Manitoba NDP seek honorary premier title for Louis Riel
WINNIPEG -Manitoba’s Opposition wants to give the title of honorary first premier to Metis leader Louis Riel. NDP Leader Wab Kinew has put forward a private member’s bill that would bestow the title and require Riel’s contributions be part of the school curriculum. Riel is widely celebrated in Manitoba for leading a provisional government and paving the way for the province’s entry into Confederation in the 19th century. There is a large statue of Riel behind the legislature and the Royal Canadian Mint issued a new coin in October that features his portrait. Riel was central to the Red River and North-West resistances to assert Indigenous rights, and was hanged in Saskatchewan in 1885 for treason. Kinew’s bill would need government support to become law and it’s not expected to...
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Status Cards Will Still be Accepted in Place of Gas Cards
With the phasing out of the Ontario Gas Card used to purchase tax-exempt fuel on reserves, there is some confusion over what card people will be able to use to continue to purchase tax-exempt fuel. The Ontario Gas Card will be discontinued on Jan. 1, 2020 in favour of a return to using Status Cards to purchase tax-exempt fuel. Retailers will still continue to accept Ontario Gas Cards until Jan. 31, 2020. But obtaining any new card or a new status card is not necessary, according to the Web site OntarioCanada.com, which details the changes the Ministry of Finance is making to the program. In place of the Ontario Gas Card, the Ministry of Finance will accept the following as proof of entitlement to the tax exemption: -First Nation individuals...
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Holiday RIDE Program Kicks Off on Six Nations
The Six Nations Police along with Fire and Ambulance Services have begun their annual holiday R.I.D.E. program with a checkpoint in Ohsweken. Standing for Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere, the first R.I.D.E. program started in Etobicoke, Ontario in 1977. Since it has spread across the country as a way for police agencies to catch drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs. Through the use of spot checks around the Six Nations, police will be out in full force during the holidays, stopping drivers and reminding them to travel safe. Police are also reminding drivers that school children will be on holidays so motorists need to be extra vigilant of pedestrians during the holidays. Six Nations Police wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season. If you see or suspect that someone is...
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Brantford’s “Love Camp” City Eviction Order Leads to Fire
Watch for Turtle Island News coming indepth feature on Brantford’s Homeless By Donna Duric Writer BRANTFORD-A six-month-old homeless camp just off Greenwich St. in Brantford is no more after police evicted residents from the site, which was subsequently set on fire in response. On Dec. 4 at 9 a.m., Brantford Police executed a trespassing order issued by the owner of the private property adjacent to the encampment and in response, one of the residents of the camp set a makeshift shed on fire. “I lit my shack on fire,” Johnny, one of the camp’s residents, told the Turtle Island News, as police, fire crews, volunteers, and residents milled about in the aftermath of the fire. “I just wanted it to be recognized what the city was doing to us. We...
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Jagmeet Singh outlines NDP priorities for throne speech
OTTAWA-NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says his caucus is ready to work with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, but he should not take their support for granted. Singh says he is looking for a number of specific things in tomorrow’s throne speech including bolder targets for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions as way to fight against climate change. He says the Liberal government has to drop its legal fight against a Canadian Human Rights Tribunal order for Ottawa to compensate First Nations children who were inappropriately placed in foster care. He also wants a firm commitment to universal pharmacare and greater investments in health care. The Liberals and the NDP both campaigned on a promise to bring in some form of universal pharmacare. Singh says if Trudeau’s goal is simply power rather than meaningful...
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Action plan on missing, murdered Indigenous women coming by June: Bennett
OTTAWA- Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett says the federal government will release by June 2020 its plan to respond to the final report of the inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Bennett says the government has been taking time to consult with Indigenous communities, leaders and organizations to ensure the action plan is co-developed with First Nations. She says the Liberals want to have “something in the window” by next summer to show the government is committed to act on the inquiry’s findings and 231 calls to justice that were released this past June. Bennett is telling a special gathering of Assembly of First Nations chiefs that the plan would be a living document that could involve ongoing work. She is also dismissing any notion the government is...
