First Nations look to traditional foods to improve health outcomes
By Maya Ekman, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, NWOnewswatch.com THUNDER BAY – A First Nations health agency is teaching traditional food skills in order to combat the negative impact of colonial food systems. Market-based food systems in place now don’t support the health and well-being of First Nation communities, explained Lloyd Douglas, a public health physician with Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority (SLFNHA). In fact, Douglas said that half of the items in the national nutritious food basket can’t even be found on-reserve, and the ones that are have a significantly higher cost. Indigenous peoples “have been here for thousands and thousands of years and have relied on their food systems, but now we’re seeing poorer health outcomes, and that’s via design,” he said. “First Nations’ food sovereignty is all...
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Canmore mural coated with new colour
By Leah Pelletier, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Rocky Mountain Outlook CANMORE – A Canmore artist has given new life to a downtown Canmore mural. Pat Jakubiec has left his mark, once more, on the wall behind JK Bakery Cafe (7th Avenue), spraying over his weathered design with a new Rockies scene. When the trees around the edges of the wall were cut leaving behind unpainted space, the artist felt it was time for a refresh. “I just said, ‘Ah, maybe it’s time to just blast it all over with something new,’” said Jakubiec. “We just kind of agreed that it was going to be an ever-changing and evolving space,” he added, agreeing with the building owner. Painting over his old design that featured classic Bow Valley symbols of an elk,...
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Ottawa to announce extension of gas tax holiday beyond Labour Day
By David Baxter Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne is expected to announce an extension of the gas tax holiday at a press conference in Ottawa on Wednesday. The Liberals temporarily suspended the federal 10-cent-per-litre excise tax on gas in April when the war in Iran caused global fuel prices to spike. Gas prices are rising again as conflict between the U.S. and Iran intensifies and as the Strait of Hormuz remains a supply line choke point. The excise tax suspension was supposed to end after Labour Day but a government official confirmed to The Canadian Press that the tax will not be reimposed next week. The federal government first paused the fuel excise tax on April 14. Statistics Canada reported the national average price for a litre of gas that month...
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First Nations near Parry Sound lead awareness campaign along Hwy. 400: ‘Our Community. Our Responsibility’
By Shania Tabobondung is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter writing for ParrySound.com. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada. Along Highway 400, near Wahta Mohawk Territory, three digital billboards display messages of hope and love for victims of human trafficking. These billboards were developed as part of a First Nations’ human trafficking campaign. The soon-to-be coalition is raising awareness of the issue in the local area. It started in February 2025, when discussions with local First Nations were held with B’saanibamaadsiwin, an Indigenous mental health program, to understand and support community priorities. One of the identified trends that kept emerging was human trafficking. “(They wanted more) training and more information; and a lot of people didn’t feel like they had enough knowledge about it, so they...
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Movie by Métis filmmaker will have its world premiere at Toronto festival
By Sam Laskaris, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Windspeaker.com Despite being a late applicant, Métis filmmaker Max Kornachuk was among five individuals chosen to have his movie concept produced and have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Kornachuk’s short film titled Where Our Flowers Grow will be part of the REDEFINED program, a collection of five movies that will screen at TIFF on Sept. 16. The National Film Board of Canada (NFB), in collaboration with TIFF, announced at the 2025 Toronto festival that it was seeking submissions for this year’s REDEFINED programming. Emerging filmmakers under the age of 30 from across the country were encouraged to submit applications for a film concept that showcased either Canadian diversity or what it means to be Indigenous. More than 240...
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Ogwadeni:deo takes message of ‘Taking Care of our Own’ to heart with Back to School give-away
Photos by Jim C. Powless Cars were lined up from Ogwadeni:deo’s driveway all the way down Fourth Line Friday with parents taking advantage of the Back To School Drive-Thru event. The Ogwadeni:deo staff were in full force along with Six Nations Fire Fighters volunteering to help with the give-away and a bit of traffic line-ups. The event helps parents cut costs with the school year looming....
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Six Nations Elected Chief says she was snubbed by Ontario Minister Rickford
By Lynda Powless Editor Six Nations used this year’s Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference to raise concerns about justice services, transportation and development within the Haldimand Tract, while making history as the first First Nation to have its own delegation room at the annual conference. But for Elected Chief Sherri-Lyn Hill being snubbed by Ontario Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation Greg Rickford seemed to top her complaint list. Elected Chief Hill provided an update at the Aug., 26th SNEC meeting saying she met with some provincial ministers and municipal representatives during the AMO conference in Ottawa. But not meeting with Ontario Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation Greg Rickford topped her list. Hill said the Six Nations delegation arrived early for...
