MCFN partners with Arcadis in future development
By Sam Laskaris Writer Representatives from the Mississaugas of Credit First Nation (MCFN) are ecstatic with their latest partnership. At a news conference, which was held at the CN Tower in Toronto on Apr. 29, it was announced that the Mississaugas of the Credit Business Corporation (MCBC), which represents the business development interests of the First Nation, has established a partnership with Arcadis. Arcadis is the world-leading company that delivers engineering, sustainable design and consultancy solutions for various assets. The new partnership, called MCBC-Arcadis Limited Partnership, allows Arcadis to be MCBC’s advisory and design partner on new developments on the First Nation’s treaty lands. The lands include almost four million acres in southern Ontario. “The agreement between MCBC and Arcadis is something very big for us,” said MCFN chief Margaret...
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Iqaluit march for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls pays homage to Nunavut victims
By William Koblensky Varela, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunavut News Angel Ootova was just 9-years-old when her mom died in a domestic violence incident in Iqaluit, while Angel and her brother were in Pond Inlet. On May 5, Angel and 47 people marched from Iqaluit’s Four Corners intersection to Iqaluit Square in honour of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, known as Red Dress Day. “I’m here today in honour of my mom, who was murdered June 7, 2008 — 18 years ago — and I’m walking for my childhood best friend, Savanna Pikuyak and for Sula Enuaraq and her two beautiful kids, Alex and Aliyah, who were also murdered,” Angel said. Initially, Angel was told that her mom, 46-year-old Della Ootova, died from alcohol poisoning. That later turned...
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Low turnout and access are barriers for Six Nations child welfare settlement process
Limited community turnout and concerns about awareness, access and fairness were at the forefront of a Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) discussion on the First Nations Child and Family Services and Jordan’s Principle settlement during its April 28 General Council meeting. Holly Johnston is the Ontario South liaison with Deloitte who is the administrator of the First Nations Child and Family Services and Jordans principal settlement. She provided an update telling SNEC that while many applications have been submitted in the province, local engagement has been significantly lower at Six Nations information sessions. “Ontario has 18,662 applications for the settlement compensation” she said. Eight Six Nations members attended three recent information sessions, while two others were cancelled due to weather. The update outlined the purpose and scope of the settlement,...
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Construction on target for new Kawenni:io/Gaweni:yo Elementary and Secondary School
Construction of the new Kawenni:io/Gaweni:yo Elementary and Secondary School is under budget and on schedule Councillor Amos Key Jr. shared an update at the Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) General Council meeting on April 28 highlighting steady progress on the long-anticipated school building. “I just wanted to share with you also that [the project] is right now under budget… and they’re also under schedule, so they’re right on time,” Key said. He attended the Kawenni:io/Gaweni:yo Elementary and Secondary School Annual General Meeting with project leadership on April 21. The Kawenni:io/Gaweni:yo school project was provided with $27 million in funding from SNEC after SNEC recognized the school is aimed at providing a modern learning environment grounded in Gayogohono (Cayuga) and Kanienkehaka (Mohawk) language immersion with strong cultural and community values. The...
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Technical difficulties delay investment policy changes
If you tuned in to the Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) General Finance Committee meeting on April 20 chances are you saw a blank screen. The meeting could not be livestreamed due to technical difficulties Finance Commitee Chair Alaina VanEvery said. Instead, a recording of the meeting was posted April 21. The issues meant the Finance Committee could not present changes made to the Community Investment policy, Councill Alaina VanEvery said. SNEC had directed the committee to have changes back to the council table before the end of April, but it was deferred until the May 4 General Finance meeting. “I was ready to present it today… I don’t think you could see,” VanEvery said. She also said the draft included “highlighted sections of where there’s commentary and feedback” from...
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Six Nations still fighting for safe drinking water
Six Nations continues to fight for safe drinking water for the community and their lawsuit is moving deeper into the courts. Molly Churchill, from JFK Law, updated Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) on the nation’s drinking water case before the Superior Court of Justice at the General Council meeting on April 28. “The purpose of this update is to provide an update on Six Nations of the Grand River’s drinking water litigation,” Churchill said. She described the case as fundamentally about “water security on your reserve, drinking water security.” The claims administrator deemed Six Nations ineligible to join the First Nations Drinking Water Settlement in 2021 due to the water treatment plant that was completed in 2013. Churchill said at its core, Six Nations claim alleges “Canada’s failure to ensure...
