Fraser River slide has ‘huge’ impact on community: Interior First Nation
WILLIAMS LAKE, B.C. _ High on the Chilcotin plateau in British Columbia’s Interior, the chief of a local First Nation says the traditional diet of its members is threatened by a landslide more than 150 kilometre away. Tl’etinqox Chief Joe Alphonse, who also represents five other local nations as tribal chairman of the Tsilhqot’in National Government, says Fraser River tributaries once teeming with salmon have shown paltry returns since the Big Bar landslide was discovered in June. “On a good year, you can run across the river on the backs of sockeye, that’s how thick our rivers are. And bright, bright, bright almost fluorescent orange colour, it’s an awesome sight,” he said. Alphonse estimated up to 170,000 sockeye returned to local tributaries this year where the annual...
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PEDESTRIAN STRUCK AND KILLED ON HIGHWAY 6 IN JARVIS
(HALDIMAND COUNTY, ON) – The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Haldimand County Detachment is investigating a fatal collision involving a pickup truck and a pedestrian at a Highway 6, Jarvis, Haldimand County, Ontario address. On Wednesday December 11, 2019 at 12:34 a.m., OPP, Haldimand County Fire Services and Haldimand County paramedics responded to Highway 6 south of Haldimand Road 55 for a single vehicle collision where a pickup truck had struck a pedestrian. OPP investigation, thus far, determined the pickup truck driven by a 42-year-old male from Haldimand County, was north bound on Highway 6 when it struck a pedestrian. The driver of the pickup truck remained at the scene and attempted life-saving efforts which were unsuccessful. The pedestrian, a 35-year-old male from Haldimand County, suffered life threatening injuries and was...
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Contraband tobacco and vehicle seizure in Cornwall: CRTF
On November 20th, 2019, following an investigation under the Excise Act (2001), members of the RCMP Cornwall Detachment stopped a vehicle suspected of transporting contraband tobacco on County Road 31 in South Dundas, Ontario. A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of 28,200 cigarettes not stamped in accordance with the Excise Act (2001) and 4,400 cigarettes not stamped in accordance with the Ontario Tobacco Tax Act. The vehicle, a 2007 Toyota Tundra, and a large amount of money were also seized by police. The driver of the vehicle, Jack Graham Durant, 81 years old, from Chesterville, ON, was arrested and charged for Possession of Unstamped Tobacco pursuant to Section 32(1) of the Excise Act (2001). He was released from custody on a Promise to Appear, and is scheduled...
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Unfinished hides, residential schools in major Ottawa Indigenous art exhibition
By Teresa Wright THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA _ When you walk through the doors of the National Gallery of Canada and spy children playing on a massive new art installation now gracing the main entrance, it’s clear the gallery’s new Indigenous art exhibition is re-writing the rules. The installation, created by internationally renowned Sami artist and architect Joar Nango from Norway, is a two-storey structure that invites visitors not just to observe its mixed-medium elements of wood and tanned animal skins, but includes a collection of books visitors can pick up and leaf through _ books on activism, colonialism and Indigenous architecture, all from the artist’s personal collection. The piece is one of several in the public spaces of the gallery that were created “in-situ,” shaped...
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Lawyer competence includes knowledge of Indigenous Crown history: B.C. law society
By Brenna Owen THE CANADIAN PRESS VANCOUVER _ The Law Society of British Columbia has moved to require Indigenous cultural competency training for all practising lawyers in the province, in response to gaps in legal education that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission identified. “Lawyers and the law created a justice system that discriminates against Indigenous people,” said Law Society president Nancy Merrill, noting that it was illegal for a lawyer to take a retainer from an Indigenous person until the 1960s. “That’s still recent history,” she said. “We need to move forward.” Last week, the law society’s board of governors determined that lawyer competence includes knowledge of the history of Indigenous-Crown relations, the history and legacy of residential schools and specific legislation regarding Indigenous peoples in Canada....
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Supreme Court says companies must pay for Grassy Narrows mill site maintenance
OTTAWA- Two companies are on the hook for looking after a mercury-contaminated site near Ontario’s Grassy Narrows First Nation, the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled. The 4-3 decision Friday brought some clarity to a long-running dispute over one element of the legacy of environmental poisoning that has caused significant health problems for many residents. Eight years ago, the Ontario government ordered Weyerhaeuser Co. and a firm that later became Resolute Forest Products to care for a mercury waste-disposal site in Dryden, Ont., where toxic material from a pulp-and-paper mill’s operations entered the English-Wabigoon River system in the 1960s. The order obligated the two companies to repair site erosion, do water testing, file annual reports, prevent any leaks and give the Ontario Environment Ministry $273,063 as financial assurance with respect...
