Six Nations Fire services signs onto Mutual Aid agreement
The Six Nations Fire Services can now coordinate large scale mutual aid responses within the region. Six Nations Elected Council passed a motion to renew Six Nations Fire Services Mutual Aid agreement with Brantford, County of Brant, Haldimand-Norfolk County and Hamilton at its General Council meeting on June 25. Acting Fire Chief Michael Seth told SNEC the agreement is only used when Six Nations or another close fire service requires assistance to handle an emergency. Previously under the Ontario Mutual Aid agreement non-municipal participants were not able to coordinate mutual aid situations, a category which Six Nations falls under. The province has since updated its legislation which allows non-municipal participants to coordinate the program. “Now the province is allowing coordinators regionally, in the past that wasn’t a possibility,” he said....
Register
Six Nations Elected Council wants community name off federal electoral district name
Six Nations will not support having its name added to the federal electoral district. Six Nations Elected Council unanimously opposed having the federal electoral district name changed to Brantford-Brant South-Six Nations at its General Council meeting on June 25 due to concerns of what the change could mean in the future. Councillor Melba Thomas was concerned the name change may impact the future of Six Nations land claims. “We can still vote. Why would we want our names connected to Brantford in that respect? I don’t understand. There may be repercussions in future with our land claims,” she said. Christopher Mahon, Six Nations political advisor told SNEC every 10 years the federal government reevaluates its electoral districts across Canada to make sure they are representative of current populations. “The process...
Register
Chiefswood Park…SNEC just dug up the site….why?
Oops! It looks like, once again, Elected Chief Sherri-Lyn Hill’s “council.l” for want of a better word…goofed. By that we mean a member of her council, with or without her knowledge, made the decision to clear the lands on a National Historic Site here at Six Nations… Chiefswood, the home of poetess Pauline Johnson, without consulting the community or for that matter other council members. Why, or how that could happen without anyone’s knowledge is just as astounding as any member of council thinking they could act without permission from the entire council. Now we know there was no approval for the work that went through any open council session. No council motion approved and no information sent out to the community about why the grounds were disturbed. Grounds, by...
Register
Weekly Cartoon
...
Register
Six Nations own Brandon Montour $50 million man is moving on!
By Sam Laskaris Writer Six Nations’ hockey hero is on the move. Exactly one week after winning the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers, local hockey product Brandon Montour inked a contract with the Seattle Kraken. Montour, a 30-year-old defenceman, signed a seven-year deal with the Kraken worth $50 million (U.S.). Montour was an unrestricted free agent and was thus eligible to sign with any National Hockey League squad of his choosing. Seattle general manager Ron Francis was rather pleased the Kraken was able to land Montour, who was one of the most appealing free agents available this off-season. “Brandon is a proven winner,” Francis said. “We are thrilled to have him joining our organization. We’re looking forward to him making his Kraken debut in front of the best fans...
Register
Indigenous players drafted by NHL squads
By Sam Laskaris Writer An Indigenous player has won the Stanley Cup in each of the past two years. And there’s a chance that trend might continue in the coming season. That’s because four Indigenous players were selected in the 2024 National Hockey League’s Entry Draft, held this past Friday and Saturday in Las Vegas. Vegas Golden Knights’ defenceman Zach Whitecloud hoisted the Stanley Cup last year. And Six Nations member Brandon Montour and his Florida Panthers’ teammates captured the Cup this year. As for this year’s draft, Cayden Lindstrom, a member of Driftpile Cree Nation in Alberta, was selected in the first round, fourth over-all, by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Lindstrom spent the past two seasons with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The second...
Register
Former NAIG president to be inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame
One of the pioneers of the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) is part of the 2024 class for Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. Alex Nelson, a member of Musgamaqw-Dzawada’enuxw First Nation in British Columbia, will enter the hall via the Builder category. Induction ceremonies will be held on Oct. 23 in Gatineau, Que.Nelson, who is now 77 and lives in Victoria, was the first chairperson for the NAIG, which were first held in 1990 in Edmonton. He served three terms as the NAIG president. And he was also the executive director of the 1997 Games, which were staged in Victoria, where he has lived for the past 50 years. Nelson also served as the Team BC chef de mission at the NAIG twice. “I thank the Creator for this nomination,”...
Register
Six Nations members included in list of Indigenous coaching grant recipients
By Sam Laskaris Writer More than 50 individuals, including a half dozen who were bench bosses for Six Nations teams, are among the latest recipients of the Indigenous Hockey Coaching Grant. Hydro One and the Coaches Association of Ontario (CAO) have once again joined forces to provide the funding for the grants. This marked the second year of the funding program. A total of 51 recipients from across the province were recently announced as 2024 grant recipients. They received up to a maximum of $1,500 each in funding this year to help cover their expenses for things including equipment, travel and training. This year’s grant recipients are from 34 different Indigenous communities throughout the province. The grants help to promote inclusivity in sports. And they also help to break diversity...
