ROAD RAGE INCIDENT OVER PARKING SPOT RESULTS IN SEVERAL CHARGES
(NORFOLK COUNTY, ON) – On Tuesday, December 17, 2019, approximately 11:42 a.m., the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Norfolk County Detachment investigated a road rage incident at a Queensway East, Simcoe, Norfolk County, Ontario address. It was determined that two drivers engaged in a confrontation over a parking spot at a local business. As a result, one of the drivers fled from the area with the other driver following. Both vehicles then stopped on Ireland Road when one of the drivers exited their car and damaged the other vehicle and then fled from the area. Investigators subsequently located the vehicle after it had collided with a parked vehicle and business at a Norfolk Street South address. As a result, police have charged 24-year-old Jordie SMITH of Norfolk County, Ontario with...
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Ottawa funding mental health services for Saskatchewan Indigenous youth
SASKATOON – The federal government is committing $2.5 million over the next two years to support mental-health services and suicide prevention programs for Indigenous youth in Saskatchewan. Federal Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller and Chief Bobby Cameron of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations made the announcement in Saskatoon. A number of young people in several Indigenous communities in the province have taken their own lives in recent months. The Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation at Loon Lake, for one, has raised concerns about what it has called “cluster suicides” _ three deaths over three weeks, including that of a 10-year-old girl. While in Saskatchewan, Miller met with Makwa Chief Ronald Mitsuing and members of the community, about 360 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon. Chief Louis Mercredi of the Fond du Lac...
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Annual Christmas Concerts in full swing
Jamieson Kindergarten students belt out a Christmas tune during their annual Christmas concert. Photo by Donna Duric....
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SNEC seeking $200,000 from farmer after promising to look at removing injunctions against Six Nations People
By Justin Lethbridge and Lynda Powless Writers The same night Six Nations Elected Council agreed to look at removing injunctions imposed on Six Nations people the band council agreed in a closed session to settle a $1 million damage suit against Six Nations Farmer Kris Hill for $200,000 last Tuesday night. Turtle Island News has learned SNEC was given the option by its lawyers to either walk away from the suit, seek the lesser amount of $200,000 or continue the action seeking $1 million. The damages came after SNEC sought and was granted an injunction against Kris Hill and John and Jane Doe of Six Nations over the controversial farming of the Burtch lands. Hill had been farming the lands on a three year lease from the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs...
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SNEC says it’s exploring options to get out of injunctions against community members
By Justin Lethbridge Writer Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) says it is exploring options to vacate or eradicate at least two injunctions the previous council sought against community members. The decision came after community members flooded the SNEC chambers last Tuesday night. An Ontario Court granted two injunctions against Six Nations people after the previous band council petitioned the court to remove people from outside the council building and local farmer Kris Hill from the controversial Burtch lands. In addition the former Six Nations Band Council and the Six Nations Grand River Development Corporation were both instrumental in supporting Hydro One who sought and was granted an injunction, against community members and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council, to remove a protest from the Niagara Reinforcement Line. Following a statement delivered by...
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Six Nations Election hangs in the balance council reviewing concerns
By Justin Lethbridge Writer Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) is taking another week to look at concerns raised over the recent election, two appeals and the fate of the Chief Election Polling Officer ((CEPO)). The council chambers were packed with community members last Tuesday as Alaina VanEvery told council her appeal had been rejected but she had concerns with the legitimacy of the election and the CEPO. SNEC said they needed more time to look at the complex issue. Councillor Wendelyn Johnson said Council is not debating the merits of the concerns brought forth by multiple community members. “At the end of the day the accountability lies here, with this system. We’re having big discussions about that and what that means in terms of legal ramifications and so on…” She...
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The Perfect Storm: Homelessness in the city
By Donna Duric Writer BRANTFORD – At least two dozen homeless people in Brantford were left scrambling to find a place to stay for the winter after their tent city was shut down. In a city struggling with overflowing shelters and a lack of affordable housing, homeless people are sleeping in ATM lobbies, stairwells, and finding brief respite in overnight shelters. Although the camp seemed to provide a homelessness solution from the perspective of the people who lived there, at least one shelter manager in Brantford believes otherwise. “I think the camp being shut down is a good thing,” said Tim Philp, executive director of Rosewood House, a 24-hour co-ed shelter. “I guarantee you that if that camp continued, someone would’ve died there.” The six-month long encampment came to an...