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Brantford Police Conducting Shooting Investigation
BRANTFORD, ONT-Brantford Police are continuing to investigate a shooter who fired at a residence late Wednesday night, nearly hitting a sleeping child. Police report that at approximately 11:15 p.m. on December 4th an unknown person fired multiple shots into the front of a residence on Strawberry Lane. While investigating, police found that several rounds penetrated the second story of the residence, entering the bedroom a two-year-old female who was asleep on her bed. One of the bullets narrowly missed hitting the child. As the Major Crimes Unit continue the investigation, they are asking the publics assistance. Anyone with information on the incident or anyone with a surveillance video in the area is asked to contact police. Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Jason Sinning the Major Crime Unit...
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Manitoba NDP seek honorary premier title for Louis Riel
WINNIPEG -Manitoba’s Opposition wants to give the title of honorary first premier to Metis leader Louis Riel. NDP Leader Wab Kinew has put forward a private member’s bill that would bestow the title and require Riel’s contributions be part of the school curriculum. Riel is widely celebrated in Manitoba for leading a provisional government and paving the way for the province’s entry into Confederation in the 19th century. There is a large statue of Riel behind the legislature and the Royal Canadian Mint issued a new coin in October that features his portrait. Riel was central to the Red River and North-West resistances to assert Indigenous rights, and was hanged in Saskatchewan in 1885 for treason. Kinew’s bill would need government support to become law and it’s not expected to...
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Status Cards Will Still be Accepted in Place of Gas Cards
With the phasing out of the Ontario Gas Card used to purchase tax-exempt fuel on reserves, there is some confusion over what card people will be able to use to continue to purchase tax-exempt fuel. The Ontario Gas Card will be discontinued on Jan. 1, 2020 in favour of a return to using Status Cards to purchase tax-exempt fuel. Retailers will still continue to accept Ontario Gas Cards until Jan. 31, 2020. But obtaining any new card or a new status card is not necessary, according to the Web site OntarioCanada.com, which details the changes the Ministry of Finance is making to the program. In place of the Ontario Gas Card, the Ministry of Finance will accept the following as proof of entitlement to the tax exemption: -First Nation individuals...
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Holiday RIDE Program Kicks Off on Six Nations
The Six Nations Police along with Fire and Ambulance Services have begun their annual holiday R.I.D.E. program with a checkpoint in Ohsweken. Standing for Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere, the first R.I.D.E. program started in Etobicoke, Ontario in 1977. Since it has spread across the country as a way for police agencies to catch drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs. Through the use of spot checks around the Six Nations, police will be out in full force during the holidays, stopping drivers and reminding them to travel safe. Police are also reminding drivers that school children will be on holidays so motorists need to be extra vigilant of pedestrians during the holidays. Six Nations Police wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season. If you see or suspect that someone is...
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Brantford’s “Love Camp” City Eviction Order Leads to Fire
Watch for Turtle Island News coming indepth feature on Brantford’s Homeless By Donna Duric Writer BRANTFORD-A six-month-old homeless camp just off Greenwich St. in Brantford is no more after police evicted residents from the site, which was subsequently set on fire in response. On Dec. 4 at 9 a.m., Brantford Police executed a trespassing order issued by the owner of the private property adjacent to the encampment and in response, one of the residents of the camp set a makeshift shed on fire. “I lit my shack on fire,” Johnny, one of the camp’s residents, told the Turtle Island News, as police, fire crews, volunteers, and residents milled about in the aftermath of the fire. “I just wanted it to be recognized what the city was doing to us. We...
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Jagmeet Singh outlines NDP priorities for throne speech
OTTAWA-NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says his caucus is ready to work with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, but he should not take their support for granted. Singh says he is looking for a number of specific things in tomorrow’s throne speech including bolder targets for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions as way to fight against climate change. He says the Liberal government has to drop its legal fight against a Canadian Human Rights Tribunal order for Ottawa to compensate First Nations children who were inappropriately placed in foster care. He also wants a firm commitment to universal pharmacare and greater investments in health care. The Liberals and the NDP both campaigned on a promise to bring in some form of universal pharmacare. Singh says if Trudeau’s goal is simply power rather than meaningful...
