Chief Dean Nelson says Prince Harry was ‘sincere’ and ‘down to Earth’ during visit to Lil’wat Nation
By Roisin Cullen, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visited the traditional territory of Lil’wat Nation this week as part of their trip to British Columbia, and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex spent time meeting with members of the Nation in Mount Currie on Feb. 15. Prince Harry previously met with Lil’wat Nation Chief Dean Nelson in November 2023, and was invited to visit the Lil’wat and speak with Chief Gelpcal (the cultural chief) and other councillors. Harry took part in a wheelchair basketball game with local youth during his visit, with Nelson even joining in on the court. Nelson told Pique the visit was positive and sincere. “He dropped by the community,” he said. “We had a lot of fun with the youth and our...
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WestJet agrees to rebook flights for family of murder victim Ashley Simpson
By Richard Hutton Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The family of Ashley Simpson will be able to attend a sentencing hearing for the man responsible for the St. Catharines woman’s death after a change of heart by a major Canadian airline. “Last night, WestJet called me and booked all the flights for June 11,” Ashley’s mother, Cindy, said Thursday after receiving the news from WestJet that the flights had been rebooked. “They apologized and sent condolences.” The family had been booked to be on a flight from Toronto to Calgary and then on to Kelowna, B.C. The flights were originally booked via the travel site FlightHub and it said any changes were WestJet’s responsibility. WestJet had initially refused to rebook those flights as it could not find the booking, said Madison...
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Kebaowek First Nation brings radioactive waste fight to Parliament Hill
By Natasha Bulowski Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Kebaowek First Nation and opponents of a recently approved radioactive waste disposal facility took the fight to Parliament Hill on Wednesday with a peaceful rally urging the federal government to stop the project. “We stand united in safeguarding the well-being of our shared environment and the fundamental right of all Canadians to access clean and uncontaminated drinking water,” said Kebaowek Chief Lance Haymond at a morning news conference. Shortly after, more than 100 people rallied at the Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill to oppose the project, which would hold up to one million cubic metres of radioactive waste about one kilometre from the Ottawa River. Following the rally, Algonquin leaders watched question period from the gallery where Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet pressed...
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‘Economic reconciliation’: Mi’kmaw communities invest in Nova Scotia battery plants
OTTAWA- A corporation co-owned by 13 Mi’kmaw communities is investing in new battery plants with Nova Scotia Power, in what both parties are calling a step toward reconciliation. The Indigenous-run agency announced the project today, which is expected to draw and store electricity during off-peak periods and release it back to the grid when needed. It is getting up to $18 million for an equity loan from the Canada Infrastructure Bank to help facilitate the partnership. Crystal Nicholas, the president of the corporation, says creating a greener future is a priority for the Mi’kmaw Nation, and the investment in the storage facility marks “true economic reconciliation.” Construction of what will be the largest energy storage project in Atlantic Canada is to begin this year in White Rock, Bridgewater and Waverly,...
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Jordan’s Principle upheld by Supreme Court
By Marc Lalonde Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The unanimous decision by the Supreme Court of Canada to uphold Bill C-92 and ensure First Nations’ direct involvement in the care of the communities’ young people was met with approval and optimism from local community groups late last week. The decision paves the way for Canada to continue to recognize First Nations’ jurisdictional rights to self-govern their child and family services without conflict with provincial law, as promised in the original Jordan’s Principle class-action settlement. In the past, Indigenous children who were removed from their homes for safety reasons were often placed in non-Native homes where they were often subjected to physical abuse and, at times, worse. With this ruling, the Supreme Court said once and for all that First Nations family-services...
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First Nations, Jim Balsillie slam government over lack of consultation on AI bill
By Anja Karadeglija THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA-The Assembly of First Nations is warning it could take the Liberal government to court over its proposed privacy and artificial intelligence bill. And former tech executive Jim Balsillie told MPs studying the bill that he considers the legislation “anti-democratic.” The government has already been criticized for failing to consult widely and early enough on Bill C-27, which updates privacy laws and introduces the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act. Balsillie, the former co-CEO of BlackBerry pioneer Research In Motion, said Wednesday the government did no public consultations and relied too heavily on feedback from industry rather than civil society. Indigenous leaders said First Nations weren’t consulted at all. “As a result, the minister did not hear First Nations, does not understand First Nations, and...
