N.S. still failing to consult on law blocking protests on Crown land: Mi’kmaq leaders
By Lyndsay Armstrong A Mi’kmaq leader in Nova Scotia says the provincial government continues to ignore First Nations’ concerns on a new law they say targets their community’s ability to protect its territory. The law was recently pushed through the legislature without advanced notice or consultation, said Twila Gaudet, the director of consultation for Kwilmu’kw Maw-klusuaqn, which works on behalf of the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs. In a statement Tuesday, Gaudet said the law “appears to be targeting Mi’kmaw harvesters who are protesting the unsustainable forest management practices in the Cape Breton Highlands.” Among other things, the law makes it illegal for protesters to block forest access roads on Crown land, and offenders could be fined up to $50,000 and imprisoned for up to six months. It also...
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EA B Recreation and Parks Master Plan approved by RDN Board
By Hope Lompe Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder Years in the making, and in collaboration with the Gabriola Island community, the RDN Recreation and Parks Master Plan draft for Electoral Area B was approved by the Regional District of Nanaimo Board on Oct. 14. For the next 10 years, recreation services and parks decisions on Gabriola, Mudge and DeCourcy Islands will be guided by this Master Plan. It was developed through public engagement and partnerships with the Gabriola Recreation Society and Gabriola Land and Trails Trust, who work with the RDN on Gabriola recreation, trails and parks management. A Snuneymuxw First Nation representative also contributed to early planning and discussion. “I’m really pleased. It was a long process, but I believe that it provides a really useful framework, not just...
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Vatican will return dozens of artifacts to Indigenous groups in Canada as part of reconciliation
By Nicole Winfield VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican is expected to soon announce that it will return a few dozen artifacts sought by Indigenous communities in Canada as part of its reckoning with the Catholic Church’s troubled role in helping suppress Indigenous culture in the Americas, officials said Wednesday. The items, including an Inuit kayak, are part of the Vatican Museum’s ethnographic collection, known as the Anima Mundi museum. The collection has been a source of controversy for the Vatican amid the broader museum debate over the restitution of cultural artifacts taken from Indigenous peoples during colonial periods. Negotiations on returning the Vatican items accelerated after Pope Francis in 2022 met with Indigenous leaders who had traveled to the Vatican to receive his apology for the church’s role in...
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Iqaluit-Tasiluk candidates offer different visions for the future
By William Koblensky Varela, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunavut News The two candidates for Iqaluit-Tasiluk offered starkly different responses to why they are running for MLA in the territorial election. Incumbent MLA George Hickes defended his record in the legislative assembly, saying his decade of experience has given him the tools to lead. “I’ve had the honour of serving Nunavut in some of the most critical portfolios: finance, health, and justice. From successfully managing the territory’s finances during uncertain economic times, to helping lead our response to the Covid-19 pandemic,” Hickes said of his tenure. Challenger Malaiya Lucassie said she is running, in part, to change the rental allowance subsidy, which is supposed to help offset housing costs for government employees who do not reside in subsidized housing. “Applications are...
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Vatican will return dozens of artifacts to Indigenous groups in Canada as gesture of reconciliation
By Nicole Winfield VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican is expected to soon announce that it will return a few dozen artifacts to Indigenous communities in Canada as part of its reckoning with the Catholic Church’s troubled role in helping suppress Indigenous culture in the Americas, officials said Wednesday. The items, including an Inuit kayak, are part of the Vatican Museum’s ethnographic collection, known as the Anima Mundi museum. The collection has been a source of controversy for the Vatican amid the broader museum debate over the restitution of cultural goods taken from Indigenous peoples during colonial periods. Negotiations on returning the Vatican items accelerated after Pope Francis in 2022 met with Indigenous leaders who had traveled to the Vatican to receive his apology for the church’s role in running...
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Manitoba Wildlife Federation warns highway blockade sets “dangerous precedent” as hunters denied access to Crown lands
By Steven Sukkau, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Winnipeg Sun The Manitoba Wildlife Federation (MWF) is sounding the alarm over what it calls an “unlawful blockade” on a provincial highway leading to the east side of Lake Winnipeg, a move the group says is denying licensed hunters and anglers access to Crown land during moose season and, if left unchecked, could set a “terrible precedent” across the province. In letters to both the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Gary Anandasangaree, Canada’s Minister of Public Safety, MWF alleges that members of Bloodvein First Nation have set up a roadside barrier, initially referred to as a “check stop”, that is now operating as a full blockade, turning away non-Indigenous hunters from accessing public land. According to the federation, Chief Young of Bloodvein...
