Six Nations Community Awareness fun continues
Six Nations annual community awareness weeks are underway. Across the community various band department services opened their doors to provide information to the community on what they have available (along with a number of local organizations from Six Nations Polytechnic to the SN Grand River Development Corporation are opening their doors to explain what they do and how they do it. From firefighting to ambulance services to health services and others activities. The fun continues this week leading right into Six Nations biggest event of the year the annual Bread and Cheese celebration at the Six Nations arena on Victoria Day....
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Six Nations looking at ground water study in hopes of joining $8 billion clean drinking water settlement
Six Nations still doesn’t know if it qualifies to join a a major clean drinking water class-action suit that saw an $8 billion settlement last year. But Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) hopes joining the provincially funded Ambient Groundwater Geochemistry Program will give them a leg up in joining the suit. SNEC decided at its finance meeting Monday ( May 15, 2023) to launch the investigation into the study of Six Nations groundwater contamination hoping it will help Six Nations make a case to join the drinking water class action suit. It could also find out the level of contaminants in the water and how widespread the water contamination problem is. SNEC approved the environmental task force to look into joining the provincially funded Ambient Groundwater Geochemistry Program will also...
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Six Nations Cannabis Commission says its gaining trust
The Six Nations Cannabis Commission (SNCC) says it is making strides in repairing trust in the community, but it’s still having issues securing a bank account. Kathy Mair, SNCC chair gave Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) a quarterly update on the commission at its General Finance Committee meeting on May 15. She focused on the challenge of securing a bank account, getting more information out to the community, investing in the community, bringing cannabis industry leaders together, as well as creating a testing facility on Six Nations. “Lots of banks have said, ‘OK, move up the echelon’ and then say, ‘sorry we can’t help you.’ Two credit unions are very interested and we met with the vice president of regional sales we’re meeting next week with him. We’re hoping this...
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Six Nations land rights intervention in hands of judge
By Lisa Iesse Writer TORONTO- Who gets to intervene in Six Nations multi-billion-dollar land rights case is now in the hands of Justice Jasmine T. Akbaral after the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN) challenged whether Six Nations Haldimand Deed is an actual treaty. MCFN lawyer Nuri G. Frame told the court Friday (May 12th) the case has important implications to MCFN. “It is essential and foundational to my client’s worldview, to their cosmology, to their understanding of their place in the world. To their understanding of their future generations’ place in their world. Southern and southwest Ontario is their traditional territory.” Frame told the court MCFN were the sole possessors of the land, which was why the Crown entered into so many treaties with them for lands in...
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Six Nations Election Code under review
By Lynda Powless Editor Six Nations is just six months away from a band council election but possible changes to its election code are only beginning to surface. A Six Nations Election Code committee has been reviewing the 2019 Six Nations Election Code for almost seven months since late 2022. The committee, that has recently begun reaching out to the community, was mandated to not only review the election code but ensure revisions to the code are made by October a month before the coming November election . The eight member committee, includings two previous candidates for Six Nations Elected Council, began circulating questions that could become amendments to the 2019 election code recently. A number of the questions appear to focus on whether voters can reside on or off...
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The Feather Report – Spring Serenade
Photos by Carl Pascoe & Rachel A. Powless Native Territories Avian Research Project Big Dreams Small Wonders By Carl Pascoe Feather Reporter Warming weather invites you to go outside, offering opportunities to appreciate the annual spring serenade of bird songs surrounding you. It has the power to expand your awareness far beyond the thoughts and mental clutter constantly overwhelming us. The simple act of closing your eyes and hearing the constantly changing sounds saturating the air can closely connect you to the natural world. Many songbirds sing starting before sunrise so if you are early to awaken you can be treated to what we call the “Dawn Song” filling the air. Others may sing at any time during breeding season. You can recognize someone close to you by the sound...
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Band election code under review, did you know?
After what seems like four very, very long years Six Nations will be facing a band council election in just six months ending the longest band council term in its history. Whether or not the new four year term and voting for the entire council at-large continues may be up to the community. A committee of local people has been studying the current election code for the past almost seven months; And that should come as a surprise. Especially since there have been no community meetings, either in person or zoom and no community mail outs and unless you spotted a facebook page, that one has to know is there since no one has been promoting it, or if you are one of the few who were emailed a survey,...
