Closed Six Nations Public Library Celebrates 60th Birthday As Efforts To Reopen Get Underway
By Alex Murray Writer Not even the rain could dampen the spirits of Six Nations Public Library (SNPL) staff. Gathered outside the now closed library manager Feather Maracle and her staff marked the 60th anniversary of the SNPL March 3. The birthday celebration was held on the back parking lot of the Chiefswood Road library rather than inside after Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) abruptly closed the building citing safety reasons February 13, 2026. Despite that surprising development, Maracle went ahead with the celebration attracting community members with complimentary cake while answering questions about the sudden closure. While Maracle shares itheir frustration she’s also focused on SNPL still offering a variety of services to the community while the building is closed. “The library isn’t a building. The library is so...
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Don’t hold your breath!
While the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation may have just resolved another land claim, it can’t help but highlight Six Nations massive outstanding claims that are still, well…outstanding. And no one at Six Nations should think it will be settled anytime soon, The Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation two resolved claims are small in comparison to Six Nations 950,000-acre Haldimand Tract. The Haldimand Tract was granted to the Six Nations in 1784, at a time of infringement on lands stretching from the north all the way to Lake Erie. A piece of land that includes cities like Brantford and Kitchner among others. A piece of land that of which the community today holds less than 5% of the total 950,000 acres. Six Nations land rights offices have been...
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Today in History
March 8 In 2013, the Metis won a landmark case as the Supreme Court of Canada ruled the federal government failed to live up to its constitutional obligations in handing out land to children of the Manitoba Metis in the 1870s. It opened the door for the Metis to negotiate a claim to vast tracts of land in the province, including all of present-day Winnipeg. In 2019, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shed tears as he apologized for the way Inuit in northern Canada were treated for tuberculosis in the mid-20th century, calling it colonial and misguided. Trudeau delivered an apology to the Inuit on behalf of the federal government — words that prompted many in the room to openly weep. Trudeau acknowledged that many people with TB died after being...
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“Strengthening Pathways for Indigenous Learners”: Mississaugas of the Credit, York University sign new MOU
By Alex Murray Writer It just got a lot easier for Indigenous people from the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN) looking to get a post-secondary education. The MCFN recently signed a wide-ranging Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with York University that will help with that. The MOU, which is a formal but usually non-binding document, aims to strengthen ties between the MCFN and York University by “working collaboratively in the spirit of reciprocity,” according to the official press release. The most important aspect of this MOU and the partnership between York and the MCFN is the benefits it will bring for First Nations in the educational system. Eligible MCFN members registered for undergraduate programs at York will receive a tuition waiver as part of the collaboration. “The Mississaugas of...
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Local squads preparing for annual Little NHL tournament
By Sam Laskaris Writer Six Nations will once again be well represented at the province’s largest First Nations youth hockey tournament. About 20 Six Nations squads will be participating in this year’s Little Native Hockey League tournament, which begins on Sunday. The event, which is often simply called the Little NHL, will continue until Mar. 19. The majority of tournament games will be staged at rinks in Markham. But arenas in several other neighbouring communities will also be utilized. A record-breaking total of 271 clubs will participate at this year’s tournament, in various girls’ and boys’ divisions. This year’s number of entrants surpasses the previous high of 270 clubs, set at the 2025 event, also primarily staged in Markham. The Little NHL is traditionally held during Ontario’s March Break, allowing...
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Snipers down Express twice to advance to ALL playoffs
By Sam Laskaris Writer Things didn’t look too promising for the Six Nations Snipers as they were heading into their two latest Arena Lacrosse League (ALL) games. The Snipers, who had won just four of their first 11 regular season contests, could have potentially had their post-season aspirations dashed if they were to suffer back-to-back losses against the Brampton Express. The Brampton club had won nine of its first 11 matches and had already secured a bye in the opening round of the ALL playoffs. Thus, it was a bit of a surprise to see the Snipers knock off the Express twice in less than 48 hours. For starters, Six Nations edged the Express 15-14 in overtime in a game in Brampton on Friday night. The Snipers then thumped Brampton...
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SPORTS BRIEFS: Trades and working to Mann Cup title
By Sam Laskaris, Writer The Six Nations Chiefs are not resting on their laurels. The Chiefs, the three-time defending national Mann Cup champions, would undoubtedly love to capture a fourth straight Canadian title this September. And the brass of the Six Nations club is rather busy trying to improve the club’s already potent roster. The Chiefs, who do not begin their 2026 Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) season until May, completed a pair of off-season deals this past week, acquiring some big-name talent. For starters, Six Nations picked up the playing rights for a huge offensive threat in Andrew Kew from the Oakville Rock. In return the Chiefs gave Oakville their first-round picks in the 2029 and 2030 MSL drafts. The Rock will also receive future financial considerations. Kew, an Oakville...
