Anti Indigenous sign: P.E.I. councillor given more time to apologize and pay fine
By Michael Tutton Canadian Press CHARLOTTETOWN- A village councillor in Prince Edward Island is being given a bit more time to pay a $500 fine and apologize for displaying a sign on his property denying the existence of residential school graves. Communities Minister Rob Lantz says he’s allowing Murray Harbour Coun. John Robertson to either take these steps “within a week” or be dismissed from the elected role. Lantz had said Robertson had until Dec. 31 to comply with the sanctions placed on him by council. However, the provincial cabinet minister says he received an email from Robertson on New Year’s Eve indicating he had been out of the country and had only just seen the ultimatum. The councillor had displayed a sign in October with the message, “Truth: mass grave...
Register
Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare makes statement on children affected by family loss due to factors including the opioid drug
By Jacqueline St. Pierre Local Journalism Initiative Reporter TORONTO- December 18, 2023, Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare released a statement addressing the profound impact of the opioid drug crisis and other factors affecting the loss experienced by First Nations children. In his message, Chief Hare reaches out to the children of First Nations communities who have lost parents, caregivers or loved ones, assuring them that they are remembered and cherished during this holiday season. He emphasizes that they remain in our thoughts and hearts, offering them solace and support. “The impact of addiction and overdose continues to have devastating consequences on the well-being and future of our communities, particularly our youth, who are experiencing loss at accelerating rates,” said Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare. “Factors relating to the loss of...
Register
Senior military leader: Canadians ‘overly comfortable’ as global security shifts
By Sarah Ritchie THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA- It’s Bob Auchterlonie’s job to be ready for the next crisis, whether that’s a wildfire, a flood, a hurricane or war on another continent. As the commander of the Canadian Joint Operations Command, the vice admiral has had an extraordinary year that included co-ordinating airlifts of Canadians from Sudan and Israel, planning possible evacuations from Lebanon and Haiti, and managing the growing demands for help at home. Looking ahead to 2024, Auchterlonie said he thinks the pressure will continue to mount, and Canadians are “overly comfortable” about their safety as the world changes. In a recent year-end interview, he rattled off a list of international issues he’s keeping a close eye on, from the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and Israel’s war on...
Register
Iqaluit man finally moves from tent to home
By Kira Wronska Dorward Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Daniel Hillman has been a community fixture in Iqaluit for the last 25 years. He began his life in Nunavut with what was intended to be a four-month contract working in a restaurant, his “first love” being cooking. But “I was really in love with the city and population,” so the former Quebec City resident remained in the North and took on various other jobs over the years in restaurants and as a taxi driver. In addition, Hillman became intimately involved with giving his time to the local community, and in particular the francophone population in various capacities. From administrator of the local French association, to working for the GN and the French school board, where a plaque recognizing his contribution was...
Register
Israel says it will defend itself against genocide accusations at world court filed by South Africa
By Wafaa Shurafa Samy Magdy And Melanie Lidman THE ASSOCIATED PRESS DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP)- An Israeli official says Israel will defend itself against genocide accusations filed by South Africa with the world court. Eylon Levy, an official in the Israeli prime minister’s office, on Tuesday accused South Africa of “giving political and legal cover” to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack that triggered Israel’s war against the militant group. “The state of Israel will appear before the International Court of Justice at the Hague to dispel South Africa’s absurd blood libel,” Levy said. South Africa launched the case Friday at the U.N.’s top court, accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and asking the court to order Israel to halt its attacks. Israel dismisses international cases against it as...
Register
Nó:yah, No:ia, Happy New Year
Nó:yah, No:ia, Happy New Year from all of us at Turtle Island News...
Register
MTO presence at Six Nations raises community concern
By Lynda Powless Editor A political misstep that could have come close to a confrontation Tuesday ( Dec.,19,2023) was averted after the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council (HCCC) notified the Six Nations Police (SNP) they were outside their jurisdiction bringing the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) to Six Nations without HCCC approval. SNP invited the MTO to conduct vehicle checks over two days on large trucks passing through Six Nations last week. But they did it without the approval of either the HCCC or Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC). The inspections quickly closed down Monday after the HCCC issued a notice warning SNP they were outside their jurisdiction. Turtle Island News received calls from community members of trucks being pulled over and inspected including opening the doors to look inside. Mohawk Chief...
Register
Six Nations housing units increase with completion of Onondaga 1
By Lisa Iesse Writer Housing is increasing at Six Nations. Six Nations newest affordable housing complex Onondaga 1 on Harold Street is now complete, with Onondaga 2 due in spring and Onondaga 3 on the way! On Tuesday (Dec. 19) Elected Chief Sherri-Lyn Hill, members of the Elected Council, and the Six Nations Housing team gathered with Habitat for Humanity to mark the special occasion. Lily-Anne Mt. Pleasant, senior manager of Six Nations Housing, addressed the gathering who had made their way to Six Nations community hall to celebrate. “It’s been a long time coming,” Mt. Pleasant told the crowd, but this is just the beginning, she emphasised. It is the first affordable housing project Six Nations has seen for awhile. The project actually began in 2013 but faced funding...
Register
Local artist works influenced by time at “Mush-Hole”
By Lisa Iesse Writer “We will become stronger and we will be reborn with a new strength of spirit,” says Gary Miller-Lahiaaks, artist and Mohawk Institute Survivor. Miller was born in Six Nations in 1950 to a Mohawk mother and Cayuga father. He had just turned 3 years old when he first entered the doors of the Mohawk Institute. There, he experienced physical, emotional, and spiritual violence and oppression until he left at the age of 14 years old. The Mohawk Institute was the first of many ‘schools’ in Canada’s residential school system, operating for over 140 years. The system was designed to stop Indigenous parents, grandparents and Elders from passing on their culture, language, practices and beliefs to their children. Children were stolen from families, punished for speaking their...
