‘As though they were garbage’: Trial hears serial killer targeted Indigenous women
By Brittany Hobson The Canadian Press The opening day of the murder trial of Jeremy Skibicki heard he targeted vulnerable Indigenous women at Winnipeg homeless shelters and, while being questioned by police in one gruesome killing, blurted out that there were three more victims. “I killed four people,” Skibicki is heard telling police unprompted in an interrogation video played Wednesday at the trial in Court of King’s Bench. Skibicki is charged with four counts of first-degree murder for the slayings in the early months of 2022. The 37-year-old has pleaded not guilty. His lawyers told court earlier this week Skibicki admits to the killings but is not criminally responsible due to mental illness. “This case is about a man’s hate-filled and cruel acts perpetrated against four vulnerable Indigenous women,” prosecutor...
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Maskawcis RCMP seize gun after assault investigation on Ermineskin Cree Nation
By Bill LeBlanc 06/05/2024 The Maskwascis RCMP have seized a shotgun after investigating an assault in the area. On May 1, police received an urgent call for a serious assault in progress at a residence in Ermineskin Cree Nation, Maskwascis RCMP said in a media release on Monday, May 6. As officers arrived at the property, the attacker fled in an SUV and police began a pursuit. The pursuit continued into Samson Cree Nation where police deployed a tire deflation device and eventually immobilized the SUV. The suspect, who was arrested in Oct. 2023 after being found in possession of cocaine and a shotgun, was arrested a shotgun and significant amount of ammunition. Matthew Jake Omeasoo, 29, a resident of Montana First Nation was charged with the following: Possession of...
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Haldimand OPP: Traffic complaint leads to impaired driving charges
HALDIMAND COUNTY, ON – A Nanticoke man is facing impaired charges after Haldimand County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) arrested a driver as a result of a a traffic complaint on the past weekend. On May 4, 2024, at approximately 10:25 p.m., the Haldimand detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) received a traffic complaint on Concession 12, Walpole. Police located the vehicle and said after speaking with the driver, it became apparent that the driver had consumed alcohol. The driver was placed under arrest and transported to an OPP detachment for testing. As a result Theoren Hill, 22, of Nanticoke was charged with the following Criminal Code offences: Operation While Impaired Operation while Impaired – Blood Alcohol Concentration (80 plus) The accused is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of...
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Red Dress Day: Alert system being developed for missing Indigenous Indigenous women, girls, gender diverse people
By Austin Evans Turtle Island News Writer Two days before Red Dress Day and a year after declaring MMIWG2S+ as a national emergency, Canada and Manitoba announced that they are currently developing an alert system for missing Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people. The system will send out alerts within minutes of a report, increasing the chance that the missing person is found. It takes notes from similar alert systems in places like Nova Scotia and Washington state. Leah Gazan, Winnipeg Centre’s NDP constituent, led federal advocacy of the development of this system. This follows her motion in the House of Commons last year, unanimously supported by her fellow MPs, declaring the deaths and disappearances of Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people as a Canada-wide emergency. “Safety from violence is...
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Health minister committed to fixing dental-care double standard: hygienists
The Canadian Press 08/05/2024 15:22 A new national dental-care plan denies independent hygienists equal reimbursement for the same services offered in dentists’ offices — and the federal health minister said this week he isn’t convinced by the rationale that led to that disparity. Reimbursement rates vary from province to province, but the newly launched program pays significantly less for a cleaning that happens at a private hygiene clinic. Now that the program has launched, the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association is raising its concerns about the plan with new urgency. “I’m concerned about that too,” Health Minister Mark Holland said Tuesday. “I haven’t been convinced by the rationale defending it.” The uneven treatment was copied over from a federal benefit program for First Nations and Inuit, Holland said. The fee guides...
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MFR food bank delivering to six community hubs
By Jacqueline St. Pierre Local Journalism Initiative Reporter MINDEMOYA—Manitoulin Family Resources (MFR) unveiled an exciting new initiative aimed at revolutionizing access to its food bank services. Thanks to a generous grant exceeding $40,000 from Food Banks Canada Access, MFR is set to make significant strides in supporting its clientele. The grant, which emphasizes a commitment to bolstering community well-being, will address a crucial need identified by MFR. Recognizing that many local residents faced transportation barriers in accessing the food bank located in Mindemoya, the organization decided to take proactive measures to bridge this gap. In a bid to ensure equitable access for all, particularly those without reliable transportation, MFR conceived a pilot program that promises to transform the way food assistance is delivered. Previously constrained by limited resources and staffing,...