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North Dakota takes federal government to trial over costs to police Dakota Access Pipeline protests
By Jack Dura THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BISMARCK, N.D. (AP)- North Dakota is set to take the federal government to trial Thursday for the costs of responding to the Dakota Access Pipeline protests, the culmination of an unusual and drawn-out court fight. The state filed the lawsuit in 2019, seeking $38 million from the federal government for policing the protests. Years of legal wrangling followed before the trial date was scheduled in December. The bench trial before U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Traynor is expected to last 12-13 days. In an interview, North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley said the trial will show examples of numerous requests to the federal government for help and the “complete refusal” to offer resources and financial support in response. “It ought not be one of...
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Manitoba man who was switched at birth receives Metis citizenship
WINNIPEG- A Manitoba man who was switched at birth and raised without being aware of his Indigenous heritage for more than 60 years says he feels a sense of belonging after receiving his Metis citizenship. “My identity is something I lost a long time ago,” Edward Ambrose said in a news release. “I’m 68 now, so being welcomed into the Red River Metis family really touches my heart.” Ambrose received his Manitoba Metis Federation citizenship card in Winnipeg on Tuesday. He was accompanied by his daughter, Eileen, and his biological sister Leona. “I am proud to be with my family, and it feels so powerful and meaningful to receive my card,” Ambrose said. “I will always love my other family too, but I feel like this is where I belong...
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First Nations call on feds to oppose nuclear waste disposal site near Ottawa River
OTTAWA-First Nations leaders are calling on the federal government to oppose a nuclear waste disposal site near the Ottawa River that they say threatens drinking water and their rights. Last month, a federal regulator approved a proposal from Canadian Nuclear Laboratories to build a near-surface disposal facility for nuclear waste close to Chalk River, Ont. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission said the project isn’t “likely to cause significant adverse environmental effect.” But multiple First Nations and dozens of municipalities in Ontario and Quebec object to the project. The facility is located on the traditional territories of Kebaowek First Nation, and it says the federal government breached its duty to consult by failing to obtain consent for the project. The First Nation has submitted a judicial review to challenge the project’s...
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It’s Official. Climate Change Has Brought Deadly Health Risks to BC
By Michelle Gamage Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Vancouver Coastal Health warned Tuesday that we’re not ready for extreme weather caused by climate change. What “urgent” risks you face depend on where you live, with poorer and racialized neighbourhoods and communities at particular high risk, according to Dr. Patricia Daly, Vancouver Coastal Health’s chief medical health officer. VCH serves a region that includes Vancouver, Squamish, Whistler and the Sunshine Coast, as well as coastal areas farther north, such as Bella Bella and Bella Coola. In a report released Tuesday, VCH analyzed how hazards such as wildfire smoke, droughts, heat, storms and flooding will affect our health and identified ways to mitigate future harms. “The existential threat to our population is climate change,” Daly said. A lot of the issues and solutions in...
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Minister eyes Indigenous communities for justice grant uptake
By George Lee Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Indigenous groups are well-positioned to enhance the delivery of justice services at the community level, the minister responsible for a new provincial grant said as the Feb. 29 application deadline approaches. Minister of Justice and Attorney General Mickey Amery said he would “love to see a strong uptake” of the grant from Indigenous communities. First Nations, the Metis Nation of Alberta and Metis settlements can apply for one-time grants worth between $5,000 and $25,000. Also eligible are municipalities, registered not-for-profits and charities, and community groups that have a designated fiscal agent. All told, the program will deliver up to $1.2 million this year. Not eligible for the Alberta Community Justice Grant are crown corporations, for-profits, individuals, academic institutions, police services and publicly funded...
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Nunavut achieves largest land transfer in Canadian history
By Patrick Quinn Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Nunavut’s historic devolution (or Namminiqsurniq) agreement with the government of Canada on January 18 marked the largest land transfer in the country’s history. The territory will have final decision-making authority over its two million square kilometres of land and resources while collecting royalties that previously went to the federal government. “It’s the manifestation of that bold vision our leaders have always had,” said Premier P.J. Akeeagok. “It means that we, the people most invested in our homeland, will be the ones managing our natural resources. It will allow us to reap the benefits of the incredible wealth we have in the territory and to really start building the foundations of our economy.” Devolution gives Nunavut similar control as Canadian provinces have over land,...
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Climate change: “Irreversible Extreme Heat” coming
“Irreversible Extreme Heat” report warns communities and First Nations extreme heat will pose risks By Lisa Iesse Writer Scientists say record-breaking double-digit temperatures last week north of Lake Erie including Six Nations, is part of an extreme heat trend that may pose “significant” risks. On Friday (Feb. 9) temperatures were recorded at an unseasonably warm 14 degrees celsius in Six Nations, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN), and surrounding communities. Experts warn the increasing temperatures will mean more risk of flooding in the winter and extreme heat in the summer in the months and years to come. It’s part of an extreme heat trend which could mean “significant” impacts for communities on the north side of Lake Erie, Joanna Eyquem told the Turtle Island News. Eyquem is the managing...