Register
Final board meeting for rural Manitoba school division results in more chaos, dysfunction
By Dave Baxter Local Journalism Initiative reporter The final board meeting of the school year saw a continuation of the chaos and dysfunction that has embroiled one rural Manitoba school division since a trustee presentation earlier this year set off alarm bells, and prompted the province to step in with a full governance review. During the Dauphin-based Mountain View School Division (MVSD) board meeting last Monday, a resolution was brought forward by trustee John Taylor, and seconded by trustee Paul Coffey to make changes to the agenda that would allow deputy education minister Brian O’Leary to address the board at the meeting and take questions from trustees, regarding an ongoing provincial review of the board. But it took almost 15 minutes to get the four votes needed from the division’s...
Register
Tapping into a legacy
By Darrell Greer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The Kivalliq Inuit Association (KIA) is taking its show on the road to take the next step in loosening the purse strings to the regional Inuit association’s $116-million Legacy Fund. The Legacy Fund is an account that was set up from revenue the KIA receives from resource extractions that would go towards programming throughout the Kivalliq region. The fund receives royalties from Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM), as well as monetary boosts from Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., Ukkusiksalik National Park near Naujaat, any dividends Sakku Investments may have and a certain fund amount from any penalties AEM may incur from not meeting its Inuit employment targets. KIA chief operating officer Gabe Karlik said the bylaw governing the fund has to be adjusted and, in order...
Register
Blood Tribe looking to identify children who went missing from residential schools
BY ALEXANDRA NOAD LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER The Blood Tribe is asking for assistance from residential school survivors as it embarks on an endeavour to identify children who may have gone missing or died while attending residential school on the reserve as well as at two off-reserve locations. The Blood Tribe says they are collecting information from tribe children who were taken to St. Mary’s Residential School, St. Paul’s Residential School, St. Joseph’s Industrial School and St. Dunstan’s Industrial School. They will record testimonials to not only identify the missing children, but also support ground search efforts for any unmarked burials. The IRS Missing Children and Burial Sites Projects has four components: Archival Research, Community Research, Site Work and Commemoration. The Blood Tribe will host community meetings to provide more...
Register
Newfoundland and Labrador fishers say commercial cod fishery should not reopen
Exactly 32 years after the federal government imposed a moratorium on Newfoundland and Labrador’s commercial cod fishery, harvesters in the province demanded on Tuesday that Ottawa reinstate it. Greg Pretty, president of the 14,000-member union representing inshore fishers, says the northern cod stocks have not recovered enough to be fished again by what he calls “offshore draggers.” “That’s a disaster, that’s an absolute disaster,” Pretty said during a news conference in St. John’s, N.L., adding: “There will be petitions and there will be demonstrations until we get this thing right.” The federal Fisheries Department announced last week that it would end the moratorium and reinstate a commercial cod fishery, calling the decision “a historic milestone for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.” The 2024 season would have a total allowable Canadian catch of...
Register
First cohort of community-based education students graduate
By Patrick Quinn Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Teaching the Teachers First cohort of community-based education students graduate by Patrick Quinn Cree graduates of the first full-time in-community teaching program in Eeyou Istchee recently celebrated their convocation at Montreal’s Bell Centre, the result of a fruitful collaboration between the Cree School Board (CSB) and McGill University. While this partnership with McGill’s Office of First Nations and Inuit Education (OFNIE) goes back over 40 years, the first full-time Bachelor of Education program for Kindergarten and Elementary Education was launched in 2020. It’s the same four-year program that is offered on campus except it is entirely community-based, primarily in Chisasibi, Waskaganish and Mistissini. Without having to uproot their families to adapt to the significant challenges of studying in the city, students benefit from...
Register
Vigil held for man slain in Anicinabe Park
By Mike Stimpson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter KENORA – The City of Kenora sent representation to Tuesday’s vigil for Bruce Frogg at Anicinabe Park, but the city’s Indigenous relations adviser cautioned that now’s not the time to stand on a soapbox. A vigil for the Wawakapewin First Nation man who police fatally shot in the park last week began at 2 p.m. “The reason why I’m attending is because Mr. Bruce Frogg was an individual from a First Nation and the man was seriously in distress,” said Ed Mandamin, the city’s Indigenous relations adviser since June 3. “We want to go and commemorate his passing as a tragedy that shouldn’t have happened,” Mandamin continued. “A lot of people that I’ve been talking to – and that’s Indigenous and non-Indigenous –...
