Celebrated poet Gimaa R. Stacey Laforme reflects on Grief, Hope, and Reconciliation
By Riley Murphy, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Caledon Citizen During National Indigenous History Month, residents were invited to join in a night of words and reflection by celebrated poet and storyteller Gimaa R. Stacey Laforme. The event, hosted by the Town of Caledon and IDEA Caledon, allowed attendees to gain insights into the power of poetry as art, as told by Laforme. Laforme, previously Chief of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN), has been serving his community for more than 20 years. Laforme shared poems from his books, Living in the Tall Grass and Love, Life, Loss, and a Little Bit of Hope: Poems from the Soul. His poetry collections invite non-Indigenous people to see through the eyes of Indigenous people, exploring topics such as peace and humanity,...
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Cooler conditions forecast for much of B.C., expected to aid in fire fight Slugline: Wildfires-BC
By Brieanna Charlebois British Columbia’s wildfire service says cool conditions and thunderstorms are in the forecast for much of the province as nearly 90 wildfires actively burn. Its latest situational report says thunderstorm activity is expected across the province, bringing a low to moderate chance of lightning provincewide. The BC Wildfire Service says nearly 75 per cent of the blazes burning in B.C. have been sparked by lightning. It says the Fort Nelson area in the northeast is getting the most rain, which will help reduce the intensity of the fires there. The service says north and central B.C. will see seasonal temperatures, and while there may be a slight drop in temperature in the south, hot and dry conditions are expected to linger. The forecast comes after an out-of-control...
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Public comment period opens for Kahnawà:ke residency law
By Lucas-Matthew Marsh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Iori:wase The Kahnawake Legislative Commission (KLC) has launched a five-week comment period to gather information from residents regarding Kahnawake’s Residency Law. The review period will last from June 23, until July 17, and will allow residents to share any thoughts or concerns they have with the legislation. Melanie Gilbert, General Manager of the Kahnawake Kanien’kehá:ka Registry Office, said the comment period is aimed at allowing the community to have a direct say in the criteria that defines who gets to live in Kahnawake. “We’re hoping that we’re going to get some feedback from the general population saying what the changes are that they would like to see,” Gilbert said. The information collected during this period will be used by KLC to amend portions...
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Metal in water prompts testing for Six Nations residents
By Celeste Percy-Beauregard, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Hamilton Spectator Some Six Nations residents may be eligible for well water testing after elevated levels of strontium were found in local groundwater wells on the territory. In high concentrations, the metal can be of particular concern for infants, because it can replace calcium in developing bones. It can lead to a condition called rickets, which can include bone deformities, stunted growth and soft bones, according to a news release from Six Nations of the Grand River (SNGR). The elevated levels aren’t connected to flooding the territory experienced on June 18, the release said. Indigenous Services Canada will be testing wells on the territory for strontium, along with nitrites, nitrates and manganese. High-risk groups — including those who are pregnant and breastfeeding,...
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MCK turns to the renewable energy market for stable long-term returns for KSWF
By Lucas-Matthew Marsh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Iori:wase It looks like the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) is becoming a major player in Quebec’s renewable energy sector, following the first positive performance of the Kahnawake Sovereign Wealth Fund (KSWF) this past fiscal year. KSWF, a community-owned fund managed by MCK, invests in a diversified portfolio that includes public markets and direct business ventures, with a particular focus on renewable energy projects. According to MCK Chief Paul Rice, who is the lead portfolio chief on the fund, the motivation to invest primarily in the renewable energy sector was driven by both current market trends and Kahnawake’s own community values. “We value the land,” Rice said. “We want to invest in things, we want to invest into projects that are looking more...
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Haldimand councillors ‘appalled’ as mayor fires top civil servant using expanded powers
By J.P. Antonacci, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Hamilton Spectator The mayor of Haldimand County fired the rural municipality’s top civil servant on Friday in what some observers suspect is a case of political payback — a charge the mayor denies. In a short news release, the county announced the “departure” of chief administrative officer Cathy Case as of June 27. Case was dismissed using so-called “strong mayor” powers, which give Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley the unilateral authority to fire the CAO without a vote of council. The news release did not explain why Case was let go. In an email to The Spectator on Wednesday, Bentley said the CAO’s role is being “restructured” as part of “a broader effort to reduce the strain on taxpayers and to ensure the...
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Praise for crews, worries for health as fire season returns to Dehcho
By Jacksen Friske, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cabin Radio Wildfires and smoke are back in the Dehcho. For some residents, it’s just another summer. Others are worried about the consequences. Twelve of the 17 fires reported in the Dehcho region this summer remain out of control, N.W.T. Fire reported on its website on Wednesday. No communities are immediately threatened, the wildfire agency stated. Communities such as Nahanni Butte, Fort Liard, Fort Simpson and Wrigley could face extreme fire danger at points over the coming days, though some rain is also forecast to move across the Dehcho. At the Dehcho First Nations, director of land and resources Jessica Jumbo said her community of Sambaa K’e has dealt with heavy smoke for around two weeks. She told Cabin Radio the crown of...
