Mi’kmaq centre with huge waitlist for mental health services receives funding
By John Chilibeck Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Five First Nations with long waitlists for mental wellness programs will see nearly half a million dollars flow from the province to a special centre dedicated to serving Indigenous people. The Higgs Progressive Conservative government announced on Monday it would put $480,000 into the expansion project at the Natoaganeg (Eel Ground First Nation) Community Development Centre. The small blue building on the main drag of the First Nation beside Miramichi looks like a modest house from the outside, but inside it has several crammed offices. The provincial funds will allow it to double in size, with a groundbreaking in the spring and a completion date later in the year. “We have a 1,000 people in our database, so this extra space will be...
Register
Federal court set to determine the validity of Kwantlen First Nation vote to oust hereditary chief
By Cara McKenna Local Journalism Initiative Reporter A lawyer representing Kwantlen First Nation’s longtime chief and council told a federal court judge last week that there was “no good faith” by members who led a vote to oust their hereditary leader in November of 2022. However, representation for the Kwantlen people who prompted the vote told the court on Friday that a decision to remove Chief Marilyn Gabriel through a s???n?q (general assembly) was “an example of custom in action” and that community members were acting based on their Coast Salish law. Kwantlen’s system is unique in that its unelected chief and council are the sole leaders and the chief generally rules for a lifelong term. Most other First Nations with hereditary governments also have an elected government operating concurrently....
Register
Rio Tinto says Diavik diamond mine employees were on crashed NWT plane
By Amanda Stephenson THE CANADIAN PRESS The plane that crashed Tuesday near Fort Smith, N.W.T. was on its way to Rio Tinto’s Diavik Diamond Mine. The mine is one of four operating diamond mines in Canada. The Diavik mine is located 300 kilometres north of Yellowknife and 200 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle. It sits on a 20-square-kilometre island within a lake called Lac De Gras. Due to its remote location, workers at the mine site commute to the island by plane. As of November 2023, the mine had 1,230 employees, according to Rio Tinto’s website. Approximately 17 per cent of its workforce in 2021 was Northern Indigenous people. The mine produces diamonds from three kimberlite pipes through an open pit method. In 2020, it produced 6.2 million carats...
Register
Councillor posts anti Indigenous sign; P.E.I. minister orders quick inquiry
CHARLOTTETOWN- A Prince Edward Island cabinet minister has asked a law firm to conduct an inquiry into a village councillor’s decision to display a sign denying the existence of residential school graves. Communities Minister Rob Lantz issued a statement Wednesday saying Murray Harbour Coun. John Robertson had failed to comply with a ministerial directive to pay a $500 fine and issue an apology or resign, sanctions that were first imposed by the rural municipality. Lantz said that under provincial legislation, however, he couldn’t take action until an independent inquiry investigates Robertson’s conduct, even though the municipality has completed its own probe. As a result, Lantz has appointed Michael Drake, a partner with the law firm McInnes Cooper, to carry out an inquiry, saying such a move is unprecedented. “As a...
Register
Patty Hajdu attending emergency meeting with NAN
By Austin Campbell Local Journalism Initiative Reporter THUNDER BAY — The mental health of youth and residents living in First Nations communities is an ongoing battle. Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler will attend an emergency meeting with the Minister of Indigenous Affairs, Patty Hajdu, this afternoon in Ottawa, along with several other federal ministers, to discuss next steps in addressing what has been described as a suicide crisis. There are a number of elements, of course, that contribute to this ongoing crisis. Speaking to Dougall Media, Hajdu said major contributors to the crisis are the long-lasting effects of colonization, intergenerational trauma, and systemic racism. She made it clear that the impact of all of these combined elements to the well-being of Indigenous Canadians and First Nations communities cannot...
Register
Winter Storm hits area
Six Nations schools were cancelled, the post office is open, several businesses had people working from home as a winter storm hit the area Monday dumping 15 centimetres on the streets followed by rain overnight for a slushy day today. (Photo by Jim C. Powless)...
