Wab Kinew..where do we go next?
The election of Wab Kinew as Manitoba’s first Indigenous Premier should send out a clear message not only to Canadian politicians, but Indigenous politicians, especially at the local level. Kinew was considered a black sheep when the election opened, no one knowing where his election would lead Manitoba let alone the country. A country that has been bouncing from Liberals to Conservatives even watching and wondering as conservatives experiment on extremism, testing their support, while trying to explain away the party leader’s attack on Indigenous people in his earlier days. Now here we are..in a world with online hacks and misinformation, that goes well beyond any dirty tricks politicians have played in the past. Yet despite the credibility attacks here we are. Wab Kinew is Manitoba’s premier-designate. A First Nations...
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Six Nations: A chance to question the candidates
Turtle Island News is taking this opportunity to invite the Six Nations community, to the third annual (Six Nations Elected Council) “Chiefs’ Debate.” The event will be held Oct 25, 2023 at the Six Nations Community hall from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. allowing for two hours of questions from both a panel of local media and audience members and remaining time for councillor candidates to introduce themselves to the community. The event. that began with the election of former Chief, the late Bill Montour, went on to see the election of former chief Ava Hill and the current Elected chief Mark Hill. Over the three elections it has grown into the election event to be at, or tune into. We are fortunate to have had partners in this adventure, Thru...
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Two Mohawk men went fishing…they never came home
By Lisa Iesse Writer An investigative series is uncovering suspicious gaps in the disappearance and deaths of Tyler Maracle and Matthew Fairman in the waters surrounding the Mohawk First Nations community of Tyendinaga. An APTN investigative series, titled “Secret of the Bay,” aired recently questioning the truth surrounding the disappearance and deaths of the two Mohawk fisherman on the Bay of Quinte eight years ago. Kenneth Jackson, who is the investigative reporter, told Turtle Island News the case is filled with “massive holes,” that question the police’s ruling of accidental drowning. Tyler Maracle, 21, and Mathew Fairman, 26, went out one night spearfishing on April 26, 2015. They never returned home. Their family and community continue to feel their loss and struggles to understand what happened that night. Initially, police...
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Bomberry leads Haudenosaunee Nationals to bronze medal at World Lacrosse tournament
By Sam Laskaris Writer Three Six Nations members were part of a Haudenosaunee Nationals squad that captured a bronze medal at a World Lacrosse tournament. Tim Bomberry served as the head coach for the Haudenosaunee club that participated in the four-team World Lacrosse Super Sixes event, a three-day field lacrosse event which wrapped up on Sunday in Oshawa. The Six Nations side also included two players from Six Nations, Fawn Porter and Bomberry’s daughter Timmia. The Haudenosaunee club thumped Kenya 21-4 in Sunday’s bronze-medal contest. The United States edged Canada 8-7 in the gold-medal match, which was also held on Sunday. The Haudenosaunee team was the favourite heading into the battle for the bronze as it had defeated Kenya 14-6 in its round-robin game one day earlier. The Haudenosaunee squad,...
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Local men’s lacrosse squad wins Onondaga Nation tournament
By Sam Laskaris Writer A men’s lacrosse squad comprised primarily of Six Nations players captured top honours at an Onondaga Nation tournament. The local club, called Down Belowers, participated in the three-day event named The Nations Cup. All matches in the tourney, which concluded on Sunday, were at the Onondaga Nation Arena, near Syracuse, N.Y. Five teams participated in The Nations Cup. Players were representing their Haudenosaunee communities. This marked the first time The Nations Cup had been staged since 2019. The event was not held in each of the past three years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s entrants included three squads from Onondaga Nation. They were the Onondaga Fire, Onondaga Warriors and a club simply called House Team. Also participating was a squad from Allegany, N.Y. The...
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Expanded WALL will include December draft for Ontario squads
By Sam Laskaris Writer The Women’s Arena Lacrosse League (WALL) is getting a makeover. Officials with the WALL, which consists of an Ontario-based East Division and a West Division featuring squads in British Columbia, announced this past Friday that they were restructuring. The WALL’s East Division stages all of its matches at Six Nations’ Iroquois Lacrosse Arena. And all of the West Division matches are contested at the Langley Field House in Langley, a municipality in Metro Vancouver. The WALL changes include a structured draft system for the upcoming 2024 season, which will commence in January. Players will no longer be able to simply sign on with the team of their choice. Each player interested in competing in the WALL this coming season will have to be registered and then...