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Action plan on missing, murdered Indigenous women coming by June: Bennett
OTTAWA- Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett says the federal government will release by June 2020 its plan to respond to the final report of the inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Bennett says the government has been taking time to consult with Indigenous communities, leaders and organizations to ensure the action plan is co-developed with First Nations. She says the Liberals want to have “something in the window” by next summer to show the government is committed to act on the inquiry’s findings and 231 calls to justice that were released this past June. Bennett is telling a special gathering of Assembly of First Nations chiefs that the plan would be a living document that could involve ongoing work. She is also dismissing any notion the government is...
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Grand Erie Secondary Schools Closed December 4th
All Ontario Secondary schools will be closed province wide Wednesday December 4th as part of a job action by the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF). The closure affects all students from 14 secondary schools in Brantford, Brant County, Haldimand, Norfolk including secondary school students from Six Nations and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. Teachers would remain on the job if a deal can be reached before December 4th. The one day closure is part of province wide job action being undertaken by the OSSTF as they continue to negotiate a new deal with the Province of Ontario. It comes as escalation of job action that began on November 26th that included information pickets and a limited withdrawal of services. The services being withdrawn include participation in EQAO preparation...
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GoFund Me for Six Nations Youth Hurt in Car Accident
By Donna Duric Writer Six Nations woman Lyndsay Jamieson has started a GoFund Me campaign on behalf of a 5-year-old boy seriously injured during last weekend’s intense ice storm. Johnny Hill is currently being treated at McMaster University Children’s Hospital for injuries sustained on Dec. 1 when he slipped and fell in an icy parking lot. At the time, a pick-up truck was backing up and as a result, Johnny was run over. He remains in critical condition according to the GoFund Me campaign update. Johnny was placed in a medically-induced coma but has since awoken. Johnny sustained numerous injuries but his chances of survival look good, according to the Gofund Me campaign. Because the tragic incident was so unexpected, both of his parents are out of work until the...
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Indian Day School Settlement Process Hits Snag
By Donna Duric Senior Writer A court challenge issued on Oct. 31 by an Indian Day School survivor’s lawyer has halted the settlement and compensation process. The implementation date (when eligible claimants would start to receive compensation) was tentatively scheduled for Dec. 19, but the challenge issued by David Schulze (partner at Dionne Schulze S.E.N.C.) on behalf of a class suit survivor, has halted the process and the law firm handling the case, Gowling WLG, says it is uncertain when the process will resume. “If not resolved in the next few weeks, this court challenge could delay the opening of the claims process for an unknown period of time,” Gowling WLG stated on its Web site. “Until this matter is addressed, class members will not be able to apply for...
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Red scarves fill park; it takes a community to fight AIDS
By Justin Lethbridge Writer OHSWEKEN – You couldn’t miss them. The bright red swaying in the wind. Two hundred bright red scarves adorned Veterans Memorial Park Friday Nov., 29th supporting World AIDS Day Dec., 1 that has become known as Red Scarf Day. The red scarves were hung from trees, bushes and benches all aimed at raising awareness of HIV/AIDS. Each scarf was either hand-knitted or crocheted by Six Nations community members and featured a small tag with statistics on AIDS and links to resources about the disease. Scarves are hung to imitate the double red ribbon which is the international symbol of AIDs awareness. This year the Dajoh Knitters Group, who began knitting in July knitted 188 scarves. HIV, (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), is a virus that infects and destroys...
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Just asking for fairness
While some members of the newly elected Six Nations Elected Council are in Ottawa this week to participate in the Assembly of First Nations winter meeting back home, the question of whether or not they are the 58th Elected Council remains up in the air. Without a doubt it can be unsettling for those who were elected a month ago to have the shadow of doubt hanging over them. Two appeals have been launched, one already turned down by an anonymous appeals committee and the community awaits the decision on the second. Alaina VanEvery’s appeal is well thought out, succinct in its arguments and right. Anywhere else politicians would be working on new campaigns and how to get their investment back from the defunct 58th General Election. But at Six...
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Second appeal calling for reset of Six Nations election launched
By Justin Lethbridge Writer A second appeal of last month’s Six Nations band council elections has been launched leaving a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the newly elected council. The appeal is calling for the dismissal of Chief Electoral Polling Officer (CEPO) Steve Williams and for the election to be recalled. The appeal launched by community member and candidate in the 2019 elections Alaina VanEvery was sent to an anonymous Six Nations Elections Appeal Committee last week. The committee already dismissed an earlier appeal from Brenda Johnson who had been declared ineligible to run in the election by CEPO Steve Williams. Johnson had also sent petitions to the appeals committee seeking removal of Williams as CEPO and calling for a recall the election. Both were denied. VanEvery has been vocal about...
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