Randy Boissonnault leaves Liberal cabinet, prime minister says
Canadian Press-Randy Boissonnault is leaving his post as employment minister in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet after weeks of questions about the Edmonton MP’s past claims of Indigenous identity. Boissonnault has been under intense scrutiny after reporting from the National Post that raised questions about his past claims of Indigenous heritage. The newspaper reported that a company he co-owned had applied for government contracts while claiming to be Indigenous-owned. Boissonnault has been described as Indigenous multiple times in communications from the Liberal party and in 2018 referred to himself as “non-status adopted Cree.” He has walked back those claims since the reports emerged and both the Conservatives and NDP this week called on him to resign. The Prime Minister’s Office says in a statement that Boissonnault will “focus on clearing...
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CP NewsAlert: Randy Boissonnault leaves cabinet, prime minister says
The Canadian Press-Randy Boissonnault is leaving his post as employment minister in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet after weeks of questions about the Edmonton MP’s past claims of Indigenous identity....
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Yes! Santa Claus came to town
Yes! Santa Claus came to Six Nations and he brought Minnie & Mickey and friends! Six Nations was all smiles Saturday when St Nicholas himself, aka Santa Claus, made his way through Ohsweken kicking off the 36th annual Christmas season. Community Spirits in Action volunteers once again organized the annual event this time with an eye-catching Mickey Mouse theme that painted the community red as Mickey and his friends were depicted in floats and characters that made their way down Chiefswood Road. Parade winners include: Kids 0-12 years Category: 1st Place – was a TIE between Grannies Little Darlings and the Six Nations Children Services, Bicentennial 2nd Place – Six Nations Lands & Membership 3rd Place – the float by Annika Skye Youth 13-16 years Category: 1st Place – STEAM...
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Six Nations Polytechnic’s STEAM Academy now a high school
Six Nations Polytechnic’s (SNP) STEAM Academy announced plans to change the school’s name to SNP Secondary School. The name change, which is set to take effect in March 2025, was introduced during a presentation to the Six Nations Elected Council at the General Council meeting on November 12. Judy Reuben, Director of the STEAM Academy, and Kali Anevich, Development Officer presented the reasoning behind the decision which Anevich said comes after years of thoughtful consideration and community consultation, and aims to better reflect the diverse programming and growing student body at the school. “We’re excited to share some big news today. After extensive discussions and feedback from the community, we’ve decided to rename the SNP STEAM Academy to SNP Secondary School,” Anevich said. “This change will allow us to better...
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Six Nations Elected Chief outlines her travel list
Six Nations Elected Chief updated the community on the ongoing work of the 59th elected council at its one-year mark saying she is reinforcing her commitment to addressing community issues and advancing political goals. Elected Chief Sherri Lyn Hill gave an update on her office’s recent efforts during the Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) General Council meeting on November 12. “We’re in our first year of office now, and I want to highlight the work we’re doing both collectively, as a council and individually to support community members and advance important initiatives,” Hill said. “We will soon be sharing a printed and mailed update, which will also be posted on our social media platforms.” Hill listed a number of places and events she visited including Woodland Cultural Centre to see...
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SNEC says Orange Shirt giveaway a success
Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) recognized community members and staff who worked diligently to provide a giveaway to the community for September’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation day. Councillor Dayle Bomberry wanted “to go on the record” at the General Council meeting on November 12 to thank volunteers, staff and councillors who attended the giveaway on September 27. More than 800 bags were given out, which volunteers and staff put together. “I know it was a very extensive day for the volunteers and the staff,” he said. Volunteers included: Hilary Mt. Pleasant, James Logan, Ethan Thomas, Bryson Longboat, Tina Garlow, Tonya Henhawk, Leslie McDougal, Lacy Curley, Star Longboat, Veronica Racette, Jacelyn Hill, Amy General, Chase Longboat, Clarrisa Mt. Pleasant, Theresa Mt. Pleasant. Staff Included: Leigh Thompson, Summer Hill, Brandy...
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Woodland Cultural Centre turns hate mail into positive announcing drag show coming
By Austin Evans Writer In response to queerphobic hate mail sent to a guest of the Woodland Cultural Centre, the centre has begun planning a drag show for December. On November 6, Chief Curator of the Textile Museum of Canada Armando Perla shared a letter sent to the museum to their Instagram page. The letter included a picture of Perla clipped from the Brantford Expositor at the opening of the 1924 exhibition at the Woodland Cultural Centre and a hand-written note. The message berated Perla for their outfit, claiming they were “pushing” their “degeneracy” on “normal people.” Perla is non-binary and describes themself as “Indigiqueer,” a term coined in 2004 referring to Indigenous people who relate their gender identity and sexual orientation to their Indigenous identity. On November 9, Woodland...