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University of Winnipeg emphasizes revitalizing downtown
By Maggie Macintosh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Winnipeg Free Press The University of Winnipeg has charted a course for the next five years that leans heavily on its position as a member of the downtown community. A business professor, physics researcher, Indigenous scholar, international student and the CEO of its community renewal corporation announced the five-year road map, Meeting the Moment, on Tuesday at the campus hub for science and environment studies. “The University of Winnipeg has always played a key role in the heart of our downtown,” Jeremy Read told the crowd at the Richardson College for the Environment. “This plan empowers us to build on that legacy in new and meaningful ways.” Read, the leader of the University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corp. — the entity that designs...
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Two new wind farms expected to be online by 2028
By Andrew Bates, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Telegraph-Journal Two proposed wind farm projects south of Sussex are now in the provincial environmental assessment phase with a goal to be online by 2028. Environmental impact assessments were registered in September for the Salmon River Wind Project, nine kilometres south of Hammondvale, and the Paqt’smawei Sipu Wind Project, 15 km southeast of Springdale. The projects, are being developed by Natural Forces Developments Limited Partnership, a Halifax-based private energy producer, in partnership with local Indigenous groups and NB Power. “We’ve done a lot of hard work in preparing the two submissions,” said Austen Hughes, vice president, project finance for Natural Resources. “That would be in the hands of the province to review the information, reach out with any questions and then in due...
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Wildfire fighters, evacuees call on feds to restore equipment and training funding
By Nick Murray A group of wildfire evacuees, volunteer firefighters and Indigenous wildfire guardians is in Ottawa this week calling on the federal government to do more to prevent seasonal wildfires. This year’s wildfire season, the second-worst on record, saw nearly 9 million hectares consumed — larger than the area of New Brunswick and P.E.I. combined and more than double the 10-year average. The delegation will meet with MPs to press for the restoration of federal funding for equipment and training, and investments in clean energy to address climate change. Ottawa pledged $300 million in 2022 to help provinces, territories and First Nations buy firefighting equipment. It promised another $39 million to train 1,000 new community-based firefighters. While the funding was supposed to last five years, the delegation says the...
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N.S. still failing to consult on law blocking protests on Crown land: Mi’kmaq leaders
A Mi’kmaq leader in Nova Scotia says the provincial government continues to ignore First Nations’ concerns on a new law they say targets their community’s ability to protect its territory. Twila Gaudet, who works on behalf of the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs, says the law was recently pushed through the legislature without advanced notice or consultation. Among other things, the law prohibits protesters from blocking forest access roads or building a structure on Crown land. Offenders face fines up to $50,000 and up to six months in jail. Gaudet says the bill appears to target Mi’kmaq community members who are protesting what they say is unsustainable forest management practices in the Cape Breton Highlands. Minister of L’nu Affairs Leah Martin says she is having conversations with the assembly...
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Six Nations marks Remembrance Day
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Supreme court upholds $2 million debt in Mohawk Council of Kanesatake vs Sylvestre
The 24-year-old court battle affects protection of on reserve property By Lucas-Matthew Marsh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Iori:wase The Supreme Court of Canada has unanimously upheld a $2 million debt against the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake (MCK) in its ruling on Mohawk Council of Kanesatake vs Sylvestre. It’s a decision that multiple chiefs say makes a bad situation much worse. MCK Acting Vice chief Brant Etienne recalled feeling “gutted” when he got the news. “It’s not going to be the end of the world,” Etienne said. “But it’s definitely a hindrance to making things better.” The nearly 24-year legal battle drew attention from First Nations across Canada because it involved Section 89 of the Indian Act, which protects property on a reservation from seizure by non-Indigenous creditors. Eric Doucet, legal...
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Six Nations community wide Food Sustainability summit coming
Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) has approved a plan to host a community-wide Food Sustainability and Food Security Summit with the aim to strengthen local food systems and support year-round access to healthy foods. The Department of Well-Being and Well-Being Committee motion, was approved at SNEC’s October 14th meeting. The motion called for the summit to bring together farmers, food producers, hunters, and other stakeholders in the community to collaborate on improving food security at Six Nations. Councillor Amos Key Jr. said the idea grew from months of discussion among committee members and staff about how to better connect people and programs already working to feed the community. “We’ve been talking about bringing everyone together, the farmers, the greenhouse on Fourth Line, the Kayanase Greenhouse people, the folks who organize...
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Social Services building construction extended, costs up
Completion of Six Nations Social Services huge building renovation not only received a three-month renovation extention but costs have ballooned to almost $15 million. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) approved the extension at its Oct 14th session. The Community Committee sought the extension on behalf of Paulsan Construction who said they need more time to complete the project. SNEC approved the new date, authorizing Chief Executive Officer Tracy Brant to sign the change order once it is prepared. The request extends the Social Services and Administration Building at 15 Sunrise Court, completion date from September 26, 2025, to December 15, 2025. Councillor Cynthia Jamieson asked about potential expenses tied to the extension and Councillor Dale Bomberry said the delay will not result in additional capital costs, but there may be...
