Ontario chiefs unanimously oppose province’s Greenbelt land swap
By Liam Casey THE CANADIAN PRESS Ontario First Nation chiefs are demanding Doug Ford’s government return land to the protected Greenbelt that the province removed for development. The Chiefs of Ontario, which represents First Nations leaders across the province, voted unanimously Wednesday in an emergency meeting to oppose the land removal. `The Ontario Government’s decision to remove Greenbelt lands did not respect obligations to First Nations, the treaties or its own policy making process,’’ said Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare. “The decisions made in a completely flawed process cannot in any way be allowed to stand.’’ Ontario created the Greenbelt in 2005 to protect agricultural and environmentally sensitive lands in the Greater Golden Horseshoe area from development. Last year, the province took 7,400 acres of land out of the Greenbelt...
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Funding cuts coming…
Spending cuts are coming. And First Nations across the country could find themselves in even deeper fiscal trouble. Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) has not said what those cuts could mean for Indigenous people and their communities. And that alone makes it clear… it could be dire for people and communities already struggling with inadequate funding and services. First Nations communities have suffered historically from chronic underfunding not only in funding but in ISC’s service delivery system. They are the last thought at any budgetting table and end up with left overs. Communities suffer without proper housing, water, roads…basics Canadians enjoy every day. AMC Grand Chief Cathy Merrick is warning any cuts to First Nations `would be a grave disservice to the very people that need these services to survive.’’ To...
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Tackling Six Nations Housing Crisis
By Lisa Iesse Writer SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND – Crowds flocked to the ‘Six Nations Tiny Homes’ open house with models available for about $200,000. The Six Nations Grad River Development Corporation (SNGRDC) is launching a pilot project that made its public debut at Oneida Business Park on Wednesday (August 16). Inside 50 Generations Drive, hundreds of community members stepped inside for a tour or a quick peak. There, two model homes captured the hearts of attendees; a 480 square foot, 1-bedroom model is called the “Sparrow,” and a 960 square foot, 3-bedroom model is called the “Heron.” “Dude (Robert) Bomberry is our head construction guy and he’s done a great job assembling a team to build. We’ve had a good team of folks who are talented and we’ve...
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Rivermen drop both Monday contests at Presidents Cup tournament
By Sam Laskaris Writer Day two of the Presidents Cup was nowhere near as successful for the Six Nations Rivermen as the tournament opening day. The Rivermen, one of seven clubs participating in the national Senior B lacrosse championships, registered a 5-4 victory over the host Oakville Rock on Sunday. The Six Nations squad, however, lost both of its matches that it played on Monday. For starters the Rivermen were downed 8-6 by the Kahnawake Mohawks, representatives of the Quebec Senior Lacrosse League, in a morning match. Six Nations was then beat 7-5 by the Edmonton Miners, champions of the Alberta-based Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League. Though the Rivermen only lost by a pair of goals versus Edmonton, the Miners were in control for the majority of the match. Edmonton kept...
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Sam Laskaris – BEHIND THE ACTION – Rivermen Teenagers
By Sam Laskaris Writer Life can indeed be unpredictable. Just ask Winter Rivera and Eric (Hodo) Martin. The two teens, aged 16 and 17, respectively, were hoping to participate in a national lacrosse championship this summer. Rivera and Martin starred with the Six Nations Rebels, the local Junior B squad. They were hoping to compete at the Founders Cup, the national Junior B tournament, held earlier this month in Port Coquitlam, B.C. The pair had led the Rebels to a perfect 20-0-0 record in regular season action this year. Despite missing three games, Rivera still led the Six Nations squad in scoring, racking up 97 points (47 goals and 50 assists) in 17 contests. That’s a whopping average of 5.7 points per outing, indeed an impressive feat considering some of...
