Elementary schools on Six Nations will have new septic systems
Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) approved a recommendation authorizing Elected Chief Sherri-Lyn Hill to sign documentation required to replace federal schools’ infrastructure during the General Finance Committee meeting on June 1. The decision came following a recommendation from the Built Environment, Climate Adaptation, Lands and Membership Committee. Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) is responsible for five federal schools within Six Nation, including Jamieson Elementary, JC Hill Elementary, Emily C. General, I.L. Thomas Elementary, and Oliver M. Smith Elementary. The motion said that three of the schools, Emily C. General, I.L. Thomas Elementary, and Oliver M. Smith Elementary, rely on peatland systems for onsite wastewater treatment. The project is valued at approximately $2.8 million and will support upgrades to the peatland wastewater treatment systems at the affected schools. An assessment completed in...
Register
More funding needed for winter roads
Six Nations Public Works needs more funding for winter road maintenance due to harsher winters and higher-than-expected seasonal demands. Six Nations Elected Council approved an increase to a winter road maintenance supply contract during the General Finance Committee meeting on June 1, following a recommendation from the Built Environment, Climate Adaptation, Lands and Membership Committee. The committee recommendation for increased funds was related to additional costs to the Six Nations Public Works Department for winter road maintenance materials, including a liquid sand and salt mixture and straight salt used across the community’s roads. The Public Works Department had originally budgeted approximately $300,000 for the 2025-2026 operations and maintenance cycle based on historical usage. The supply contract with Waterford Sand and Gravel Limited was initially approved with an upset limit of...
Register
Louise Arbour becomes Canada’s 31st Governor General
By Catherine Morrison and David Baxter Former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour added the title of Governor General to her distinguished resume Monday in one of the most important ceremonies in Canadian democracy — the act of naming a new representative for the King in Canada. Arbour, 79, replaces Mary Simon, who became Canada’s first Indigenous viceregal in 2021. The official duties of a governor general include serving as commander-in-chief of Canada — which includes awarding military honours — swearing cabinet ministers into office, proroguing and dissolving Parliament, making appointments on the prime minister’s advice and granting Royal Assent to turn bills into law. Arbour was welcomed at the Senate of Canada building on a sunny Monday morning by Simon, Prime Minister Mark Carney, his wife Diana Fox, Usher of...
Register
Funding for Six Nations departments, $2.02 million for infrastructure
Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) approved a series of funding allocations and a separate insurance premium adjustment during the General Finance Committee meeting on June 1, following recommendations from the Built Environment, Climate Adaptation, Lands and Membership Committee. Indigenous Services Canada provides annual funding for Six Nations assets and education funding based on nominal roll adjustments, which reflect approximately 60 per cent population considerations. Departments including Public Works, Housing Administration, Parks and Recreation, Information Technology Solutions, Administration, and Fire Services were given the opportunity to submit funding priorities. However, the motion said the department requests exceeded available funding. The motion said that the allocation process required adjustments and reductions, with Six Nations Development Corporation management agreement funds used to address remaining shortfalls. SNEC approved a final allocation package totalling approximately...
Register
Editorial: Open or closed and is there a penalty?
This week Turtle Island News has received a letter from a Six Nations Band councillor outlining her concerns over increasing closed meetings of the current elected council. Now just before we read the letter let us remember normally governing bodies, including band councils are allowed to hold closed-door (“in-camera”) meetings but only for specific reasons. Those reasons include personnel issues, labour negotiations or legal matters. And they can’t just go into a closed meeting. They have to pass a public resolution that explains the reason for closing the meeting before they shut down the session or turn off the online viewing. Turtle Island News has frequently objected to any SNEC closed session that does not indicate why they are closing the session. But with the current council it has progressed to...
Register
Letter to the Editor: Veteran Six Nations Councillor questions is “modernizing” Six Nations Elected council working
By Helen Miller “Indian” politics sure ain’t what it used to be since the younger generation took over. The previous 58th Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) decided the system needed modernizing which was really an attempt to turn the SNEC into a municipal-type council. Administration became top-heavy and even more bureaucratic. High level positions were created that in my mind weren’t needed. Clearly, modernization isn’t working. But no one wants to admit that, so they keep plugging away trying to make it work. SNEC cannot ever be a replica of a municipal council. Let’s look at Brantford City Council (BCC). BCC only deals with city issues. Brant County Council deals with county issues, and both councils have the help of an MP to deal with federal issues and an MPP...
Register
Warriors aiming to finish atop Can-Am standings
By Sam Laskaris Writer Despite a bit of a blip in their plans, the Grand River Warriors still have some lofty expectations this season. The Warriors, who are in their third season of operations, are one of two Six Nations-based Senior B men’s lacrosse clubs. Unlike the Six Nations Rivermen, who participate in the Ontario Series Lacrosse, the Warriors are the lone Canadian entry in the Can-Am Lacrosse League. The Can-Am circuit also includes five franchises in the state of New York. The Can-Am playoff champs do end up competing in the Presidents Cup, the Canadian Senior B tournament. This year’s national tourney will be held in Edmonton, starting in late August. The Warriors, who play a 20-game regular season schedule, are currently sporting a 7-5 record, good for third...
