Six Nations prepares for North American solar eclipse
Six Nations is preparing for the solar eclipse on many fronts for community members and visitors. Nathan Wright, Six Nations Elected Council’s (SNEC) CEO gave a report to council at its General Council meeting on March 26 outlining its preparations ahead of the solar eclipse that will take place on April 8 in the afternoon from about 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Six Nations Fire Chief Michael Seth called a meeting of the ECG Team to discuss potential issues the nation may see on the territory during the eclipse, including increased traffic. “We’ve been monitoring news reports coming out about the solar eclipse with Hamitlon, Niagara and Six Nations being identified as premiere viewing places,” Wright said. They have informed Six Nations police who will be patrolling the roads to...
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Haudenosaunee gather to mark North American solar eclipse
By Lisa Iesse Writer Momentum is building again throughout the Haudenosauee Confederacy territories as a “monumental” total solar eclipse rematriates a path of “restoration” “reconnection” and “rebirth” on April 8. “It’s passing over every single one of our Haudenosaunee Nations.It’s a pretty important time for all of us, for renewing those important commitments to each other and also in this time of conflict around the world,” Dawn Iehstoseranónnha told the Turtle Island News. Iehstoseranon:nha is a Feather Keeper/Protector and artist who practices bird medicines. She is Akwesasronon, Wakhskaré:wake (Bear Clan). “I think it’s just really monumental for us to be standing together at this time and calling for peace again,” she said . Along with Samantha Doxtator, an Oneida astronomer and Kelly Back, an Akwesasne Mohawk artist and traditional practitioner,...
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Make safety a priority watching or photographing eclipse
By Lisa Iesse Writer Astronomers warn stargazers to protect their eyes (and iphones) when looking directly at the sky during the solar eclipse on April 8. The projected pathway including times and locations of the total solar eclipse on April 8, can be viewed on virtual maps posted on NASA’s website https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5123/ The eclipse is projected to begin at about 2 pm EST in Six Nations, coming from the southwest and will move northeast across Turtle Island towards the east coast. Astronomers say the partial phases of the eclipse (which happens before and after the total eclipse) is when it’s most dangerous to look directly at the sun. Looking at the sun before and after “totality” (the moment when the moon totally covers the sun) can cause retinal burns, permanently...
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Six Nations Fall Fair seeking $120,000 in funding from SNEC
The Six Nations Fall Fair is looking for financial support from Six Nations Elected Council to improve the fall fair for its 155th year. Leslie McDougall, president of the fair board, told Six Nations Elected Council they’re looking for $120,000 for the fair’s annual budget at the General Council meeting on March 26. “To run a successful event we need assistance covering costs,” she said. “any monetary support we can get… Last year it was a little bigger and better and we’re hoping to make it bigger again this year.” This year the fair is scheduled to run September 6-8 and include a kid’s day, concerts, wrestling, a demolition derby, midway, trade show, horse show, raptor show, competitions with prizes and much more. The fair board’s largest costs include the...
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Six Nations Elected Council structure change complicated
Six months after being elected Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) members are being assigned political portfolios and committees to help them advocate for certain issues, but it’s a rocky start. It’s the longest period of time in three decades that SNEC councillors have taken to organize portfolios and committees. SNEC is hoping to give the many departments seeking political advocacy a clearer direction as to who will advocate for the different issues, but some councillors are confused about the structure and process. Councillor Helen Miller told a Political Liaison Committee meeting on March 25 she didn’t know who was responsible for what. “This is where I’m running into difficulty with the new organization,” she said. “We (CAP Team) met last week and Lonny (Bomberry)’s staff and everybody went over all...
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Six Nations supporting new national park in Guelph
Six Nations will support a National Urban Park in Guelph. Six Nations Elected Council approved a motion to write a letter of support for the advocacy group, Urban Park Guelph’s mission to have the former Reformatory Lands designated a National Urban Park at its Political Liaison meeting on March 25. Councillor Amos Keye’s suggestion to add a clause to the motion that the support for the park is conditional on Six Nations receiving recognition as the land location falls within the Haldimand Tract. “This park is on the historical lands of the Six Nations of the Grand River,” he said. Councillor Helen Miller said she attended a meeting with the Consultation and Accommodation Process Team and they would ensure there was a plaque if the park comes to fruition. The...
