Six Nations Economic Development trust corrects huge funding error
By Lisa Iesse Writer SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND – The Six Nations Economic Development Trust (EDT) just walked-back a massive $1.2 million “calculation error” in their second call to the community for 2024 funding applications. On March 28, EDT sent out a media release saying there was an error in the previous figure of $1.7 million (announced on March 19)to be given out. Instead the organization has $502,300 in funding available for 2024 community grants. Katie Montour, EDT’s community and public relations officer, said the error happened when funding amounts already used in previous years somehow got mixed up in calculations for 2024. “The variance was for projects from years prior to 2023, whose funds were expended in fiscal 2023 and they were erroneously omitted in the calculation of...
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Rescuers launch feeding plan for killer whale calf stranded in remote B.C. lagoon
By Dirk Meissner THE CANADIAN PRESS ZEBALLOS, B.C.- A killer whale calf stranded in a remote tidal lagoon for almost two weeks appears healthy, with signs the young orca is seeking prey, but officials are awaiting results of a deeper analysis of its condition. Rescue officials, who have been trying to coax the two-year-old orca calf to pass through a narrow, swift-moving channel leading to the open ocean, will now attempt to feed the young whale, said Paul Cottrell, the Fisheries Department’s Pacific region marine mammal co-ordinator. The rescue team will see if the calf will eat harbour seal remains placed around the lagoon where the young killer whale is known to frequent, Cottrell said in a shoreline interview near the village of Zeballos, located more than 450 kilometres northwest...
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Indigenous cast shifts perspective from the male focus in fur trade to women’s power
By Sam Laskaris Local Journalism Initiative Reporter A play with a comedic look at the Canadian fur trade of yesteryear has come full circle. Playwright Frances Koncan, a member of Couchiching First Nation in northern Ontario, wrote Women of the Fur Trade and initially mounted a production of it at the 2018 Toronto Fringe Festival. It won the festival’s Best New Play contest. Since then the play has had successful runs in Winnipeg (2020), Stratford, Ont. (2023) and Ottawa earlier this year. Women of the Fur Trade is now gearing up for a run at Toronto’s Aki Studio from April 9 to April 21. “It’s really exciting,” said Koncan. “I think of Toronto as the biggest theatre city in Canada. It’s really nerve-wracking but exciting.” The Toronto production will feature...
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Group fights for sacred tobacco’s cultural future in Alberta Indigenous communities
By George Lee Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The significance of a late-winter’s visit to the legislature lives on for its Indigenous participants, officially honoured for spreading their message about using tobacco in a good way. Tears welled up for a Tobacco Warrior from Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation. And she wasn’t the only one. “I’ve never experienced anything like that before,” says Vanessa Kyme-Gilbert of the Keep Tobacco Sacred Collaboration. “Being there made me realize how important the work we are doing is. I just really appreciated that and to have the opportunity was very humbling,” continues the University of Alberta student and employee of the Yellowhead Tribal Council. “It felt good to see so many Indigenous people inside the legislature. You look around and we’re crying. It was great.” Adds...
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First Nation challenging Metis rights in court
By Darlene Wroe Local Journalism Initiative Reporter TEMAGAMI- Temagami-area First Nations communities say they will continue their court action to have the Ontario Metis Harvesting Agreement declared illegal with respect to their homeland, N’dakimenan. The Teme-Augama Anishnabai (TAA) and Temagami First Nation (TFN) chiefs and councils have been advised that the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has sent a letter to Marc Descoteaux requesting the removal of a cabin at Pond Lake, which is within the area claimed by the TAA and TFN. Descoteaux is a member of the Metis Nation of Ontario (MNO) and made an application to the ministry for approval under MNO rights to construct the cabin. However, in recent months the MNO concluded that the MNO as a whole did not approve the construction...
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Wolastoqey Nation can’t ‘pick and choose’ whose land it wants: Irving lawyer
By John Chilibeck Local Journalism Initiative Reporter New Brunswick’s biggest timber company argued in court Tuesday that large landowners have become the favourite part of the menu in the Wolastoqey Nation’s title claim. Thomas Isaac, a lawyer working for J.D. Irving, Limited, was in the Court of King’s Bench as part of a landmark case that involves more than half of New Brunswick’s territory. The company and two other firms – H.J. Crabbe & Sons, and Acadian Timber – have put forward motions asking Justice Kathryn Gregory to remove them from the claim, which includes the province, Ottawa and 25 companies as defendants. Crucially, the claim does not name tens of thousands of private landowners whose smaller properties are also in traditional Wolastoqey territory in western New Brunswick. The Indigenous leaders...