Register
OPP now investigating Gen7 Fuel founder for missing documents that may be connected to millions in OTE losses
By Lynda Powless Editor It’s a tale of private jets, yachts, island homes and over $300 million in unpaid federal and Ontario taxes. And now Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are investigating the former president of Original Traders Energy (OTE) for missing computer data. The OPP investigation comes after the court appointed monitor overseeing the insolvency of OTE, claims “significant books and records’ owned by OTE are missing. OTE imports and blends fuel products sold to gas stations n First Nations communities in Ontario. The Indigenous fuel supplier, headquartered in Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, was granted protection under the Companies’ Creditor Arrangement Act from creditors last January. Now the multi-million dollar court case not only alleges a non-Indigenous man misappropriated millions of dollars from OTE, but used the money to...
Register
Brantford population count: 50% of homeless are First Nations
BRANTFORD – In a city where over 50 per cent of people experiencing homelessness are Indigenous, advocates fear what will happen to 680 people on a 15-year-waitlist for Indigenous housing support. Brantford-Brant’s 2023 “Point in Time” count found 52 per cent of people experiencing homelessness in Brantford are Indigenous, as reported to city council on December 6. Point in Time (PiT) counts are a measure of the number of homeless people in targeted areas on a given day or night. It found Brantford’s total population numbered 104,685 residents. According to 2021’s count, 36 percent of those surveyed in the city of Brantford self-identified as Indigenous, and 2018’s PiT showed 35 percent, said Maria Visocchi, Brantford’s communications director. That’s a disproportionate figure, since 5.25 percent of people living in Brantford identified...
Register
Six Nations Housing signs agreement to provide loans for Tiny Home purchase
Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation (SNGRDC) and Six nations Housing have signed an agreement to “collaborate” on the Tiny Homes project. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed Jan. 8th will streamlines the process to attain a tiny home through the Six Nations Housing Program. SNGRDC says the MOU will help address the housing crisis at Six Nations. The MOU means Six Nations band members interested in purchasing a “Tiny Home” can now access the bands housing program to buy one and follow Six nations Housing’s payment terms. “For Six Nations members who are accessing the Six Nations Housing loan programs and are ready to purchase a tiny home, a pre-approved loan letter from Six Nations Housing can be used to initiate the purchase from SNGRDC,” the release...
Register
Indigenous Services Canada costs First Nations by holding up land transfers: King Charles visit may be needed
By Lynda Powless Editor It may take a visit from King Charles to get the federal government’s Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) department to move forward on getting Six Nations lands added to the community. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) is trying to add two parcels of land it bought to the federal government’s Additions To Reserve (ATR) process despite warnings from Six Nations Councillor Helen Miller. The two parcels have already been in the ATR process for three decades. Six Nations Councillor Helen Miller warned keeping the170 acres in the federal government’s ATR is buying land “and giving it back to the thief.” The veteran councillor told SNEC they need to find a new process to add land to the community. “When we buy land like we bought these properties,...
Register
Dear King Charles:
Indigenous populations across the country continue to grow and with that comes the increasing need for services. Nothing more urgent that housing. But to put up a house you need land. Like First Nation communities across the country Six Nations is in a housing crunch and land in short supply despite any efforts by either the Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) or the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council (HCCC) to meet the need. One of the biggest stumbling blocks for First Nations is ISC itself. SNEC has purchased property over the years to add to the reserve, maintaining its tax-exempt status, by going through the ISC Additions To Reserve (ATR) process. The problem is the process is holding up communities and homes for First Nations people by refusing to move on adding...
Register
Weekly Cartoon
...
Register
NEWS: SN Police seek public’s help in shooting
OHSWEKEN, ON- Six Nations Police are appealing to members of the public for assistance with an ongoing police investigation that saw a person shot Saturday, Jan. 20th and two people leaving the scene. Six Nations Police were called to a Harold Road address Saturday, at about 3:00 p.m. after receiving reports of shots being fire and a man shot. Police and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and found a single victim suffering from a gunshot wound. The person was taken to a local area hospital in stable condition. Area witnesses told police a black Sports Utility Vehicle left the area at a high rate of speed shortly after the shooting. Two people were seen to be, being picked up by the same vehicle before it left the area....
Register
Six Nations Police: New constables and a new canine unit among coming changes
By Lisa Iesse Writer SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND – Six Nations Police honoured their founding leader Chief Glenn Lickers alongside a new deputy and constables as the department launches a set of new community initiatives. “(Chief Lickers) was given a lifetime achievement award, for all of his work and endeavours being a member of the First Nations Chiefs of Police Association,” Chief Darren Montour told the Turtle Island News on Monday. A special badge ceremony was held on Thursday evening January 18 at the Gathering Place where members of the Six Nations community paid tribute to a trailblazing mentor, and founding Six Nations Police Chief Glenn Lickers. “(The ceremony) was well attended with officers and their families, members of the council and police commission. And we recognize our four...