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Six Nations to review pandemic response
Six Nations wants to know the good, the bad and the ugly about its response to the pandemic. Zach Miller, Executive Director of Planning, Performance and Evaluation and Debra Johnathan, a former nurse-in-charge of Gane Yohs Health Centre presented their plan to evaluate Six Nations Elected Council’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “On April 1, 2024, next month SNEC will commemorate four years since its response to COVID-19 ushered in a period of adaptation in the community,” he said. The SNEC executive team asked Miller to comprehensively review the crisis response and they hope to identify methods of improvement. The team includes Miller, Jonathan, Sara Curley-Smith, epidemiologist, Maggie Galant, and Jenniefer Smith. Miller said they were chosen because they were all involved in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic or...
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Doomsday, the world’s end …or just child like wonder!
Okay, everyone is catching the North American solar eclipse fever and with good reason. For many of us the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse will be last opportunity to see a full eclipse. The eclipse will be visible in parts of the U.S., Mexico and Canada and North America won’t see this solar phenomenon again until 2044. What it translates into is on April 8 because of our position in the eclipse path there will thousands making trips to favourite spots to don the funky glasses and watch while the sun disappears behind the moon’s shadow. And with it that eerie, spooky feeling that comes when an unusual event takes place like darkness hitting in the middle of the afternoon. For some areas it will be a madhouse. Niagara...
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Six Nations councillors learn chief’s staff attending outside political meetings after pressing for reports
Six Nations Elected Council ((SNEC) are putting pressure on the Elected Chief’s staff to ensure reports have names and are sent to council in a timely fashion after learning the elected chiefs staff are now replacing councillors at political meetings. Elected Chief Sheri-Lyn Hill was not present at the February 26 Political Liaison meeting. Councillor Greg Frazer, who chaired the meeting in her absence, tried to skip the standing chief’s update section of the meeting noting her absence. Political Advisor Christopher Mahon confirmed there was no update until questioned by councillors he later confirmed she was at the Chiefs of Ontario for a Leadership Advocacy Strategy Session. He said she would be able to meet Premier Doug Ford and Minister Of Indigenous Affairs, Greg Rickford. Councillor Melba Thomas objected to...
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Brant/Brantford/Six Nations MPP Will Bouma takes on new role
TORONTO- MPP Will Bouma is taking on a new role as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Northern Development “By supporting ministers with legislative and committee responsibilities or taking on important projects with dedicated leadership, parliamentary assistants play a critical role in delivering on our plan to rebuild Ontario’s economy,” said Premier Ford in a statement. “With today’s announcement, I’m thrilled to recognize and showcase our team’s in-depth experience, which will help us continue to get it done for the people of Ontario.” As the MPP for Brantford-Brant, Dr. Will Bouma represents the Six Nations of the Grand River – the most populous First Nations reserve in Canada as well as Missisauga of the Credit First Nation. Parliamentary...
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Five longtime employees retiring
Six Nations honoured five long-standing employees who are embarking on retirement this month. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) presented retiring employees with a plaque to recognize their contributions to SNEC and the community as well as a warm send off at its General Council meeting on March 26. Ronald Bomberry retired after a 23-year career as a paramedic with Health Services. He worked with the Brantford Paramedic Service for six years before assisting SNEC set up the Six Nations Paramedic Service. He was one of the first hires when it started in 2000. “He is a respected member of the community. Thank you for your years of service and dedication,” Hill said. “Your dedication to your patients and community will be remembered.” SNEC played a video of Bomberry’s last call...
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Anderson and Whitby teammates celebrate Arena Lacrosse League championship
By Sam Laskaris Writer A Six Nations member was among those celebrating following the conclusion of this year’s Arena Lacrosse League (ALL) championship match. Daris Anderson was part of the Whitby Steelhawks’ squad that hoisted the ALL Cup following its 14-12 victory against the Oshawa Outlaws in the league final held Sunday afternoon. The game was held at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville. For Anderson, this marked his second ALL title. He was also part of the Six Nations Snipers club that won the 2022 championship. “It was awesome,” Anderson said of the fact his squad came out on top in the tilt which featured the league’s two Durham Region entrants. “It was an intense game.” The two clubs were deadlocked at 10-10 about five minutes into the...
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Community pool at Six Nations
Arlene Martin is swimming closer to an indoor community pool on Six Nations. Martin, who established the We Swim Together initiative, came to Six Nations Elected Council’s General Council meeting on March 26 to gain support for a community pool to give youth, families and elders a place to have fun, work out and relax. “This is another thing we want to dig our heels into and see come to pass,” she said. She and Steve Williams, president of Grand River Enterprises (which has offered to help fund the pool) visited a state-of-the-art community pool in Oakville built by Lee Hulan, owner of Austin Carroll Pool Construction, based in Milton. Martin and Hulan visited a site behind the Community hall that former Elected Chief Mark Hill indicated could host the...
