivalency. A member of Enoch Cree Nation, Laprete was the valedictorian of her class at NLC’s Dawson Creek campus. “I got to participate in a lot of Indigenous cultural events throughout the year. I think [it] really made me get back in touch with myself and...
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Ottawa’s plan for climate change adaptation is falling short, report says
By Nick Murray Ottawa’s efforts to prepare the country for the impacts of climate change have stumbled out of the gate, Canada’s environment commissioner said Tuesday. In a new report, Jerry DeMarco concluded the National Adaptation Strategy was not effectively designed, did not prioritize Canada’s climate change risks and only established one of its three components since its release in 2023. Canada has committed $1.6 billion to implementing the strategy, which is meant as a road map for communities across the country to up their game to prevent significant damage as the number of major storms, floods and fires increase exponentially with climate change. Environment and Climate Change Canada estimated that every dollar spent on proactive adaptation measures can save taxpayers between $13 and $15 in the long term. Canada...
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