Register
Holiday season has Six Nations giving to local food bank
...
Register
NO:IA…Change it is a coming
It’s time to reflect on the kind of year that we saw in 2023 and look to 2024 with hope. On the eve of a new year there is no question everyone is making resolutions, enjoying time with family and friends and hoping the world will frankly come to its senses. We have entered a tenuous time, all affected in differing degrees by an international war, and the tragedy of Ukraine, Israel and the Gaza not to mention the long term conflicts in other areas of the world. And there is no resolution in sight. Add to it the uncertainty of the U.S. politics and now a think tank, the Yellowhead Institute has decided it will no longer publish its annual report that tracked Canada’s progress on recommendations from the...
Register
Weekly Cartoon
...
Register
Six Nations’ athletic headline makers in 2023 part 2
By Sam Laskaris Writer Six Nations sports fans had more than their share of reasons to celebrate during 2023. Numerous local athletes and teams achieved success during the past 12 months. The Turtle Island News profiled five of those headline makers in last week’s issue. Part two of a look back at those with local connections that had commendable exploits follows below. SIX NATIONS TOMAHAWKS The Tomahawks, a men’s Senior C lacrosse team, were a force to be reckoned with this year. For starters the Tomahawks enjoyed success at their four regular season tournaments, compiling an impressive 15-1 mark. The Six Nations club continued its solid play at the season-ending Senior Series Lacrosse championships, held in Brampton in August. The Tomahawks ended up winning the gold medal at the eight-team...
Register
Women’s Arena Lacrosse League set for 2024 campaign at the ILA
By Sam Laskaris Writer Players have been divvied up. And it won’t be long now before the 2024 regular season of the Women’s Arena Lacrosse League (WALL) kicks off. The five-team circuit will stage all of its matches at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (ILA) in Six Nations. WALL featured four teams during its 2023 campaign. A fifth club has been added for this coming season. And all of the squads have been renamed. The teams in the league will be called Blazers, Cobras, Firebirds, Sirens and Sky Hawks. A draft of the players who had expressed interest in participating in the league this season was held via Zoom on Dec. 18. “The draft went very well,” said WALL commissioner Karie Wells. “We’ve got five excited coaches with some experienced bench...
Register
Akwesasne’s Carey Terrance going to Team USA
Akwesasne’s Carey Terrance is now part of Team USA and will be participating in the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championships in Sweden....
Register
Merry Christmas from Turtle Island News
...
Register
Hamilton changes site trucking waste stop after MOE says no
By Lisa Iesse Writer HAMILTON – Ontario’s ministry of environment has pulled the brakes on 8,000 cubic metres or 16,000 tons of Chedoke Creek waste enroute to a local suburban landfill site in Hamilton. About one month ago, in a message posted on their website the city announced the clean-up was complete. “The in-water targeted dredging activities are completed, concluding the four-month effort to remove sediment from the bottom of Chedoke Creek.” It was a job that came with a $10.4 million price tag. “We’re running around 32 trucks a day of dried material as we’re able to,” Nick Winters, the city’s director of water told city council on November 21. About 2 weeks ago, the province stepped in warning that the planned dumping site, the GFL landfill in Stoney...
Register
Six Nations Elected Council confused on fire truck costs
SNEC NEEDS FIRE TRUCK COSTS EXPLAINED Six Nations Fire Department continues to work toward purchasing a ‘new’ fire truck, but by the time they receive it, it will already be two years old. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) deferred a motion to approve the truck at its General Council meeting on December 12, despite the motion being labelled “time sensitive.” Elected Chief Sherri-Lyn Hill said they needed to “clarify the numbers.” The deferred motion stated the invoices for the Four-door Extreme Tactical Sawtooth was $182,287 with a total cost of $366,574 coming from Minor Capital funds of 2021-2021 and 2022-2023. Councillor Kerry Bomberry pointed out that by the time the fire department receives the truck it will already be two years old, but they will pay the sticker price of...
Register
Feds pushing First Nations to sell their land to developers for housing
Conservative Members of Parliament (MP) are pushing Indigenous communities toward selling land to developers for housing instead of funding community builds. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) was told Conservative MP’s are pushing “assimilation” at the General Council meeting on December 12. Councillor Helen Miller gave a report on a lobbying trip she took to Ottawa on December 4 as part of delegation through the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Committee on Housing and Infrastructure. “It was quite the event with them. They were attacking us, you know,” she said. “They kept saying, ‘we’ve got to worry about everybody in Canada, not just you. We’ve got to worry about housing for everybody.’” They were there to meet with six MP’s to try to secure more funding for Indigenous communities to meet...
Register
Hydro One told to work out kink before SNEC approves plan
Hydro One needs to prepare accurate information before asking Six Nations for permission to work on the territory. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) is asking Hydro One to bring more specific information to them after a presentation by Chris Grol, Indigenous Relations Coordinator didn’t have the information necessary at the General Council meeting on December 12. Grol came to SNEC asking for two band council resolutions to allow Hydro One to complete two projects. One was a customer request on Seneca Road to upgrade the power supply to their residence, which would require Hydro One to install a new, larger, hydro pole. He said that may require clearing more of the area around the pole. The other request was unclear, but required two new, upgraded hydro poles to supply more...
Register