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Grand Erie Secondary Schools Closed December 4th
All Ontario Secondary schools will be closed province wide Wednesday December 4th as part of a job action by the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF). The closure affects all students from 14 secondary schools in Brantford, Brant County, Haldimand, Norfolk including secondary school students from Six Nations and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. Teachers would remain on the job if a deal can be reached before December 4th. The one day closure is part of province wide job action being undertaken by the OSSTF as they continue to negotiate a new deal with the Province of Ontario. It comes as escalation of job action that began on November 26th that included information pickets and a limited withdrawal of services. The services being withdrawn include participation in EQAO preparation...
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GoFund Me for Six Nations Youth Hurt in Car Accident
By Donna Duric Writer Six Nations woman Lyndsay Jamieson has started a GoFund Me campaign on behalf of a 5-year-old boy seriously injured during last weekend’s intense ice storm. Johnny Hill is currently being treated at McMaster University Children’s Hospital for injuries sustained on Dec. 1 when he slipped and fell in an icy parking lot. At the time, a pick-up truck was backing up and as a result, Johnny was run over. He remains in critical condition according to the GoFund Me campaign update. Johnny was placed in a medically-induced coma but has since awoken. Johnny sustained numerous injuries but his chances of survival look good, according to the Gofund Me campaign. Because the tragic incident was so unexpected, both of his parents are out of work until the...
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Indian Day School Settlement Process Hits Snag
By Donna Duric Senior Writer A court challenge issued on Oct. 31 by an Indian Day School survivor’s lawyer has halted the settlement and compensation process. The implementation date (when eligible claimants would start to receive compensation) was tentatively scheduled for Dec. 19, but the challenge issued by David Schulze (partner at Dionne Schulze S.E.N.C.) on behalf of a class suit survivor, has halted the process and the law firm handling the case, Gowling WLG, says it is uncertain when the process will resume. “If not resolved in the next few weeks, this court challenge could delay the opening of the claims process for an unknown period of time,” Gowling WLG stated on its Web site. “Until this matter is addressed, class members will not be able to apply for...
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Red scarves fill park; it takes a community to fight AIDS
By Justin Lethbridge Writer OHSWEKEN – You couldn’t miss them. The bright red swaying in the wind. Two hundred bright red scarves adorned Veterans Memorial Park Friday Nov., 29th supporting World AIDS Day Dec., 1 that has become known as Red Scarf Day. The red scarves were hung from trees, bushes and benches all aimed at raising awareness of HIV/AIDS. Each scarf was either hand-knitted or crocheted by Six Nations community members and featured a small tag with statistics on AIDS and links to resources about the disease. Scarves are hung to imitate the double red ribbon which is the international symbol of AIDs awareness. This year the Dajoh Knitters Group, who began knitting in July knitted 188 scarves. HIV, (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), is a virus that infects and destroys...
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Just asking for fairness
While some members of the newly elected Six Nations Elected Council are in Ottawa this week to participate in the Assembly of First Nations winter meeting back home, the question of whether or not they are the 58th Elected Council remains up in the air. Without a doubt it can be unsettling for those who were elected a month ago to have the shadow of doubt hanging over them. Two appeals have been launched, one already turned down by an anonymous appeals committee and the community awaits the decision on the second. Alaina VanEvery’s appeal is well thought out, succinct in its arguments and right. Anywhere else politicians would be working on new campaigns and how to get their investment back from the defunct 58th General Election. But at Six...
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Second appeal calling for reset of Six Nations election launched
By Justin Lethbridge Writer A second appeal of last month’s Six Nations band council elections has been launched leaving a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the newly elected council. The appeal is calling for the dismissal of Chief Electoral Polling Officer (CEPO) Steve Williams and for the election to be recalled. The appeal launched by community member and candidate in the 2019 elections Alaina VanEvery was sent to an anonymous Six Nations Elections Appeal Committee last week. The committee already dismissed an earlier appeal from Brenda Johnson who had been declared ineligible to run in the election by CEPO Steve Williams. Johnson had also sent petitions to the appeals committee seeking removal of Williams as CEPO and calling for a recall the election. Both were denied. VanEvery has been vocal about...
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SNEC at AFN in Ottawa
Six Nations new Elected Chief Mark Hill and several Elected Councillors are attending the Assembly of First Nations hosted Special Chiefs Assembly. According to Elected Council’s Communications Officer Candace Lee Lickers, Elected Chief Mark Hill as well as councillors Helen Miller and Michelle Bomberry travelled to Ottawa to attend the meetings and will be returning Thursday afternoon. Councillors Nathan Wright and Wendelyn Johnson also attended the meetings as they had already planned to attend the meeting prior to being elected to council. The meeting is being held in Ottawa from December 3rd to the 5th....
