Winners of the Bitove Indigenous Award are announced
By Sam Laskaris Writer A half dozen athletes are the latest recipients of a Bitove Indigenous Award. The awards, established last year, are through the Canadian Olympic Foundation via the prominent Bitoves, a Canadian business family. Each recipient receives $5,000 to cover the financial costs of their training and competitions. Alternatively, award winners can utilize their funding to support initiatives that they are contributing to within their own Indigenous communities. The Canadian Olympic Committee released its Team Canada Impact Agenda last year. The agenda includes the commitment to making sport safe, inclusive and barrier-free so that more young people can play and also stay involved in sport. The Bitove Indigenous Award is part of that commitment. The six award recipients this year are ski jumper Alexandria Loutitt, wrestler Justina Di...
Register
From Harper to Poilievre: what is the Conservative vision for Indigenous Peoples?
By Alessia Passafiume THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA -When Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks about what his party’s relationship with Indigenous Peoples would look like should he become prime minister, it’s often about “economic reconciliation,” or the idea that Indigenous Peoples should be included in all aspects of the economy without barriers. He also speaks about public safety, charging that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau isn’t doing a good enough job of protecting Indigenous Peoples from violent crime, even as he endorses tough-on-crime policies that some experts say risk worsening the overrepresentation of marginalized groups in prisons. And he has hinted at much bigger policy shifts, saying earlier this year that he believes the Indian Act is “a racist, colonial hangover,” and pledging that a Conservative government would “fully fund all the...
Register
“Safety is our right, We claim the night,” march hits Ohsweken
SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND – Chanting “Safety is our right, We claim the night,” over 100 men and women took to Ohsweken’s streets Thursday (Sept.,21st) joining nationwide ‘Take Back the Night,’ marches. Some wearing ribbon shirts and skirts they left Ganohkwasra Centre making their way down Chiefswood Road to Veterans Park at Fourth Line where as dusk fell, chants rang across the village, ““What do we want?….Safe Community. When do we want it?…NOW” “Say it once, say it again, Bring violence to an end!” As they walked they carried large signs echoing calls to end all forms of violence. At Veterans Park there were speeches, songs and dancing. A number of organizations participated including Six Nations Justice, Six Nations Police, Six Nations Mental Health and Addictions, Branford Sexual Assault...
Register
SN Band Council elections: 2 vying for elected chief
By Lynda Powless Editor Its official…Six Nations is in election mode. But there weren’t any large crowds out at the Six Nations community hall Saturday, Sept. 23, to watch who was running for Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC). Saturday’s nominations, for the coming November elections, saw two people running for Elected Chief. Former elected Chief Steve Williams and current councillor Sherri-Lyn Hill are pitting off for the job. Williams was nominated by former Elected Chief Ava Hill and Francis Russell Montour. Sherri-Lyn Hill was nominated by Carl Chancey Hill and Wanda Loy Hill. Current Elected Chief Mark Hill did not seek re-election after serving one term. Also not seeking re-election are councillors Nathan Wright and Michelle Bomberry. Nominations resulted in 14 people running for 12 councillor seats including six members...
Register
SN Elected Council approves Community Engagement standards
Six Nations Elected Council is set to follow a new protocol when it comes to Community Engagement. The Community Engagement Process (CEP) was passed at Six Nations Elected Council’s (SNEC) Political Liaison meeting on September 25 and is set to go into effect on April 1, 2024. This will give employees time to educate themselves on the process, but in April all SNEC public consultations will have to follow a 10-step guide to gather community input around all of SNEC’s projects. The name was changed from the Community Engagement Standards (CES) at the meeting as part of the approval of the guide. SNEC experienced technical difficulties and the conversation before passing the CEP was not available online. Tabitha Curley, owner of Fluid Consulting, led the Community Engagement Standards (CES) project...
Register
The Feather Report – What makes sparrows unique?
By Rachel A. Powless Feather Reporter Photos by Carl Pascoe & Rachel A. Powless What makes sparrows so difficult to ID? Years ago, an irritated, exasperated and very exhausted birder or was it a Professor of Ornithology drained from frustration more so than surrender, emphatically stated, “Let’s call all of them an LBJ; Little Brown Jobs and leave it at that!” I wish it were so, but I’m afraid not. There are approximately fifteen species of sparrow that will migrate through our province and many of them will stay to breed while others will move farther north. There are twenty-five species of sparrow in all of the US and Canada. We cannot forget the 8-10 other species of birds which can confuse the birder again. Yes, they may look like...
