Ontario chiefs call for housing minister to resign, add to calls for Greenbelt probe
TORONTO-First Nations leaders from across Ontario are calling for Housing Minister Steve Clark’s resignation or his removal from cabinet over his handling of changes to protected Greenbelt land. The Chiefs of Ontario, a group representing 133 First Nations, says it was “extremely’’ concerned by the issues raised by the province’s auditor general in a damning report last week. The report found the government’s plan to open Greenbelt lands for housing favoured certain developers who had access to the minister’s chief of staff in a process that disregarded or ignored possible environmental, agricultural and financial risks and impacts. Premier Doug Ford has said no one received preferential treatment, and that the government would accept all of the auditor’s recommendations to change the process, except for one suggesting he reconsider the removal...
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“Pretendians” posing as elders to receive benefits
“Pretendians” know no age limit. The federal government i searching to find a way to verify an elder’s Indigenous background after finding non-Indigenous people are posing as Indigenous to receive benefits. The benefits are designed to lift marginalized communities to higher standards. Instead some people, not of Indigenous backgrounds. often referred to as a “pretendian” are applying. To help combat the problem Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) approved a method for verifying community elders when it comes to its Child Welfare Working Group. The group is currently analysing and critiquing Canada’s Child and Family Services Act. SNEC passed the verification process at its Political Liaison Committee meeting on August 14. Arliss Skye, director of Six Nations Social Services said the government is searching for a way to verify an elder’s...
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Six Nations Police seeking help in finding local man
Six Nations Police are looking for a 26-year-old local man last seen two weeks ago. The man, identified as Jared, was last seen by a family member and is known to frequent the Land Back Lane site at Caledonia. Police believe he is travelling in a red Chrysler 300 possibly bearing license plate number #BXLH850.A photo of a similar vehicle’s shown here. He is described as: -North American Native Male -Approx., 5’11” tall -Approx., 170 lbs, medium build -Brown Shaved Hair -Wears Glasses Clothing description unknown. Anyone with information or contact with him is asked to contact Six Nations Police at 519-445-2811 or submit a tip to Crimestoppers at 1 (800) 222-TIPS (8477). Or submit your tip online at www.crimestoppersbb.com...
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Six Nations Tomahawks crowned Senior Series Lacrosse champions
By Sam Laskaris Writer Jay Smith had already proven he was capable of coaching the Six Nations Tomahawks to a provincial championship. And he’s done just that again. Smith had been the bench boss for the Tomahawks, the local Senior C men’s lacrosse squad, when they captured their provincial championship during their inaugural season in 2019. Smith and the Six Nations club parted ways after that title. But he was brought back into the Tomahawks’ organization for the 2023 campaign. Smith led his charges to the Senior Series Lacrosse (SSL) title on Sunday. The Tomahawks defeated the Wellington Aces 7-2 in the championship final held at the Brampton Memorial Arena. “I was given a job at the beginning of the year and that was to build a team and win...
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Chiefs on verge of winning league title and advancing to Mann Cup series
By Sam Laskaris Writer One more W. That’s all the Six Nations Chiefs now need in order to capture the 2023 Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) title. The Chiefs are in full control of their best-of-seven MSL championship final series after a dominant 13-5 victory in Game 3 on Monday over the visiting Peterborough Lakers at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena. Six Nations now holds a commanding 3-0 lead in the series. The Chiefs can wrap up the series, and also end a Lakers’ dynasty, by winning Game 4, which will be held on Wednesday at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. The opening faceoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. The Chiefs actually trailed 5-3 around the five-minute mark of the second period. But the Six Nations squad then netted 10 consecutive goals while...
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Reclaiming surfing as a traditional native women’s sport
By Alexandra Mehl, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Tofino, BC – As the sun beamed onto Esowista beach, youth of the Mu?aa, Rising Tide Surf team gathered around Lacy Kaheaku, a native to Hawai?i, to learn how to carve traditional wooden surfboards and the Indigenous roots of the sport. “Women did a lot of the surfing in native Hawaiian culture,’’ said Kaheaku, adding that royalty, alongside warriors, would also surf. “But majority of the leisurely surfing was done by women.’’ Since ancient times, Pacific islanders have surfed. The pastime is believed to have originated in Polynesia, where cave paintings from the 12th century illustrate people riding the waves. During seafaring journeys the activity reached Hawaii, long before contact with European explorers and the process of colonization began. Despite these Indigenous roots,...