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Steelhawks lose in overtime
By Josh Giles Sports Writer HAMILTON-Friday night saw a wild game in the Steel City when the Hamilton Steelhawks hosted the Whitby Dunlops. It was fast paced and high scoring throughout the entire game. A strong start by Hamilton in the first period started off with a goal from Six Nations player Cam Sault. Hamilton then kept piling on goal after goal to go up three nothing before the end of the first period. The second period saw five goals scored but only one was scored by the Steelhawks, tying the game up 4-4 heading into the third. In the third period, each team scored two goals a-piece putting the game into overtime. It only took a few minutes for Kyle Ventura to seal up his hat trick game by...
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Saturday saw a pair of wins for Six Nations Hockey
By Josh Giles Sports Reporter Inclement weather meant Saturday was the only hockey action that was seen this weekend. But what a Saturday it was when the Gaylord Powless Arena hosted seven games. After both Atom LL teams lost hard fought battles to the Waterford Wildcats, coach Cubb McNaughton emphasized that the games were just for fun so the kids could enjoy playing, “It’s just for fun and the kids are still learning.” The game following it saw a uniform change from the Peewee LL 1 team due to the Tillsonburg Tornadoes wearing the same colour. But that didn’t stop the team when they beat the Tornadoes with a score of 3-1. Team coach Rodger Martin said about the win, “It felt good. We had a not so good streak...
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National focus needed on suicide crisis among Indigenous youth: AFN
By Teresa Wright THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA- The federal government will support the creation of a national suicide-prevention strategy for young people, with a suicide crisis gripping a First Nation in northern Saskatchewan, Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller told a gathering of First Nations chiefs in Ottawa Tuesday. Miller was short on details on what this strategy would look like, saying only that the government would work with First Nations communities on solutions they propose. On Tuesday, a special gathering of chiefs of the Assembly of First Nations from across Canada began with a call for the federal government to step in. National Chief Perry Bellegarde said action must be taken to stop Indigenous children and teens from feeling so hopeless they harm themselves. “We know...
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First Nations chiefs, councillors not eligible for jury duty in Saskatchewan
REGINA- The Saskatchewan government is making changes so chiefs and councillors of First Nations will no longer be eligible for jury duty. The province says the move ensures consistency, because elected municipal officials including city councillors and mayors are currently excluded from jury selection. The Ministry of Justice says the exclusion helps avoid any potential conflict of interest. The government says it believes Saskatchewan is the first jurisdiction in Canada to exclude chiefs and band councillors from the process. The changes are the result of a provincial review of the current system. The government adds that it will start allowing spouses of elected municipal officers to be eligible for jury duty, as they were previously excluded. Justice Minister Don Morgan says the change ensures officials are not unnecessarily shrinking a...
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First Nations chiefs gather in Ottawa for special assembly
OTTAWA- Hundreds of First Nations chiefs from across Canada are gathering in Ottawa today for a special assembly. The national meeting, hosted by the Assembly of First Nations, will discuss political strategy and policy on key issues, including the Trudeau government’s pledge to implement a bill harmonizing Canada’s laws with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. New Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller is to speak at the event later today, as are NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and B.C. Premier John Horgan. Several other Liberal cabinet ministers will also address the assembly later this week, including Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett, Justice Minister David Lametti and Canadian Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault. But despite having attended chiefs assemblies last year, neither Prime Minister Justin Trudeau nor Conservative Leader...
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Greta Thunberg’s North Dakota photo is at national library
BISMARCK, N.D.- A photo of Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg at a Native American reservation in North Dakota has been archived at the Library of Congress in Washington. Photographer Shane Balkowitsch preserved the image on a glass plate and titled it “Standing For Us All.” The method known as “wet plate collodion” involves wetting glass with various chemicals before inserting the plate into a camera and developing the photo. Balkowitsch told the Bismarck Tribune that it’s his “most important work to date.” The photo shows 16-year-old Thunberg looking into the distance during a visit to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. She shared it on Twitter when she left North America on Nov. 13. Another image, a close-up Thunberg’s face, will be featured at the Swedish History Museum in Stockholm....
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