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Six Nations Elected Council funding agreement provides for band operated day cares only
Six Nations can’t fund private businesses and wants to put rumours and blame circulating on social media to rest. The sudden closure of the Little Treasures Daycare facility on Six Nations, and the rumors surrounding it on Facebook, were discussed during the most recent Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) General Finance meeting on November 18. The closure, which was originally announced as effective last Friday, has since been extended until Christmas. However, rumors on Facebook have raised questions and concerns within the community focused on SNEC providing funding to keep it open. Councilor Hazel Johnson brought the issue to the table addressing the rumors and said she had seen posts suggesting that council had been returning funding for childcare spaces, a claim she found confusing. “I don’t know which money...
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Local leaders call for stronger provincial support as climate crisis outpaces Canada’s response
This year is on track to become the hottest year ever recorded, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The situation is similarly alarming closer to home, with the Greater Toronto Area breaking a 65-year-old November temperature record on November 6. “This year, we’ve suffered the hottest day, and the hottest seas, in the history books. The climate crisis is here. We can’t postpone protection. We must adapt – now,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement following the release of the Adaptation Gap Report 2024. The future of the planet is at stake, and “as we get closer and closer to the point of no return, our messages are getting more and more urgent,” United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Inger Andersen said during the report’s launch,...
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PretendIndians…when will it stop
From academics to entertainers and now politicians. Where will it end? And why are so many seemingly intelligent individuals (of mostly European roots) laying claim to being Indigenous? The simple answer is money. You find them as academics who took advantage of Indigenous education funding to head onto university coming out with degrees, doctorates and more to go on to lead various university departments or take on highly paid and placed positions. It ranges from academia to the arts to industry and now politicians. The Liberal party’s chair of the Indigenous caucus who claimed to be Cree has been removed after admitting he is not Indigenous. Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault not only found himself front and centre in the Liberal party claiming to be Cree but chairing their Indigenous caucus...
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Today in History
Nov 17 In 2023, the Canadian government announced the launch of a new $10-million program aimed at providing grants to small businesses involved in Indigenous tourism across Canada. The fund, to be administered by the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, would supply qualifying small businesses with up to $25,000 each in non-repayable funding. Nov 18 In 2021, PJ Akeeagok became the new premier of Nunavut. Akeeagok, 37, is from Nunavut’s most northern community of Grise Fiord and represents an Iqaluit constituency in the legislative assembly. Akeeagok beat out incumbent premier Joe Savikataaq and former health minister Lorne Kusugak for the job. In 2013, former northern priest Eric Dejaeger pleaded guilty in a Nunavut courtroom to eight of 76 sex-related charges he faced involving Inuit children more than 30 years earlier....
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Chair of Liberal Indigenous caucus says identity ‘complicated’ as members questioned
The Canadian Press The chair of the Liberal party’s Indigenous caucus says Indigenous identity is“complicated” after questions have been raised about the claims of two Liberal MPs who currently sit with the group and one cabinet minister who is no longer a member. “It’s a very complicated issue, and there’s no right answer,” said Jaime Battiste, who is Mi’kmaq from Eskasoni First Nation. “It’s not biological or mathematical. It’s a social construct, and that’s why there are challenges.” Others say it’s not so complicated, and want answers as to why Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault, who has claimed to be Cree, sat on the party’s Indigenous caucus and was touted as an Indigenous member of the party for years, and is now changing his tune. In 2018 at a Canadian heritage...
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Six Nations lacrosse players featured in sets of trading cards
By Sam Laskaris Writer Local sports fans have an opportunity to purchase some limited-edition lacrosse trading cards which includes several Six Nations players. A company called TFL SPORTS LLC has produced packs of cards featuring players that competed at this year’s world box lacrosse championships in Utica, N.Y. The event, which featured both women’s and men’s divisions, was held Sept. 20-29. The cards will include players from the top three finishers in both categories. The Haudenosaunee Nationals women’s and men’s teams, whose rosters were stacked with Six Nations players, both ended up winning bronze medals at the world championships. Canada won the gold medal in the men’s division while the U.S. took home the silver. That result was flipped in the women’s grouping as the Americans captured the gold and...
