Rankin Inlet Council slaps down internet application
By Stewart Burnett Local Journalism Initiative Reporter What would often be a routine endorsement was slapped down by Rankin Inlet council at their meeting April 24. Doug Harvey, vice-president of Galaxy Broadband, had requested support from the Hamlet of Rankin Inlet for his company’s application for CRTC Universal Broadband Fund money to help launch a service called INUKNET that would provide internet to businesses across Nunavut. “Galaxy is forming a partnership with an Inuit company to create INUKNET that will be a (sic) Inuit majority owned company headquartered in Iqaluit but will be servicing all 25 communities,” wrote Harvey in a letter to Darren Flynn, senior administrative officer for the hamlet. The letter goes on to talk about how INUKNET would use a combination of GEO and LEO satellites to provide...
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New equity funding soon available for Indigenous ownership stake in infrastructure projects
By Shari Narine Local Journalism Initiative Reporter A recent change to the mandate of the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) has opened a new avenue for Indigenous communities to get loans for equity buy-in on larger infrastructure investments. “When we’re talking about linear infrastructure projects in our country, transmission lines, transit systems, projects that cut across land, they’re almost always going through traditional territories, and Indigenous communities have said really clearly, `We want a seat at the ownership table in these projects,”’ said Ehren Cory, CEO for the bank. With changes brought about in the 2023/24 federal budget, CIB, a Crown corporation, now has the ability to lend that money to Indigenous investors for equity stake. Those loans would come at “much more favourable rates where we’re already working on the project,...
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Source of hydrogen sulfide gas reported in north eastern Alberta still not identified
By Natasha Bulowski Local Journalism Initiative Reporter A poisonous, corrosive and flammable gas has been detected near a TC Energy pipeline roughly 70 kilometres west of Fort McKay, Alta. The company received complaints of odours in the “remote area” on April 27, which it then reported to the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER), according to a note the AER sent to area First Nations on Saturday. That same day, TC Energy shut down the White Spruce Pipeline “out of an abundance of caution” to investigate the odour, according to an emailed statement TC Energy media relations sent to Canada’s National Observer Monday evening. The company, in collaboration with the AER, “determined the source of the odour is not related to the operation of our asset,” noting its monitoring did not detect...
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Rescuing food to feed hunger and protect the environment
By Brenda Sawatzky Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Living in Manitoba’s land of plenty, surrounded by abundant grain fields and heavily stocked grocery store shelves, means that the issue of food waste barely hits our radar. However, a study performed in 2022 found that 63 percent of the food Canadians throw away was still safe for consumption. The Winnipeg-based Leftovers Foundation aims to change our attitude toward food waste. They are one of Canada’s largest food rescue charities and they work towards reducing food poverty by relocating goods that would otherwise be destined for the landfill. Julia Kraemer is the Manitoba coordinator for Leftovers. She’s the only paid employee of the local non-profit. All the others work as volunteers. “Last year, we redirected just shy of 540,000 pounds of food,” says...
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Pope’s willingness to return sacred items means they will come home: national chief
The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations says the Pope’s willingness to return Indigenous artifacts stored at the Vatican Museum suggests the items will make their way home. Chief RoseAnne Archibald says in a news release that it demonstrates another success on the journey with the head of the Roman Catholic Church. Pope Francis said in a recent news conference that in cases where items can be returned, it is better to do so. Indigenous curators and experts have said they have been unable to get access to the unknown number of objects in the Vatican’s possession. Indigenous delegates who have travelled to Rome to meet with Francis last year toured the museum and requested the return of the items. Archibald says it’s an important step after the...
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Rookie municipal leaders find NOMA conference enlightening
By Eric Shih Local Journalism Initiative Reporter It’s a rite of passage for many new municipal politicians. The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association conference, held in Thunder Bay this week, was the first since last October’s municipal election meaning many attendees took part for the first-time. Reece Van Breda, a rookie councillor from Sioux Lookout, said the conference sparked some ideas and got gears flowing and he’s excited to share that with council. “Honestly, it’s actually been great to mix and mingle with a couple of other council members and also mayors from the region just so that you can put a face to the name,” he said. “Also to meet with a lot of the delegates as well who come here from the different organizations. It’s good because it’s nice...