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Closing arguments to begin in Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation’s education funding case at rights tribunal
By Rianna Lim Closing submissions are set to begin today in a First Nation’s complaint before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal accusing the federal government of systemically underfunding and neglecting on-reserve education in Ontario. The Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation alleges the education funding formula implemented by the federal government in 2019 substantially underfunds on-reserve schools, fails to meet First Nation students’ needs and perpetuates historic disadvantage. The case originated from a 2009 complaint involving special education costs for two children of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and a provincewide claim of discrimination against First Nations children in the education system. Opening submissions at the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal began in October, with the First Nation seeking a finding of discrimination, permanent education reform and an immediate...
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SNEC Agrees To North Dumfries Aggregate Pit Expansion
By Alex Murray Writer Six Nations community members filed into the Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation (SNDC) boardroom Monday (April 27) to learn about how a recent agreement between Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) and Cambridge Aggregates (CA) could benefit the community and impact the environment. SNEC recently voted to send the agreement to community engagement, where the Edworthy West above-the-water-table aggregate pit expansion in North Dumfries could be discussed. Aggregate pits are often referred to as quarries or gravel pits and produce stone and sand used in construction. The session was sponsored by the Lands and Resources Department, Consultation, and Accommodation Process team, though no representatives from the proponents of the project, CA or parent company Heidelberg Materials, attended. Peter Graham, consultation supervisor for SNEC and...
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Six Nations Councillor appointed to Crime Stoppers committee
A Six Nations councillor has been appointed to Brant-Brantford Crime Stoppers, following weeks of discussion around community involvement and oversight. At the April 28 General Council meeting, Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) approved a recommendation from the Unity Building, External Government Relations and Justice Committee to appoint Councillor Leslie Greene to the organization. The motion was ultimately carried after further debate and a new seconder, despite some opposition from council members. Discussion at SNEC highlighted the existing relationship between Crime Stoppers and Six Nations policing. Councillor Dayle Bomberry said the program has been active in the community “for the last few years,” working with police on criminal matters and supporting fundraising efforts. “They say that the relationship has proven beneficial to the Six Nations peace service,” Bomberry said. “So they’re...
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Editorial: Hmmm, audit time coming…
Six Nations Elected Council is facing yet another audit year. For us here at Turtle Island News it will be the 33rd budget since we launched the newspaper. A local band budget that went from $1 million to today’s $30 million plus. At least, it would be $30 million if the band didn’t dump the community’s own source revenues on it to bring it down to what it thinks the community will accept . So instead of seeing a $30 million deficit the community would only see a $8 or $9 million deficit depending on how much own source revenues are used to keep a lid on the overspending. Those own source revenues, by the way, are the community’s own dollars including gaming dollars that come in annually from two...
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Today in History
May 1 In 2007, the House of Commons unanimously apologized to former students of Canada’s Residential Schools for the trauma they suffered as a result of policies intended to assimilate Indian, Inuit and Metis children into mainstream society. In 2022, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said Canada’s residential school system was a cultural genocide. And after listening to residential school survivors share their stories during his visit to Saskatchewan’s James Smith Cree Nation, the head of the Anglican Church said he could understand why many survivors feel it was an actual genocide. Welby apologized that the church allowed “terrible crime’’ to happen at the schools. May 2 In 2023, the House of Commons unanimously backed a motion to declare the deaths and disappearances of Indigenous women and girls a Canada-wide...
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Supreme Court set to weigh in on huge Indigenous title claim
By John Chilibeck, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Daily Gleaner The clock began ticking April 7 on what could be one of the most important Supreme Court of Canada cases in New Brunswick’s history. That’s the date the country’s top court told several law firms involved in the Wolastoqey Nation’s landmark title claim it would determine if it would allow “leave for appeal.” Sitting before the black-silk robed justices are eight submitted legal briefs, filed between February and April. “Leave for appeal” is legal-speak for when the court determines if an appeal should be allowed for a lower-court ruling. In this case, there’s a lot at stake, more than half of New Brunswick’s territory, its western portion and then some. On one side are First Nations who say they want...
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Rivermen win season opener versus North Stars
By Sam Laskaris Writer The Six Nations Rivermen were able to kick off their 2026 campaign on a winning note. The Rivermen downed the visiting Owen Sound North Stars 10-8 in their Ontario Series Lacrosse (OSL) regular season opener, which was held this past Saturday at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (ILA). The Rivermen led 5-1 after the opening 20 minutes of action. But the North Stars rallied in the middle frame and trailed by just one goal, 7-6, heading into the third period. The local Senior B squad earned the victory by outscoring Owen Sound 3-2 in the third period. “It was good to get a win like that at the start of the season,” said Rivermen netminder Elan Henhawk, who played the opening two periods of the contest. Though...
