Chiefs pass resolution reversing course on forensic audit of AFN
The Assembly of First Nations passed an emergency resolution at its general assembly in Montreal Tuesday calling off a forensic audit that had been pushed by former national chief RoseAnne Archibald before she was ousted as national chief last year. The resolution said the audit of the AFN’s books was “not warranted and should not be undertaken” on the advice of accounting firm BDO which did a review. Archibald first called for the audit in 2022 as allegations of financial impropriety were levied at the AFN. At the annual general assembly that year chiefs voted in favour of a resolution to audit 10 years of AFN finances with special attention on salaries and contracts. After she was voted out in June 2023, Archibald said the audit should still go ahead....
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Six Nations Elected Chief pushes ISC to pay for new health building
Six Nations is either getting a new heath building or the current structure re-mediated at Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) expense. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) CEO Nathan Wright said ISC has agreed to pay for a building assessment and fund the costs of remediation or pay for a new building. Wright told SNEC ISC agreed to the costs after being pressured by Elected Chief Sherri Lyn Hill and her office. Wright provided an update on the building progress at the SNEC General Council meeting on July 9th. He said a number of the problems stem from ISC not claiming ownership of the building. He said SNEC has no record of a motion to accept ownership of the building. “Ownership is a big piece. ISC is insisting they’re not the owners, we’re insisting...
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Six Nations Elected Council updates itself
Six Nations members aren’t the only ones asking for updates about Six Nations Elected Council’s (SNEC) in-camera sessions and committee meetings, but after four months, it appears even councillors aren’t getting many concrete answers. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) members provided some updates at the General Council meeting on July 9th, but most said they weren’t sure who sits on what committee or what each committee’s mandate is or even how many committees there are. Councillor Audrey-Powless Bomberry told SNECshe’s been asking for a list or a chart, but hasn’t gotten one. To make sure she does get answers the councillor added an amendment to a motion ensuring SNEC receives committee updates, a list of all committees, who sits on them and the mandates of all committees. “Have all the...
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Mending fences and economic reconcilliation…not a bad idea
The Father knows best attitude was gone. Instead we saw obvious nervousness, humility and stumbles over issues Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre knew were outstanding and were important. In his first speech to the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Poilievre told them “your children can be the richest in the world.” He spoke to the economic potential of First Nations lands, a potential that has without any doubt benefitted the country for the past 157 years, and he said the Liberal’s reconciliation was nothing more than “performative.” A jab at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s drama teacher background? Or simply the blinding truth. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is polling high with youth, Millennial and Gen Y Canadians all of whom are angry about the high cost of living, housing and worried for the...
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Today in History
Today in History July 16: In 2003, Phil Fontaine returned as National Grand Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, defeating incumbent Matthew Coon Come, in a three-way leadership race. Fontaine served a three-year term as national chief of the group from 1997 to 2000. In 2007, the federal government reached a $1.4 billion agreement with the Crees of Quebec to settle decades of disputes over how the landmark James Bay agreement was to be implemented. The deal also set the stage for the creation of a Cree constitution, and future talks on regional self-government for the 16,700 Crees, most of whom live on the east coast of James and Hudson Bays. In 2021, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in favour of northern Ontario’s Lac Seul First Nation in...
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Woodland Cultural Centre raising funds for new building
The Woodland Cultural Centre held a fundraising concert celebrating Robbie Robertson and continues to seek funds from Six Nations for a new building for the museum. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) Councillor Helen Miller attended the concert on July 5 and was the only councillor in attendance. She told SNEC she gave an impromptu speech and was asked to ask SNEC for funds. Miller relayed the report to SNEC at the General Council meeting on July 9 and said the concert was well attended. “The Gathering Place was packed,” she said. “It was a very good show.” The campaign called, Dwade’nyota’ Dwaga:’sho’oh (We Celebrate our Stories) held the Robbie Robertson Reflections Tribute event in honour of the famous Six Nations Musician (who played with Bob Dylan), who was the former...
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Six Nations Elected Council approves funding agreements and casino funds
Funding agreements and amendments for 2024-2025 are pouring in, totalling more than $66 million. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) approved several funding amendments and additions at the General Finance meeting on July 15 including four additional amendments from Indigenous services Canada (ISC). Jennifer Court, Director of Financial Reporting and Analysis presented SNEC with a list of all of its funding agreements, which SNEC plans to post-approve in August. The list included all of the agreements SNEC has approved since June 17 and all of the prior agreements. That list with the June additions totals more than $66,247 Million, which includes $4 million from the Brantford Charity Casino. SNEC agreed to a five-year comprehensive funding agreement with and funding amendments for this year include more than $500,000 with an additional $361,845...