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Water pressure: Indigenous leaders from U.S., Canada still demanding pollution probe
By James McCarten THE CANADIAN PRESS WASHINGTON- Indigenous leaders in Canada and the U.S. are turning up the pressure on Ottawa for an investigation of toxic mining runoff from B.C., despite high-level bilateral promises of an agreement by this summer to “reduce and mitigate” its impact. Tribal and First Nations leaders were in Washington, D.C., last week to plead their case at meetings of the International Joint Commission, the body that oversees the 114-year-old treaty governing waters that straddle the Canada-U.S. border. They said they are encouraged, but not convinced, by the commitment Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Joe Biden made in March to reach an agreement in principle by summer to address pollution in the Elk-Kootenai watershed. “Mining pollution across our homelands jeopardizes our culture,...
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Banff council endorses revised Indigenous framework
By Jessica Lee Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The Town of Banff has endorsed its Indigenous framework following a period of public feedback on the new guiding policy document. Changes to the framework, which will help direct the Town in being respectful, cooperative and active partners in reconciliation, include new or updated areas of focus on cultural protocols, supporting employment and business development opportunities and accountability. “There was a great deal of curiosity about it in terms of how it was framed up, and we did make some changes relative to those comments,” said Randall McKay, manager of strategic initiatives and special projects with the Town of Banff at the April 24 council meeting. “The essence of reconciliation is a sustained process of engagement; I think council knows...
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Ilitaqsiniq pilots 4 day workweek
By Stewart Burnett Local Journalism Initiative Reporter To help employees connect with their cultural roots, enjoy the sun and retain skilled staff, Ilitaqsiniq is piloting a four-day workweek over the summer. “We’re always looking to be cutting edge, and we’re firm believers in our innovative approach to things,” said executive director Adriana Kusugak. Kusugak had been researching four-day workweek studies and reading positive reports, so she brought the concept to senior management and then the board of directors for Ilitaqsiniq, who all supported running a pilot project for the non-profit. Working with human resource specialists, Ilitaqsiniq developed the pilot model and a series of ways to track, monitor and review its success. “The whole goal behind this four-day workweek is to support our employees, to help them...
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AMC backs calls to `regulate how much alcohol is sold across all First Nations”
By Dave Baxter Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) is asking the province to do more to regulate how much booze individuals can buy at provincially regulated liquor stores, just one week after a northern Manitoba Chief questioned if the province is doing enough to regulate alcohol sales and prevent bootlegging. In an interview last week, Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN) Chief Angela Levasseur spoke about a recent temporary booze ban in the First Nations community located 850 kilometres north of Winnipeg, and 65 kilometres west of Thompson, and about the reasons the ban was lifted after April 11. Levasseur said leaders in the community decided a total booze ban is not something that should continue in NCN, but she also said she...
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Turtle Island News marking 25 years of helping you help Mother Earth with our annual tree give-aways!
For 25 years Turtle Island News has been handing out free trees to the community and we will be doing it again this Friday, April 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or until they run out! Publisher Lynda Powless and salesman Darren Doxtater are ready to hand out cedars, white pines, apple and maple trees, blueberry and blackberry bushes. So come over to Turtle Island News to help us celebrate 25 years of helping Mother Earth!!!...
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“On Native land” anthem lyrics nothing new for some First Nations people
Jason Bird chuckles when he talks about the fuss that singer Jully Black has raised by changing a line in Canada’s national anthem to “on native land.” The professor of governance at the First Nations University of Canada says he and his friends used to sing the opening lines to O Canada that way all the time when he was in school. Black’s version of the song at the NBA all-star game has raised plenty of dissonance on social media. But Bird says he doesn’t find changing a syllable of the national anthem to be that big a deal. He says he’d rather Canadians were talking about real economic and political reconciliation. Still, he acknowledges it might be a way to open a dialogue, and have a laugh or two...
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Column: Sam Laskaris – BEHIND THE ACTION
By Sam Laskaris Writer While growing up Mekwan Tulpin participated in her share of sports. She represented her school on various basketball, volleyball, rugby, badminton and competitive cheerleading teams. Heck, she even played tackle football on a high school boys’ squad. But it’s lacrosse – a sport she only took up when she was 21 – where Tulpin has really been making her mark. And now Tulpin, who is 32 and has lived in Ohsweken for the past 13 years, will have an opportunity to further educate plenty of others on the sport that she is most passionate about now. It was announced this past week that Tulpin has been selected as one of the Lead Ambassadors for the Women’s Box Lacrosse Global Network (WBLGN). The newly created WBLGN is...
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EXPLAINER: What you need to know about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
By Joyce Jonathan Crone Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Violence against Indigenous women and girls is on the rise. Indigenous women and girls in Canada are 16 times more likely than non-Indigenous women to be targeted and killed, and 12 times more likely to be murdered or go missing. A Canadian Women’s Foundation report states that in 2020, one in five women killed in Canada were Indigenous. Indigenous leaders and advocates in Winnipeg are saying the missing women and girls crisis is at a national state of emergency. Families of lost women face an uphill battle to find their loved ones. On June 21, 2022, human remains were found at the Brady landfill in Winnipeg. Protesters have been blocking access to the waste management facility and have called on all levels...
