Federal ministers visit Sunshine Coast to detail $4 billion in reconciliation commitments
By Jordan Copp Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Over $4 billion of this year’s federal budget will go towards advancing Indigenous reconciliation. shishalh Nation lhe hiwus yalxwemult (Chief Lenora Joe) and hihewus (councillors) were joined by Terry Beech, Minister of Citizen Affairs, Mark Holland, Minister of Health and Patrick Weiler, MP for West Vancouver, Sunshine Coast, Sea to Sky Country on April 23 at the tems swiya Museum to highlight measures of this year’s budget that will have a significant impact for Indigenous communities. Weiler remarked how important it was to be in Sechelt for the announcement. “shishalh Nation has long been a leader, becoming the first self-governing nation in Canada and across Turtle Island, and really being a leader on measures on moving forward reconciliation.” “Indigenous people face health outcomes...
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First Nations say they must not be left out of UN plastic treaty talks
OTTAWA-First Nations have one message for delegates gathered in Ottawa this week to negotiate a global plastic waste agreement: don’t leave us out. Aamjiwnaang First Nation councillor Janelle Nahmabin lives in an area nicknamed “Chemical Valley.” The First Nation, near Sarnia, Ont., neighbours a chemical plant that researchers say is emitting high levels of cancer-causing benzene. Nahmabin says its leadership wants to work collaboratively with governments to create a healthier future for all. She says like everyone else, Indigenous Peoples have a right to a healthy environment, and negotiations should include the duty to prevent exposure to hazardous substances. Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said Tuesday the treaty, which would seek to end plastic waste by 2040, will not be ambitious enough if it doesn’t include some limits on plastic production....
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Turtle Island News Earth Day tree give-away!
Turtle Island News annual Earth Day Tree give-away brings people from Six Nations to Toronto to get their tree Turtle Island News annual Earth Day Tree give-away brings people from Six Nations to Toronto to get their tree By Lisa Iesse Writer SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND – Turtle Island News’ annual Earth Day Tree Giveaway brought over 300 people out to grab a tree and help out Mother Earth this year! Trees practically flew out of the parking lot within a few hours, but there was no shortage of tree huggers who swooped in throughout the morning and afternoon. Cedars, White Pines, Blackberry bushes, Cherry trees, Blueberry, Raspberry bushes, Plum trees, Apple trees, and Sugar Maple Bush Trees filled the front porch and spilled out into the parking lot...
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Six Nations Elected Council going behind closed doors “to better serve” Six Nations
By Lynda Powless Editor Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) is going behind closed doors. SNEC announced in a press release Friday, April 19th, that it is now closing its doors to its Political Liaison meetings. The current move is the first time in over three decades of Turtle Island News covering SNEC that the band council has completely closed its political liaison meeting to the public. The statement says the closure or “in camera” meetings are part of a move to “streamline” its meetings. In the past SNEC Political Liaison meetings were open with closed sessions following the open meeting. Community members will no longer be able to sit in the audience at the meetings or watch on line. That leaves only two of council’s meetings open to the public,...
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Six Nations Police call in OPP and forensic experts in discovery of body
Six Nations Police have called in the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Criminal Investigation Branch after the body of a man was found on Second Line Road near Chiefswood Road April 12th at about 5:15 p.m. The OPP Forensic Identifications Services (FIS) Unit, Office of the Chief Coroner and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service are assisting. Police have not commented on why the additional services were called in. However, they have said they believe there is no risk to public safety. Police said there will continue to be an increased police presence in the area just off Chiefswood Road. Investigators are seeking the public’s help and have asked anyone with information or dashcam video from the area that could assist in the ongoing investigation to contact Six Nations Police at 519-445-2811....
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Arson, vandalism and theft hitting Six Nations dog kennels
By Lisa Iesse Writer SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND – Facing disturbing incidents of ongoing vandalism, and unprecedented service need, Six Nations’ animal wellness program keeps going beyond to help dogs and cats in need of protection and care. Since last summer, numerous incidents of vandalism and theft have haunted the program’s kennel site, located near the transfer station on Fourth Line. The most recent attack, on April 6th, saw an attempted arson that threatened the lives of four dogs who were inside. “It’s ongoing malicious and escalating vandalism,” Smith recently told Six Nations elected councillors at a public meeting. And the damage is not just affecting the program financially, said Smith, “it’s taking a huge toll on everyone’s mental health.” Smith said she doesn’t know why it’s happening but the...