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Controversy surrounds proposed nuclear waste repository
THUNDER BAY—Tensions are mounting as discussions continue over the proposed construction of a deep geological repository (DGR) for nuclear waste in Northwestern Ontario. The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is considering two potential sites: one near Ignace and another near the Municipality of South Bruce. At the forefront of opposition to the project is Grassy Narrows Chief Rudy Turtle, who voiced his concerns at a recent protest. Chief Turtle expressed disappointment over NWMO’s absence at a scheduled meeting, citing scheduling conflicts. Despite this setback, both parties have expressed willingness to engage in future discussions. Vince Ponka, regional communications manager with NWMO, clarified that while they were unable to attend the meeting due to prior commitments, they have reached out to schedule future discussions. Mr. Ponka emphasized NWMO’s commitment to transparency...
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Wikwemikong resurrects tradition of Take Back the Night observance
By Jacqueline St. Pierre Local Journalism Initiative Reporter WIIKWEMIKOONG—In a powerful display of community unity, Wiikwemkoong has reignited its Take Back the Night community walk after a hiatus, drawing over a hundred locals to join forces against violence and drug-related issues, last Thursday night. Led by Dana Ominika, Ralph Gonawabi and Shane Cooper, the event saw participants adorned in ribbon shirts and ribbon skirts, marching together as a symbol of solidarity. Originating a decade ago, the event had lapsed in recent years until the determination of its organizers to revive it. “We want people to know what we stand for,” Ms. Ominika expressed, reflecting on the mission to raise awareness and advocate for peace and safety in the community. Mr. Gonawabi, addressing the crowd at the outset, emphasized the importance...
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Anishinaabek elders and environmentalists unite to call for halt on herbicide use in Ontario forests
By Jacqueline St. Pierre Local Journalism Initiative TORONTO—A powerful coalition of voices representing the Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) Elders in the Robinson-Huron Treaty Territory gathered at Queen’s Park on Earth Day to advocate for the cessation of herbicide spraying in Ontario’s forests. Led by Elder Caroline Recollet of the Wahnapitae First Nation and Jo Bissaillion of the Serpent River First Nation, the group was joined by environmental advocates Joel Theriault of Stop the Spray Ontario, Mary Lou MacDonald from Safe Food Matters and Jessica Murray from Sierra Club. While the area currently affected is the North Shore, due to the large swaths of Crown Land, Anishinaabe elders from Manitoulin Island such as Evelyn Roy of M’Chigeeng First Nation have joined the fight. “They are killing the animals; they are killing...
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Marking Red Dress Day in Hamilton
Turning Hamilton streets red in support of no more Murdered Missing Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirited By Austin Evans Writer A sea of red flowed through Hamilton Saturday taking over city streets for three hours with a message of “Not One More.” Having lost her sister in a house fire set by her boyfriend, Ashley Neganiwina organized this march to bring awareness and foster discussion on the ways in which the Canadian justice system fails to protect Indigenous people. As the crowd marched through the city, accompanied by traditional drumming, she decried the lengths that Indigenous people have to go to for their issues to be taken seriously and demanded change. Neganiwina, who previously organized a rally at Hamilton City Hall last October, said she was expecting between 20...
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Six Nations Councillors may be tackling taxes
Six Nations councillors want to ensure Indigenous people don’t pay federal taxes. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) doesn’t want to let the federal government collect taxes from community members and hopes to challenge the excise tax, carbon tax and more. Councillors took on the issue in Elected Chief Sherri-Lyn Hill’s absence recently. The Elected Chief was on a personal day. But that didn’t stop councillors from moving Forward. “I think we need to start fighting back on this matter. I hate to say, it’s almost like they are devious,” said Councillor Hazel Johnson. “You think you’re headed up a little bit and they come in the back door with some other idea to get more money out of the native people,” Councillor Hazel Johnson said. SNEC passed a motion, during...
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Chiefs of Ontario launch lawsuit, Canada and Ontario not keeping First Nations safe, can’t enforce band by-laws
TORONTO- The Chiefs of Ontario (COO) have launched a lawsuit against Ontario and Canada charging the two are “failing to provide First Nations with equal access to justice and the rule of law as other Canadians.” COO said the “discrimination causes serious harm and hardship to First Nations.” COO launched the lawsuit after a unanimous resolution was passed by the Chiefs-in-Assembly saying they had spent years of attempting to work with the Ford government on serious flaws in its new Community Safety and Policing Act (CSPA). The act excludes the enforcement of First Nations by-laws from mandatory police functions. The Act was passed by the legislature in 2019 and came into force on April 1,2024. “This legislation has always been discriminatory, but ignoring the serious concerns of First Nations was...