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Six Nations’ Brandon Montour brining Stanley Cup home
By Sam Laskaris Writer Get ready to party with the Cup. That’s right. The Stanley Cup is indeed coming to Six Nations later this month for what will undoubtedly be a loud celebration. In a news release on Monday it was announced that Six Nations member Brandon Montour, who was a member of this year’s Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, would be bringing one of the world’s most famous trophies to his home community on July 24. The festivities, which will include a parade, will be held from 1-4 p.m. The parade will start at the Ohsweken Speedway and make its way to the Six Nations Sports and Cultural Memorial Centre. A celebration will then be held at the arena. The ceremony will include the presentation of the Six Nations...
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Rivermen and North Stars to square off in opening playoff series
By Sam Laskaris Writer It’s playoff time for the Six Nations Rivermen. The local Senior B men’s lacrosse squad will kick off its post-season schedule this Friday. The Rivermen will face the Owen Sound North Stars in a best-of-five Ontario Series Lacrosse (OSL) semi-final series. Game one on Friday will be at the Six Nations Sports and Cultural Memorial Centre. The opening faceoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. The North Stars will host Game 2 this Sunday at the Bayshore Community Centre in Owen Sound. And the series will resume with Game 3 in Six Nations on July 26. If necessary, Games 4 and 5, would be staged on July 27 and July 28, in Owen Sound and Six Nations, respectively. The Rivermen will be heavily favoured in their series...
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SPORTS BRIEFS: Arrows taking on Lakers
By Sam Laskaris Writer Arrows hoping to upset Lakers in opening round of playoffs The Six Nations Arrows came rather close to completing a playoff series upset on Monday. But the local Junior A lacrosse club came up a bit short as it was edged 10-9 in overtime by the host Peterborough Lakers. With that OT triumph the Lakers avoided having their 2024 Ontario Junior Lacrosse League (OJLL) campaign come to an end. Despite the loss the Arrows still lead their best-of-five OJLL quarter-final series against the Lakers 2-1. The Six Nations club is now hoping to wrap up the series when it hosts Game 4 on Thursday night. That contest, at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (ILA), is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. If a fifth and deciding game...
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Thessalon First Nation finally submits election appeals to appeal board
By Kyle Darbyson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Thessalon First Nation’s election appeal board is finally reviewing appeals pertaining to last year’s chief and council election. TFN sent these appeals to the board on July 5, nearly eight months removed from a Nov. 17, 2023 election that resulted in a new chief (Joseph Wabigwan) and four new members of council. “I’m glad we get to finally review the appeals, but why is it taking place eight months after the fact?” election appeal board member Levi Laundrie asked in a recent interview with The Sault Star. “If we are allowed to see the appeals, shouldn’t we have been allowed to see them right away?” The Star reached out to TFN executive director Lesley Boulrice on Monday to inquire why the administration passed...
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A First Nation’s geothermal project shows how fossil fuels can power the next seven generations
By Matteo Cimellaro Local Journalism Initiative Elders and community members always knew something was bubbling under their feet on this remote B.C. First Nation territory. Long before contact, the hot springs throughout Fort Nelson territory were a source of healing, hygiene and rest for the Dene in what is now called northern British Columbia. In those early years of contact, during western expansion, there are stories of the local Dene teaching colonial explorers the benefits of hot mineral water for good hygiene. Now, not much has changed. Lodges and camping areas have been established across the province’s north, as tourists and locals escape for weekend spa getaways. “We have been harnessing this energy since time immemorial,” said Taylor Behn-Tsakoza. She’s the community liaison for Tu Deh-Kah, an Indigenous-led geothermal project...
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Conservative leader chastised at AFN’s annual general assembly
By Sam Laskaris Writer Pierre Poilievre’s first visit to the Assembly of First Nations’ annual general assembly did not go as well as the leader of the federal Conservative Party obviously would have hoped. Poilievre showed up to the final day of the assembly, which concluded last Thursday in Montreal, undoubtedly hoping he could secure numerous First Nations votes in the next Canadian election, currently scheduled for October of 2025. Things got off on a bit of a sour note for Poilievre as several assembly delegates, including First Nations veterans, turned their backs towards him once he was introduced and began speaking. No doubt many of those assembled were irked for Poilievre’s involvement in the last federal Conservative government headed by Stephen Harper. Harper, Canada’s prime minister from 2006 through...