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`Father of Nunavut’ receives Order of Canada medal
By Jeff Pelletier Local Journalism Initiative Reporter On the day Nunavut celebrated its 25th anniversary, one of the territory’s founding fathers was presented his Order of Canada medal in a private ceremony. John Amagoalik was officially invested as an officer of the Order of Canada by Gov. Gen. Mary Simon in Iqaluit on Monday. Amagoalik, 76, was named to the Order of Canada in December 2019 by then-governor general Julie Payette, meaning his investment ceremony was an event four years in the making. Simon announced the ceremony had taken place while speaking in Iqaluit at a public event to celebrate Nunavut’s 25 anniversary. She described Amagoalik as a “Canadian hero.” Amagoalik was originally from Inukjuak, Nunavik, and is one of the survivors of the High Arctic relocation, when the federal...
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Advocacy groups decry federal government’s shutdown of mental health website, app
By Nicole Ireland THE CANADIAN PRESS Mental health and addictions experts are slamming the federal government’s decision to shut down an online service where people could find free counselling and peer support over the last four years. Health Canada announced in February that it would stop funding the Wellness Together Canada website and PocketWell app on April 3. Despite a public plea from an alliance of 18 mental health and addictions organizations for the government to reconsider, the service ends at 11:59 p.m. EDT Wednesday. “We know that tens and thousands, if not millions, of Canadians are in need of mental health and substance use health support. And that has only worsened as a result of the pandemic,” said Sarah Kennell, national director of public policy for...
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North American Eclipse over Haudenosaunee lands
Eclipse: No connection to Haudenosaunee Confederacy founding By Lynda Powless Editor When the darkness began the Royanni gathered under a white pine tree. As the darkness began to ebb and the sun light began to shine, the oldest democracy in the world, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, was formed. During an eclipse over a thousand years ago peace came to the Haudenosaunee. At least that’s what a number of non-native scholars would have the world believe. While Cayuga subchief and Haudenosaunee Confederacy Council secretary Leroy Hill encourages people to watch the eclipse safely he says there is no connection to celestial event and the formation of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Council (HCC). He says the only reference to an eclipse and the HCCC came from early writings of non-native scholars trying to figure...
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Six Nations prepares for North American solar eclipse
Six Nations is preparing for the solar eclipse on many fronts for community members and visitors. Nathan Wright, Six Nations Elected Council’s (SNEC) CEO gave a report to council at its General Council meeting on March 26 outlining its preparations ahead of the solar eclipse that will take place on April 8 in the afternoon from about 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Six Nations Fire Chief Michael Seth called a meeting of the ECG Team to discuss potential issues the nation may see on the territory during the eclipse, including increased traffic. “We’ve been monitoring news reports coming out about the solar eclipse with Hamitlon, Niagara and Six Nations being identified as premiere viewing places,” Wright said. They have informed Six Nations police who will be patrolling the roads to...
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Haudenosaunee gather to mark North American solar eclipse
By Lisa Iesse Writer Momentum is building again throughout the Haudenosauee Confederacy territories as a “monumental” total solar eclipse rematriates a path of “restoration” “reconnection” and “rebirth” on April 8. “It’s passing over every single one of our Haudenosaunee Nations.It’s a pretty important time for all of us, for renewing those important commitments to each other and also in this time of conflict around the world,” Dawn Iehstoseranónnha told the Turtle Island News. Iehstoseranon:nha is a Feather Keeper/Protector and artist who practices bird medicines. She is Akwesasronon, Wakhskaré:wake (Bear Clan). “I think it’s just really monumental for us to be standing together at this time and calling for peace again,” she said . Along with Samantha Doxtator, an Oneida astronomer and Kelly Back, an Akwesasne Mohawk artist and traditional practitioner,...
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Make safety a priority watching or photographing eclipse
By Lisa Iesse Writer Astronomers warn stargazers to protect their eyes (and iphones) when looking directly at the sky during the solar eclipse on April 8. The projected pathway including times and locations of the total solar eclipse on April 8, can be viewed on virtual maps posted on NASA’s website https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5123/ The eclipse is projected to begin at about 2 pm EST in Six Nations, coming from the southwest and will move northeast across Turtle Island towards the east coast. Astronomers say the partial phases of the eclipse (which happens before and after the total eclipse) is when it’s most dangerous to look directly at the sun. Looking at the sun before and after “totality” (the moment when the moon totally covers the sun) can cause retinal burns, permanently...
