Nova Scotia approves plans for the province’s largest onshore wind farm
The Nova Scotia government has granted environmental assessment approval for plans to build what it describes as the province’s largest wind energy project. The Environment Department issued a statement today saying the Ocean Lake Wind Project proposed for Guysborough County calls for the construction of 158 turbines on or near Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore. Construction is expected to start in 2029 with completion slated for five years later. The project developers are EverWind NS Holdings Ltd., a Canadian energy infrastructure company, and the Membertou Development Corp., the development arm of the Membertou First Nation in Cape Breton. Meanwhile, Everwind Fuels is developing one of North America’s first large-scale green hydrogen and ammonia projects in Cape Breton, which it says will be powered by 650 megawatts of electricity from four wind...
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Sweeping fire ban across North and South Slave regions in effect
By Dylan Follett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Yellowknifer The GNWT has implemented a fire ban for all public and private lands within the North and South Slave regions. The ban went into effect in North Slave late Tuesday night, and at will go into effect at midnight on Wednesday for communities in the South Slave. The North Slave communities include Yellowknife, Dettah, N’Dilo, Gameti, Wekweètì, Behchoko and Whati, while Łutselkʼe, Fort Providence, Hay River, K’atl’odeeche First Nation, Fort Resolution, Fort Smith, Kakisa and surrounding areas are the communities in the South Slave under the ban. “This is being implemented due to continued extreme fire danger and extraordinary weather conditions to protect communities and protect wildfire fighting resources by limiting avoidable person-caused fires,”stated a release from Tuesday evening. It follows fire...
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Heat wave hits, Six Nations Elected Council late in setting up cooling stations
By Alex Murray Writer SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND RIVER-While public cooling spaces and heat relief centers opened up across Brantford and Brant County in time for residents in need to escape the extreme heat Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) was late in providing heat relief. SNEC cooling centres didn’t open until Thursday, July 2, after the first heatwave of summer 2026 already hit. Cooling centres are accessible locations available to provide people with a spot to rest, cool down, and rehydrate. Millions of Canadians across the country were hit with heat advisories this week. In Ontario, the first heatwave of the 2026 summer resulted in an orange heat advisory from Environment Canada, the second-most severe on their colour-coded weather alert system. Orange means a heat event is major, widespread,...
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Wildfires continue to burn around Kasabonika, despite rainfall
By Maya Ekman, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, NWOnewswatch.com KASABONIKA – Recent rainfall has been helpful to wildland firefighters working to protect Kasabonika First Nation. The community “is currently being affected by a cluster of six wildland fires of varying sizes, and located between six kilometres to the south and as far as 20 kilometres away to the north-west of the community,” Chris Marchand, regional fire information officer, told Newswatch. “The Kasabonika Lake Weather Station recorded approximately five to ten millimetres of overnight rainfall, which definitely temporarily lowers fire behaviour and supports our suppression efforts,” he said. Although Monday night rain helped, he said, the fires are still not under control. The community is continuing to evacuate its most vulnerable members. Kasabonika Chief Matthias Anderson expects a total of 400 mothers...
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Ottawa revives First Nations water legislation with new rights language, raising new questions
By Jacqueline St.Pierre, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Manitoulin Expositor LAKE HURON—For generations, the struggle for clean drinking water in First Nations has never been simply about pipes, pumps or treatment plants. It has been about jurisdiction, responsibility and whether one of life’s most fundamental necessities will finally be recognized not as a promise, but as a right. That conversation returned to Parliament Tuesday as the federal government reintroduced long-awaited legislation aimed at replacing the former Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act, reviving a bill that died on the order paper when Parliament was prorogued earlier this year. The proposed First Nations Clean Water Act, introduced as Bill C-37, establishes a new legal framework governing drinking water, wastewater, source water protection and related infrastructure on First Nation lands. Yet...
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MTS petition on residential school denialism garners 2,500 signatures
By Maggie Macintosh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Winnipeg Free Press The Manitoba Teachers’ Society is petitioning Ottawa to make it illegal to deny, downplay or justify the harms of residential schools. Its e-petition — formally known as “e-7191” on the House of Commons website — will close mid-morning Thursday, after a 120-day campaign to collect signatures in support of updating the Criminal Code. “We won’t tolerate the denialism or the distortion of history,” said Lillian Klausen, who represents 17,000 public school teachers across the province. The union leader said listening to the voices that have long been excluded from history textbooks “is part of trying to reconcile.” More than 2,500 people have signed the national petition she initiated to bolster federal funding for initiatives to combat “anti Indigenous hate” and...