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Column: Sam Laskaris – BEHIND THE ACTION
By Sam Laskaris A lifelong passion for sports has paid off for Kevin Sandy. The Six Nations member received the news last week that he is being inducted into the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame. Sandy is certainly a worthy inductee. In fact, it was difficult to pinpoint just one hall of fame category to recognize Sandy’s accomplishments. As a result, he was inducted via the athlete AND coach AND builder categories. That’s a trifecta. Not too shabby for the 58-year-old who never envisioned himself becoming any sort of Hall of Famer one day. Growing up Sandy played for various Six Nations youth box and field lacrosse teams. His hardware collection included winning gold, silver and bronze medals at national championships. In later years he had some success...
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Six Nations Original Traders Energy sues former CEO allege stole millions
SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND-Two Six Nations business owners have launched a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against the former CEO of their company and his wife, who they claim stole from them to launch their own chain of gas stations, accused the non-Indigenous couple of engaging in “disgraceful misconduct,” and say they were negligent, stole from the business and it’s left the company’s finances in dire straits. Scott and Miles Hill, brothers and co-founders of Original Traders Energy (OTE), which has its headquarters at Six Nations of the Grand River allege in a statement of claim filed at the Superior Court of Justice in Toronto, that a non-Indigenous couple who worked for their company conspired with others to build the Gen7 brand using stolen funds from OTE. The 44-page statement of claim...
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Ontarians mark Truth and Reconciliation Day in events across province
Events featuring Indigenous traditions are being held across Ontario as communities mark the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. In Toronto, a gathering at the city’s downtown Nathan Phillips Square began with a sunrise ceremony followed by Indigenous musical performances and speakers who addressed the crowd. A sunrise ceremony was also held in Niagara Falls, Ont., where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was among those who participated, he later spoke with residential school survivors and gave a speech at an event marking the day. Later today, Premier Doug Ford is set to attend the unveiling of a garden at Queen’s Park that the province says is meant to recognize the continuing treaty relationship between the Crown and Indigenous Peoples. Ford wrote in a statement that Ontarians will take the time today...
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Six Nations wins Ontario Fire fighters competition
By Lynda Powless Editor Suited up in full gear from helmets to boots firefighters from Indigenous communities tested their skills in an Ontario wide competition Saturday that saw Six Nations emerge, wet and tired, but victorious. The Ontario Native Firefighters Society (ONAS) held their annual Firefighters Competition Saturday topping a three-day visit to Six Nations that included training at the Six Nations Firefighters Training Centre. But on Saturday it was all about a 33-year-old competition based on firefighting skills that tested their strength and endurance. The teams included both seasoned veterans to first time rookies representing First Nation Fire departments from Chippewa, Shawinigan, Grassy Narrows and of course Six Nations. ONAS president Melvin McLeod said the competition focuses on timed evolutions using firefighting skills needed to man hoses to buckets...
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Three Fires Homecoming Pow Wow returns to Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation
By Bree Duwyn Writer MISSISSAUGAS OF CREDIT FIRST NATION -The Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN) 34th Annual Three Fires Homecoming Pow Wow has returned bringing with it both a fun-filled weekend and message of keeping events green. After COVID-19 put a halt to many events, the MCFN pow wow welcomed visitors to the traditional gathering and homecoming this past weekend (Aug. 20-21) for the first time since 2019. On Saturday, nestled behind MCFN’s administration buildings, pow wow attendees walked through the entrance and into a bustling event, filled with vendor tables and food trucks. Following the sound of drums and dancing feet, visitors walked down to the Grove, where the grand entry and numerous dances were taking place amidst the trees. Bob Goulais of the Nipissing First Nation,...
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Champion of Champions Pow Wow – Winners and Appreciation
Winners & Appreciation By Charlene Bomberry The Grand River “Champion of Champions” Powwow Committee would like to share our gratitude and appreciation for this 2022 powwow. Thank you to Glen Styres Racing and Ohsweken Speedway for agree ing to work with us and preparing their venue as our new location. Thank you to everyone involved, from our committee, and most of all, our volunteers. We are so grateful to our Six Nations Community for the continued support and dedication in hosting such a large event, which brings in record numbers to our community. Grand River “Champion of Champions” Powwow first began in 1980 on the shores of the Grand River at Chiefswood Park. For over 40 years we had called Chiefswood Park our home. We are so grateful to Chiefswood...
