PSAC strike hit Six Nations!
For first time in 20 years, Six Nations teachers, PSAC members hit the pavement seeking a new deal! The strike ended early Monday morning. Teachers are now back in school! We bring the strike action in a Photo Essay by Jim C. Powless....
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Six Nations land rights saga
New documents, in what has become the continuing saga of Six Nations massive land rights case, a case estimated to be worth billions of dollars is continuing to play itself out in the courts and it is revealing. Allegations thrown by the local Men’s Fire are now being questioned as the Haudenosaunee Development Institute gets its day in court. And asks questions that the whole community has been asking for years. Just who are the members of the Men’s Fire and is it anymore than a local men’s club and if it is, then what is it? Who is it? And who’s interests does it represent? All questions being raised during the current chapter of what is turning into an almost lifelong pursuit of the settlement of Six Nations of...
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Empire Homes building city on Six Nations treaty lands
By Councillor Helen Miller Empire Homes, a major housing developer, is planning to build a new community on 4200 acres in Nanticoke. This new community will have 15,000 houses with an estimated 40,000 people making up the new community. In addition there will be stores, businesses, parks etc. Although the new community is outside the Haldimand Tract, the 4200 acres is part of Six Nations treaty lands. Last week after hearing about this project I immediately informed Six Nations of the Grand River Elected Council (SNGREC). Elected Chief Mark Hill contacted Haldimand County Council (HCC) Mayor Shelley Bentley to get more information. During their discussion Chief Hill found out the HCC was hosting a town hall meeting on April 26th. I agreed to attend and represent SNGREC. Currently, Empire Homes...
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World Indigenous leaders meet in New York City
By Marc Lalonde, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Indigenous leaders from around the world came together last week in New York City for the 22nd session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII). The conference was part of an ongoing international dialogue on Indigenous rights and Indigenous Peoples’ contributions addressing pressing global issues, including climate change. The aim of the conference was to amplify the voices of Indigenous youth and climate leaders while spotlighting climate action rooted in Indigenous knowledge, rights, customs, and legal traditions, a delegation member said. “Attending the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) makes clear the plight of Indigenous people across the globe, and that we are all unified in the goal of bringing to reality an equitable and just world,’’ said...
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Rivermen open 2023 season with victory over the Crushers
By Sam Laskaris Writer It took them a bit to get going. But the Six Nations Rivermen, the defending Ontario Series Lacrosse champions, were able to register a convincing win in their first match of 2023. The local Senior B lacrosse squad downed the visiting Clearview Crushers 15-6 in its season opener held this past Saturday at the Six Nations Sports and Cultural Memorial Centre. The Rivermen were unable to get onto the scoreboard and found themselves trailing 2-0 after the opening 20-minute period. Clearview also managed to score the first goal of the second period to go ahead 3-0. The Rivermen responded with four unanswered goals and then found themselves enjoying a 7-5 lead heading into the third period. Six Nations outscored the Crushers 8-1 in the final 20...
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Sam Laskaris – BEHIND THE ACTION – Brandon Montour
By Sam Laskaris Writer No doubt there will be many local hockey fans who are feeling somewhat torn during the next little bit. Because of its proximity to Canada’s largest city, numerous Six Nations members will be cheering on their favourite team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, who ended a 19-year playoff drought this past Saturday and finally won a series. To recap, the Maple Leafs advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs for the first time since 2004 thanks to a 2-1 overtime victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning. That OT triumph, capped off with a goal by Toronto captain John Tavares, allowed the Leafs to win their best-of-seven series in six matches. The following evening it was revealed that Toronto’s second-round opponent would be the Boston Bru…...
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Lacrosse, lacrosse and more lacrosse at all levels
By Sam Laskaris Writer Six Nations fans will certainly be able to get their lacrosse fix in the coming days. There’s certainly no shortage of games – at both the professional and amateur levels – that they’ll either be able to attend or follow along with. For starters, the pro National Lacrosse League (NLL) commences its post-season action on Friday. The circuit, which saw 15 squads compete in regular season action, had eight of its teams advance to the playoffs. One of the contests local fans will certainly be either attending or keeping a close eye on will be the Toronto Rock versus Halifax Thunderbirds tilt, which will be staged Friday, beginning at 7:30 p.m. That match, held at the current Rock home rink of FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton, will...