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Six Nations continues to support language revitalization
The Six Nations Language Commission (SNLC) will receive $1,096,400 in funding for the 2026–27 fiscal year after Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) approved the organization’s funding request at the General Finance Committee meeting on August 17. “It took one generation, but we did it ourselves in this community because you know we’re always talking about sovereignty. We always want to know what that is. This is the sovereignty of who we are, trying to support languages,” Councillor Amos Key Jr. said. The funding decision followed the Commission’s annual presentation from Karen Sandy, executive director, Roronhiakehte Deer, an instructor and language revitalization strategist. The presentation outlined its language programming, community initiatives, student achievements and ongoing efforts to support the revitalization of the six Haudenosaunee languages in the community. Deer said the...
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Six Nations Elected council donates $120,000 to fair
The Six Nations Agricultural Society made Six Nations’ decision to donate to the fair easy. They brought statistics to the committee with them. Councillor Dean Hill, chair of the Community Committee gave a committee update to Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) at the General Council meeting on August 25 regarding the Agricultural society’s presentation. Hill said the information included participation numbers, booth numbers and bracelet sales, giving Council a clear picture of the fair’s growth and helping inform its funding decision. “One of the biggest updates that we can get from that was just the presentation by the Agricultural Society requesting the amount of $120,000 from Council for this year’s fall fair,” Hill said. He praised the Agricultural Society for the amount of information provided to the committee. “The amount...
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Over $1.2 Billion Paid Out Through FNCFS Class Action Lawsuit So Far
By Alex Murray, Writer The First Nations Child and Family Services (FNCFS) and Jordan’s Principle class action lawsuit just hit a major milestone. Over 30,000 First Nations people who were removed from their homes as children have so far received over $1.2 billion in compensation, Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak announced on August 17. “This milestone is important because it reflects the thousands of people whose experiences have now been acknowledged, while reminding us that others are still moving through the Claims Process,” National Chief Woodhouse Nepinak said. In a media release announcing the milestone, AFN noted this is one of the largest class action settlements in Canadian history. The full settlement agreement will include $23.34 billion in individual base compensation when all is said and...
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Camcorders to Canadian Screen Awards: Mikey Elliott Indigenous Representation Behind the Camera
By Alex Murray Writer Growing up in a two-bedroom trailer at Six Nations packed with seven family members, Canadian Screen Award-nominated makeup artist Mikey Elliott’s upbringing was tough—but he never wanted for creativity. Elliott, who is Mohawk Nation, Turtle Clan, said because he “grew up with not a lot,” he and his brothers had to rely on their imaginations to entertain themselves. “We would play pretend a lot, me and my brothers. We would go off in the woods and basically pretend that we were in Lord of the Rings or Star Wars,” Elliott told Turtle Island News. “We would grab whatever sticks we could out of the forest and pretend we had swords and lightsabers and whatnot.” A couple of decades later, Elliott had swapped his swords and lightsabers...
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Editorial: What’s in a name…onyadariyono (beautiful lake)
Could things get any tackier in the U.S. these days than the show we have been watching for the past few days as its President decides the most important issue for the U.S. is to rename a lake. Seriously! U.S. forces struck two Iranian missile launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz breaking a month-long lull in direct fighting and there is still no permanent peace deal in sight. At the same time the U.S is still involved in a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz And let’s not forget what happened in and is happening in Venezuela. The U.S. still has an ongoing security and intervention presence after deciding to capture President Nicolás Maduro. So what did the bored President Donald Trump decide was the most...
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UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY: Mattagami FN Celebrates Their 12th Annual Pow Wow
By Xavier Kataquapit Mattagami First Nation hosted its 12th Annual Pow Wow on August 15 and 16, with a great turnout of family, friends and visitors. In an opening address, Chief Jennifer Constant thanked the community for their support, the Pow Wow planning committee for their hard work, volunteers for joining in and all the performers, singers and dancers for being part of this year’s event. “A powwow is more than an event on a calendar. It is a coming together of generations. It is a place where our young people can see themselves in our culture, where our Elders can share their knowledge, where families reconnect, and where we celebrate who we are as Anishinaabe people,” said Chief Constant. The gathering was held on newly landscaped Pow Wow grounds...
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Haudenosaunee Nationals nab bronze medal and berth in world tournament
By Sam Laskaris Writer Some Six Nations members helped the Haudenosaunee Nationals capture some hardware at an international lacrosse tournament. The squad placed third at the nine-team Pan-American men’s field lacrosse championship, which concluded on Aug. 23 in Kingston, Jamaica. The Haudenosaunee roster included a pair of Six Nations players, Justin Martin and Jerry Staats. Meanwhile, Vince Longboat and Jason Johnson, who are also both Six Nations members, served as assistant coaches for the club. The Haudenosaunee team downed host Jamaica 16-9 in the bronze-medal match. Canada edged the United States 9-8 in the gold-medal contest. The top five finishers from the Pan-American event earned berths into the 2027 world tourney, which will be held in Japan next June. “The goal was to get to qualify for the world championships,”...
