Six Nations man facing charges after woman killed in collision
A Six Nations man is facing charges after a Markham woman was killed in a two vehicle collision in Caledonia. Haldimand Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a two-vehicle collision Saturday, August 2, 2024, at about 3:50 p.m., on Argyle Street South in Caledonia. As a result of the collision, a 57-year-old Markham woman was killed in the accident and and four others were taken to surrounding hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. OPP said one driver fled the scene on foot and with the assistance of the West Region Emergency Response Team, West Region OPP Canine Unit and Six Nations Police, the driver was located a short time later and taken into custody without incident. The driver suffered minor injuries in the crash. Joshua Sandy, 26 of Six Nations of the...
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Briefly: Six Nations Elected Council takes on new program
Six Nations Ontario Works office plans to take over administration of the Ontario Disability Support Program. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) passed a motion to submit a letter of support for the Six Nations Ontario Works office to begin giving out ODSP as well as OW, after the office expressed interest in doing so at its General Council meeting on July 23. Nathan Wright, CEO, says it shouldn’t cost SNEC any more, as the provincial government should be transferring the funds they would normally distribute to the OW office. ODSP is commonly referred to as ‘disability benefits’ and it is run by the Ontario government’s Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. This program is generally for people with serious health problems. ODSP helps persons pay for living expenses, like...
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Robinson Huron trustees argue lawyer fees in court
By K Darbyson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter A dispute between Robinson Huron trustees over “excessive” lawyer fees made its way to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on Tuesday, attracting as many as 1,000 online viewers in the process. This public hearing was called after chiefs Craig Nootchtai (Atikameksheng Anishnawbek) and Karen Bell (Garden River First Nation) submitted a judicial review application over the $510 million that was set aside for their attorneys in the historic Robinson Huron Treaty settlement. While the applicants admit these lawyers “played an important role” in securing $10 billion from the provincial and federal governments (for not following the original terms of the 1850 treaty) they believe this $510 million legal bill is not “fair or reasonable.” Attorney Michael Rosenberg expanded upon this argument insisting...
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Alexander First Nation members now eligible for water advisory compensation
Local Journalism Initiative (ANNews) – Alexander First Nation has been newly added to a list of First Nations eligible for compensation for having a drinking water advisory that lasted at least a year from Nov. 20, 1995 to June 20, 2021. The advisory on the Alexander 134B reserve, a 3.4-hectare land 36 km northwest of Barrhead, lasted more than four years — from June 16, 2017 to June 20, 2021. Members of the newly added First Nations, which also include the Lower Similkameen Indian Band, Nee Tahi Buhn Indian Band and Skin Tyee First Nation in British Columbia, Dakota Plains Wahpeton Nation in Manitoba and Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation in Ontario, have until Sept. 17 to submit their compensation claims. To qualify for compensation, an applicant...
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Iroqrafts celebrated their 65th anniversary with corn soup, a storewide sale, and an expansion to their building
By Austin Evans Writer Nandell Hill bought Iroqrafts from her father Buck Spittal 30 years ago and moved it from its second location on Oneida Road to its current home on Tuscarora. “We expanded with a lot of the craft supplies and other products that my parents didn’t have when they owned it down on Oneida Road,” she said. “Now that we’re centrally located on the reserve here we get more business than when it was down on River Road.” Hill was proud that Iroqrafts had never taken government grants in its 65 years, operating solely off the strength of its business. One of the reasons Hill believed Iroqrafts had been so successful was its crew: her family. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my workers,” she said....
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Six Nations land claim is 29 years old
Six Nations needs to keep its eyes open on its now 28-year-old massive land rights case. A case Crown-Indigenous Relations has been worrying for years it may lose and along with that loss could come major negotiations over how much the community is entitled to. And those numbers have hit as high as $3 trillion. Imagine if you can what that could mean in legal fees? A prime example is now playing its way out in the courts. The Robinson Huron First Nation trustees are facing a huge $510 million legal bill from its lawyers. Two of the chiefs involved chiefs Craig Nootchtai (Atikameksheng Anishnawbek) and Karen Bell (Garden River First Nation) are seeking a judicial review over their lawyers application for fees in what became a $10 billion sentiment....
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Why are Canada’s parks so primed to burn?
By Drew Anderson and Matt Simmons Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Last week, the eyes of the world were on Jasper, Alta., as a fast-moving wildfire swept through the Rocky Mountain community, razing historic buildings, homes and businesses. Firefighters on the ground reported meeting walls of flames 100 metres high. More than one-third of the Jasper town site was destroyed, while approximately 325 square kilometres of the national park — close to three per cent — have been scorched to date. The town site is now secure, but the out-of-control Jasper wildfire is still burning through forests in the iconic park. As the Jasper disaster continues to unfold, many Canadians are pointing fingers, looking to blame a single source for what happened. Some say it was the mountain pine beetle, which...