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Giving back knows no age limit at the Route 54 annual Harvestfest giveaway
“Spreading the love” – Six Nations’ Route 54 holds annual Harvest festival give-away By Lynda Powless Editor The fun was all there. The smiles, the warm welcomes and the laughing thank-you from community members and others who made their way to Route 54’s annual Harvest Festival giveaway Saturday (Sept 30). For the 9th year in a row Route 54 owner Kris Hill and her family and volunteers worked through the heat handing out tons of food to help local families. And it was appreciated. One man from Hamilton got out of his car to thank Kris. “This is just wonderful,” he told her. “You are helping so many people, you are helping me. Everything is so expensive. You are spreading the love. You are spreading the love to the world,” he...
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Six Nations councillor Nathan Wright resigns, takes band’s CEO job
By Lynda Powless Editor SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND RIVER-Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) has confirmed Councillor Nathan Wright has resigned from council to take on the band’s top administrative role of “Acting Chief Executive Officer” (CEO) left vacant with the one year leave of absence by former CEO Darren Jamieson. SNEC approved the hiring in a closed meeting Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023 but waited until Friday (Sept., 29th) to announce the new CEO. Wright did not seek re-election in Six Nations current band elections race. In a statement Friday, (Sept., 29th) SNEC said Wright was chosen “after completing a comprehensive selection process.” SNEC did not elaborate on the process or when it took place. In a statement SNEC said “Not only has Wright’s leadership skills shone during his tenure...
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Councillor told lack of information on Brantford development may be due to SNEC Chief’s involvement
“High level” discussions between Elected Chief Mark Hill his advisor and the city of Brantford may be blocking the band’s Consultation and Accommodation Process (CAP) team from land rights discussions. Six Nations wants Brantford to own up to its obligations with respect to development, but there may be too many cooks in the kitchen. The CAP team presented its monthly report at Six Nations Elected Council’s (SNEC) Political Liaison meeting on September 25, but information about development surrounding the community wasn’t enough for SNEC. “I’m seeing like two little paragraphs [about Brantford]. When we go up there, you can see development everywhere you think there would be a lot more consultation,” Councillor Sherri Lyn Hill challenged. But Phil Monture told her,her own Chief may be to blame. The CAP Team’s...
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No guarantee Six Nations residents qualify for $8 billion drinking water settlement
Six Nations says it is working hard to make sure community members can easily qualify for a piece of the $8 billion drinking water settlement from the Canadian government. But there is no guarantee they will qualify. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) asked for an update on the settlement at its General Council meeting on September 26. Rod Whitlow, environment officer, said community members continue to express concerns because Six Nations is not on the list of approved communities. He said Six Nations will not be on the list, but individuals who have their own wells can still apply. “We knew forthright we probably wouldn’t meet the criteria as the boil water advisories have to have been one year and the Village of Ohsweken is piped and distributed through the...
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Veterans won’t have to take down tables and chairs
Six Nations won’t leave its veterans in a lurch this year. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) will look into why those who rent the Community Hall have to set up/tear down their own tables, and make an exception for the veterans. SNEC Councillor Hazel Johnson says The Six Nations Veterans shouldn’t have to set up and tear down tables for their events. She brought the issue to the SNEC Political Liaison meeting on September 25 because she wants Parks and Recreation staff to do it for them, and for everyone who rents the hall. “I recall from last year after the meal. We know those veterans, who were in the wars, they’re quite elderly. They were trying to help dismantle tables and chairs. Why is the duty left to people...
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Area cities mark Orange Shirt Day with variety of celebratrions
By Lisa Iesse Writer HAMILTON / SIX NATIONS – An orange tsunami hit Hamilton’s lakefront and swept the Grand River territories, as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was honoured across the region. In Hamilton, September 30 began with a Sacred Fire Ceremony before the Spirit Vision Singers and dancers ushered in a public art ceremony in honour of Truth and Reconciliation. Over 300 people in orange shirts gathered before five 40-foot panels. Bright rays of sun shone through 10,000 hand-made colourful glass beads set in huge iron frames. Each panel portrays traditional Indigenous teachings, the Thanksgiving Address,, and the region’s rich diversity. For over three years, Angela DeMontigny, a Cree-Métis artist, worked with Indigenous knowledge keepers, and many artists including Paull Rodrigue to create this work titled “All...