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Rivermen have lofty expectations for national Presidents Cup tournament
By Sam Laskaris Writer They’re in it to win it. That’s the thinking of Marko Celic, the general manager of the Six Nations Rivermen, who are preparing this week to once again participate in the Presidents Cup, the national Senior B lacrosse tournament. The seven-team event, which will be held in Oakville, begins this Sunday, Aug. 27, and continues until Sept. 2. All matches will be held at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre, which despite its moniker is actually in Oakville. “The goal is to win it,” Celic said of the national tournament, which is frequently simply called The Prezzy. “Whenever you go to the Presidents Cup, the goal is to win it. A coach once said if you have a chance to win a trophy, you go for the...
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Six Nations hosting Indigenous provincial fastball championships
By Sam Laskaris Writer A total of 33 squads will be looking for provincial bragging rights in Six Nations this weekend. The 2023 All Ontario Native Fastball Tournament begins on Friday and continues until Sunday. Five divisions will be contested at the tourney. They include the women’s and men’s categories. There will also be an Under 18 men’s grouping. Plus, a women’s masters division for those 35 and over and a men’s masters category for players aged 40 and up. The Ohsweken Redmen, who are participating in the men’s division, are co-hosting the tournament with the Sour Springs Fastball, a women’s masters squad. All matches will be staged at the Ohsweken Ball Diamonds and the Caledonia Diamond. “I think this is the fifth time we have hosted this,” said Darrell...
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Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation settles century old grievance with Ottawa
By Alessia Passafiume THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA- Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation in Saskatchewan has settled a specific claim with the federal government over nearly 20,000 acres of land. The Nation of 1,600 north of Regina and the federal government announced this week the settlement of a claim for Canada’s “breach of statutory and fiduciary duties” relating to nearly 18,352 acres of reserve lands in 1909. The specific claim was settled 33 years after the Nation submitted its case to Canada. The settlement agreement provides total compensation of $150 million and includes the potential to add the lost acres back to the reserve. “Now we have an opportunity to bring prosperity to our people and homelands, we invest in ourselves so the future generations will grow up proud to be from Muscowpetung,”...
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UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY: Traditional Land Based Teachings For Wabun Youth
By Xavier Kataquapit www.underthenorthernsky.com Land based living and learning was the main focus of the Wabun Youth Gathering held at the School Of Indigenous Learning in Neebing, Ontario. Pictured are Wabun Youth (from L-R) Kylea Naveau, Leeon Prince and Nakiyah Naveau. (Photo provided by Mattagami FN) Indigenous youth from the Wabun Tribal Council territory came together for a land based event at the 16th Annual Wabun Senior Youth Gathering. The event was held in western Ontario in Neebing, Ontario at the School Of Indigenous Learning (SOIL), a land based traditional facility. The week long event from August 15 to 17 was held for youth between the ages of 14 to 18. The event was organized by the Wabun Tribal Council Health Department with the support of the tribal council’s...
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Former Quebec NDP MP Romeo Saganash charged with sexual assault in Winnipeg
OTTAWA-Winnipeg police say former New Democrat MP Romeo Saganash has been charged with sexual assault. Police say they arrested Saganash on June 27 in relation to an allegation from May 1 in Winnipeg and the matter is now before the courts. Saganash represented the northern Quebec riding of Abitibi-Baie-James-Nunavik-Eeyou from 2011 to 2019, serving as the Indigenous affairs critic. He has not responded to a request for comment The Canadian Press sent by email on Friday, but APTN, which first broke the news, reports he confirmed the sexual-assault charge to them. The federal NDP has not responded to a request for comment. Saganash had been one of the residential school survivors working with a national advisory committee for missing children and unmarked burials set up by the federal government and...
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Ontario chiefs call for housing minister to resign, add to calls for Greenbelt probe
TORONTO-First Nations leaders from across Ontario are calling for Housing Minister Steve Clark’s resignation or his removal from cabinet over his handling of changes to protected Greenbelt land. The Chiefs of Ontario, a group representing 133 First Nations, says it was “extremely” concerned by the issues raised by the province’s auditor general in a damning report last week. The report found the government’s plan to open Greenbelt lands for housing favoured certain developers who had access to the minister’s chief of staff in a process that disregarded or ignored possible environmental, agricultural and financial risks and impacts. Premier Doug Ford has said no one received preferential treatment, and that the government would accept all of the auditor’s recommendations to change the process, except for one suggesting he reconsider the removal...
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THEY ARE THE ONTARIO CHAMPIONS!
Six Nations U91 team won the Ontario A Championship at the provincials last week bringing a crowd of locals out to welcome the young champions home in style. Six Nations Fire and police led a long parade through the community to the Six Nations arena in a community welcome to the champions. (Photo by Jim C. Powless)...