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First Nation leaders call to dissolve Thunder Bay Police
First Nation leaders are renewing calls to dissolve the Thunder Bay police as the force’s former leadership faces charges in a widening misconduct probe. Nishnawbe Aski Nation, several chiefs of northern Ontario First Nations and several families with loved ones who died in the city say Thunder Bay police can no longer conduct credible investigations. Several reports since 2018 have documented systemic racism in the Thunder Bay police force and outlined how investigations into the sudden deaths of Indigenous people have been tainted by racist attitudes and stereotyping. Thirteen of those investigations were so poorly handled they had to be reinvestigated. The Ontario Provincial Police announced criminal charges this month against the former Thunder Bay police chief and another high-ranking member. Current Thunder Bay police Chief Darcy Fleury vowed last...
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Thank you/ Nia:weh for helping the earth!
Nia:weh/Thank-you! Turtle Island News’ annual Earth Day tree give away Monday was a roaring success and it’s all because of you. For over two decades we have been handing out trees to our community to help preserve our Carolinian Forests and help build a healthy community. And it couldn’t come at a more important time in our history. Earth Day itself is marked around the world, a day devoted to the planet that we all live on and a day devoted to its sustainability. At Six Nations we marked that day along with an estimated one billion people around world who hold awareness events drawing attention to the climate crisis . For the Haudenosaunee it is about who we are and our interconnection to the environment and the lands we all...
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SNEC has new fiscal agreement with Indigenous Services Canada
Six Nations has entered into a multi-year funding agreement with the federal government. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) approved an amendment to the five-year funding agreement with Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) at its General Finance meeting on April 15 without much discussion. The amendment from ISC provides an additional $6.1 million for Child and Family Services. The funds will go toward two different sections of the department, $3.3 million to Six Nations Child and Family Services Capital and First Nations Rep Capital Services will receive $2.7 million. Although Councillor Audrey Powless-Bomberry revealed, it may not go directly to the programs. She pointed out that the comprehensive funding agreement states that the funding goes to the chief and CEO. “Who determines that and what are the criteria? What goes to the...
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SN development corporation launches new funding program
SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND – Capital projects in the community may be eligible for up to $50,000 in funding through a new program from the Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation (SNGRDC). On Friday (April 19), SNGRDC announced the launch of their new program. Called the “Pledge Program,” the new initiative is focussed on responding to the recommendations outlined in 2019’s Community Plan. “Organizations that apply to the Pledge Program must be able to identify how their capital project pledge request aligns with the needs of the Six Nations community as outlined in the 2019 Community Plan,” said SNGRDC in Friday’s media release. The funding available from this new program is specifically geared towards capital projects. For SNGRDC capital projects mean “significant, long-term investment in assets or...
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Indigenous players among those seeking Stanley Cup glory
By Sam Laskaris Writer Six Nations member Brandon Montour is hoping this is the year he will win the ultimate prize in professional hockey. Montour and his Florida Panthers teammates came up one step shy of winning the Stanley Cup in 2023. The Panthers were downed by the Vegas Golden Knights 4-1 in the National Hockey League’s best-of-seven championship series last spring. The Golden Knights’ roster included defenceman Zach Whitecloud, a member of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation in Manitoba. Both the Panthers and Golden Knights once again qualified to participate in the 2024 NHL playoffs, which began this past Saturday. A total of 16 clubs advanced to the post-season. Besides Montour and Whitecloud, two other Indigenous players are also competing in the playoffs this spring. They are Metis forward Connor...
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Six Nations members featured on National Lacrosse League playoff participants
By Sam Laskaris Writer It’s playoff time in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). And there’s no shortage of individuals with Six Nations connections that will be participating in this year’s NLL post-season. After regular season action was completed this past weekend, eight teams in the 15-club pro circuit qualified to move on to the playoffs. That includes the Toronto Rock, who finished atop the league standings with an impressive 15-3 record. The Rock roster includes Justin Martin, a rookie defender who chipped in offensively with 16 points (10 goals and six assists). Martin appeared in all 18 of the Rock’s regular season outings. Toronto will square off against the Rochester Knighthawks in a quarter-final matchup this Saturday. The match will be staged at the Rock home facility, FirstOntario Centre in...
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Warriors cross border to participate in pre-season lacrosse tournament
By Sam Laskaris Writer One of Six Nations’ newest lacrosse teams got its first taste of game action this past weekend. The Grand River Warriors, an expansion franchise in the Can-Am Lacrosse League, participated in pre-season tournament on Saturday, which was hosted by the Newton Golden Eagles. The Warriors had some mixed results at the event staged at the Gil Lay Memorial Sports Arena in Irving, N.Y. The Grand River squad was victorious in one of the three matches it played at the tournament, which featured five of the six entrants that will participate in the Can-Am league, a Senior B men’s circuit, this season. The Warriors were originally scheduled to also play a fourth contest on Saturday. But that match was not held as their opponents, the Allegany Arrows,...