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Rivermen split opening games of league final
By Sam Laskaris Writer The good news for the Six Nations Rivermen is that they are just two wins away from qualifying for their national championship tournament. The only team that is standing in the way of the Rivermen advancing to the Presidents Cup tourney is the Brooklin Merchants. But the Merchants also happen to be just a pair of victories of getting there themselves. The Rivermen and Merchants are in the midst of a best-of-five Ontario Senior Lacrosse (OSL) championship final series. They are currently tied at 1-1. The eventual series winner will not only earn provincial bragging rights but also move on to the Presidents Cup, also known as the Prezzy, to determine the top Senior B squad in the country. British Columbia’s Ladner Pioneers will host the...
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Chiefs advance to league final by sweeping Kodiaks
By Sam Laskaris Writer The Six Nations Chiefs are a step away from fulfilling one of their goals this season of hosting the Mann Cup. The eventual winner of the Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) title will host this year’s national Senior A championship in September. The MSL champs will square off against the winners of the British Columbia-based Western Lacrosse Association in a best-of-seven series to decide national bragging rights. The Chiefs, the defending Mann Cup champs, have yet to lose a game during the 2024 season. They advanced to the MSL championship final on Sunday thanks to an 12-9 triumph over the host Cobourg Kodiaks. That match was held at the Jack Burger Sports Complex in Port Hope, since the Kodiaks’ usual home, the Cobourg Community Centre was unavailable...
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SPORTS BRIEFS: First Nations man on Greater Toronto Hockey League board
By Sam Laskaris Writer First Nations man joins GTHL board A First Nations man will now be among those making important decisions for the world’s largest youth hockey league. Kevin Eshkawkogan, a member of M’Chigeeng First Nation on Manitoulin Island, has been elected to the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) Board of Directors. He will serve a three-year term. “It’s given a lot to me and I want to give back,” Eshkawkogan said of the sport. The appointment happened at the league’s annual general meeting staged in Toronto last month. The GTHL annually has about 40,000 registered players, making it the largest youth hockey circuit on the planet. Eshkawkogan is believed to be the first Indigenous person to serve on the GTHL’s board. “They’re genuinely and legitimately looking to learn...
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Treaty Day celebrations marked with cheque presentation
By Austin Campbell, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter SNnewswatch.com This regional First Nation is seeing big returns thanks to a partnership. North Star Air presented a revenue share cheque for $1 million to Eabametoong First Nation during the community’s Treaty Day celebrations on Aug. 1. Celebrations included a barbecue and presentation hosted by North Star Air. Chief Solomon Atlookan spoke with Dougall Media at the event and said this is the first time Eabametoong has seen such a large return on an investment and partnership with a regional company. “It’s something we really look at carefully – how we’re going to invest that money because we’re interested in partnering up with existing businesses. We have opportunities to do that now,” he said. In terms of what Eabametoong has planned for the...
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Centuries-old Pentlatch fish trap panel connects K’ómoks, Qualicum people to their ancestors
By Madeline Dunnett Local Journalism Initiative 06/08/2024 16:01 This Pentlatch fish trap panel is 550 years old and would have been part of a broader fishing system used by the ancestors of K’ómoks First Nation. Photo by Madeline Dunnett/The Discourse As a child, Pamela Mitchell recalls her father telling her about the ancient fish traps on the shoreline of K’ómoks territory, near her home. As she learned about the traps, which were used over generations by her ancestors, and their corresponding posts sticking out of the water, she recalls her dad telling her, “don’t touch! They are very old!” Mitchell is Säsitla, and her ancestors joined to become the K’ómoks First Nation alongside the Sahtloot, Ieeksun and Pentlatch Peoples. Mitchell is now the culture and language coordinator for K’ómoks First...
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Landslide shows power of Mother Nature, says chief as worries now turn to salmon run
Canadian Press 06/08/2024 15:14 A massive landslide sending a torrent of water carrying large trees and debris downstream shows the power of Mother Nature, says a British Columbia Indigenous leader who has deep concerns about the rushing water’s impact on critical salmon runs. Joe Alphonse, Tsilhqot’in National Government tribal chair, said Tuesday he’s “relieved” the dam created by last week’s landslide on the Chilcotin River broke and “we hope and pray that it’s not going to cause too much damage to property and people downstream from us.” British Columbia government officials, who are scheduled to provide an update on the situation later Tuesday, say there is a risk of more landslides and bank erosion as a large lake of water flows past a landslide that blocked the Chilcotin River for...