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New artwork in Brantford features Six Nations artist
Brantford, ON –The next time you are shopping at the Brantford Farmers’ Market you can’t help but notice things are a little more colourful. A brightly colourful mural by Six Nations artist Kyle Joedike adorns a wall at the city’s marketplace. Joedike’s piece depicts historic Haudenosaunee agricultural practices and their understanding of the plant world. He brings the Haudenosaunee teaching of the Three Sisters plants , corn, beans, and squash to life showing their reliance on each other as they grow side by side in the mural. The mural also includes s the strawberry or “heart berry” and an abstract imagery depicting maple trees. Joedike, a Cayuga, turtle clan, member says he wanted to add dimension to the piece that would include Haudenosaunee teaching in a piece that would intertwine...
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Thompson taking break from Premier Lacrosse League this year
By Sam Laskaris Writer There will be a new scoring champion in the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) this year. That’s because Lyle Thompson announced on Monday that he is taking a break from the PLL, an American-based professional field lacrosse circuit. Thompson is a member of Onondaga Nation in the state of New York but is currently living in Ohsweken. Thompson led the eight-team PLL in scoring in 2022, racking up 44 points (26 goals and 18 assists) in just nine games. The announcement he would not play in the league this season was made via the Instagram account of his PLL squad, Cannons Lacrosse Club. “I’ve dedicated the past 15 years of my life to playing lacrosse year-round,” Thompson said in his statement. “I am grateful that my love...
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First Nations teen selected Ontario Hockey League’s humanitarian of the year
By Sam Laskaris, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Dalyn Wakely, a 19-year-old forward with the North Bay Battalion, has won the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) humanitarian of the year award called the Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy. Wakely, a member of the Curve Lake First Nation in Ontario, initiated a program to help feed North Bay’s homeless and low-income populations. Each Tuesday, beginning the past November and continuing until the end of the regular season in March, Wakely headed to The Gathering Place, a community kitchen that serves people in need. Through his Wake’s Sakes initiative, he would bring along two different teammates to help prepare and serve meals. Wake’s Sakes also staged donation drives with bins set up at the Battalion’s home rink, the North Bay Memorial Gardens. Throughout the season...
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Sam Laskaris – BEHIND THE ACTION –Local Lacrosse
By Sam Laskaris Writer Six Nations fans looking for a lacrosse fix have never had to venture very far. And that will continue to be the case this spring and summer. There’s no shortage of local squads, at the junior and senior levels, who have either started or about to commence their 2023 schedules. And early indications are several of those clubs will have winning campaigns. And no doubt a few of them will also be vying and possibly capturing their league championships. And who knows? Local squads could also go on to capture some Canadian titles this year as well. The community’s highest-calibre club, the Six Nations Chiefs who compete in Major Series Lacrosse, will kick off their regular season this coming Monday, May 22. The Chiefs will host...
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New national Indigenous hockey tournament might be launched in 2024
By Sam Laskaris Writer If the next few months go according to plan for Stephane Friday and Abigail Linklater, a new national Indigenous hockey tournament could begin in 2024. Friday and his partner Linklater, who are also the co-founders of the Hockey Indigenous website, are hoping they can launch what would be a third national tournament for Indigenous players. Currently, Indigenous athletes aged 13-17 are eligible to compete in the National Aboriginal Hockey Championship (NAHC). This annual tournament, which wrapped up in Winnipeg this past Saturday, celebrated its 20th anniversary. Meanwhile, those over 20 can participate in the Fred Sasakamoose Chief Thunderstick National Hockey Championship, which is held each year in Saskatoon. The 2023 tourney starts this Thursday and runs until Sunday. “We’ve had this idea for about two years...
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Toilet paper reference to Whitecloud an insult to Indigenous people
By Dave Baxter, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Geraldine Shingoose still remembers the jokes and the ridicule she would often face as a child because of her traditional Indigenous name, and that is why she felt sadness and anger after a high-profile sports broadcaster recently ridiculed the last name of a First Nations athlete from Manitoba playing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. “I was called goose, people just called me goose, and they thought it was funny, but when you’re just a young kid it really hurts,’’ Shingoose said. “Even back then I knew they were making fun of my name but they were also making fun of my culture, so they are making you feel ashamed about who you are.’’ On Monday evening, after the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the...