Register
Ah… the election rumour mill
With almost two weeks to go before candidates in the coming 2023 Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) elections are actually officially approved to run some are already littering the roadways with signs. And the rumour mill is hitting and of course its on Facebook, the world-wide bully pulpit. Oddly the first insults aimed at the campaign are coming from a band employee who has taken to Facebook to not only tell anyone willing to listen who he plans to vote for but is spinning rumours about why community members shouldn’t vote for the other candidate. Rumours that are, without a doubt, in violation of the band’s employee social media policy not to mention legally actionable. Now, normally you expect rhetoric from anyone commenting on an election…generally. But when it comes...
Register
Weekly Cartoon
...
Register
Six Nations Land Rights Message travels Haldimand Tract
By Lisa Iesse Writer ALONG THE HALDIMAND TRACT – The crowd may not have been as big as expected but the welcome was, as Six Nations launched its Friendship Walk through the Haldimand Tract. The walk that began Friday (September 22) in Fergus saw about 100 participants over the three days as it made its way thru St. Jacobs, Kitchener, Brantford, Cayuga, and Port Maitland. One Fergus man told Turtle Island News “I think this is such a good cause, more needs to be done and sooner.” Participants walked a total of about 4-5 kilometres a day with social gatherings taking place at stops along the route. At each meeting point Six Nations culture was celebrated with music, educational theatrical performances, and keynote addresses on the significance of the Haldimand Tract. The 1784...
Register
Dragon boat racer and wrestler named as 2023 Tom Longboat Award recipients
By Sam Laskaris Writer A dragon boat racer who won a total of eight medals, including three gold, at a world championship and an accomplished wrestler have been chosen as this year’s Tom Longboat Award winners. Trina Ross, from Pimicikamak Cree Nation in Manitoba, is the female recipient of the award. And Connor Church, a Metis who is from Winnipeg but now lives in Montreal, was chosen as the male winner. Church was also the male recipient of the 2022 Tom Longboat Award. Officials with the Aboriginal Sport Circle, the governing body of Indigenous athletics in Canada, annually pick both a female and a male athlete who have excelled in sport within the past 12 months. Ross and Church will receive their awards at the upcoming 2023 Canada’s Sport Hall...
Register
Six Nations women well represented at international lacrosse tournament
By Sam Laskaris Writer One of the world’s top box lacrosse tournaments will include a women’s division for the first time this year. The North American Invitational, which is also referred to as LAXNAI, will begin on Friday, Sept. 29, and continue until Oct. 2 in Utica, N.Y. The tournament will include numerous international squads in the men’s, boys’ Under-15 and boys’ Under-18 categories. And for the first time, there will be eight entrants in a women’s division. Among those taking part in this grouping with be the Haudenosaunee Nationals. Matches in the women’s division will be held over two days at the tourney, this Saturday and Sunday. The 23-player Haudenosaunee roster includes a whopping 14 Six Nations members. The club also includes Fort Albany First Nation member Mekwan Tulpin,...
Register
Historic Ontario Hockey League contest held in Ohsweken
By Sam Laskaris Writer A bit of sporting history was made in Ohsweken this past Friday. That’s because an Ontario Hockey League (OHL) exhibition match was held at the Six Nations Sports and Cultural Memorial Centre. The host Brantford Bulldogs, who have relocated from their Hamilton rink which is undergoing extensive renovations, squared off against the Guelph Storm. The Bulldogs ended up winning the pre-season match 5-2. Prior to the game held locally the Bulldogs’ organization had the opportunity to learn about Six Nations culture via an educational session led by Cheryl M. Henhawk, who is the director of education for the Six Nations of the Grand River. “The team members were eager to learn about the traditions and history of the Indigenous people of the region, fostering a deeper...
Register
Six Nations man facing Dangerous Driving charge
SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND RIVER- Six Nations Police have charged at 47-year-old local man with Dangerous Driving after spotting a vehicle speed through a four-way stop. Police said on Thursday, September 21, 2023, at about 1 :00 AM, Six Nations Police officers saw a Sports Utility vehicle travelling in the wrong lane at a high rate of speed on Tuscarora Road that failed to stop for the four-way stop sign at an intersection. Police pulled the vehicle over and the driver was placed under arrest without incident. As a result of the arrest police also learned the driver had an outstanding Arrest Warrant due to failing to appear in court on other matters. As a result, Roger Martin, 47, of Ohsweken was arrsted and charged with: – Dangerous Driving...
Register
Moment For Life Colour in recogniton of World Suicide Awareness Day
Six Nations hit the Blue Track at Six Nations Parks and Recreation participating in the Health Departments’ annual Moment For Life Colour in recogniton of World Suicide Awareness Day Run that sent everyone away looking like a rainbow of colours. (Photo by Jim C. Powless)...