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Wildfires prompt evacuation of First Nation reserve near Spences Bridge, B.C.
The Canadian Press The Cook’s Ferry Indian Band has issued an evacuation order for its Nicoelton reserve as two wildfires burn north of Spences Bridge, B.C. The band issued the order Tuesday “in the interest of life and safety,” while it also put in place evacuation alerts for three more of its reserves. The band says in a statement that no other orders or alerts are in place for its reserves within the town of Spences Bridge. The band says the Teit Creek and Shetland Creek wildfires pose an “imminent danger” to its Nicoelton reserve. Both fires are under 300 hectares in size, are burning out of control and are within 5.5 to 7.5 kilometres away from Spences Bridge. It’s unclear how many people are affected by the band’s evacuation...
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Tributes To Alex Janvier Pour In From Across Canada
By Jeremy Appel, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Condolences are pouring in from across Canada after the death of famed Indigenous artist and residential school survivor Alex Janvier, whose funeral was held July 16 at the Cold Lake Energy Centre. Janvier, who hailed from Cold Lake First Nations in northern Alberta, was internationally renowned for incorporating traditional Indigenous styles into modernist painting. In a statement posted to Facebook, Cold Lake First Nations said Janvier’s “creativity enriched our lives and strengthened our connection to our culture and heritage.” “Through his profound storytelling, Alex’s artwork beautifully captured the essence of our traditions.” Janvier’s works are featured in the National Gallery of Canada (NGC) in Ottawa, the Royal Alberta Museum in Edmonton and the Glenbow Museum in Calgary, as well as the Morris and...
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Yukon water regulator said miner ‘flouted’ licence, saved millions, long before spill
The Canadian Press 16/07/2024 19:53 Two years before the disastrous ore slide and spill of cyanide solution last month at the Eagle Gold mine in Yukon, the former head of the Yukon Water Board accused the mine’s owner of violating conditions of its water licence. Roger Lockwood, then director of the Yukon Water Board, told a court that Victoria Gold “flouted” conditions of the licence, increasing environmental risks while saving millions by allegedly failing to re-contour slopes at the mine, about 500 kilometres north of Whitehorse. Lockwood, a former police officer, made the claims in a Yukon Supreme Court case, and estimated the company “saved more than $4 million through non-compliance with the conditions of the water licence,” a Yukon Supreme Court ruling says. On June 24, Victoria Gold announced...
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West Nipissing eyes a Field of Dreams
By David Briggs, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter West Nipissing is making a pitch for a Field of Dreams. The Toronto Blue Jay’s Jays Care Foundation has been running the Field of Dreams program for the past 10 years. The TD Bank sponsors the program, and over those 10 years, nearly $15 million has been invested into 163 Field of Dream diamonds across Canada. The money goes to designing, refurbishing, and building baseball diamonds within communities. The funding amount depends on the project, but last year, around $1.5 million was doled out to 14 communities. Seven of those were in Ontario, and one grant was given to the North, as Blind River received funding. Any charitable organization, non-profit baseball association, First Nation, or municipality is eligible to apply for a Field...
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Money from Washington’s landmark climate law will help tribes face rising seas, climate change
The Associated Press SEATTLE (AP) — Tens of millions of dollars raised by a landmark climate law in Washington state will go to Native American tribes that are at risk from climate change and rising sea levels to help them move to higher ground, install solar panels, buy electric vehicles and restore wetlands, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Tuesday. The money — $52 million — comes from the 2021 Climate Commitment Act, which auctions off allowances for heavily polluting companies to emit carbon, with the revenue invested in education, transportation and other programs. Conservative critics who blame it for increased gas prices are seeking to repeal the law in November. Nearly every Native American tribe in Washington is receiving money. Among them is the 3,000-member Quinault Indian Nation on the Pacific...
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No suspects in fire that razed trailer used for residential school investigative work
The Canadian Press The RCMP is asking for the public’s help after a fire in Alberta destroyed a trailer being used for residential school investigative work. Police say an ATCO trailer burned down in May at the Sacred Heart Cemetery, near the former residential school of the same name in Saddle Lake, Alta., northeast of Edmonton. Mounties say they don’t have any suspects but believe people in the community “possess vital information” that could help solve the case. They say the trailer belonged to the Acimowin Opaspiw Society. The society says on its website that it represents survivors of the Blue Quills Residential School, known at one point as Sacred Heart, and their descendants. The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation says the school was under First Nations control when...
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