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Lacquette returns as Second Assist hockey program ambassador
By Sam Laskaris, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Brigette Lacquette worked her way up through the hockey ranks to earn a milestone. Lacquette, a member of Cote First Nation in Saskatchewan, became the first First Nations player to suit up for the Canadian national women’s hockey team. Lacquette, who is now 30 and lives in Calgary, was a member of the Canadian squad that captured a silver medal at the PyeongChang Olympics staged in South Korea in 2018. “I have personally experienced the challenges that kids from diverse backgrounds facewhen trying to access sports programs,’’ Lacquette said. That’s why she jumped at the opportunity last year when asked to become an ambassador for a diversity, equity and inclusion hockey program operated by Kruger Products. The program has two components. For starters,...
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Turtle Island News marking 25 years of helping you help Mother Earth with our annual tree give-aways!
For 25 years Turtle Island News has been handing out free trees to the community and we will be doing it again this Friday, April 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or until they run out! Publisher Lynda Powless and salesman Darren Doxtater are ready to hand out cedars, white pines, apple and maple trees, blueberry and blackberry bushes. So come over to Turtle Island News to help us celebrate 25 years of helping Mother Earth!!!...
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“On Native land” anthem lyrics nothing new for some First Nations people
Jason Bird chuckles when he talks about the fuss that singer Jully Black has raised by changing a line in Canada’s national anthem to “on native land.” The professor of governance at the First Nations University of Canada says he and his friends used to sing the opening lines to O Canada that way all the time when he was in school. Black’s version of the song at the NBA all-star game has raised plenty of dissonance on social media. But Bird says he doesn’t find changing a syllable of the national anthem to be that big a deal. He says he’d rather Canadians were talking about real economic and political reconciliation. Still, he acknowledges it might be a way to open a dialogue, and have a laugh or two...
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Column: Sam Laskaris – BEHIND THE ACTION
By Sam Laskaris Writer While growing up Mekwan Tulpin participated in her share of sports. She represented her school on various basketball, volleyball, rugby, badminton and competitive cheerleading teams. Heck, she even played tackle football on a high school boys’ squad. But it’s lacrosse – a sport she only took up when she was 21 – where Tulpin has really been making her mark. And now Tulpin, who is 32 and has lived in Ohsweken for the past 13 years, will have an opportunity to further educate plenty of others on the sport that she is most passionate about now. It was announced this past week that Tulpin has been selected as one of the Lead Ambassadors for the Women’s Box Lacrosse Global Network (WBLGN). The newly created WBLGN is...
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EXPLAINER: What you need to know about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
By Joyce Jonathan Crone Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Violence against Indigenous women and girls is on the rise. Indigenous women and girls in Canada are 16 times more likely than non-Indigenous women to be targeted and killed, and 12 times more likely to be murdered or go missing. A Canadian Women’s Foundation report states that in 2020, one in five women killed in Canada were Indigenous. Indigenous leaders and advocates in Winnipeg are saying the missing women and girls crisis is at a national state of emergency. Families of lost women face an uphill battle to find their loved ones. On June 21, 2022, human remains were found at the Brady landfill in Winnipeg. Protesters have been blocking access to the waste management facility and have called on all levels...
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Column: Sam Laskaris – BEHIND THE ACTION
By Sam Laskaris A lifelong passion for sports has paid off for Kevin Sandy. The Six Nations member received the news last week that he is being inducted into the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame. Sandy is certainly a worthy inductee. In fact, it was difficult to pinpoint just one hall of fame category to recognize Sandy’s accomplishments. As a result, he was inducted via the athlete AND coach AND builder categories. That’s a trifecta. Not too shabby for the 58-year-old who never envisioned himself becoming any sort of Hall of Famer one day. Growing up Sandy played for various Six Nations youth box and field lacrosse teams. His hardware collection included winning gold, silver and bronze medals at national championships. In later years he had some success...
