Weekly Cartoon
...
Register
A third of Canadians support changing anthem to say ‘our home on native land’: poll
By Maan Alhmidi THE CANADIAN PRESS TORONTO- A new poll suggests only a third of Canadians support a proposal from Mississauga, Ont., to ask the federal government to change the lyrics of the national anthem. The proposed resolution put forward by Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie would – if passed by council – ask Ottawa to alter the line that reads “O Canada! Our home and native land’’ to “O Canada! Our home on native land.’’ Market research firm Leger surveyed 1,525 people online between June 7 and June 11, asking whether they support the proposal. The results indicate 33 per cent of those polled support changing the anthem, with 48 per cent opposed, and 19 per cent saying they don’t know. Support for the change was higher among younger Canadians,...
Register
More work to be done on Indigenous representation in corporate world: panel
TORONTO-More work needs to be done to improve Indigenous representation on corporate boards and in business, according to a panel of Indigenous women in the business world. “There are so many highly talented and capable Indigenous people in this country that could take those seats on boards, but we have to ensure that we’re … looking outside of the criteria that we’ve always looked at,’’ said Tabatha Bull, president and CEO of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business. Corporate boards should expand their criteria when seeking new members, said Bull, as Indigenous people are often excluded because they lack things like top management experience. One common criteria for board positions is chief executive-level experience, said Bull. “We know that there’s a barrier to have Indigenous people on the C-suite,’’ said...
Register
‘Get at the truth’: Judge to study handling of sex allegations against Nunavut priest
By Emily Blake THE CANADIAN PRESS A retired Quebec judge is to lead a review into how the Oblates handled past allegations that a former priest sexually abused Inuit children in Nunavut. The Oblates of Mary Immaculate, OMI Lacombe Canada and the Oblates of the Province of France said Monday they have appointed former Superior Court justice AndreDenis to lead the Oblate Safeguarding Commission. They said it will aim to understand how allegations against Johannes Rivoire were addressed within the Catholic congregation and to identify improvements to Oblate policies and governance to better protect minors and ensure accountability. A final written report is to be made public no later than April 1, 2024. “We recognize that … there’s no healing, there’s no reconciliation without truth. And so we’re trying to...
Register
Six Nations Rebels seeking undefeated regular season
By Sam Laskaris Writer Six Nations’ three junior lacrosse clubs are having varying degrees of success in their 2023 campaigns. The most successful local squad thus far has been the Six Nations Rebels, who were undefeated after winning their first 18 regular season outings. The Rebels racked up three more victories this past week. For starters, they downed the host Elora Mohawks 11-7 last Thursday. Six Nations then defeated the visiting Guelph Regals 11-6 in a match held at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (ILA) on Friday. The Rebels completed their three-games-in-three-days schedule by edging the host St. Catharines Athletics 10-8 on Saturday. The Six Nations squad had just two regular season contests remaining, including a Tuesday night road tilt against the Cambridge Highlanders, staged after The Turtle Island News press...
Register
Four First Nations artists to collaborate on Invictus Games 2025 visual design
By Mina Kerr-Lazenby, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Four Indigenous artists have been chosen to create and design the visual identity for the upcoming Invictus Games, due to be held in Vancouver and Whistler in the winter of 2025. The logo will represent the four local First Nations, with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation’s Olivia George, the Squamish Nation’s Ray Natraoro, the Lil’wat Nation’s Levi Nelson and the Musqueam Nation’s Mack Paul to collaborate on one Coast Salish design. “This is a big honour,’’ said Natraoro, an accomplished carving artist renowned for his wood masks, rattles, totems and canoes. “I am honoured and privileged to be the Nation member selected to represent the Squamish Nation.’’ Natraoro said the creative gig was a “great opportunity’’ to showcase and tell the story of his own...
Register
Rivermen require third-period rally to register road victory
By Sam Laskaris Writer The Six Nations Rivermen have reached the midway mark of their regular season. And the Rivermen, the defending Ontario Series Lacrosse (OSL) champions, find themselves sitting atop the standings of their six-team circuit, sporting a 6-1-1 mark. The local Senior B squad entered the week with a game in hand and two points ahead of the second-place Owen Sound North Stars, who had compiled a 5-3-1 mark in their first nine outings. Though Six Nations managed to win its latest match, the club’s brass was not entirely happy with the proceedings of Saturday’s road contest versus the Ennismore James Gang. The Rivermen required a seven-goal, third-period outburst to down the James Gang 10-8. Ennismore has only managed to win one of its first seven contests but...