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SNEC navigating through audit and potential $4.1 million defict
By Lynda Powless Editor Some members of Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) are questioning where it’s dollars are coming from and how they are going to pay any potential deficit and what the administrative” modernization” cost after learning they will be running a $4.1 million deficit. SNEC told its finance director it wants to see a list of finance agreements and wants to know how departments will make up for short falls and new employee salaries. Six Nations administration has grown to 980 employees. Of that 980, 681 employees are Six Nations band members, 68 are from other First Nation communities and 231 are non-Indigenous staff. The increase came under then CEO Darrin Jamieson who overhauled the band administration with a massive “modernization” taking a leave of absence just as the...
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Six Nations Police shut down drug trafficking funnel with arrests
Six Nations Police concluded a 6-month drug trafficking investigation resulting in search warrant executions on a vehicle and Selkirk residence. On February 8, 2024, Six Nations Police executed two Section 11 Controlled Drugs & Substances Act search warrants for one vehicle and a residence onMelville Lane in Selkirk, ON. Three adults were arrested without incident. As aresult, police seized a large quantity of drugs which include Oxycodone, Hydromorphone, Fentanyl transdermal patches, Clonazepam, Dilaudid andPsilocybin with a street value of approximately $35,000. In addition, police seized bulk currency, prohibited weapons, cell phones and a motor vehicle. As a result of the investigation, Wayne Richard Ireland, 44, of Selkirk, ON, has been charged with the following criminal offences: Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking: Hydromorphone Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking: Fentanyl...
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Six Nations Elected Council against Metis governance bid
Six Nations is pushing back against the Metis Nation of Ontario’s bid for self-governance through Bill C-53, which could also grant the Metis land. On January 26 the federal government announced $12.8 million for New Indigenous-Led Natural Climate Solutions, within the announcement it granted the Metis Nation of Ontario (MNO) $1.3 million from Environment and Climate Change Canada to “aquire land for conservation and restoration.” Six Nations Elected Chief Sherri Lyn Hill said the MNO acquiring land was “concerning” during her update at the Political Liaison meeting on February 12. “This is a direct example, Canada said Bill C-53 would have no impact on First Nations Treaty and constitutionally protected rights. In Ontario the MNO has clear intentions to claim land,” Hill said The bill is set to go back...
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Housing buys furnaces from outside contractors for elders unit
As the temperatures plummet Six Nations is working toward ensuring elders stay warm. Six Nations Elected Council approved funds to purchase two additional new furnaces for the elders complex during its General Finance meeting on January 15th. SNEC’s housing department had already budgeted for seven new furnaces for the elder complex at 28 Bicentennial Road, but discovered an additional two furnaces were required this year. Lily-Anne Mt. Pleasant, director of housing said the purchase of seven new furnaces at a cost of $29,000 already approved, but she requires two more at an additional cost of $7,536. The funds will come from housing’s repairs reserve fund, but Mt. Pleasant needs SNEC’s approval to use the reserves. The total cost of the nine furnaces will come to $35,536. Councillor Dayle Bomberry asked...
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BATTLE OF THE POT HOLES: Six Nations roads versus the potholes
By Lisa Iesse Writer Pothole season came early. With warming temperatures the annual dodge, the pothole season hit early at Six Nations. Since January, drivers have been dodging potholes that are keeping the Six Nations Public Works team in a “constant battle” to fill the gaps. The potholes come in all shapes and sizes. Sections of road filled with large potholes, resembling the cratered landscape of the moon, have also been spotted on community roads. Ken Hess, a truck driver with Six Nations Public Works, was on a mission repairing some of the potholes near 7th Line and Cayuga Road in the last days of January. Hess said he lost count of how many holes the Public Works department has filled so far but said it numbers in the thousands....
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Is Six Nations Elected Council really there…?
The newly elected Six Nations Elected Council is now into its third month and still spending the majority of its time in “training” and closed meetings not to mention remaining silent most of the time. And we get to watch them sitting in meetings, quiet, allowing issues to go through without uttering a word. It’s a silence that needs to stop. As a new council its a prime time to evaluate whether or not the “modernization” of the band’s administration instituted by CEO Darren Jamieson is in fact working. Jamieson spent almost his entire tenure at the band, through COVID and now, working on implementing the “modernization” and now before it becomes too deeply embedded into the operations its time to evaluate if in fact it works for an Indigenous...
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