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Jordin Tootoo, Attima Hadlari to be inducted into Nunavut sport hall of fame
By Daron Letts, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunatsiaq News After months of planning, the Nunavut Sport Federation is launching its new Nunavut Sport and Recreation Hall of Fame, with a ceremony planned in Iqaluit this fall. The two inaugural inductees will be former NHL right winger Jordin Tootoo, from Rankin Inlet, and late Inuit games athlete Attima Hadlari. “We have a virtual hall of fame set up,” said federation operations manager Scott Schultz in an email. “Moving forward we are hoping to have a physical hall of fame, but we have not found a space yet.” The hall of fame could be spread across Nunavut’s three regions with the Kivalliq, Kitikmeot and Qikiqtaaluk each getting their own installation. From 2003 to 2017, Tootoo, played 723 games for the Nashville Predators,...
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Chiefs capture MSL title and earn right to host Mann Cup
By Sam Laskaris Writer It’s official. The Mann Cup will be awarded at Six Nations’ Iroquois Lacrosse Arena this year. But it remains to be seen if the national Senior A men’s lacrosse trophy will be captured by the host Six Nations Chiefs or the British Columbia-based Coquitlam Adanacs, members of the Western Lacrosse Association (WLA). The Chiefs earned the right to host this year’s best-of-seven national series, which will commence on Sept. 11, by convincingly beating the host Peterborough Lakers 10-3 on Sunday. With that victory the Six Nations squad won the best-of-seven, Ontario-based Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) crown in six games. The MSL and WLA take turns hosting the Mann Cup series. Coquitlam advanced to this year’s Canadian finals by beating the Victoria Shamrocks 4-2 in its best-of-seven...
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Six Nations golfer defends crown at Ontario Indigenous tournament
By Sam Laskaris, Writer John Monture Jr. continues to have success at the MontHill Golf & Country Club in Caledonia. The Six Nations member recently defended his men’s title at the Ontario Indigenous Golf Championship. Monture Jr. captured his second straight crown at the three-day event, which concluded on Aug. 19. He finished four strokes ahead of the second-place finisher, Ky Horn, a member of Mohawk Council of Kahnawake in Quebec. Horn had won the tourney in back-to-back years in 2023 and ’24. For Monture, this was the third time he’s won the tournament. He also took top honours at the inaugural event held in 2022. The tourney has been staged at the MontHill course since its inception. “It’s a special place for me,” MontHill said of the nearby facility,...
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Actor Tom Jackson calls for urgent action on wildfire resilience in Indigenous communities
By George Lee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Macleod Gazette Actor, musician and humanitarian Tom Jackson wants governments in Canada to help Indigenous communities become more resilient in the face of increasingly ferocious wildfires. Jackson, a veteran actor of Cree and Métis descent known for TV roles in North of 60 and Sullivan’s Crossing, said action is needed now to improve fire prevention and upgrade infrastructure. “To solve these issues effectively needs political will. Otherwise, it doesn’t have a hope,” the actor born on One Arrow First Nation in Saskatchewan told The Macleod Gazette last week. “But there is political will out there,” continued Jackson, a companion in the Order of Canada and the founder of the Huron Carole, a touring Christmas concert series and charity fundraiser. “And I don’t...
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Passing of sole fluent Ditidaht speaker leaves void in Nuu-chah-nulth language
By Nora O’Malley Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Like a giant cedar tree cut down, the passing of Ditidaht elder Michael Thompson (Kwiibaalaah) this summer left a mark on the Nuu-chah-nulth landscape, leaving the younger generation with less. Thompson was the lone fluent speaker of the diitiidʔaaʔtx̣ (Ditidaht) dialect. He was born in the village of Waaya, B.C. on September 13, 1932, and passed away on July 13, 2026, in Ditidaht’s main village of Balaats’adt on Nitinaht Lake. “With the last speaker going means that our children and grandchildren won’t hear actual fluent speech,” said Dr. Bernice Touchie. “Language changes all the time, but there will be drastic changes without hearing the original, everyday language; the pronunciation, the accent, the body language, all of that was part of communicating at one...
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Glitch removing nod to Indigenous Peoples from Alberta birthday note fixed: Smith
-CP-Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she stepped in to fix a “glitch” that saw Indigenous Peoples erased from her official statement marking the province’s 121st birthday. Within an hour of sending the Alberta Day statement on Tuesday, the government sent an updated version removing the sentence including Indigenous Peoples from its English version. Smith said public servants made the move and that she urged them to revert to the original statement. “I said, ‘why don’t you just put up the original one? I thought it was fine, and so I’m not exactly sure what happened with that glitch,” she told reporters in Calgary at an unrelated announcement. “We’re just excited to be able to celebrate Alberta Day and all of the various cultures, and diaspora communities, including Indigenous Peoples, who...
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