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Stallions to kick off 2023 campaign in Burlington in September
By Sam Laskaris Writer Many of those who will suit up for the Six Nations Stallions this season are still finishing off their box lacrosse seasons. Thus, they won’t have much of a break before commencing their season with the Stallions, who compete in the Ontario Senior Men’s Field Lacrosse League (OSMFLL). The Stallions are one of nine squads that will participate in the OSMFLL this year. Regular season action begins on Sept. 9 in Burlington. The Six Nations club will play twice that day. For starters they will meet the United Lacrosse Club, based in Kitchener-Waterloo, in an 11 a.m. match. The Stallions will then battle the Orangeville Generals in a contest scheduled for 2 p.m. Danton Miller has taken over Stallions’ manager duties this season but will continue...
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Mohawks defend title again at provincial fastball championships
By Sam Laskaris Writer The Ohsweken Mohawks were able to register some rather dominating performances. And in the end, the Mohawks were able to win their third consecutive provincial title. The Mohawks, a women’s masters squad, consisting of players aged 35 and over, captured top honours in their category at the All Ontario Native Fastball Tournament. The three-day tournament, which wrapped up on Sunday, was held at ball diamonds in Ohsweken and Caledonia. A total of 33 squads competed in the provincial tournament. They took part in five categories. The Mohawks were the only squad from Six Nations to win their division. The Mohawks ended up winning all four of their contests at the All Ontario tourney. They defeated another Six Nations-based squad called Sour Springs 12-2 in their championship...
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Frustration mounting over unauthorized lobster fishing in southwestern Nova Scotia
By Keith Doucette THE CANADIAN PRESS HALIFAX- Frustration is mounting as some fishermen and politicians in Nova Scotia speak out about the scale of unauthorized lobster fishing in the southwestern part of the province. In an interview Tuesday, Colin Sproul, of the Unified Fisheries Conservation Alliance, called the current situation in St. Marys Bay, near Digby, N.S., “outrageous” and dismissed reports of enforcement by federal fishery officials as “patently untrue.” “There is an industrial level commercial fishery taking place in St. Marys Bay,” said Sproul, although he wouldn’t say for certain by whom. Sproul didn’t mince words, however, about what he said was a lack of enforcement by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans. “The real question here is, does the Canadian government have the intent to enforce existing...
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Maui County sues power company, saying utility did not turn off electricity during deadly wildfires
By Jennifer Sinco Kelleher And Gene Johnson THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HONOLULU (AP)- Maui County sued Hawaiian Electric Company on Thursday over the fires that devastated Lahaina, saying the utility negligently failed to shut off power despite exceptionally high winds and dry conditions. Witness accounts and video indicated that sparks from power lines ignited fires as utility poles snapped in the winds, which were driven by a passing hurricane. The Aug. 8 fires killed at least 115 people and left an unknown number of others missing, making them the deadliest in the U.S. in more than a century. Hawaii Electric said in a statement it is “very disappointed that Maui County chose this litigious path while the investigation is still unfolding.” The lawsuit said the destruction could have been avoided and...
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Woman’s passion turns into a message of healing
By Emily Plihal Local Journalism Initiative Reporter SOUTH PEACE NEWS Honouring the children who never returned home, and survivors of residential schools, is a way to help people heal, in the eyes of Peace River artist Judy Ducharme. Her breathtaking artistry has graced the crosswalk near the Treaty 8 Memorial at Riverfront Park. She has graciously painted a crosswalk the last two years to help family, friends, and people in the community in their healing process. Emily Plihal/ Local Journalism Initiative Reporter/SOUTH PEACE NEWS/LJI is a federally funded program For more go to: WWW.theturtleislandnews.com...
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Missing Six Nations man located safe
SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND RIVER -Six Nations Police said a 26-year-old man reported missing earlier has been located. Police said Wednesday, Aug., 23, that the missing man Jared was found and is safe Six Nations Police wish to thank community members and media who helped in the search. Police sought information on the man after reports were received he was last ween two weeks ago. ...