Register
Six Nations Elected Council considering a $30 million bank loan or wants GRE taxes to build language school
By Lynda Powless Editor Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC)is looking into co-signing a $30 mllion bank loan to help get the Kawenni:io/ Gaweni:yo Elementary and Secondary School built after the school was turned down for funding by another federal department. The school learned two weeks ago that its bid for funding from the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program had been denied but weren’t told why. SNEC agreed at its finance meeting Monday (Sept 9) to have Director of Accounting Wayne Staats lok into whether or not they could co-sign a $30 million loan. The issue of co-signing a loan arose during SNEC’s council session Sept., 12. Councillor Hazel Johnson raised the issue making a made a plea for SNEC to help. “My heart is with Gaweni:yo. I don’t want to...
Register
Six Nations sweeps Celebration of Nations Outstanding Achievement Awards
ST. CATHARINES – Six Nations has swept the 5th annual Celebration of Nations Outstanding Achievement Awards. The homegrown honorees this year included artist Delbert Jay R. Jonathan, with language revitalizer Sam Hill, and actor Gary Farmer. Honorees also included Kanatawakhon, David Maracle, Dr. Savage Bear, Dave Labbé, and David Adames. The awards ceremony took place September 8, kicking off various events over the weekend including a powerful seminar about the impacts and the legacy of the Mohawk Institute, and a show-stopping Border Crossing Blues featuring Raven Kanatakta and ShoShona Kish from Digging Roots, along with Rex Lyons and Irv Lyons from the Ripcords. The inspiring and beautiful music of the Strong Water Sisters opened the awards ceremony at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre in St. Catharines. The Outstanding Achievement Awards...
Register
Second Six Nations store hit by thieves, ATM stolen
Six Nations Police are investigating an early morning smash and grab that saw a truck plow into the warehouse-styled doors of a local shop and make off with an ATM machine. Owner of Paradise Gardens Hydroponics on Chiefswood Road said her shop was hit by thieves between 1:00 and 1:30 a.m. Monday. Thieves repeatedly crashed, what is believed to have been a Chevy pick-up truck, into the large shipping doors of her business. She said the truck kept ramming the wall until it broke the doors and panels dropped allowing entrance. At the same time, she said the front glass door and a side window to her store were smashed by hammers. Linda Fazio said she didn’t know how much cash was in the ATM. The ATM company, she said...
Register
Modern day land grab as County learns parcel undocumented
By Lisa Iesse Writer Six Nations may be living a modern-day land grab with Haldimand County claiming a vacant strip of land along the Grand River. The parcel of land came to the attention of Haldimand County Council last month when liability became an issue after learning encampments and trespassers had started camping on the land. A report to Haldimand council August 29 said there was a lack of ownership documentation on the parcel. The land parcel is over one acre in distance, on Highway 54 just north of Mines Road. Megan Jamieson, Haldimand’s general manager of corporate and social services, was presenting concerns about land use in a report to the county’s council when the issue of no deed or title documents to the land parcel surfaced. The documentation...
Register
Historical stereotypes challenged in reconstruction of Haudenosaunee armour
By Lisa Iesse Writer HAMILTON – A Six Nations man’s reconstruction of 400-year-old Haudenosaunee armour speaks back to stereotypes and is challenging how we engage with history. Malcolm Kahyonhakonh Powless-Lynes is a 28-year-old blacksmith and craftsman from Six Nations of the Grand River whose creative work is now featured in an exhibit which opened Thursday (August 31) at the Dundas Museum. For over four years, he has worked on breathing new life into the hidden history of Haudenosaunee warriors who guarded their communities across the Eastern Woodlands. Powless-Lynes reconstructed armour, helmets, bows, arrows, shields, along with other tools used by Haudenosaunee warriors, by looking at artefacts, at long preserved cultural practices, and a handful of written sources. Powless-Lynes spoke with Turtle Island News at the exhibit’s opening at the Dundas...
Register
Psst… where’s the audit?
With an election just two months away the current Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) seems determined to tie the financial hands of any incoming council SNEC is considering co-signing a $30 million loan to help Kawenni:io/Gaweni:yo build an elementary and secondary School. While we sympathize with the school’s struggle the decision to consider putting such a huge loan on the books of the band council certainly shouldn’t be left to a group of officials who’s days are numbered. The current council has only two months left in its life before an election could see new faces sitting in those seats grappling with a $30 million loan. Neither should it be used as a campaign starter! The SNEC motion came after the school’s directors and some supporters all but demanded the...
Register