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Six Nations Firefighters in labour dispute with band council
Six Nations Firefighters in labour fight with Six Nations Elected Council over right to bargain collectively By Lisa Iesse Writer Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) is facing off with its firefighters in a labour hearing that could see the first unionization of local “band “ employees. The hearing before Canada’s Industrial Relations Board began last week and is continuing his week. At the heart of the argument is a bid by Six Nations Fire Fighters and Fire Captains to uphold their rights under the federal labour code. If successful they could join the ranks of local federal employees including nurses, some health employees and teachers, all members of unions and working at Six Nations. A win would mean they can begin to bargain collectively with their employer (the Six Nations...
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Court says no to Indian Day School compensation deadline extension
‘This decision should not be taken as a dismissal of the concerns put forward;’ court docs say A Federal Court decision says no to any extension for Indian day school survivors to apply for compensation. The Federal Court decision released Thursday, Six Nations Elected Council had sought a deadline extension for day school survivors to file claims charging both theCOVID-19 pandemic and process deficiencies impacted survivors ability to file. On Thursday the court said no, refusing to extend the deadline. “We had thought that the record was very clear that the pandemic had a very negative impact on the ability for people to make claims,” said Louis Sokolov, legal council for Audrey Hill who represented day school survivors. Six Nations, the largest Indigenous community in Canada with more than 28,000...
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Six Nations Police upgrade charges after woman passes away
OHSWEKEN, SIX NATIONS- Six Nations Police have upgraded charges against a 28-year-old man to Dangerous Driving Causing Death after a woman found on River Range Road suffering life-threatening injuries passed away. Six Nations Police and paramedics responded to the scene of an injuried female Friday, August 4, 2023, at about 10:00 PM. The woman was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries. Sadly, on Friday, August 11, 2023, the she passed away as a result of her injuries. The charges against the accused in this matter, Dalton Hill-Doxtador, 28, of Ohsweken, ON have been upgraded to the following: – Fail to Comply with Release Order – Dangerous Driving Causing Death – Disobey Court Order – Impaired Operation Causing Death – Assault Peace Officer The man has been remanded in custody pending...
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Six Nations Elected Council to hold AGA featuring Walk the Tract event
With only three months left in their term Six Nations Election Council (SNEC) is hosting it’s first “annual general assembly” that is expected to focus on its almost four years in council. SNEC announced the meeting at its August 8th meeting. “We haven’t had (an AGA) in a long time,” remarked Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Darrin Jamieson. The AGA will take place August 24 between 5 pm and 9 pm at the Community Hall, he said. There will be booths set up from all Six Nations of the Grand River council departments, and there will also be a presentation, he added. The presentation will cover what has happened during this term of Council, and also discuss future plans that have been developed, said Jamieson. He said a booklet which will...
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Six Nations Elected Council to be in person for first session since COVID-19
SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND – Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) is heading back to the council chambers for at least one meeting. SNEC passed a motion at its August 8th ZOOM meeting to meet in person with two community members later this month over an issue of a non-band member living at Six Nations Councillor Greg Frazer, attending by ZOOM as chair, was in Kahnawake attending an Iroquois Caucus meeting. He said the motion would require a majority of its members to be present in-person at the chambers. The motion came after a community member said he had been trying to meet with SNEC over a residency by-law grievance. Rick Clause, who was at the band office during the August 8 General Council meeting, questioned council members’ failure to...
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SN Elected Council to look at residency bylaw after complaints
SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND – Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) is reviewing its residency by-law amid complaints from community members. Rick Clause told SNEC at its August 8th meeting his family has suffered abuse and threats from a non-Six Nations Band member who has taken up residency here. Clause said it has taken him years to get a home at Six Nations. “How can he be here,” he asked SNEC. “There’s some French people living here for years. Why are all these people given all these privileges on our land. I got lot of friends wanna come home. Come home to what? “ Clause attended the council chambers in-person as a delegation with some of his family members only to find council members joined via Zoom. Clause used a...
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Woodlands latest art exhibit features new Indigenous artists
By Lisa Iesse Writer SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND – Woodland’s 48th annual Indigenous Art exhibit is boasting the largest first-time entrance of works by new artists yet. The opening reception on Saturday (July 30), drew hundreds of people to the Woodland Cultural Centre to find a striking collective of paintings, photography, carvings, beadwork, pottery, ceramics, and mixed media works that filled the room with life. Artworks that talk to each other, said Woodland’s curator Patricia Deadman. “I found this year that really the pieces start talking to one another and, and that’s really quite unusual for a juried exhibition,” she said . There were over 100 submissions making it difficult to choose works, Deadman said. Fifty-two works by 41 artists were selected this year. “It’s really hard to put...
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