Register
Six Nations members gearing up for world lacrosse championship
By Sam Laskaris Writer Six Nations will be well represented at the world men’s field lacrosse tournament which begins next Wednesday in San Diego. The Haudenosaunee squad that will participate at the 10-day event includes nine players that are Six Nations members as well as two others living in the community. Also, the club’s general manager Darcy Powless and assistant coach Vince Longboat are Six Nations members as well. A total of 30 teams will compete at the world tournament. The Haudenosaunee side will take part in the highest-calibre Pool A. This grouping also includes Canada, United States, Australia and England. All squads will play four round-robin matches before playoff action commences. “I think we’re going to do well,” Powless said. “The players have bought into what we want to...
Register
New Canada Post stamp honours first Indigenous woman to lead a Canadian government
ULUKHAKTOK, N.W.T. -The first Indigenous woman to lead a provincial or territorial government in Canada is being honoured with a new stamp. Canada Post says it has unveiled a stamp in honour of Nellie Cournoyea, known as a champion of her people in Canada’s western Arctic. Cournoyea was the first Indigenous woman, and second woman, to head a provincial or territorial government in Canada, serving as premier of the Northwest Territories from 1991 to 1995. Canada Post says in a statement Cournoyea is known for the unwavering vision, work ethic and heart that have guided her fight for Indigenous self-determination and Inuit empowerment. Canada Post says the stamp is one of three Indigenous leaders stamps that will be released on June 21. The postal operator is also issuing stamps paying...
Register
Squamish Nation to celebrate centennial Amalgamation Day anniversary
By Mina Kerr-Lazenby Local Journalism Initiative Reporter One hundred years ago, in the summer of 1923, 16 First Nations chiefs, a large group of government officials and a smattering of interpreters gathered around a document that would shape the future of the u?xwumixw, the several Squamish communities that lived in British Columbia. The political amalgamation agreement declared that the chiefs’ 16 villages would assemble as one governing body, and with the signing of the document the S?wx?wu7mesh ?xwumixw (Squamish Nation), as we now know it, was born. This July, the Squamish Nation will celebrate its centennial year with a month-long hosting of events. Designed to showcase the Nation’s culture, heritage and history, the events, funded with $129,700 of the government’s B.C. Fairs, Festivals and Events (BCFFE) fund, span the modern...
Register
AFN National Chief facing the heat at coming all chiefs summer assembly
National Chief Archibald continues battle over human resources investigation ahead of chiefs assembly Count down begins to June 28th AFN Special Chiefs Assembly where first female National Chief could be ousted By Shari Narine, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief RoseAnne Archibald is once more fighting to retain her position as head of the national organization. It’s not unexpected, Archibald told Omushkegowuk Nations chiefs at their annual general assembly on May 30. Anytime change is needed, the status quo pushes back because there is “discomfort by people and some lashing out,’’ she said. The AFN is no different as it has become a “cushy place where some people benefit and others don’t,’’ she said. The AFN is holding a Special Chiefs Assembly (SCA) June 28...
Register
Current Six Nations Elected Council loses its second finance director
Six Nations finance department is again without a leader at its helm after SIx Nations Elected Council (SNEC) confirms Ana Cecil Perez no longer works for Six Nations of the Grand River. The loss of the finance director surfaced when Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) passed a motion to update its signing authority during Monday’s General Finance Committee meeting. Councillor Michelle Bomberry, who took over chairing the meeting after Elected Chief Mark Hill left to attend a premier’s meeting, read the motions, but the motion was passed with no discussion. “There are changes within the finance department and we need to remove a signing authority on all business accounts at RBC as one current signing authority is no longer employed with Six Nations of the Grand River,” she said. The...
Register
Six Nations farmers saying corporations taking over, shifting from farming to teaching and grocery store
The Six Nations Farmers Association (SNFA) is looking for funds to build a $5.6 million agricultural resource centre and grocery store on the territory and are hoping Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) will support the idea, despite having presented more than a year ago. Ruby Jacobs spokesperson for the SNFA, along with members Frank Montour, Jesse Porter and others gave SNEC a presentation on the association’s The Six Nations Agricultural Resource Centre (SNARC) and supermarket at the General Finance Committee meeting on June 5. They want a Band Council Resolution to help support their search for funding for the project they’ve been working on since 2017. Jacobs said SNARC and its grocery store would need to have a central location to sell locally-grown produce with the possibility of meat, dairy...