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National Day for Truth and Reconciliation recognition at Six Nations includes family pack give-away
By Lisa Iesse Writer Six Nations Elected Council marked the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Sept 30) with a family pack give-away. The goodie packages were handed out at the Oneida Business Park Friday (Sept 29) in a drive through give-away with council candidates, council employees and volunteers on hand. Turtle Island News asked about everyone’s plans. “We’ll be celebrating the day tomorrow, sharing it with our family, our children and grandchildren,” said Hailey Anderson and Colleen Montour. “Spending time with the kids together, probably talk about my aunts who went to resident school, we don’t talk about it often,” said another community member. Cindy planned to spend the day enjoying nature and cutting her lawn, avoiding crowds. Rachel planned to take in a Blue Jay game with family...
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Voting for a 100 year old system
After a very, very long four years Six Nations is getting a chance to look at its elected leadership and decide if they want to see new faces sitting around the council table. Or as we have seen more and more in recent days on ZOOM. And a change is in the air. Band council elections will be held Nov., 4th, for 12 councillors and a band chief for another four year term ( an oddity itself compared to a three year term) The current elected chief is not running and two of the remaining seven councillors (2 Wendy Johnson and Nathan Wright have resigned) are not running. Already the election is mired in controversy. The Chief Electoral Polling Officer (CEPO) has resigned citing threats and anger from some unhappy...
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Canada Post National Day for Truth and Reconciliation released
SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND -A haunting black and white photograph of the former Mohawk Institute Residential School may grace the cover of Canada’s Post information package outlined its four new commemorative stamps, for the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, but it isn’t on a stamp. Canada Post released their new stamps September 28 with about 75 people, including survivors and their families, attended the unveiling at the Woodland Centre on Wednesday (September 27). The release marked the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day, said Heather George, a Mohawk from Akwesasne and Executive Director of the Woodland Cultural Centre. “Truth and Reconciliation is not easy and it will take time, but it is possible providing there is a willingness to understand the hurt...
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Haudenosaunee Nationals squad capture bronze medal at historic international tournament
By Sam Laskaris Writer The Haudenosaunee Nationals, a women’s box lacrosse squad stacked with Six Nations players, managed to bring home some hardware from a prestigious American tournament. The club captured the bronze medal in the women’s category at the North American Invitational, also known as LAXNAI. The event, which also included three male divisions, concluded on Sunday in Utica, New York. This marked the first year a women’s category had been staged at the tourney. And for many coaching and managerial reps, it was an opportunity for them to assess players who could potentially play at the inaugural world women’s box lacrosse championships, which will be held next year in Utica. “It’s really exciting to see where this team is going,” said Joni Squire-Hill, one of the 14 Six...
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Sam Laskaris – BEHIND THE ACTION – Brandon Montour
By Sam Laskaris Writer There’s no denying the 2022-23 campaign was a career year for Six Nations’ Brandon Montour. Though he’s still 29, there are no guarantees Montour, a defenceman with the National Hockey League’s Florida Panthers, will have another season, both personally and team-wise, quite like last season. Montour racked up career highs for goals (16), assists (57) and points (73) in his 80 regular season appearances last year. He was also one of the major reasons why the Panthers advanced all the way to the Stanley Cup finals this past spring. Montour made quite a name for himself in the 2023 playoffs with his impressive play. He scored eight goals and added five assists in 21 matches. Yet Montour and the rest of the Panthers were unable to...
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Winners of the Bitove Indigenous Award are announced
By Sam Laskaris Writer A half dozen athletes are the latest recipients of a Bitove Indigenous Award. The awards, established last year, are through the Canadian Olympic Foundation via the prominent Bitoves, a Canadian business family. Each recipient receives $5,000 to cover the financial costs of their training and competitions. Alternatively, award winners can utilize their funding to support initiatives that they are contributing to within their own Indigenous communities. The Canadian Olympic Committee released its Team Canada Impact Agenda last year. The agenda includes the commitment to making sport safe, inclusive and barrier-free so that more young people can play and also stay involved in sport. The Bitove Indigenous Award is part of that commitment. The six award recipients this year are ski jumper Alexandria Loutitt, wrestler Justina Di...
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