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Rebels extend winning streak to four games
By Sam Laskaris Writer The Six Nations Rebels are on a roll. The local Junior B lacrosse squad is now sporting a perfect 4-0 record. The Rebels kept their winning ways intact this past Friday with a 13-11 victory over the visiting Cambridge Highlanders in a match that was held at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (ILA). The Six Nations club then registered a lopsided 24-2 Sunday win against the Windsor Clippers in a tilt that was also held at the ILA. “We’re looking pretty good at the beginning of the year,” said Rebels’ head coach Blue Hill. “That’s a good start. That is always good start for any team to get out 4-0.” Hill though realizes there is still room for improvement from his charges. “There’s still some things we’ve...
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SPORTS BRIEFS: Stealth remain unbeaten in 2026
By Sam Laskaris Writer Stealth remain unbeaten in 2026 The Six Nations Stealth eked out an overtime victory on Sunday to remain undefeated this season. The local Junior C lacrosse club downed the visiting Peterborough Lakers 13-12 in the match that was held at the Six Nations Sports & Cultural Memorial Centre. Ryersyn Montour netted the game-winning goal in OT for the Stealth, which saw its record improve to a perfect 3-0. For Montour, the OT marker was his second goal of the game. He also earned an assist in the contest. Meanwhile, Randon Greene and Brian Laforme led the Stealth offence as they collected five points each. Greene had a hat trick and chipped in with a pair of assists. Laforme had two goals and three helpers. The Stealth...
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Ontario women found guilty of killing boy in their care and confining his sibling
By Maan Alhmidi and Paola Loriggio Two Ontario women hated and resented two young brothers they were seeking to adopt, abusing them until the older child died, a judge concluded Tuesday as he found the couple guilty of first-degree murder and other offences. Gasps could be heard in the Milton, Ont., courtroom as Ontario Superior Court Justice Clayton Conlan handed down his ruling in the case of Becky Hamber and Brandy Cooney, who took in the two Indigenous boys in 2017 after the children left another foster home. The judge did not read out the reasons for his decision during the brief hearing Tuesday morning, but said in a written ruling that the women intended to kill the older sibling and confined, assaulted and failed to provide food and medical...
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Vigil on Parliament Hill for missing and murdered Indigenous women
By Sarah Ritchie A few dozen people wearing bright red shirts and dresses stood out against a grey sky on Parliament Hill on Tuesday afternoon, where they gathered for a vigil to mark Red Dress Day in honour of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. The event was led by Bridget Tolley, founder of Families of Sisters in Spirit. Her mother, Gladys Tolley, was killed in 2001 when she was hit by a Quebec provincial police police vehicle while crossing a highway in her home community of Kitigan Zibi. Tolley said she has been coming to Parliament Hill to push for action for 25 years. “I cried this morning, because I didn’t want to be here. I don’t want to be here, but I have to be. Not only...
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Otipemisiwak Metis Government joins First Nations in criticizing Red River Metis self-government bill
By Jeremy Appel, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Alberta Native News The Otipemisiwak Metis Government is proposing revisions to federal legislation that will implement a self-government treaty with the Red River Metis as some First Nations groups call for the bill to be scrapped entirely. Bill C-21, the Manitoba Métis Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Treaty, was introduced for its second reading on April 22 by Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Rebecca Alty, who is also the Liberal MP for the Northwest Territories. “The bill before us today is a co-developed, living document setting out rules, regulations and processes for self-governance crafted by the Red River Métis on their terms and agreed to by Canada, not imposed by the Crown,” said Alty as she introduced the bill’s second reading. She noted that it...
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Former Supreme Court Justice Louise Arbour named as next governor general
By Kyle Duggan and Anja Karadeglija Prime Minister Mark Carney named retired Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour as Canada’s next governor general on Tuesday, hailing her as a storied defender of human rights. The accomplished former jurist is fluently bilingual, and has served as UN human rights commissioner and chief prosecutor at The Hague. Arbour, 79, was chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, and made history when she became the first to indict a sitting head of state, president Slobodan Milosevic, for crimes against humanity. The Montreal native also secured the first conviction for genocide since the establishment of the 1948 Genocide Convention, and became first to prosecute sexual assaults as crimes against humanity. Carney said Arbour gave voice to the powerless and...
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Six Nations Fire Department issues Fraudulent Inspection call warnings
SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND RIVER-Six Nations community members are being advised to be wary of calls claiming to be from the Six Nations Fire & Emergency Services (SNFES), SNFES said. In a fraud alert posted to their Facebook page last Thursday (April 30), SNFES advised the community that they were not contacting any residents by phone to conduct inspections. SNFES said that if someone does receive a call telling them a fire inspection is scheduled for their location, it’s fraudulent and they should report it to Six Nations Police. SNFES did not immediately respond to requests for comment....
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