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Fire again threatens Lytton, B.C., one of hundreds of blazes across Canada
By Brenna Owen This week marks the four-year anniversary of a deadly wildfire that destroyed the British Columbia village of Lytton and the community is again under threat, with a fire burning out of control north of the community setting off evacuation orders and alerts. The Izman Creek fire saw the Thompson-Nicola Regional District issue an evacuation order for three properties and an evacuation alert for nine addresses along Highway 12 around 8 p.m. on Tuesday. The BC Wildfire Service said the blaze discovered Tuesday had grown rapidly to about 25 hectares in size, closing the highway in both directions for about 60 kilometres as ground and air firefighting crews respond. The fire is among about 470 fires burning across Canada, including more than 80 in British Columbia. Alexandria Jones...
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Sign at Ontario’s popular Sauble Beach changed to reflect First Nation land ownership
By Vanessa Tiberio A landmark sign at a popular Ontario beach was changed just before Canada Day to reflect a First Nation’s ownership of the land. The red sign on the shore of Lake Huron in South Bruce Peninsula that previously read “Welcome to Sauble Beach” now reads “Welcome to Saugeen Beach.” Saugeen First Nation band councillor Sonya Roote says the name change was a “long time coming,” and follows a 2023 court ruling that a two-kilometre stretch of Sauble Beach belongs to the community. The court found that the stretch of land had been improperly surveyed 170 years ago and returned its ownership to Saugeen First Nation. Roote says the new sign at the popular tourist destination is temporary and community consultations will take place for a more permanent...
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Funding Cuts Are Shutting Down This Successful Indigenous Midwifery Service
By Michelle Gamage, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Tyee An Indigenous-led midwifery service on southern Vancouver Island that reduced child apprehensions says it has had to close due to a lack of provincial funding. Last week, the co-founders of the South Island Indigenous Midwifery Service held a rally at the B.C. legislature calling on the government to fund their program. Between 75 and 100 people attended the rally, which was an “amazing turnout,” said Nathalie Pambrun, co-founder of the midwifery service and a Franco-Manitoban Métis registered midwife. “The community really showed up for us.” This closure affects the lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) peoples, on whose traditional, unceded territory Victoria is built, urban Indigenous communities on the South Island and Indigenous people flown to Victoria during their third trimester, Pambrun said. She added...
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Eskasoni Powwow draws crowds from near and far
By Rosemary Godin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cape Breton Post With a powerful message to all First Nation’s people who attended the 34th annual Eskasoni Powwow Saturday afternoon, announcer Donnie Speidel opened the event by telling the people: “We are the answer to our grandmother’s prayers.” Eskasoni First Nation Chief Leroy Denny welcomed people who had come from near and far. He told everyone that they were welcome and mentioned many of the places the Mi’kmaq dancers had travelled from. Traditional grass dancers opened Saturday afternoon’s 34th annual Eskasoni Powwow over the weekend. The grass dancer’s role is to prepare the ground for the grand entry of leaders and dancers at Indigenous celebrations. The movements of the dancers are graceful and strong, imitating swaying, long grasses found in the prairies...
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Public utility insists it hasn’t blown it on wind energy deals
By John Chilibeck, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Daily Gleaner First Nations in New Brunswick hope to cash in on four big new wind projects, but just how much it will cost people paying the bills remains a secret. NB Power, the public utility that forged the deals announced in May, won’t disclose the terms of the deals. “We don’t comment on the specifics of power purchase agreements, as the details are commercially sensitive and subject to confidentiality provisions,” said NB Power spokeswoman Elizabeth Fraser in an email to Brunswick News. She insisted there was a safeguard: all of the agreements’ costs are subject to review by the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board, the province’s independent regulator that holds rate hearings every time NB Power wants to charge customers...
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Lloyd Axworthy accuses Carney of taking ‘bootlicking’ approach to Trump
By Dylan Robertson Former Liberal foreign affairs minister Lloyd Axworthy is accusing Prime Minister Mark Carney of taking a “bootlicking” approach to U.S. President Donald Trump at the expense of Canadian values. “You have to be principled, you have to be tactical, you have to be pragmatic. But you also have to be tough and know what you stand for,” Axworthy said in an interview with The Canadian Press. “Flattery is always part of the game, but you can take it to the point where you actually become unctuous.” Axworthy spoke to The Canadian Press after issuing an online broadside last Sunday against the Carney government. Axworthy, whom prime minister Jean Chrétien appointed as foreign affairs minister from 1996 to 2000, oversaw the Ottawa Treaty that banned landmines in numerous...
