Community workshop builds replicas of decades-old Inuit kayak
By Dominique Gené, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunatsiaq News Two kayaks that replicate a 60-year-old model built by an elder are being reconstructed at a community workshop in Kuujjuaq. The event, scheduled to run April 20 to May 1, was originally designed for eight participants aged 17 to 30. However, due to strong interest, the organizers have opened it to all Inuit, said Alice Roy, a psycho-social worker with Nurrait — Jeunes Karibus, which offers on-the-land programs for youth. “This workshop is a place where people can gather, talk about kayaks but also where these organizations can be in contact with the community,” Roy said. In 1968, the Canadian Museum of History commissioned Tuumasikallak, an elder from Kangirsuk, to create a kayak. It construction was documented by Bernard Saladin D’Anglure,...
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Province putting measures in place to defend against invasive mussel species
By Alexandra Noad, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lethbridge Herald Boating season is quickly approaching and Alberta’s government is strengthening its defences against invasive mussel species to protect lakes, rivers and critical infrastructure. Invasive mussels including quagga, zebra and golden mussels destroy ecosystems, threaten shorelines and can cause hundreds of millions of dollars in damage. One female mussel can open up and release one million eggs, which can quickly lead to an infestation.These mussels also attach themselves on hard surfaces and rapidly accumulate in layers to the point where they can begin clogging things like the intakes to irrigation pipelines, intakes to the canals and the reservoirs. If mussels were to invade irrigation canals, Richard Phillips, chair of Alberta Irrigation Districts Association says it would have devastating consequences on the farmers...
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Whitehorse protest decries manslaughter verdict in First Nation man’s death
By Noah Korver, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Yukon News Several hundred protesters shut down Main Street in Whitehorse on April 28, marching over what they say is a miscarriage of justice after a Yukon judge convicted Seth Boss of manslaughter in the death of Anthony Primozic in March 2022. In an agreed statement of facts, Boss admitted to killing Primozic in an attack that left him with multiple blunt and sharp-force injuries, including more than 100 puncture wounds. Crown prosecutors argued the prolonged and violent nature of the attack showed Boss intended to kill. Boss’ defence lawyers argued that the charge of second-degree murder requires subjective foresight and that Boss was severely intoxicated to comprehend his actions, and that it is not possible to prove he intended to kill Primozic,...
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Amnesty International report warns of deepening Indigenous people’s housing crisis
By Pierre Saint-Arnaud A new report by Amnesty International warns that overcrowded and unsafe housing in an Atikamekw community north of Montreal reflects a broader crisis putting Indigenous people’s health, safety and rights at risk across Canada. In Manawan, about 250 kilometres north of Montreal, community leaders say families are regularly reaching out for emergency housing support as homes become increasingly overcrowded and conditions deteriorate. “Every week, elected officials and community leaders receive calls, messages and urgent requests from families in search of housing who are often motivated by critical situations where the safety of women and children is at stake,” said Sipi Flamand, chief of the Atikamekw Council of Manawan, at the release of the report in Montreal. The report is based on a two-year investigation into housing conditions...
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Teen arrested in Manitoba bar shooting that killed one, injured another
A 16-year-old boy has turned himself in a day after a fatal shooting on a First Nation in northern Manitoba. RCMP had been looking for a suspect after two men were shot on Tuesday at the Playgreen Inn bar on Norway House Cree Nation, about 800 kilometres from Winnipeg. Police say a 25-year-old man from the community died, while a 38-year-old was treated and released from hospital. A lockdown order that was put in place after the shooting lasted into Wednesday. The First Nation says there’s no ongoing threat to the community. It says the shooting appears to have been targeted. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 29, 2026. ...
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Six Nations takes on climate change with Turtle Island News annual tree give-away
Six Nations tree lovers came out in droves to Turtle Island News’ annual Earth Day tree give-away By Alex Murray Writer Photos by Jim C. Powless Even the Sun came out on Earth Day making sure Turtle Island News’ 28th annual Earth Day free tree giveaway was not only filled with sugar maples, paw-paws, and smiles, but with sunny skies and scores of Six Nations community members coming out to the first festival of the year at Six Nations. For nearly 30 years Turtle Island News has been celebrating Earth Day with a free tree giveaway, handing out over 400 trees just this year and over 50,000 trees to the Six Nations community across three decades. This year, Turtle Island News handed out hundreds of budding sugar maples, the rare...