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Williams Treaties First Nations become equity partners in Darlington nuclear project, drawing praise and criticism
By Jacqueline St.Pierre, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Manitoulin Expositor ONTARIO—A landmark agreement announced this week will see the seven Williams Treaties First Nationsbecome equity partners in Ontario’s Darlington New Nuclear Project, a move the provincial government is calling a historic model for economic reconciliation while critics question both the consultation process and the broader implications for Indigenous rights and environmental stewardship. The agreement includes a $700 million investment by the Williams Treaties First Nations—Alderville First Nation, Curve Lake First Nation, Hiawatha First Nation, Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, Chippewas of Beausoleil First Nation, Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation and Chippewas of Rama First Nation—in Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) Darlington New Nuclear Project, where four small modular reactors (SMRs) are planned at the existing Darlington nuclear site east...
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A marine heat wave caused seabird deaths off California. El Nino could worsen the die-off
By Julie Watson SAN DIEGO (AP) — Within minutes of walking on a San Diego beach, marine ornithologist Tammy Russell found the feathered carcasses — one after another. Some were mixed in with washed up kelp. Others were under rocks. Each month, scientists and volunteers conduct surveys of dead seabirds and find what Russell describes as a grim assessment of the impact of a massive marine heat wave that has lingered for months off parts of the California coast. The surveys that have been carried out by various organizations for decades help build a baseline of information on beached sea life to detect threats and their impact. Many seabirds, including California brown pelicans, loons and grebes, starved to death in recent months as record-setting ocean temperatures decreased the band of...
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Prime Minister Carney commends nation’s courage, conviction, connection on Canada Day
By Dylan Robertson and Sarah Ritchie Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canadians have shown courage, conviction and connection over the past year in the face of a more dangerous and divided world, and urged unity as he spoke to a crowd in the nation’s capital on Canada Day. “The founding idea of Canada is simple: unity does not require uniformity,” he said in French. Carney said the country was formed on partnership and accommodation, rather than assimilation and domination. Prime Minister Mark Carney attended a Canada Day event in his own riding in a suburb of Ottawa, where he flipped pancakes and shook hands. Carney later spoke at the national event in Ottawa, and planned to end the day in his hometown of Edmonton. (July 1, 2026) He said Canadians...
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Extreme heat wave in Ontario leaves vulnerable people at risk
As much of Ontario sweltered through Canada Day, advocates warned that vulnerable populations are at the greatest risk from the extreme heat. Orange heat warnings blanketed Environment Canada’s weather map, stretching from Windsor to Toronto to Ottawa. Temperatures reached into the mid-30s in those areas. There were also heat warnings in place for northern Ontario, where places like Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins and Thunder Bay saw temperatures in the 30s, with humidex values near 40. Keith Hambly, CEO of Fred Victor, a Toronto-based organization that provides shelter, housing, and support services across the city, said it was important for all community members to support one another. Fred Victor has a “Keep Cool” outreach team that helps unhoused residents during heat waves. The team deploys whenever the city issues a heat...
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Seeking other partnerships is about opportunities, not relationship with Canada, Obed says
By Dominique Gené, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunatsiaq News Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed says his comments he made in June about Inuit seeking other partnerships were not focused on the Inuit relationship with Canada but on pursuing opportunities with partners who share their interests. “What we need are good partners, and we need great opportunities,” Obed, the head of the national voice for Inuit in Canada, told reporters in Kuujjuaq Tuesday. But during ITK’s June 19 Arctic Security Conference in Ottawa, Obed said Inuit should seek other partners if they’re not respected by the federal government. On Tuesday, following a meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney as well as with Inuit leaders in Kuujjuaq, Obed clarified those earlier remarks, while speaking to reporters. “We are proud Canadians. We...
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Haudenosaunee Confederacy says Six Nations Elected Council “crossing the line” audits publicly available
By Lynda Powless Editor A more than 100-year-old governing dispute at Six Nations has resurfaced, this time over who gets to collect development fees on lands claimed by Six Nations. The dispute arose after the Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) agreed to join a class-action, lawsuit launched by a local men’s group, against the Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI). The HDI is the development arm of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council (HCCC) the traditional governing body at Six Nations. SNEC is the elected band council created under the Indian Act in 1924 when the RCMP ousted the HCCC from governance. The “Men’s Fire’ lawsuit “seeks accountability for consultation and accommodation funds received by the HDI on behalf of the Six Nations community.” The suit charges “community members have a right to...
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Mississaugas of the Credit Business Corporation Partner With HOPA On Hamilton Biodiesel Facility
By Alex Murray Writer The Mississaugas of the Credit Business Corporation (MCBC) has acquired a 51 percent ownership in a project aimed at restarting a critical biodiesel production facility in Hamilton. MCBC, Treaty Rights Holders of the land, are partnering with Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA) Ports, on the project. The partnership was announced in a press release on June 26. The facility, which is located at Pier 14 in the Port of Hamilton, produced biodiesel from a mix of agricultural and waste-based feedstocks. It was set for permanent closure before HOPA and MCBC swooped in. The project will be operated by a new entity created by both partners: Biidaaban Renewable Energy (BRE). BRE has secured a long-term land lease and will take the lead on restarting and operating the facility,...