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Liberal minority focus won’t be on Indigenous issues
Four years ago in the 2015 federal election, Justin Trudeau came to Indigenous people bearing gifts. He promised if elected as Prime Minister, he would enact calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), develop a nation-to-nation relationship and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Elected, giving Canada its glittering dynasty, Trudeau began the work on a nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous peoples. One he said would be based on respect and consultation. But during his first term as Prime Minister reality sunk in for the young politician. It kicked off with the inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) that came close to sinking. Then came the Indigenous Rights legislation he planned to implement without talking to First Nations....
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UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY: For The Love Of Our Elders
By Xavier Kataquapit My uncle Cheekanish passed away on November 24 at the age of 88 in Attawapiskat. He is my father Marius’s older brother. Uncle Cheekanish’s English name was Leo Kataquapit. My family mourned at his passing but we also celebrated his memory as he had lived a long full life that he filled with as much fun, happiness and goodness as he could. Uncle Cheekanish and his wife Theresa raised a strong family of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren that inherited their sense of laughter, warmth and kindness. His children include Robert, Maria, Noella, Peter, Rollande, Jeffrey and Jerry. I remember my last visit with him and his wife Theresa in 2016. It was a visit full of laughter and recollections that I had together with my cousins...
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Chief Stacey Laforme re-elected to third term
Chief Stacey Laforme, along with five elected Councillors, were re-elected in the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation Election (MCFN). Back for his third term as Chief, Laforme has served his community on council for the past two decades after first being elected as a councillor in 1999. During that time he was also involved with MCFN’s Pan Am Games Secretariat (PAGS), as Chair of the PAGS Committee. After the Election results were released, Laforme released a short statement on Facebook. “I look forward to serving with the new council. I also believe that there were others who ran for council and should be elected in the future and I will do my best to assist them next year. Miigwech.” Of the 413 valid votes cast for Chief, Laforme garnered...
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Judicial review of election could be in the offing
By Justin Lethbridge Writer Six Nations’ recent election could be facing a Judicial Review leaving the fate of the current council still up in the air after an anonymous Election Appeals Committee deemed a complaint “irrelevant.” Alaina VanEvery told Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) Tuesday court action may be the only avenue left open to her. She said the Six Nations Election Appeals Committee called her concerns “irrelevant” and SNEC seems unwilling to act on her concerns. Alaina VanEvery questioned the actions and conduct of the Chief Electoral Polling Officer Steve Williams and questioned the operations of the election including the use of online voting. “How are my concerns irrelevant?” VanEvery asked Council after reading out the response she received from the Election Appeals Committee. “This response is a slap...
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Cayuga Chief Cleveland General (Deyotowehgoh) passes
On Dec. 16, family, friends and the community lost one of its longest-serving traditional chiefs. Cayuga Chief Cleveland General (Deyotowehgoh) has passed, after serving as Chief for 61 years with the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council. The funeral will be held this Thursday at Sour Springs Longhouse at 11 a.m. “He will be sadly missed,” said HCCC Secretary Leroy Hill....
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Assumption makes quick work of the Thunderbirds
ACS Lions feast on Pauline Johnson By Josh Giles Sports Writer BRANTFORD – Dominance is the only way to describe Assumption College’s play when they visited Pauline Johnson for a Jr. Boys basketball game. It was a lopsided affair from the start when the Lions put the pressure on and never let off for the rest of the game. By the time the first half was over, the game’s fate was already sealed with Assumption up 61-14. But that didn’t stop team coach Steve Petrella from being on his team to perform to their best abilities. “You always have to make sure that they’re talking with each other and communicating with each other. Especially on defense. And right from day one I told our guys that the best offense is...