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Six Nations Aerodrome raising neighbourhood questions
By Alex Murray Writer A Six Nations’ businessman’s construction of an aerodrome is raising questions after Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) closed a meeting with the owner to the public. SNEC held the closed meeting Feb., 23 after receiving complaints from neighbours concerned about safety. Mike Isaacs, who also owns Isaacs Automotive in Ohsweken, is building the aerodrome—to be named the L. Stoney Isaacs Aerodrome- on his property on 5th Line. The property is located in a residential area. Isaacs did not return Turtle Island News calls. Canada’s Aviation Regulations (CARs) guidelines require anyone building an aerodrome to consult with a variety of different “interested parties” 75 days before construction begins and to place a sign at the location. Six Nations residents learned of the coming aerodrome when a sign...
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Six Nations Bingo turns 30 setting post-COVID attendance record
By Alex Murray Writer The Six Nations Bingo Hall held its largest event in years to celebrate their 30th anniversary on Sunday (April 18), setting a post-COVID attendance record with 659 guests attending the Double Dazzle game. According to Six Nations Development Corporation (SNDC), which oversees the Bingo Hall, a lineup filled with both new and returning patrons extended out the door an hour before the doors were opened. The main draws for the event were the two massive $30,000 jackpots, one of which was won by a member of Kettle & Stony Point First Nation, which is located on the southern shore of Lake Huron near Sarnia. Katie Montour, public relations officer for the SNDC, told Turtle Island News that the 30th anniversary celebration was one of the biggest...
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Brant County Mayor David Bailey won’t seek third term
By Alex Murray Writer Brant County is going to have a new mayor soon. David Bailey, who served two terms as Brant County mayor, announced “with a full heart and deep gratitude” that he will not be seeking a third term. In a statement issued on April 20, Bailey said that he gave the job “everything” and that he was “proud” of what he was able to accomplish. He also said serving the County of Brant has been an honour “from start to finish.” But after eight years at the helm of the County, Bailey decided it was the right time for a transition. He believes it’s healthy for an organization to welcome new energy and new leadership. A lifelong entrepreneur, Bailey had very little political experience when he was...
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Editorial: We love our trees…and so do you!
Six Nations didn’t let Mother Earth Down! For the past 28 years Turtle Island News has been marking the community’s first festival of the warm weather with its annual Earth Day Tree-Give-Away. And Six Nations didn’t let us down. Instead, they came out in droves to mark the spring, celebrate the earth and plant a tree. For Turtle Island News we could not be happier and more grateful to make our home in a community that cares so much about the earth. And we do have to give credit to where its due. Our now almost three-decade old celebration began because as a newspaper we use paper. And lots of it. And with that comes the downing of trees to provide it. So, 29 years ago we decided we too had...
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Today in History
April 29 In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI expressed “sorrow” to a delegation from Canada’s Assembly of First Nations over the abuse and “deplorable” treatment that aboriginal students suffered at residential schools run by the Roman Catholic Church. May 1 In 2007, the House of Commons unanimously apologized to former students of Canada’s Residential Schools for the trauma they suffered as a result of policies intended to assimilate Indian, Inuit and Metis children into mainstream society. In 2022, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said Canada’s residential school system was a cultural genocide. And after listening to residential school survivors share their stories during his visit to Saskatchewan’s James Smith Cree Nation, the head of the Anglican Church said he could understand why many survivors feel it was an actual genocide. Welby...
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UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY: The Birds Are Calling For Spring
By Xavier Kataquapit I recently took a long walk out into a beautiful spring day. The weather was pleasant, the sun was bright and the air was brisk and cool. I could still feel the sting of winter hanging on and to confirm that feeling, I could hear it from the song of a familiar bird this time of year. The Chickadee was singing its familiar ‘tee-tee’ song. My Kookoom, my grandmother, often pointed out to us children that this little bird was actually calling out the name of the season. The bird changes its tune depending on the weather. When winter is still lingering with cold winds, the Chickadee will continue its plain one-tone ‘tee-tee’ song. As soon as it senses that warmer weather is on the way, it...
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Rebels open season with pair of wins
By Sam Laskaris Writer The Six Nations Rebels managed to kick off their 2026 regular season campaign with a lopsided victory this past Friday. And then the local Junior B lacrosse squad registered its first road W of the season one night later. The Rebels thumped the visiting Welland Raiders 22-3 in their season opener, which was held at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena. The Six Nations squad then hit the road on Saturday and posted an 11-7 triumph versus the Point Edward Pacers. Rebels’ captain Chaz Hill said he was anticipating a huge Rebels’ victory in their season opener. “I was kind of expecting that,” he said. “The boys were coming off a good pre-season environment, fired up, ready to go.” The Six Nation club had won four out of...