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Six Nations Chiefs will compete in 18 regular season contests next season
By Sam Laskaris Writer The Six Nations Chiefs will be playing significantly more games during their regular season in their quest to three-peat as national champions in 2025. It was announced on Monday that teams in the Chiefs’ league – Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) – will all be playing an 18-game regular season schedule next year. That’s a dramatic increase from the 12-game schedule that MSL squads had during the 2024 campaign. And the 18-game season is closer to the 16-game schedule that league entrants participated in during the 2023 season. It was also announced on Monday that the MSL will once again feature seven clubs this coming season as it did this past year. Besides the Chiefs, the circuit will also include the Brampton Excelsiors, Brooklin Lacrosse Club, Cobourg...
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First Nations quarterback wins prestigious football award
By Sam Laskaris Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Ben Maracle would have preferred to have more on-field successes in what in all likelihood what his final season of university football. But Maracle, a member of Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in eastern Ontario, is honoured that he received a major award for his off-field work. Maracle, a quarterback with the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees, is this year’s Ontario University Athletics (OUA) winner of the Russ Jackson Award. The award, named in honour of Canadian Football League hall of famer Russ Jackson, is presented to the Ontario university player who best exemplifies the attributes of football skill, academic achievement and citizenship. Jackson, who played 12 seasons in the CFL, is considered one of, if not the best Canadian quarterback to play in the league....
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Six Nations Elected Council donates to Brantford Christmas programs
Six Nations will provide the Brantford Region Indigenous Support Centre (BRISC) with a donation to assist with its Christmas programs. Despite a lack of information in the donation request from BRISC, Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) passed a motion to provide the organization with up to $2,000 at the General Finance meeting on November 18. Councillor Dayle Bomberry said a lack of information about the use or amount of funding made it difficult to approve. Becky Greene, operations coordinator provided background and said in 2018 SNEC wrote a letter in support of its Christmas activities, but this is the first time they’ve asked for financial support. Councillor Helen Miller supported the donation regardless of the lack of information about what the donation was for, or how much BRISC wanted because...
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‘A legacy of co-operation’: Leaders vow to protect syilx Okanagan waters across jurisdictions
By Aaron Hemens Local Journalism Initiative In a historic first, syilx Okanagan leaders and local government officials have signed a formal agreement vowing to collectively protect and advocate for siwɬkw (water) throughout the region. On Friday, representatives from 19 groups signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) at the Penticton Golf and Country Club in syilx Okanagan homelands. The signatories represent 126 elected local leaders of the recently formed Okanagan Similkameen Collaborative Leadership Table, according to the Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA). The MOA signals a commitment to protecting the Okanagan and Similkameen watersheds. y̓ilmixʷm (Chief) ki law na Clarence Louie of Osoyoos Indian Band — who is also xaʔtus (elected leader) of the syilx Okanagan Nation — said he wasn’t surprised it was water that united the wide range of leaders....
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Manitoba NDP lays out plans to freeze hydro rates, commission bison statue
Canadian Press-Tackling high grocery prices, freezing hydro electricity rates and commissioning a new statue reflecting Manitoba’s past and present are some of the priorities for the coming year the NDP government highlighted Tuesday in its second throne speech. The speech largely repeated the government’s efforts to address health-care system challenges, public safety and affordability. The government is looking at introducing legislation to address anticompetitive contracts that Premier Wab Kinew said drive up the cost of groceries. Kinew said the legislation could ban the use of restrictive covenants, a type of contract often used in real estate transactions that can prevent competitors from taking over a space or from opening a space nearby. “Right now, big grocery store chains when they set up a location in the province, can basically draw...
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Chiefs of Ontario meet in Thunder Bay
By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter THUNDER BAY — The Chiefs of Ontario launched its three-day Fall Chiefs Assembly on Tuesday with agenda topics health equity, the Ontario Mining Act and child and family services. Much of Tuesday’s proceedings was taken up by a closed session on the nationwide settlement on child and family services that was approved by a Chiefs of Ontario assembly in October and then rejected at an Assembly of First Nations gathering in Calgary. Red Rock Indian Band Chief Allan Odawa Jr., who became chief in April, said it’s “still a learning experience meeting all the chiefs on this level.” A key focus is “what’s going to happen for, like, the next seven generations,” he said. “We have to think about our future, our kids,...
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