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Grand River flood warnings and alerts issued
Grand River floods hit cabins at Chiefswood Park (Photos by Jim C. Powless) By Alex Murray Writer SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND RIVER- Road warning signs went up, small cabins at Chiefswood Park were flooded out and fields filled with water after melting ice pushed the Grand River over its banks Tuesday (March 10, 2026). The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) issued flood warnings and a flood watch alert to Six Nations and the City of Cambridge warning the public to use extreme caution around local waterways and keep children and pets away from the waterways. Six Nations Police (SNP) said no road closures were in affect and flooding had not impacted traffic Tuesday (March 10). SNP also said the areas most vulnerable to flooding this time of year are...
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Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston apologizes and reverses some budget cuts amid outcry
By Lyndsay Armstrong Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston says weeks of pointed feedback forced him to recognize his government made some mistakes when it announced $130 million in cuts in his government’s last budget. The premier apologized Tuesday, as he reversed some of those cuts, restoring about $54 million in spending on programs for people with disabilities and seniors, and for African Nova Scotian and Indigenous students. The unusual and stunning reversal comes just over two weeks after Houston’s government tabled its budget. But the premier explained it was necessary because he could no longer live with the plan to slash funding for vulnerable Nova Scotians. “Many people told us that they were worried about certain parts of the budget, and I want to start by saying on some of...
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Ottawa drops TikTok ban, will now let platform stay in Canada with conditions
By Jim Bronskill Ottawa says it will allow TikTok to continue operating in Canada now that it has more security guarantees from the social media company to protect Canadians’ data. The federal government banned TikTok from operating and maintaining a physical presence in Canada in 2024. Ottawa recently asked the Federal Court to set aside that order to permit another review. Privacy and safety concerns have been raised about TikTok and its China-based parent company ByteDance Ltd. because of Chinese national security laws that compel organizations in that country to assist with intelligence gathering. The decision to set aside the shutdown order came shortly after Prime Minister Mark Carney visited China and secured a deal to get Beijing to lower agricultural tariffs in exchange for new market access for Chinese...
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Police watchdog clears officers in 2023 death, recommends use of force review
By Brittany Hobson Manitoba’s police watchdog is not recommending charges against two officers who punched a suspect dozens of times in the head and body during an arrest that was captured on video by witnesses. But it is urging Winnipeg police make changes to its use of force policy after the man died while in custody. A probe by the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba found that police were called to the West Broadway neighbourhood on Oct. 15, 2023, after responding to calls that an intoxicated man had wandered into traffic and was trying to get into several vehicles. The report, released on Tuesday, said the video evidence collected from witnesses and nearby businesses shows the man tried to get into a cruisier once officers arrived on the scene. Police...
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Tsleil-Waututh Nation artist designs Vancouver Canucks First Nations Celebration logo
By Abby Luciano, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, North Shore News Ocean Hyland remembers her first hockey game well. Hyland was seven years old when her uncle brought her and her sister to Rogers Arena to see the Vancouver Canucks play. He bought them one jersey and they took turns wearing it. She remembers a blimp floating around the arena, and staff firing T-shirts into the crowd. “I remember we so badly wanted to catch a T-shirt,” said Hyland. “We were eating cotton candy and I remember it was so much fun. It was something that we got to go and do with our uncle and watch the game.” Hockey was part of family life for Hyland, she said. Her dad would often have NHL games playing on the TV, sometimes...
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Nunavut MP Idlout join Liberals, Carney edges closer to majority
The NDP says Nunavut MP Lori Idlout has crossed the floor to join the Liberals, pushing Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government closer to a majority. Idlout’s move follows defections to the Liberals by three Conservatives in recent months. An early-morning statement from Idhout and the Liberal Party cited Arctic sovereignty, the rights and aspirations of Indigenous peoples, and climate change as reasons for the move. Idhout says, “That is why after much personal reflection and encouragement from my community, family, and supporters, I have decided to join the government caucus and to work alongside Prime Minister Mark Carney to build the better future that Nunavummiut are counting on.” Kirt Ejesiak, the director of the Liberal Party of Canada in Nunavut, described Idlout as a tireless champion for the territory, adding...