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Six Nations Fire celebrates those “Who Answered the Call” at awards ceremony
By Alex Murray Writer Sheltered inside Fire Station #1 on a rainy Thursday afternoon, past and present members of the Six Nations Fire Department (SNF) congregated to celebrate those who have “answered the call” with Recognition and Years of Service Awards. The ceremony also served as the latest recognition of the 60th anniversary SNF is celebrating this year. “60 years ago, the department was built by dedicated volunteers who answered the call to service for the community,” SNF Chief Michael Seth said in a speech. “They stopped everything in their personal life whenever an alarm sounded, and they laid the foundations for the department we know today.” Six Years of Service Awards were handed out during the ceremony, including one for 30 years at the department for Seth. Deputy Chief...
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Six Nations Fire Begins Summer Boat Rescue Training On the Grand River
By Alex Murray Writer Summer has arrived at Six Nations, and that means enjoying all the beloved Grand River has to offer and with the support of the Six Nations Fire Department (SNF), everyone can do so safely. SNF began their boat rescue training operations last week in anticipation of the increased river traffic. But also, just to hone their skills: they are a department that is always preparing for the worst “what ifs” on behalf of the rest of the community. “We always train for the what if right. That’s just our job. We do a lot of training that maybe we’ll never use,” Acting Captain Josh Cowling told Turtle Island News. “But it’s the what if, and we just think of our families out here on the water....
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Six Nations Elected Council from tobacco to finance policies
Six Nations Elected Chief Sherri-Lyn Hill told Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) Ontario’s Ministry of Finance and the Solicitor General are seeking input from interested communities on issues related to what they described as “contraband” tobacco, organized crime and community safety at the June 23 General Council meeting. Hill said the engagement opportunity was offered to her office on June 10 and will be discussed further at the community level. She said the first reading of Bill C-37, An Act Respecting Water, Source Water, Drinking Water, Wastewater and Related Infrastructure on First Nations Land, was tabled in the House of Commons on June 16. Hill said her office will review the legislation in greater detail in the coming weeks. “Early comments from various sources are reporting it’s a watered-down version,...
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Brantford Reconciliation session no show
By Alex Murray Writer There were posters and charts and lots of seats but only one person showed up for a recent Brantford engagement session aimed at learning how the city could improve their services to the public. The session was part of the City of Brantford’s “Walking Together: Community Engagement to Inform Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Initiatives” project. A Six Nations-based consulting firm, Fluid Consulting, organized the June 23 Ohsweken session for the City of Brantford’s Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Framework (IRRF). The firm’s owner, Tabitha Curley, said the low turnout may have been the result of a limited budget that only allowed for a social media post and direct emails. Or she said it may be simply that Indigenous people didn’t “necessarily see themselves in it.” “It is...
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Editorial: Haudenosaunee men…stand tall…
Sometimes, you just have to shake your head. This is one of those times. The Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) has decided to join with the local “Men’s Fire” group to take aim at the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council’s (HCCC) development arm, the Haudenosaunee Development Institute or HDI. SNEC made the decision and announced it at its general council session June 9th. Their lawsuit names the HDI, Aaron Detlor and Brian Doolittle and any and all the corporations the HDI may have received monies from on behalf of the HCCC. Elected Chief Sherri-lyn Hill made quite a grandstanding moment out of the announcement they were going to be legally taking on some community members in a lawsuit. And they are community members, every single one of them. If in fact...
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Today in History
June 28 In 2023, RoseAnne Archibald was voted out as national chief of the Assembly of First Nations. The vote to remove Archibald took place during a special chiefs assembly that was convened in part to address the implications of a human-resources investigation related to complaints filed against her. June 30 In 2011, Labrador’s Innu Nation voted in favour of a land and hydro deal crucial to a multi-billion-dollar Lower Churchill hydroelectric project. In 2021, B.C.’s Lower Kootenay Band said ground-penetrating radar found 182 human remains in unmarked graves close to a former residential school site. The Lower Kootenay Band said the community of aqam began using the technology last year and that some of the unmarked graves were as shallow as 90 centimetres. It was believed the remains are...
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Brantford General Hospital launching Indigenous Menu
By Alex Murray Reporter Chef Rick Powless believes adding Indigenous food to the patient menu at Brantford General Hospital (BGH) transports Indigenous people back to their homes and culture. “It reminds us of who we are. It takes us back home,” Powless said at the soft launch of BGH’s Indigenous additions to the hospital’s “Inspired Selections” patient-centric menu on June 24. “When they’re in a hospital and they’re eating this food, it’s that remembering of who they are. You remember, ‘My grandmother made it like this,’ or ‘That tastes like my dad’s food.’” Powless talked about how renowned Indigenous chef Bertha Skye’s reaction to hospital food in the final days of her life inspired him to find a solution. “I had a mentor who was in the hospital in her...
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