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Six Nations and Mississaugas of Credit First Nations involved in FIFA
By Lynda Powless Editor Six Nations may play a role in one of the world’s largest sporting events as discussions continue around participation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 in Toronto. At Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) General Finance committee meeting on April 20 Councillor Greg Frazer provided an update to the community, noting that tournament activities are set to begin June 12, with Canada’s first game to follow and a FIFA Fan Festival planned to start on June 11 lasting 22 days. Frazer said Six Nations is part of an Indigenous advisory body exploring how the community can participate in the international event, particularly in cultural programming tied to the festivities. “We have been in discussion… to see how SNEC can participate and be involved with the festivities...
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Ironmen gearing up for The Freddy
By Sam Laskaris Writer They’ll be facing some formidable opponents early on. But the Six Nations Ironmen are still hoping for plenty of success at this year’s Fred Sasakamoose Chief Thunderstick National Hockey Championship. The tournament, which is held annually in Saskatoon, is named after the late trailblazing hockey legend Fred Sasakamoose, who was the first First Nations player to suit up for a National Hockey League team. He dressed for 11 games with the Chicago Blackhawks during the 1953-54 season. The tournament, often simply called The Freddy, is considered the Canadian championship for Indigenous women’s and men’s teams. This year’s event runs May 14-17. The tourney will feature 32 men’s squads and eight women’s teams. Though the tournament schedule has yet to be released, the participating men’s teams were...
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Grand Canyon Skywalk continues to attract millions of visitors
By Sam Laskaris, Writer “No Words.” That is the advertised selling point of Grand Canyon West (GCW), one of the four main segments of the Arizona-based canyon, which is regarded as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The thinking of this slogan is that if a visitor is blindfolded and then first lays eyes on GCW, that individual would be speechless. Then, later, when people are able to formulate words about what they are witnessing, no doubts adjectives such as breathtaking, awe-inspiring, stupendous and astonishing would pop to mind – no doubt accompanied by a wide grin marveling at the beauty in view. Unless they do a little bit of history, GCW visitors might not realize they are on land owned by the Hualapai, a federally recognized...
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King Charles III’s charity celebrates 50 years of helping young people find work with a gala in NYC
By James Pollard NEW YORK (AP) — Scottish entrepreneur Mike Welch made his fortune as an online tire retailer. But he says he might’ve traded that lucrative career for one in funeral services if not for an intervention during his teenage years from the charity of King Charles III. A dyslexic teenager from a working-class background, Welch struggled with his college entry exams and took a job installing tires after leaving school at age 15. When he lost that gig, he lined up at the Liverpool job center. The job board featured a funeral director’s listing — a “great career,” he’s sure, but “pretty grim” — and an advertisement for a charity event where entrepreneurs could win business grants. Welch took that one and, less than 24 hours later, found...
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Residential school survivors society facing federal funding uncertainty
By Abby Luciano, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, North Shore News The Indian Residential School Survivors Society says some of their core healing and crisis support programs could be at risk if they don’t receive continued federal funding. The non-profit, which has its head office in West Vancouver, launched a federal action petition calling on the federal government to ensure ongoing core funding of their support programs to prevent breaks and to work together on a long-term funding plan that reflects service needs. Angela White, executive director of the IRSSS, said the non-profit receives around $4 million in federal funding to operate those support programs. Losing that funding would create a huge gap for survivors and those who access their services, she said. “The Truth and Reconciliation Commission made it clear...
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RCMP raid First Nation cannabis warehouse as part of larger sting
By John Chilibeck, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Daily Gleaner RCMP say a Sunday raid on a cannabis distribution centre and a home in Madawaska First Nation in northwestern New Brunswick was part of a larger strike at organized crime. In the early morning, the Mounties swooped in with multiple vehicles on Madawaska Warehouse in an unassuming smaller building at 1815 rue Principale in the main part of the reserve near the City of Edmundston’s core. Simultaneously, authorities executed search warrants at four other locations. One was in Hamilton, the city in southwestern Ontario, and the other three were in Nova Scotia. Two were in Sackville, N.S., just north of Halifax, and another was in Maitland, a seaside settlement 17 kilometres west of Truro. Police offered little detail on how...
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Former Nunavut premier advocating for Arctic infrastructure on Canada-U.S.economic relations committee
By William Koblensky Varela, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunavut News Former Nunavut premier P.J. Akeeagok was the only Inuk appointed to the 25-member Advisory Committee on Canada-U.S. Economic Relations by Prime Minister Mark Carney on April 21. The committee will advise Carney on upcoming trade negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump, ahead of the July 1 joint review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, formerly known as NAFTA. Speaking to Nunavut News, Akeeagok said he would advocate for greater investment in Arctic infrastructure to better position Canada for international trade with new partners. “When you look at Nunavut’s case, we have what the world wants in terms of resources. You look at all the critical minerals that have been identified,” he said. Nunavut has known deposits of 15 out of 35...
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