Register
Six Nations Food Bank gets $20,000 donation
The Six Nations Food Bank got a $20,000 boost, thanks to Hagersville Lions Club’s Catch the Ace jackpot. After the Hagersville Food Bank received 30 per cent of the jackpot winnings from the coveted Catch the Ace prize, they very generously decided to share their winnings with five other local banks, including the Six Nations food bank. Turtle Island News spoke with Six Nations Food Bank Chair Mary Monture who said the funds are greatly needed, and will go directly towards the purchase of needed items. “We’ve already put in place an order for this coming month,” she confirmed. Monture explained that after receiving the donation on May 23, the Six Nations food bank put in an order for food staples such as vegetables, fruit, pasta, juice, sauces, beans, and...
Register
Six Nations annual Tom Longboat Run about Family and Fitness
By Lisa Iesse Writer SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND – The Tom Longboat Run swept through Six Nations Sunday June 4th) with over 100 community members and visitors running, biking, strolling, and walking to a shared finish line. They ran, jogged, strolled, and glided on bicycle wheels from the starting line at the Six Nations Community Hall down 4th Line to Mohawk Road and back. Six Nations has honoured one of their own with a statue in front of Six Nations Community Hall. Six Nations Parks and Recreation Director Cheryl Henhawk is one of the original organizers of the Tom Longboat Run. She told the crowd of runners its difficult to describe the greatest long distance runner of his time, and perhaps of all time? He was called “The “Bronze...
Register
Cost to produce Six Nations 154th annual fair going up
Six Nations’ 154th annual Fall Fair’s midway could cost more than $100,000. Six Nations Agricultural Society (SNAG) vice president Leslie McDougall said the community asked for a larger midway with more rides for adolescents and adults in addition to rides for small children this year. McDougall gave Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) an update on the fair at its General Finance Committee meeting on June 5 and said the cost has risen beyond the society’s means and they asked SNEC for $60,000 to help fund the midway and 24-hour security for the event from a reputable security company or the Six Nations Police. The contract for the midway will cost $130,000 for the three-day fair. “We had a couple incidents at the fair last year, we’d like to try and...
Register
How many fish from the Grand River should you eat?
Six Nations is trying to help the federal government determine how many fish they should recommend people eat from “areas of concern.” Lauren Jones, Wildlife Management Assistant, Lands and Resources helped administer an anonymous survey during Community Awareness events that addressed where Six Nations community members are fishing. Jones told Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) the survey was designed to tell the government and SNEC if community members are fishing in waterways deemed concerning at the general council meeting on May 23. “The ethics application largely just revolved around an anonymous survey… to determine Six Nations use of the areas of concern within southern Ontario,” she said. The waterways of concern were listed as the Toronto waterfront, Hamilton Harbour, Niagara River and Jones asked that the Grand River be included....
Register
SN Elected Council approves professor’s tourism study
Six Nations tourism may get some help from the University of Waterloo. Anke Foeller Carroll, a University of Waterloo researcher was approved to co-create a course with Indigenous perspectives and explore how Indigenous Tourism Experiences are Created. Foeller Carroll’s application was approved at Six Nations Elected Council’s General Council (SNEC) meeting on May 23 after agreeing to share her research and physiological profiling with Six Nations Tourism. Darrin Jamieson, Six Nations CEO said Six Nations Tourism is now under SNEC. “I also think the results of the research, part of the ethics process to share that in Six Nations just in terms of the psychological profiling for the marketing, will be very helpful,” he said. Foeller Carroll said her goal is to help improve how future tourism students and tourists...
Register
What has the AFN accomplished lately?
RoseAnne Archibald is heading into her final year as the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief and it has been a controversial two years. Elected in July 2021 to a three year term the first female leader has faced controversy throughout her term. Right from her election during COVID-19 questions arose after the AFN had to go to a second day of voting and a fourth ballot when none of the candidates reached the 60 per cent threshold they needed to take the helm. Add to it Chiefs raised concerns that online voting was creating a “data glitch” in the voting process. And there were chiefs who express concern that chiefs in British Columbia, a huge voting block, were unable to participate with wildfires forcing evacuations of their communities....
Register
Weekly Cartoon
...
Register