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Six Nations Fall Fair seeking $120,000 in funding from SNEC
The Six Nations Fall Fair is looking for financial support from Six Nations Elected Council to improve the fall fair for its 155th year. Leslie McDougall, president of the fair board, told Six Nations Elected Council they’re looking for $120,000 for the fair’s annual budget at the General Council meeting on March 26. “To run a successful event we need assistance covering costs,” she said. “any monetary support we can get… Last year it was a little bigger and better and we’re hoping to make it bigger again this year.” This year the fair is scheduled to run September 6-8 and include a kid’s day, concerts, wrestling, a demolition derby, midway, trade show, horse show, raptor show, competitions with prizes and much more. The fair board’s largest costs include the...
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Six Nations Elected Council structure change complicated
Six months after being elected Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) members are being assigned political portfolios and committees to help them advocate for certain issues, but it’s a rocky start. It’s the longest period of time in three decades that SNEC councillors have taken to organize portfolios and committees. SNEC is hoping to give the many departments seeking political advocacy a clearer direction as to who will advocate for the different issues, but some councillors are confused about the structure and process. Councillor Helen Miller told a Political Liaison Committee meeting on March 25 she didn’t know who was responsible for what. “This is where I’m running into difficulty with the new organization,” she said. “We (CAP Team) met last week and Lonny (Bomberry)’s staff and everybody went over all...
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Six Nations supporting new national park in Guelph
Six Nations will support a National Urban Park in Guelph. Six Nations Elected Council approved a motion to write a letter of support for the advocacy group, Urban Park Guelph’s mission to have the former Reformatory Lands designated a National Urban Park at its Political Liaison meeting on March 25. Councillor Amos Keye’s suggestion to add a clause to the motion that the support for the park is conditional on Six Nations receiving recognition as the land location falls within the Haldimand Tract. “This park is on the historical lands of the Six Nations of the Grand River,” he said. Councillor Helen Miller said she attended a meeting with the Consultation and Accommodation Process Team and they would ensure there was a plaque if the park comes to fruition. The...
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Six Nations to review pandemic response
Six Nations wants to know the good, the bad and the ugly about its response to the pandemic. Zach Miller, Executive Director of Planning, Performance and Evaluation and Debra Johnathan, a former nurse-in-charge of Gane Yohs Health Centre presented their plan to evaluate Six Nations Elected Council’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “On April 1, 2024, next month SNEC will commemorate four years since its response to COVID-19 ushered in a period of adaptation in the community,” he said. The SNEC executive team asked Miller to comprehensively review the crisis response and they hope to identify methods of improvement. The team includes Miller, Jonathan, Sara Curley-Smith, epidemiologist, Maggie Galant, and Jenniefer Smith. Miller said they were chosen because they were all involved in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic or...
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Doomsday, the world’s end …or just child like wonder!
Okay, everyone is catching the North American solar eclipse fever and with good reason. For many of us the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse will be last opportunity to see a full eclipse. The eclipse will be visible in parts of the U.S., Mexico and Canada and North America won’t see this solar phenomenon again until 2044. What it translates into is on April 8 because of our position in the eclipse path there will thousands making trips to favourite spots to don the funky glasses and watch while the sun disappears behind the moon’s shadow. And with it that eerie, spooky feeling that comes when an unusual event takes place like darkness hitting in the middle of the afternoon. For some areas it will be a madhouse. Niagara...
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Six Nations councillors learn chief’s staff attending outside political meetings after pressing for reports
Six Nations Elected Council ((SNEC) are putting pressure on the Elected Chief’s staff to ensure reports have names and are sent to council in a timely fashion after learning the elected chiefs staff are now replacing councillors at political meetings. Elected Chief Sheri-Lyn Hill was not present at the February 26 Political Liaison meeting. Councillor Greg Frazer, who chaired the meeting in her absence, tried to skip the standing chief’s update section of the meeting noting her absence. Political Advisor Christopher Mahon confirmed there was no update until questioned by councillors he later confirmed she was at the Chiefs of Ontario for a Leadership Advocacy Strategy Session. He said she would be able to meet Premier Doug Ford and Minister Of Indigenous Affairs, Greg Rickford. Councillor Melba Thomas objected to...
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Brant/Brantford/Six Nations MPP Will Bouma takes on new role
TORONTO- MPP Will Bouma is taking on a new role as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Northern Development “By supporting ministers with legislative and committee responsibilities or taking on important projects with dedicated leadership, parliamentary assistants play a critical role in delivering on our plan to rebuild Ontario’s economy,” said Premier Ford in a statement. “With today’s announcement, I’m thrilled to recognize and showcase our team’s in-depth experience, which will help us continue to get it done for the people of Ontario.” As the MPP for Brantford-Brant, Dr. Will Bouma represents the Six Nations of the Grand River – the most populous First Nations reserve in Canada as well as Missisauga of the Credit First Nation. Parliamentary...
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