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The future of mining projects must overcome the past before gaining First Nations support
By Sam Laskaris, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Windspeaker.com More than two decades have passed since Giant Mine, a gold mine located just a few kilometres north of Yellowknife, ceased operations, but for the nearby Yellowknives Dene First Nation its memory is fresh. The mine, which operated from 1948 to 2004, had a dark and destructive history that left lasting social, cultural and environmental impacts in the region, said Matthew Spence, CEO of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation. He spoke at the recent Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) conference held in Toronto. The session was titled “Building social license: A role in community-led mining education.” Spence said some Yellowknives Dene remain distrustful of future mining operations in the area, and this lack of trust makes it challenging for new...
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First Nations leaders unveil items repatriated from the Vatican at History Museum
By Alessia Passafiume First Nations leaders unveiled today five items repatriated to their communities after being at the Vatican for more than a century, and unboxed another two crates of items with origins that have yet to be determined. Among the items include a birch bark sap collector from Akwesasne, leather embroidered gloves from Athabasca Chipewyan, a wooden bowl and spoon from Manitoulin Island and a model cradle board from somewhere in Ontario. Other items, unboxed in a private ceremony, include a bow and arrow, a loom, a child-sized jacket and an adult-sized dress, alongside several pairs of moccasins. Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak says the repatriation is emotional, and represents years of work from First Nations leaders who advocated for their return from the Vatican....
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Looming Ontario storm raises risks of flood and widespread power outages
By Jordan Omstead The risk of flooding and widespread power outages loomed over Ontario on Tuesday with major rainfall and freezing rain set to batter a wide swath of the province. Much of the province was under yellow and orange weather warnings with the storm expected to hit Tuesday night through Wednesday. Eastern Ontario could be among the hardest-hit regions with some areas expected to endure 24 hours of potent freezing rain, Environment Canada said. Widespread utility outages were possible as up to 20 millimetres of ice buildup was expected to test the resilience of trees and power lines. The forecast looked similar to the major 2023 ice storm that knocked out power to tens of thousands in eastern Ontario, said warning preparedness meteorologist Eric Tomlinson. “This seems to be...
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First Nations leaders unveil more items repatriated from the Vatican
By Alessia Passafiume First Nations leaders on Tuesday unveiled five items repatriated to their communities after being held at the Vatican for more than a century. They also unboxed another two crates of items with origins that have yet to be determined. The returned items include a birch bark sap collector from Akwesasne, embroidered leather gloves from Athabasca Chipewyan, a wooden bowl and spoon from Manitoulin Island and a model cradle board from somewhere in Ontario. The items that have not yet been traced back to their communities of origin — which were unboxed in a private ceremony on Tuesday — include a bow and arrow, a loom, a child-sized jacket, an adult-sized dress and several pairs of moccasins. Katisha Paul, the women’s representative for the Union of B.C. Indian...
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CEO of friendship centre association emphasizes its important work as funding constraints loom
By Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Windspeaker.com As Jennifer Rankin steps into the role of chief executive officer of the National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC), the organization is facing uncertainty about its long-term funding. With no mention of the country’s more than 100 friendship centres in November’s federal budget, the NAFC is concerned that urban Indigenous people will be left behind. While the NAFC’s core funding has come from the Urban Programming for Indigenous Peoples (UPIP) since 2017, this federal program sunsets in 2026 and nothing has been formally committed after the fiscal year ending March 31. Although Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty has promised stability and continuity of services, the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC) has said its bracing for federal support to be less...
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Information commissioner ‘disappointed’ by lack of federal ambition on access reform
By Jim Bronskill The federal information watchdog says she’s surprised that government proposals for updating the Access to Information Act avoid “the most pressing issue” dogging the system — unacceptable delays in answering requests. Information commissioner Caroline Maynard says most of the complaints her office receives relate to the failure of federal departments and agencies to respond to applications for documents within legislated timelines. The access law allows people to request files such as memos, reports and internal emails from federal agencies. Organizations are supposed to respond to an access request within 30 days, or provide reasons why more time is needed. Many users complain of lengthy delays and exemptions in the law that keep many federal records under wraps. Exceptions related to national security, legal advice, ongoing investigations, advice...
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Expanded Immunization Effort Targets Hepatitis A Clusters
By Steven Sukkau, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Winnipeg Sun Manitoba is reporting additional cases of hepatitis A linked to an ongoing provincial outbreak, as health officials expand vaccine eligibility and urge residents to remain vigilant. As of Feb. 2, 2026, there have been 350 locally acquired cases of hepatitis A associated with the outbreak, according to provincial public health. Earlier figures showed 308 cases as of Jan. 18, with more than three-quarters diagnosed in the Northern Health Region. The largest number of cases have been reported in the Island Lake area, including Garden Hill, St. Theresa Point, Wasagamack and Red Sucker Lake. A cluster has also been identified in Peguis First Nation. In recent weeks, public health has reported increasing cases among people experiencing homelessness, particularly those using shelters in...
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