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Horror film from Metis director to screen in North American theatres
By Sam Laskaris, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Berkley Brady has already captured some awards for her horror film Dark Nature. But Brady, a Metis director/writer living in Calgary, has another reason why she’s pumped about the movie, which marks her feature film debut. That’s because Dark Nature will start screening in theatres across Canada and the United States on May 19. The film is about a survivor of domestic abuse who goes on a weekend retreat in the secluded Canadian Rockies. It will be shown in 30 theatres across Canada and 25 others in the U.S. “It’s really, really exciting,’’ Brady said of her film’s theatre run. Dark Nature had its world premiere last summer at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal. Brady’s movie has also been shown at...
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NEWS ALERT: Mississaugas of Credit First Nations claiming Six Nations’1784 Haldimand Proclamation not a treaty
TORONTO- In seeking intervenor status in Six Nations of the Grand River’s massive land rights lawsuit, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN) are challenging whether the 1784 Haldimand Proclamation, that sets out Six Nations lands, is a treaty and arguing they did not receive proper compensation for lands they sold. Nuri G. Frame, MCFN lawyer, told the court this morning, in the third day of an intervenor hearing into Six Nations land rights case, the MCFN needs to be part of Six Nations’ massive land rights case in order to provide their historical intrepretation of events that occurred over 200 years ago. Frame told the court MCFN disagrees with claims the Haldimand Proclamation is a treaty. He said MCFN thought instead Six Nations massive court case was a “narrow...
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Six Nations multi billion dollar land case: those seeking intervenor status heard
Six Nations of the Grand River’s multi-billion dollar land rights case is being held up by those seeking intervenor status By Turtle Island News staff TORONTO-Six Nations Elected Council’s (SNEC’s) 28 year old land rights court case could be stalled for another 35 years if the courts allow the Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI) to gain intervenor status in the case SNEC’s lawyer says. SNEC lawyer Robert Janes told an Ontario court Wednesday allowing the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council (HCCC) into SNEC’s lawsuit would result in costly delays. He urged the court to consider “the human cost of delay” saying a “typical Aboriginal case” can take from 5-6 years. But, the SNEC land rights case, as it currently stands, without intervenors, he said could take three to 10 years, but with additional...
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Part of First Nation southwest of Edmonton evacuated due to fire
By Angela Amato THE CANADIAN PRESS Wildfire danger has forced the evacuation of part of a First Nation southwest of Edmonton. Corrine Bell with the O’Chiese First Nation Emergency Management Response Team said Wednesday that 103 people have evacuated the northern area of the reserve. One home has been lost and several have smoke damage. “We’re taking advantage of the gap in weather to tend to hot spots,” said Bell, adding the community is hoping the wind won’t change directions. Bell said even O’Chiese Chief Douglas Beaverbones has been involved in the firefighting efforts on the First Nation, located about 230 kilometres southwest of Edmonton. Six nearby First Nations have also offered their fire services to help. “We’ve had an amazing support system from First Nations,” Bell said. An alert...
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Six Nations woman named festival director for imagineNATIVE
By Sam Laskaris Writer TORONTO – She’s back. Six Nations’ Lindsay Monture once again finds herself working for one of the world’s most prestigious Indigenous film festivals. Monture has been named as the festival director for the Toronto-based imagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival. She began her new position last Monday (May 1). “The position I’m in now is really my dream job,” said Monture, who is 34. For Monture, this is actually the third time she has worked for imagineNATIVE. She started off as a programming co-ordinator for the festival back in May of 2013. After seven months in that position she moved into a job focusing on events and outreach as well as being a tour co-ordinator for the festival. And then after six months she switched again...
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SNEC seeking more Jordan’s Principle funds
By Turtle Island News staff Six Nations Jordan’s Principle funds have increased significantly in the last few years, but Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) may be advocating for more to ensure students have adequate support after long stints out of the classroom. SNEC approved Six Nations Health Services application to Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) for Jordan’s Principle funds for just over than $8 million at the General Finance meeting on May 1. But many councillors want to push for more including funds for tutoring, mental health support, water connections and more. Elected Chief Mark Hill said it seems like Six Nations students have suffered more than others through the pandemic and with the recent Public Service Alliance of Canada strike. That strike included federal teachers, which forced the closure of Six...
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