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Millions in ‘unfair’ legal fees part of a broader problem in First Nations law
By Sonal Gupta, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Canada’s National Observer Legal fee agreements between a First Nation and its former law firm were unfair and, in some cases, unenforceable, a Saskatchewan judge concluded. Some legal experts say the issue is more common and causes more harm among First Nations than with the general population. The decision, released Tuesday, settles a 2021 dispute over millions of dollars in legal fees and penalties tied to historic claims against the federal government. “This was obviously a big win for Beardy’s and Okemasis Cree Nation, but this is also a big win for First Nations generally,” said Edwin Ananas, chief of the nation, in a recent press release. In 1999, Calgary-based Maurice Law, which describes itself as “the first and largest Indigenous-owned national law...
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Twinn re-elected Swan River chief
By Pearl Lorentzen, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeside Leader Lee Twinn was re-elected chief of Swan River First Nation, on June 25. He beat out three other candidates: Gerald J. Giroux (former chief), Mark Giroux (Davis) (councillor on the previous council), and Darryel Sowan (Mr. D). Chief Twinn is joined on council by Dale Chalifoux, Ryan D. Davis (re-elected), and Richard Woodman. The new council is half returning and half new representatives. The last Swan River election was June 2022. Chief and all four councillors elected in 2022 ran in 2025, two for chief and two for council. In total in 2025, 473 ballots were cast, of which two were spoiled. Twinn received 176 votes. The runner up was former chief Gerald Giroux, with 112, followed by Darryel Sowan...
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Special Investigation Unit notified after Brantford Police arrest armed man
BRANTFORD ONT- Brantford police have arrested a city man after receiving reports of a man brandishing a knife at people at a Henry Street gas station. Brantford Police Service (BPS) responded to the scene at about 7 a.m. Tuesday, July 1, 2025 and after an “interaction with police” a 41-year-old Brantford man was arrested. Police said the suspect had refused to comply with police. The man was charged with possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose, and three counts of assault with a weapon. No physical injuries to the public or police occurred as a result of the incident. As a result of interaction with officers, the BPS have notified the province’s Special Investigation Unit (SIU) which has invoked its mandate. As such, BPS will be unable to provide further...
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Brant OPP lay charges in intimate partner violence
BRANT, ON – Brant County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have laid charges as the result of report of an intimate partner dispute June 29, 2025. Brant OPP said a verbal dispute between intimate partners escalated to an assault and as a result of the investigation, a 52-year-old individual from Brantford has been charged with the following offences: Assault with a Weapon Assault Cause Bodily Harm – Choke, Suffocate or Strangle (Two Counts) Mischief The accused was released from custody with conditions and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brantford on July 24, 2025. The OPP takes all reports of intimate partner violence seriously. If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse or violence, help is available. Please contact the police, a trusted support agency,...
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Sentencing delayed for young sexual assault victim caught with illegal images
By Keith Lacey, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Penticton Herald A 22-year-old Penticton man, identified as L.H. to protect his identity, pleaded guilty to possessing nine images of children engaged in sexual activity, found on his cellphone from when he was a teenager. During a day-long sentencing hearing, court learned that L.H. was a victim of childhood sexual abuse during his teenage years, a factor central to the sentencing considerations. Crown attorney Ann Lerchs proposed a six-month conditional sentence with strict conditions, including house arrest, while defence counsel Garen Arnet-Zargarian argued for a conditional discharge, which would allow L.H. to avoid a criminal record if he complies with court conditions. Justice Lynett Jung reserved her decision, to be delivered within one to two weeks. “There are a lot of mitigating factors...
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Six Nations community cannabis meeting questions role of local cannabis commission as industry explains itself
By Tara Lindemann Writer The growing and contro-versial Six Nations cannabis industry is raising not only some tempers, but turned a sometimes heated public meeting at the Six Nations community hall last week into a learning session and love in for the industry. The meeting was organized by local woman Rhonda Martin who, concerned over the rapid growth of the local cannabis industry, focused in on one massive cannabis operation on Fourth Line on the outskirts of Ohsweken. The operation has raised the ire of its neighbours who were surprised to find it growing up almost in their backyards. But instead of the meet-ing raising tempers it turned into an educational aware-ness and support session for the local industry as indus-try owners took to the floor to explain their operations...
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Flooding hits band buildings, Iroquois lodge still closed
Six Nations says it is still in the early stages of assess-ing the full extent of damage caused by flooding on June 18, with no date for Iroquois Lodge residents to return home. Six Nations Elected Coun-cil’s (SNEC) new CEO, Tracy Brant, said band staff were working around the clock to secure support and survey damages. Brant provided an update at SNEC’s General Council meeting on June 23 explain-in professional assessments were ongoing, and response efforts are being coordinated in real time. Brant stressed the primary focus remained on deter-mining the health and safe-ty conditions of impacted buildings, including central infrastructure and private homes. “We haven’t even gotten to a point where we under-stand how affected some of the buildings are,” Brant said. She said an industrial hygienist has already...
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