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Canoe trip seeking funds and some canoes for annual trip
Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) is looking to provide financial support again to an annual canoe trip down the Grand River. SNEC deferred a motion to assist the trip, called the Two Row on the Grand ,both financially and with in-kind donations, as soon as staff can find items the event requires and ensure they’re available at its General Council meeting on April 23. Ellie Joseph, organizer of the annual event presented the Two Row on the Grand to SNEC and said the event takes participants from Six Nations and settler allies on a canoe or kayak trip along the Grand River from Cambridge to Port Maitland, where it lets out into Lake Erie. The 10-day trip includes meals and cultural presentations from Six Nations band members and elders. Joseph...
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Traditions live on at Mohawk Seedkeeper’s Gardens annual seed give-away
By Lynda Powless Editor For the daughters of Mohawk Seedkeeper Terrylyn Brant the 9th annual seed exchange Saturday wasn’t just about exchanging seeds. It was about keeping their mother’s work alive and remembering her. Her daughters Theda, Tawnya, Dakota, Jesse Brant and their families got together to re-open the Mohawk Seedkeeper’s Gardens and Earthship at “Frogpond’ Saturday and the teachings that their mother instilled in them. Cars line the roadway when parking ran out on the property. People came from Guelph to Niagara to Toronto to be part of the re-opening. They had a number of workshops on garden design, clay pollinators even the planting of trees, but for those attending it was a time to remember. “Everyone said they were happy to be here and wanted to talk about mom,”...
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Community Awareness Week from artifacts to wildlife
By Lynda Powless Editor Cole Thistle-Hill is watching history come alive and from time to time he is bringing it to life. The monitor for the Six Nations Lands and Resource department for the past three years has seen sites uncover a variety of archeological treasures from arrow heads to stone implements. Now he is also making replicas of artifacts found at sites for display and teaching session. He explains during the Lands and Research office open house Friday the replicas he makes may take a few hours, but in the 1600s or earlier it would have taken days. “They didn’t have the luxury of just going and buying materials, they had to find them, work them, sometimes dry them,” he says as he shows some of his display at...
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Axe the tax may be an election issue!
It looks like Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) is trying to get out of training mode and finally moving ahead…on at least one political item. And it’s a big one. The Liberals’ carbon tax! The councillors, albeit without Elected Chief Sherri-Lyn Hill who was on a personal day, took the helm last week and came out fighting aiming at taxes that have begun invading the community’s jurisdiction. Council members said they want to petition federal and provincial officials about removing taxes, in particular Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s new carbon tax that has begun surfacing in the community. The tax is being masked as a “charge” and as a result is skirting First Nations’ jurisdiction. Councillors want to challenge, in particular, both the excise tax, carbon tax. And they aren’t alone...
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Weekly Cartoon
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UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY: In The Spirit Of The Traditional Hunt
By Xavier Kataquapit Turtle Island News Columnist It looks like the swallows are back and that is a sure sign of spring and warmer weather to come. A couple of weeks ago I heard the honking of Niska (Canada geese) as they paused to take a break on the field behind our house here in Kirkland Lake. They seemed to have moved on now and have arrived at their summer destinations on the shore of James Bay. My family and friends have been heading out to their traditional camps for the past week or so and they are having success in harvesting Niska. This is a time where my people enjoy being on the land and practising our traditional pursuits in the way that our ancestors have since the dawn...
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‘A place that nobody wants to be:’ Police search Saskatoon landfill for missing woman
By The Canadian Press The father of a missing woman looked out over the Saskatoon landfill Wednesday, as police wearing white chemical-resistant suits scoured through piles of debris looking for evidence of his daughter. “It’s a cold morning,” said Paul Trottier. “This is a place that nobody wants to be.” Mackenzie Lee Trottier was 22 when she was last seen in December 2020. She said she was going to get a lift with a ride-booking service when she left her family’s home. She was in good spirits, said her father. More than three years later, Paul Trottier looked on as officers accompanied by dogs specialized in searching for human remains began examining a specific area of the landfill. Officers went in and out of a large white tent, moving wheelbarrows...
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Rivermen split games with Merchants in Ontario Series Lacrosse action
By Sam Laskaris Writer The Six Nations Rivermen had to settle for a split in their two most recent Ontario Series Lacrosse (OSL) contests. For starters, the Rivermen only had 13 runners available this past Friday. Despite valiant efforts from those that did show up, the local Senior B squad was edged 12-11 by the host Brooklin Merchants. That contest was held at the Luther Vipond Memorial Arena in Brooklin. Then, one night later, the Rivermen almost had a full bench, 17 runners and two goalies, one player under the maximum allotment of 20, as they defeated the same visiting Merchants 19-16. Ironically, the Merchants, who had a full roster on Friday, showed up with 13 runners for Saturday’s outing, staged at the Six Nations Sports and Cultural Memorial Centre....
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