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Meet the 99ers lockdown defenseman
By Josh Giles Sports Writer BRANTFORD – The impressive Brantford 99ers Peewee A team has had a terrific season so far. With a record of 28-6-2 they’ve been one of the most competitive teams in the league this year. Already winning 3 tournaments thus far, and being ready to compete in more. The teamwork has been impressive for the 99ers behind head coach Dean McIntosh. But credit doesn’t go to just McIntosh alone, it also goes to the players. And one defenseman that has been a big help is Graeson Martin. Martin is from the Six Nations and is playing his first season with the 99ers team, and has fit in really well with the team. McIntosh said, “I was very impressed with him from tryouts. He’s a real competitor...
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OMSK Teachers win first Teachers vs Students game
By Josh Giles Writer SIX NATIONS – The Oliver M. Smith Kawenni:io (OMSK) Elementary School saw its first ever Students vs Teachers hockey game played. But the fun didn’t just apply to the OMSK students. The game saw the likes of parents, local coaches and even some former students get involved in the game. Before the game there was a competitive spirit around the school according to OMSK Principal Travis Anderson, “They (the teachers) started some back and forth chatter between the students and kids involved. But it should be a fun game.” With a lot of these students ready to beat their teachers and parents, especially with a lot of them playing minor league hockey regularly with the Six Nations. Anderson said, “I know the students will want to...
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Dewey Jacobs Inducted into Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame
By Josh Giles Sports Writer SIX NATIONS- The Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame has been graced with many talented athletes who represented Canada, and Six Nations in a variety of ways to make the game so amazing. A long list of Six Nations players and coaches inducted into the Hall of Fame got a little bit longer when Duane “Dewey” Jacobs became the latest member this year. Jacobs has had a prestigious career enjoying three straight Mann Cup victories as a co-captain for the Six Nations Chiefs. He also won the Champions Cup in 1997 with the Rochester Knighthawks, all while being an elite scorer. Receiving the call in May, Jacobs told Turtle Island News, “It was really humbling news to receive. It’s just amazing knowing you get to go...
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NLL Boasting plenty of Six Nations talent
By Josh Giles Sports Writer With the NLL season already underway there are teams that are showcasing some amazing Six Nations talent that fills the NLL. Starting with the Toronto Rock is fan favourite Johnny Powless, a journeyman throughout the league racking up a lot of awards. He was named to the All-Rookie Team and won the NLL Sportsmanship award in 2012 Following that he played a key part in helping the Rochester Knighthawks win three straight championships. Bouncing around the league, Powless found his footing in Toronto where he will be a key piece. The Buffalo Bandits also host another Powless. Quinn Powless is a forward from Ohsweken and has played four of his seven seasons with Rochester. This will be his first season in Buffalo. The Georgia Swarm...
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Ottawa’s consultation with Indigenous groups on pipeline was meaningful: Lawyer
By Amy Smart THE CANADIAN PRESS VANCOUVER _ Lawyers for the Canadian government say it conducted a new round of consultations with Indigenous groups about the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion that was reasonable, adequate and fair. Jan Brongers began arguments on behalf of the federal government Tuesday, asking the Federal Court of Appeal to toss out legal challenges to the government’s approval of the project for the second time. The court has heard from four Indigenous groups in British Columbia that say the government once again failed in its duty to hold meaningful dialogue about the project during consultations conducted between August 2018 and June 2019. “The shortcomings of the earlier process were not repeated and therefore these four applications should be dismissed,” Brongers told a three-judge panel in Vancouver....
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Contempt case of Indigenous women arrested at Alton Gas site delayed until April
By Michael Tutton THE CANADIAN PRESS HALIFAX – A contempt of court hearing for three Indigenous women arrested at a construction site north of Halifax has been rescheduled for late April in the latest of a series of delays. The women’s lawyer, Michael McDonald, is arguing before Nova Scotia Supreme Court that the women had the right to be on Alton Natural Gas property along the Shubenacadie River. The three defendants, Darlene Gilbert, Madonna Bernard and Paula Isaac, were taken into custody in April after they allegedly broke an injunction to stay off the work site. Alton Gas plans to use water from the 73-kilometre tidal river to create large underground storage caverns, but the three women say they fear the waterway cutting through the centre of the province will...
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