Register
Four Fort Smith governments commit to collaboration under new deal
By Tom Taylor Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Four Fort Smith local governments have committed to working together to improve the lives of constituents. The governments in question — Salt River First Nation, Smith’s Landing First Nation, Fort Smith Métis Council and the Town of Fort Smith — made it official by signing a memorandum of agreement on June 21. Jay Macdonald, the MLA for Thebacha, also put pen to paper. The deal, called a Collaborative Leadership Initiative (CLI), was facilitated by the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER), an organization operating out of Winnipeg. Former Thebacha MLA, GNWT minister, and longtime Fort Smith resident J. Michael Miltenberger, who now works with CIER, served as the lead for the project. “We’ve been working on this for the last three years...
Register
Indigenous creators tell their stories on TikTok
By Jeremy Appel Local Journalism Initiative Reporter There aren’t many other Inuit people where Braden Kadlun resides. He moved to Calgary a couple years ago looking for a “fresh start” with his partner, whom he met after a stint in rehab on Eskasoni, a Mi’kmaq reserve near Cape Breton, N.S., to address an addiction to alcohol and stimulants. Now he’s able to embrace his Inuit culture and share his recovery journey with a large international audience on TikTok while he completes his undergraduate degree in philosophy at the University of Calgary, joining a growing number of young Indigenous TikTok creators. “I come from a small community of under 3,000 and I grew up in a community of 20,000, so reaching 200,000 [views] is mind boggling. And just having their support...
Register
Red Fever : Final chapter of film trilogy shows how Indigenous peoples influenced world culture
By Patrick Quinn Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Red Fever, the newest documentary from Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond and co-director Catherine Bainbridge, explores the roots of cultural appropriation to reveal the profound influence of Indigenous cultures on the world’s fashion, sports, arts and even politics. Following the award-winning Reel Injun’s analysis of Hollywood stereotypes and Rumble’s look at Indigenous voices in music, this final act of the trilogy opened in theatres June 14 after a triumphant premiere at Toronto’s Hot Docs festival in May. “The film evolved over a long time,” Diamond told the Nation. “It was going to be about cultural appropriation, then the Covid pandemic hit, and it evolved into the influence of Native Americans on world culture. People have a very distorted view of Native people.”With the Black...
Register
Manitoba murder conviction deemed likely a miscarriage of justice by federal minister
The Canadian Press 02/07/2024 A Manitoba man convicted of murder 50 years ago is getting another court date and a chance to clear his name. Clarence Woodhouse was found guilty in 1974 of fatally beating and stabbing a restaurant worker in downtown Winnipeg. Woodhouse was granted parole in 1983 and filed last year for a ministerial review of his conviction. His lawyers have said a confession Woodhouse supposedly made was in fluent English, although he primarily spoke Saulteaux. Federal Justice Minister Arif Virani says there are reasonable grounds to conclude that a miscarriage of justice likely occurred. Two other men convicted in the killing, Brian Anderson and Allan Woodhouse, had their convictions quashed last year after a new trial was ordered and the Crown asked for an acquittal. “The minister’s...
Register
Charles Weaselhead named to Order of Canada
Former University of Lethbridge chancellor Charles Weaselhead has been appointed to the Order of Canada. Weaselhead served as chancellor for fouryears from 2019-2023. He says he was honoured to be appointed to the Order of Canada. “It’s quite an honour to be a recipient and chosen for the membership of the Order of Canada and the work that I do, I really enjoy doing the work,” said Weaselhead. Weaselhead has dedicated his life to help his people heal from the trauma of residential schools, which he is a survivor of himself. “My long standing has been very dedicated to helping improve the quality of life for not only the Indigenous communities that I worked with directly, but throughout the country,” said Weaselhead. Weaselhead has also served as the Blood Tribe...
Register
Seneca Nation files notice of claim against city of Olean over untreated sewage in Allegany River
ALLEGANY TERRITORY, SALAMANCA, N.Y. – After more than five years of frustration the Seneca Nation has filed a Notice of Suit against the city of Olean saying it was “frustrated by continued dangerous overflows from the City of Olean Wastewater Treatment Plant into the Allegheny River.” The Seneca Nation filed the Notice Monday. “The river, which we call Ohi:yo’, has been under decades of attack in the form of the continued, dangerous, and unlawful discharges from the Olean Wastewater Treatment Plant,” said Seneca Nation President Rickey Armstrong, Sr. “The health and safety of Ohi:yo’ and the many people who utilize and depend upon its waters, including the Seneca people and many of our neighbors, must be prioritized and protected.” The Notice of Claim preserves the Nation’s right to initiate a...
Register