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Six Nations Original Traders Energy sues former CEO allege stole millions
SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND-Two Six Nations business owners have launched a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against the former CEO of their company and his wife, who they claim stole from them to launch their own chain of gas stations, accused the non-Indigenous couple of engaging in “disgraceful misconduct,” and say they were negligent, stole from the business and it’s left the company’s finances in dire straits. Scott and Miles Hill, brothers and co-founders of Original Traders Energy (OTE), which has its headquarters at Six Nations of the Grand River allege in a statement of claim filed at the Superior Court of Justice in Toronto, that a non-Indigenous couple who worked for their company conspired with others to build the Gen7 brand using stolen funds from OTE. The 44-page statement of claim...
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Ontarians mark Truth and Reconciliation Day in events across province
Events featuring Indigenous traditions are being held across Ontario as communities mark the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. In Toronto, a gathering at the city’s downtown Nathan Phillips Square began with a sunrise ceremony followed by Indigenous musical performances and speakers who addressed the crowd. A sunrise ceremony was also held in Niagara Falls, Ont., where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was among those who participated, he later spoke with residential school survivors and gave a speech at an event marking the day. Later today, Premier Doug Ford is set to attend the unveiling of a garden at Queen’s Park that the province says is meant to recognize the continuing treaty relationship between the Crown and Indigenous Peoples. Ford wrote in a statement that Ontarians will take the time today...
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Six Nations wins Ontario Fire fighters competition
By Lynda Powless Editor Suited up in full gear from helmets to boots firefighters from Indigenous communities tested their skills in an Ontario wide competition Saturday that saw Six Nations emerge, wet and tired, but victorious. The Ontario Native Firefighters Society (ONAS) held their annual Firefighters Competition Saturday topping a three-day visit to Six Nations that included training at the Six Nations Firefighters Training Centre. But on Saturday it was all about a 33-year-old competition based on firefighting skills that tested their strength and endurance. The teams included both seasoned veterans to first time rookies representing First Nation Fire departments from Chippewa, Shawinigan, Grassy Narrows and of course Six Nations. ONAS president Melvin McLeod said the competition focuses on timed evolutions using firefighting skills needed to man hoses to buckets...
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Three Fires Homecoming Pow Wow returns to Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation
By Bree Duwyn Writer MISSISSAUGAS OF CREDIT FIRST NATION -The Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN) 34th Annual Three Fires Homecoming Pow Wow has returned bringing with it both a fun-filled weekend and message of keeping events green. After COVID-19 put a halt to many events, the MCFN pow wow welcomed visitors to the traditional gathering and homecoming this past weekend (Aug. 20-21) for the first time since 2019. On Saturday, nestled behind MCFN’s administration buildings, pow wow attendees walked through the entrance and into a bustling event, filled with vendor tables and food trucks. Following the sound of drums and dancing feet, visitors walked down to the Grove, where the grand entry and numerous dances were taking place amidst the trees. Bob Goulais of the Nipissing First Nation,...
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Champion of Champions Pow Wow – Winners and Appreciation
Winners & Appreciation By Charlene Bomberry The Grand River “Champion of Champions” Powwow Committee would like to share our gratitude and appreciation for this 2022 powwow. Thank you to Glen Styres Racing and Ohsweken Speedway for agree ing to work with us and preparing their venue as our new location. Thank you to everyone involved, from our committee, and most of all, our volunteers. We are so grateful to our Six Nations Community for the continued support and dedication in hosting such a large event, which brings in record numbers to our community. Grand River “Champion of Champions” Powwow first began in 1980 on the shores of the Grand River at Chiefswood Park. For over 40 years we had called Chiefswood Park our home. We are so grateful to Chiefswood...
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Six Nations Bread and Cheese was back
Bread and Cheese back in all its in-person glory By Bree Duwyn Writer Six Nation’s annual Bread and Cheese Day came back in full swing this year with the community returning to an in-person celebration on Monday May 23. A sunshine filled day helped attendance that snaked its way around the arena to the street after droves of community members trailed alongside the celebratory parade to the arena to collect a hunk of bread and cheese and mark a 156 year old tradition that began in the 1860s when Queen Victoria . Queen Victoria had gifted the Haudenosaunee, originally with blankets, for their allyship during the War of 1812 that led to the creation of Canada. That gift changed to bread and cheese when her parliament bemoaned the expense. At...
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