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Six Nations Chiefs One Win away from Mann Cup
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Six Nations Firefighters labour fight in hands of tribunal
By Lisa Esse Writer SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND- After three days of hearings, it could be October before Six Nations firefighters and captains find out if Canada’s Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) supports their right to unionize. The CIRB is an independent federal tribunal tasked with deciding if Six Nations Elected Council’s (SNEC) claim to sovereignty trumps Six Nations Firefighters and Captains right to unionize. Six Nations Firefighters and Captain applied and were approved to join the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) union. Now they have a second battle on their hands. SNEC is challenging their right to unionize on reserve, If successful the firefighters and captains could become the first band employees to unionize on reserve joining the ranks of other community members who may work as teachers,...
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Six Nations’ heart goes out to children left behind
SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND – Family and friends are raising their voices and rallying behind the children of a beloved Six Nations woman who lost her life to violence. On Friday (August 11) Jocelyn Greene died in Hamilton General Hospital after suffering life-threatening injuries from a violent incident family and friends describe as a case of domestic abuse. Greene was 27 years old. Her partner Dalton Hill-Doxtator, 28, has been remanded in custody. He is facing charges including Dangerous Driving Causing Death, and Impaired Operation Causing Death in relation to the August 4 incident which put Greene in hospital. Ironically Greene’s death comes in the wake of the Six Nations Elected Council hearing from its anti-bullying task force that the community suffers from “epidemic proportions” of bullying In the...
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Feds blamed AFN for delays, slow progress on First Nations policing bill: document
By Alessia Passafiume and Stephanie Taylor THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA-Federal officials worried long-promised legislation declaring First Nations policing an essential service was being delayed by Assembly of First Nations hesitations about the bill, newly released internal documents show. Records obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act also appear to show that one of the sticking points for both the advocacy organization and Ottawa is whether to recognize policing as an area of First Nations jurisdiction, something the government has done when it comes to child-welfare services. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised his government would bring forward a new First Nations policing law in 2020 after years of calls from Indigenous leaders. The federal government committed to co-develop the law with the Assembly of First Nations, which...
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Six Nations Elected Council to start lobbying
Six Nations is renewing the call to keep the excise tax being, invest not just in Six Nations but other Haudenosaunee communities, while working with surrounding municipalities. Elected Chief Mark Hill says he is working on different strategies for closing the infrastructure and funding gaps in the community, but he doesn’t want to give them all away. Some of those plans were discussed at the Political Liaison Committee meeting on August 14, but he said he couldn’t give his strategies away because voicing them publicly wouldn’t be smart. “I don’t want to get too much into it, it’s not much of a strategy if everyone knows about it,” he said. Hill and Councillor Greg Frazer attended a meeting with Jagmeet Singh, leader of the New Democratic Party last week and...
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Six Nations to rally against Bill C-53
Six Nations is hoping to have as much representation as possible to rally against Bill C-53 in Ottawa next month. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) passed a resolution during its Political Liaison meeting (Aug., 14) for all available councillors and Elected Chief Mark Hill to attend a Chiefs of Ontario (COO) rally against Bill C-53 . The COO is looking for as much support as possible to mount an objection to the Metis Nation self-government agreement. Councillor Hazel Johnson suggested taking a bus and filling it with community members, but Hill said SNEC had to make sure it could fill a bus and they would revisit the idea of community transportation at a later date. “It would be a good idea if council could invite one community member each so...
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Meta is playing with fire!
Climate change! It couldn’t be more apparent. Wildlife fires spreading across the north and west are a clear sign to the doubting Thomas’ among us that Climate Change is here and it’s real. Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hajdu reminded Canadians the raging fires affect First Nations deeply. Without services to begin with to fight any emergency First Nations are beginning from behind. She announced Tuesday tens of millions of dollars have been allocated for First Nations in the North West Territories where indigenous people don’t know when they will be able to go back home or what they will find. Meanwhile in B.C. a fast-moving fire has forced the evacuation of thousands and homes have been destroyed. All at a time when up to the minute news couldn’t be...
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