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TC Energy lobbyist called B.C. premier’s office one day after scathing pipeline inspection report
By Matt Simmons Local Journalism Initiative Reporter and Mike De Souza 06/08/2024 The phone call to the B.C. premier’s office came on a Saturday in May 2023, one day after a scathing inspection report detailed multiple environmental infractions along the route of a major gas pipeline under construction in the province. The report, issued by the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office, outlined damage to sensitive wetlands and other ecosystems on Wet’suwet’en territory in northwest B.C. It detailed howTC Energy allegedly failed to protect areas around its Coastal GasLink pipeline project from environmental impacts associated with construction and spring snowmelt. As a result, the assessment office said in its report that it would keep stop-work orders on pipeline construction in place, potentially triggering delays and driving up costs on a multibillion dollar...
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B.C. sees ‘significant amount of instability and bank failures’ after slide
The Canadian Press 06/08/2024 11:34 British Columbia officials say there is a risk of more landslides and bank erosion as a large lake of water and debris flows past a landslide that blocked the Chilcotin River for days. The latest provincial update says a “significant amount of instability and bank failures” have been observed along the Chilcotin River from the confluence of the Fraser River to the site of the massive landslide. Videos shared by the Tsilqot’in National Government show a small cabin, whole trees and chunks of the riverbank washing away in the fast-moving river. The provincial update says officials haven’t confirmed if the water flows that moved over the blockage on Monday have peaked, and it’s possible that there may be another surge as the water moves through...
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Chief says Treaty Three Police Service is committed to ‘being culturally responsive’
By Mike Stimpson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter KENORA — Treaty Three Police Service is committed to addressing the concerns of First Nations that have complaints about the quality of policing, Chief Cheryl Gervais said Tuesday. Gervais, who became chief of police last November, was speaking in particular to concerns raised by the chiefs and councils of Grassy Narrows First Nation and Wabaseemoong Independent Nations. “Treaty Three Police Service was really created to deliver culturally responsive service to our communities,” she told NWONewswatch. “I acknowledge the concerns that are brought forward by those leaders, and at the end of the day, we take these concerns very seriously. “We are committed to working with them on addressing these concerns and staying true to our mandate of being culturally responsive.” Gervais added that...
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New pilot training program launched in Saskatchewan
By Sam Laskaris Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Windspeaker.com The Saskatchewan government is investing more than $1 million into a new program that will help train Indigenous pilots in the province. Details of the initiative, called the Dziret’ái Pilot Training Program, were announced in the northern Saskatchewan hamlet of Stony Rapids on Aug. 1. A total of 10 applicants will be chosen to enter the professional pilot training program, which will start this coming January. Students who complete all requirements in the two-year program will be offered jobs as First Officers, allowing them to navigate and operate flights, with Rise Air. Rise Air is a First Nations owned airline that has its headquarters in Saskatoon. Rosalie Tsannie-Burseth, a Rise Air director, is rather excited with the new project. “Together we created...
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‘We have our answers’: Body of missing woman found in Saskatoon landfill
The Canadian Press 06/08/2024 Saskatoon police announced Tuesday they had found the remains of a missing woman in a city landfill three months after their search began. Police, dozens of searchers and a forensic anthropologist began combing through trash at the site in May in an attempt to find Mackenzie Lee Trottier. The 22-year-old Métis woman was last seen in December 2020. Paul Trottier told a news conference it had been a long and difficult time trying to find out what happened to his daughter. The 93 days police spent searching the landfill were particularly tough, he said. “Today, we have our answers. Mackenzie is home,” he said. Trottier thanked police and Métis and Indigenous groups for their support. “Our (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women) family, victim services … and...
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Disaster threat from B.C. landslide’s river waters decreases, says emergency minister
The Canadian Press 06/08/2024 19:30 A “grateful” emergency management minister says the threat of a flood disaster along British Columbia’s Chilcotin and Fraser rivers appears to have been averted when a massive lake drained overtop of a landslide. Bowinn Ma said high waters similar to spring runoff conditions are being observed downstream along the Chilcotin and Fraser rivers, but dangers still exist from the powerful current carrying trees and other debris. while carving away large sections of landscape. “The risk of a worst-case scenario has drastically decreased, but we are not in the clear yet,” she said Tuesday at a news conference. “I am extremely grateful the worst-case scenario did not come to be.” The landslide last week at Farwell Canyon located about 22 kilometres south of Williams Lake dammed...
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