Register
POLICE LOOKING FOR ASSISTANCE FROM THE PUBLIC
(OHSWEKEN, ON) The Six Nations Police are appealing to members of the public for assistance with an ongoing police investigation. On Saturday, January 20, 2024, at approximately 3:00 PM, officers with the Six Nations Police Service along with Emergency Medical Services were dispatched to a Harold Road address where reports of shots being fired were received. Officers arrived on scene and located a single victim suffering from a gun shot wound. The individual was taken to a local area hospital in stable condition. Witnesses in the area were able to describe a black Sports Utility Vehicle leaving the area at a high rate of speed shortly after. Two individuals were seen to be picked up by the same vehicle before it left the area. One male party seen leaving the...
Register
Chiefs reveal protected list and draft new players
By Sam Laskaris Writer A half dozen new players have become property of the defending national Mann Cup champion Six Nations Chiefs. For starters the Chiefs last week revealed the names of the three graduating junior players that they were protecting prior to the Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) Entry Draft, held this past Sunday at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville. MSL squads are allowed to protect a maximum of four individuals that played their junior lacrosse in their area. The Chiefs’ brass opted to protect three players: Ross Hill, Tyler Davis and Aiden Fearn. They toiled with the Six Nations Arrows’ Junior A club during the 2023 campaign. Fearn, however, ended up being traded to the Orangeville Northmen for the latter half of the season. But the Chiefs...
Register
Nolan among panelists at Toronto’s Carnegie Initiative Summit
By Sam Laskaris Writer Former National Hockey League player and coach Ted Nolan will be among the panelists at the Carnegie Initiative (CI) Summit in Toronto next week. Nolan, a member of Garden River First Nation in northern Ontario, is one of several Indigenous panelists that will take part in the event, which will be held Jan. 30-31 at the Hilton Downtown. Nolan played 78 games in the NHL. He suited up for 60 games with the Detroit Red Wings and 18 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. As a bench boss he captured the Jack Adams Award for being the NHL’s Coach of the Year during the 1996-97 season when he was with the Buffalo Sabres. Nolan will be part of a Jan. 31 morning panel titled When Hockey Doesn’t Love...
Register
SPORTS BRIEFS
By Sam Laskaris Writer All three of the Six Nations-based squads in the Arena Lacrosse League came up a bit short in their latest efforts this past weekend. For starters, the Six Nations Snipers scored a season-high 19 goals in their Saturday afternoon contest. But the visiting Snipers were still downed 25-19 by the Peterborough Timbermen, in a match held at the Millbrook Arena. Danton Miller, playing in his first game for the Snipers, led the club offensively with eight points, including four games. With Saturday’s loss the Snipers are still seeking their first W of the season. They are now sporting an 0-5 record. The Snipers’ next opportunity to enter the win column will be this Saturday when they will square off against the defending league champion Toronto Monarchs....
Register
Lily Gladstone, first Native American actress nominee, travels to Osage country to honor Oscar nod
By Jocelyn Noveck THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Lily Gladstone knew she wanted to be somewhere special when the Oscar news came. And that somewhere was not home, watching on TV, but in Oklahoma with the Osage community, where the real-life version of her character lived and where Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” is centered. “I decided that I wanted to be on the Osage reservation, should this news come in today,” Gladstone said in an interview shortly after receiving her historic nomination for best actress, the first Native American so honored. “I wanted to be as close to Mollie Kyle and her family as I could be. So I’m here in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Once things wrap up, I think I’m gonna load up and drive out to Fairfax and...
Register
Incident downtown brings back memories of missing son
By Dave Baxter Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The mother of a man who has been missing for almost a decade says news of a recent incident at a Winnipeg hotel has opened up old and painful wounds because that hotel is one of the last places her son was seen alive. “It just triggered me to see something like that happen at the Marlborough Hotel, because that is where the investigation started when Colten went missing,” Lydia Joyce Daniels said on Tuesday. “A lot of sad thoughts have resurfaced, so it’s been a tough few days.” Daniel’s son Colten Pratt was 26 years old and hanging out with a group of friends at the Marlborough Hotel on Smith Street on Nov. 6, 2014. At some point in the early morning...
Register