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Six Nations members named assistant coaches for Hamilton Bengals’ Senior B lacrosse club
By Sam Laskaris Writer A pair of Six Nations members will be among those guiding the fortunes of the Hamilton Bengals’ Senior B lacrosse squad this year. Vince Longboat and Matt Attwood have been named as assistant coaches for the Bengals, who will compete in the six-team Ontario Series Lacrosse (OSL). The Bengals will be operated by the Hamilton Lacrosse Association. Though this will mark the first season of operations for the Hamilton franchise, it is not an expansion team. The Hamilton Lacrosse Association recently acquired the rights for the Oakville Rock’s Senior B squad and relocated the franchise. The club will play its home games at Hamilton’s Mountain Arena. The Bengals will kick off their 2024 regular season on Apr. 28 with a home contest versus the Ennismore James...
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Six Nations members forming Indigenous squads for international hockey tournament
By Sam Laskaris Writer Ryan Davis, a Six Nations member who advanced to the minor pro hockey ranks, has a vision. Davis’ dream is to form both women’s and men’s Indigenous hockey clubs that will compete at the highest levels internationally. Davis would eventually love to see all-Indigenous teams participating at world championships and the Olympics. But he’s starting out on a much smaller scale. Davis is currently forming a pair of clubs that will take part in the Dream Nations Cup. The inaugural tournament, which runs Apr. 24-26, will be staged at the American Dream facility located in East Rutherford, New Jersey. “This has been a dream of mine for a long time,” Davis said. “It’s been in the back of my mind for quite a while.” The event,...
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GRCA warns keep away from rivers and watercourses as heavy rains hit area
By Lisa Iesse Writer SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND – As temperatures drop and heavy rains hit the Grand River territories this week, the local conservation authority advises to keep kids and pets away from rivers and other watercourses. The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) is warning of a “weather system” hitting the Grand River watershed beginning today (April 2) until Wednesday (April 3). GRCA says the system will bring “above freezing temperatures” along with 40 to 50 mm of rain, causing “increased river flows” throughout the Grand River watershed. GRCA says flooding is “not expected” at this time, but other concerns are present. “River flows in local waterways will be higher than normal for this time of year, increasing the risk in low-lying areas typically prone to flooding GRCA reservoirs,”...
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Woman hopes her mother’s story can ‘awaken something in you’
By Marissa Lentz Local Journalism Initiative A Cree woman is speaking out about Timmins’ Indigenous homelessness crisis after the death of her mother. Sarah Hookimaw is the daughter of Cecilia Scott, who died outdoors in downtown Timmins in 2018, just one week after her 45th birthday. Hookimaw participated in the recent relocation review regarding the city’s emergency shelter, Living Space. At the Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board’s (CDSSAB) March 21 meeting, the final review was presented by Nicole Swerhun of Third Party Public. Some substantial findings in the review were related to the city’s Indigenous population. SEE: ‘Your community is divided’: Timmins shelter review leaves politicians with questionsRELATED: Final Living Space relocation report released At the meeting, Hookimaw shared her story, saying providing a safe space for introspection and retrospection...
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Tribes blast South Dakota governor’s claim that leaders are benefitting from drug cartels
By Jack Dura THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Relations between South Dakota tribes and Republican Gov. Kristi Noem have long been strained, but they have become even more contentious recently as Noem has pointedly criticized tribal leaders, accusing some of profiting from drug dealing and questioning their commitments to children on reservations. In speeches at community forums, Noem has slammed leaders of the tribes in the state as being more interested in hurting her politically and profiting from drug cartels than improving the lives of children and others amid persistent poverty on reservations. “We’ve got some tribal leaders that I believe are personally benefiting from the cartels being there and that’s why they attack me every day,” Noem said at a forum last month in Winner. “But I’m going to fight for...
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B.C. introduces bill for First Nations land acquisition, holding rights
VICTORIA- British Columbia’s government has introduced a bill that would give federally recognized First Nations the legal right to acquire and hold land in the province. B.C.’s Ministry of Indigenous Relations says in a statement that the changes to land title and property laws would allow First Nations to register at the land title office, “reducing discriminatory and racist barriers” for them to own land. The statement says First Nations in the province are currently not able to acquire, hold or dispose of land in their own names unless “enabled by specific legislation” such as a treaty. It means that First Nations without those pathways would need to set up corporations or alternative arrangements for land acquisition and holding purposes. Indigenous Relations Minister Murray Rankin says the proposed change is...
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