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Brantford native Housing moves closer to new housing facility
By Carly McHugh, Writer Brantford Native Housing (BNH) is much closer to breaking ground on a new, 12-unit supportive housing facility, thanks to a $4.8 million investment from the Ontario government. Located at 309 Campbell St., the project is modelled after Ojistoh House, BNH’s current multi-unit transitional home for local urban Indigenous women and their children. Once complete, it will offer a variety of support services to more of these community members who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. “We have found that creating a safe space and independent place for women and children to rebuild their life, to have healing, and to be from a cultural perspective, and most importantly, for Indigenous by Indigenous, is amazing,” said BNH’s executive director, Alma Arguello. “They’re able to heal. They’re able...
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Six Nations Elected Chief “shocked’ during visit to Iroquois Lodge
Six Nations Elected Chief Sherri-Lyn Hill was “shocked” by the state of the Iroquois Lodge and is calling for construction of a new facility to start as soon as possible. Elected Chief Hill updated Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) on a series of community events, meetings, and initiatives during the General Council meeting on October 14. “It was shocking, the damage and devastation are nothing I’ve ever seen before,” she said. On October 7, Elected Chief Hill, Councillors Greg Frazer and Amos Key Jr., toured the Iroquois Lodge with Peter Kaftarian, Interim Deputy Minister of the Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care and the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility. Hill described the damage to the facility as “shocking” and said there is an urgent need to build a new lodge. She...
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Route 54 annual Harvest food give-away marks 15 years
By Lynda Powless Editor When it comes to family fun it doesn’t get any better than Route 54’s annual Harvestfest drive-thru food give-away. Kris Hill, owner, marked 15 years of feeding the community over Thanksgiving weekend. With the help of her extended family and friends over 12,000 pounds of food made its way into Six Nations homes. Volunteers filled over 720 re-usable bags and 500 plastic bags with harvest vegetables from beans to squash to onions to apples and more. Once filled the bags were given out to a line of vehicles that stretched down Highway 54 to the Chiefswood Road bridge, all waiting for their goodies. Kris says the event keeps getting “bigger and bigger so we just keep adding more stuff to it as best we can.” The...
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When one community’s legal decision signals others
First Nations across the country breathed a sigh of relief when the Supreme Court of Canada brought a 24-year-old legal battle between the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake (MCK) and a former lawyer to an end last week. Kanesatake didn’t pay a legal bill launched by a former lawyer for services rendered. Over the years, with interest climbing, it turned into a $2 million debt. A debt for some reason it appears Kanesatake thought would go away. It didn’t. Earlier this month the Supreme Court of Canada unanimously upheld the $2 million debt ordering the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake (MCK) to pay the bill in its ruling on Mohawk Council of Kanesatake vs Sylvestre. The ruling itself came as a huge disappointment to the community leadership who now say it will...
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Today in History
Oct 26 In 1988, two grey whales were freed by a Russian icebreaker in Barrow, Alaska. They were assisted by Inuit using chainsaws to cut the ice as the world looked on. A third trapped whale died before the rescue. In 2004, a Saskatchewan public inquiry found that aboriginal teenager Neil Stonechild, who froze to death in a snowy field on Saskatoon’s outskirts nearly 14 years earlier, was in police custody just before he died and that investigators closed the case In 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gave his cabinet a major overhaul — dropping Harjit Sajjan from defence, Carolyn Bennett from Crown-Indigenous relations, Marc Garneau from global affairs and Patty Hajdu from health. In 2021, Carolyn Bennett was shuffled out as minister of Crown-Indigenous relations. First Nations leaders had...
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Six Nations Police charge three in impaired driving incidents
OHSWEKEN, ONT. – During the month of September, Six Nations Police charged three separate individuals in suspected impaired driving related occurrences. The first incident occurred on Sept. 10, at approximately 5:12 p.m., after police received multiple reports of a vehicle driving erratically near Fourth Line and Tuscarora Road. When they approached its last known location, they saw a vehicle disobey the stop sign at Fifth Line and Tuscarora Road. Police then initiated a pursuit, but it was terminated due to the high rate of speed. However, a short time later, they located a vehicle that matched the description. A 21-year-old male was identified as the driver and police noticed signs of impairment. As a result of the investigation, Quintan Bomberry-Burnham was arrested and charged with dangerous driving, flight from police,...
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