Register
Rivermen acquire rights of NLL goaltender
By Sam Laskaris Writer The Six Nations Rivermen did not even play a game this past week. But the local Senior B lacrosse squad managed to register a big win. That’s because the Rivermen acquired the Senior B playing rights of goaltender Cam Dunkerley from the Owen Sound North Stars. Instead of the North Stars receiving a player in return, the Six Nations franchise sent an undisclosed amount of cash to the Owen Sound club. Dunkerley is expected to boost the already solid Rivermen netminding as he also plays professionally in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) with the San Diego Seals. Dunkerley, who is 26, has also had NLL stints with the Saskatchewan Rush, New York Riptide and Ottawa Black Bears. The Black Bears were rebranded after the Riptide relocated...
Register
SPORTS BRIEFS: Attack hoping to duplicate opening weekend success
By Sam Laskaris Writer Attack hoping to duplicate opening weekend success The Grand River Attack is hoping to register two more victories this weekend. The Attack, members of the Women’s Major Series Lacrosse (WMSL), will travel to Arthur on Saturday to play a pair of games. For starters, the Six Nations-based squad will face the London Thrashers in a game, which has an opening faceoff scheduled for 12:55 p.m. The Attack will then battle the KW (Kitchener/Waterloo) Kodiaks in a match starting at 5:10 p.m. The Grand River club managed to win both of its season-opening contests held on May 30 in Mississauga. The Attack downed the Mississauga Badgers 8-2 in its first game. That was followed by an 8-3 triumph versus the Hamilton Bengals. Based on results so far...
Register
Former NHL player hopes to change lives through charity’s sports programming
By Sam Laskaris, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Windspeaker.com Though he retired from the professional hockey ranks 25 years ago, John Chabot is still heavily involved in the sport. Chabot, a member of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation in Quebec, appeared in 541 National Hockey League contests. He played for the Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings. Chabot also played 10 seasons of pro hockey in Europe, suiting up for clubs in Italy, Switzerland and Germany, before retiring in 2001. After his playing days were done, Chabot founded First Assist, a charity whose mission it is to encourage Indigenous student success in large part via sports programming. Chabot and other First Assist representatives frequently travel to northern communities in Canada and utilize sport as a motivational tool to urge...
Register
Air Canada flight attendant shares Mohawk culture with pop star Rihanna
By Morgan Lowrie An Air Canada flight attendant got a thrill last week when she gifted pop superstar Rihanna a beaded lanyard from her Mohawk community south of Montreal. Lily Kahnerahtiio Dailleboust says the encounter happened during a June 1 Air Canada Express flight from Toronto to Montreal when she approached Rihanna’s bodyguard and asked if she could give the singer a present. “I wanted to give her something because it represents me and it represents my culture, and her bodyguard was like, ‘Sure, you can give it to her,’” she said in an interview. An Air Canada Express flight attendant says she felt an ‘instant connection’ with Rihanna as she shared her Mohawk culture with the pop star on a recent flight. (June 9, 2026) The flight attendant says...
Register
B.C. unveils sweeping anti-racism plan and funds programs for missing Indigenous peoples
By Radha Agarwal, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Delta Optimist The British Columbia government has launched its inaugural Anti-Racism Action Plan, alongside $3.1 million in new funding for Indigenous-led violence-prevention initiatives. The plan aims to dismantle systemic barriers that racialized and Indigenous people face across 17 core ministries and agencies. The strategy outlines 37 measurable commitments between June 2026 and May 2028, targeting deep-seated inequities in health care, employment, education, the legal system, and emerging fields like artificial intelligence. Coinciding with the seventh anniversary of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) final report, the province also earmarked $600,000 of its new funding to pilot a Missing Indigenous Person Notification system. “Initiatives like a missing Indigenous person notification system are critical and must be developed with...
Register
Sea Cadets celebrate leadership, achievement at 16th annual review in We’koqma’q
By Adam McNamara, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter – The Victoria Reporter WE’KOQMA’Q: The Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps 355 Unama’ki celebrated its 16th Annual Ceremonial Review last month, highlighting a year of achievement, leadership development and community involvement while reflecting the Mi’kmaq values at the heart of the program. The corps has operated in We’koqma’q First Nation since 2010, when it was established by John Burt to provide local youth with opportunities for growth and development. Lt. Andrew T. Smith, who has served as a commanding officer since the corps was founded, said support from other Cape Breton cadet corps helped get the program off the ground. “But Jonny did put a lot of work into the corps. He was the first commanding officer and initiated the corps here,” Smith...