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First Nations wrestler helps unveil Canadian clothing line for Paris Olympics
By Sam Laskaris, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Justina Di Stasio’s lifelong dream is starting to feel more and more like reality. Di Stasio, a member of Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba, is a wrestler who will represent Canada at this summer’s Paris Olympics in France. Di Stasio was in Toronto on April 16 for the Athlete Kit reveal, featuring all of the clothing that Canadian athletes will wear during the Olympics and Paris Paralympics. The event, staged at The Liberty Grand in Toronto, was hosted by lululemon, which is the official outfitter for athletes representing the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic committees. Di Stasio, who lives in East Vancouver, was excited to be among the Canadian athletes to model the clothes they’ll be wearing. “Everything feels more like I’m going...
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Freeland says $5 billion just a start for Indigenous loan guarantee program
By Ian Bickis THE CANADIAN PRESS TORONTO– The $5-billion announced for an Indigenous loan guarantee program in last week’s budget is just a start, said Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. “Nothing would make me happier than seeing that $5-billion oversubscribed and needing to put in place even more,” she said, speaking to media at the First Nations Major Projects Coalition conference in Toronto on Tuesday. The program is designed to help Indigenous communities buy equity in natural resource and energy projects by securing them more favourable interest rates. Freeland said she would like to see the program up and running quickly, and the government has set up a special office in the Privy Council to get clean energy projects done faster. But the government also faced criticism at the conference...
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Urgent Six Nations Gané Yohs Community Health Centre closed due to mold
By Lynda Powless Editor SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND- A second Six Nations public building has been closed as a result of mold being found in the building. The Gané Yohs Community Health Centre that houses the local medical centre, public health, labs and dental office have all been shut down with no expected re-opening date announced. Just two weeks ago the Six Nations Housing building on Chiefswood Road was shut down due to mold. It has since been remediated and re-opened. The health centre closure came in a rush Tuesday, April 23rd with a notice telling the community the closure was “urgent. and the result of mold being “discovered sent out Tuesday evening. The notice said Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) “regrets to inform its staff members and the...
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`More employee focused’ at Qikiqtani Industry Limited
By Kira Wronska Dorward Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Resource extraction economies, such as Nunavut’s, can only take place when the necessary support, infrastructure and services exist. In other words, when all the other jobs that make the mining possible are being done as well. Housing, food, care and community building are all essential components. Pratik Rajput, senior project manager at Qikiqtani Industry Limited, has spent the last four years supporting Baffinland Iron Mine’s work on the ground, including through the uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic. Rajput lives full-time in Iqaluit. “I started as a project coordinator in 2020 for Qikiqtani Industries Limited mostly focusing on recruitment for the company. In July 2021, I got promoted to manager, where I was focusing more on recruitment, contract management, dealing with the client a...
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Freeland says $5 billion just a start for Indigenous loan guarantee program
TORONTO-Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says the $5-billion announced for an Indigenous loan guarantee program in last week’s budget is just a start. Speaking to media at the First Nations Major Projects Coalition conference Tuesday, Freeland says nothing would make her happier than for it to be oversubscribed and needing to put more funding in place. By guaranteeing loans through the program, the federal government intends to help Indigenous borrowers secure more favourable interest rates when investing in natural resource and energy projects. The First Nations Major Projects Coalition estimates there will be $525 billion in capital investment opportunities for Indigenous equity participation over the next 10 years. Mark Podlasly, chief sustainability officer of the coalition, said in a chat with Freeland at the conference that the loan guarantee program...
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‘Historic’ law recognizing Haida Aboriginal title introduced in B.C. legislature
THE CANADIAN PRESS VICTORIA- The B.C. government says legislation formally recognizing the Haida Nation’s Aboriginal title over the archipelago of Haida Gwaii was introduced in the legislature Monday. The province says the “Rising Tide” Haida Title Lands Agreement is the first negotiated deal of its kind in Canada, providing for a “staged transition” to Haida jurisdiction. Haida Nation President Jason Alsop said the new law in B.C. is a “step toward peaceful co-existence” with the province. “It was always Haida title land,” Alsop said at a news conference alongside Premier David Eby and others Monday. “We look forward to the opportunities that come out of this, but we recognize it’s not easy work.” “It’s an exciting thing to be a part of. The status quo is just not working and...
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