Register
First Nation says federal government is absent after major spill settlement
By Sonal Gupta, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Canada’s National Observer Nearly a decade after a tug spilled diesel into the territorial waters of a BC First Nation and shut down key harvesting grounds, the Heiltsuk Nation says a new settlement is only one step toward recovery. The Heiltsuk have reached a settlement with Kirby Corporation, the Texas-based marine transportation company that owns the Nathan E. Stewart tug. The tug hit a reef near Bella Bella, BC in 2016 and spilled 110,000 litres of diesel and lubricants, fouling more than 350 kilometres of shoreline and shutting down a key clam harvesting area. But Heiltsuk leaders say the federal government — and Canada’s compensation fund for ship spills — are still “nowhere to be found.” Chief Marilyn Slett said the settlement matters,...
Register
ITK wants Nutrition North scrapped, replaced
By Arty Sarkisian, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunatsiaq News Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami wants to work with the federal government to develop a “more effective” replacement for Nutrition North. This is one of 30 ideas included in a 48-page strategy the organization released Tuesday that aims to address the region’s “socioeconomic inequities.” “This strategy is a roadmap, but it is also an invitation – an invitation to invest in our vision and to co-create a future in which no Inuit are left behind,” ITK president Natan Obed said. Inuit have lower life expectancy, employment rate and median individual income than other Canadians, and “a basket of groceries can cost two or three times more in Inuit Nunangat than in southern Canada,” the report said. That leads to more than 70 per...
Register
B.C. court finds province didn’t properly consult First Nation on northwest gold mine
By Chuck Chiang A British Columbia court has ruled that the provincial government did not properly consult with a First Nation before a determination about a major undeveloped gold mine that the nation says “effectively greenlit” the project. The B.C. Supreme Court says the province did not satisfy its duty to consult the Tsetsaut Skii km Lax Ha Nation in northwestern B.C. before declaring Seabridge Gold’s KSM Mine had been “substantially started” since an environmental assessment certificate was issued in 2014. The “substantially started” declaration meant the project did not need a new environmental assessment. Justice Emily Burke says that the determination needs to go back to the Ministry of Environment to reconsider, with the nation given 90 days to present submissions to the province. The KSM Mine has been...
Register
Coalition to oppose N.B. mine project being considered for fast-track approval
By Eli Ridder A dozen organizations have formed a group to oppose a key New Brunswick mining project included on Ottawa’s list of crucial nation-building projects. The Stop Sisson Mine Coalition, made up of non-profits, First Nations, community groups and farmers, says the proposed tungsten and molybdenum mine would create environmental waste and degrade water quality for years to come. In a public letter to Premier Susan Holt released Tuesday, the coalition says “the project presents unacceptable environmental, public health, and economic risks to New Brunswick” and should be stopped. “Coalition members believe New Brunswick can pursue economic development without creating permanent environmental liabilities and long-term risks for future generations,” the coalition’s members wrote to Holt. Last November, the $580-million Sisson Mine was added to a list of projects for...
Register
Tk’emlúps midwife helping improve reproductive health care access in Secwepemcúl’ecw
By Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Wren Building relationships and culturally grounded care is just as important as the clinical side of the profession for Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc midwife Sage Thomas. While she’s willing to provide care for people from all walks of life, Thomas says the importance of health equity for Indigenous families and those who have immigrated to the southern interior of B.C. remains a top priority for her as a midwife. “I’m prioritizing Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) and immigrant families,” Thomas said, while acknowledging that when Indigenous families seek reproductive care, the experience can carry generations of history with it. Thomas is currently the only registered Indigenous midwife working in their own community in B.C. and one of 12 local midwives providing primary care...
Register
Prince Albert’s Tolley named a recipient of significant research scholarship
By Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Prince Albert Daily Herald Carlton Comprehensive High School alumnus Katie Tolley has received another significant scholarship to assist with her research. Tolley was one of the recipients of a Tri-Agency Scholarship. She received The Canada Graduate Scholarships—Doctoral program. Which recognizes and supports the next generation of outstanding innovators, knowledge workers, creative thinkers and researchers. By providing support for a high-quality research training experience to awardees, the program strives to foster impacts within and beyond the research environment. Tolley explained that the Tri-Agency Scholarship are popular for Canadian students. “Usually everyone applies for them or is encouraged to. It’s kind of a huge national competition, so all over Canada, and then your university submits your application for you,” Tolley explained. “This one’s pretty exciting...
Register
Ottawa extends amnesty for owners of banned firearms while Supreme Court case unfolds
By Jim Bronskill The federal government is extending an amnesty for owners of banned firearms while a legal battle plays out at the Supreme Court of Canada. Over the last six years, Ottawa has outlawed about 2,500 types of firearms, including the AR-15 and Ruger Mini-14, on the basis they belong only on the battlefield. The government previously said prohibited firearms must be disposed of or deactivated by the end of an amnesty period on Oct. 30. In March, the Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal challenging the initial federal firearm prohibitions, announced in May 2020. The government now says the amnesty has been extended until 90 days after the Supreme Court delivers its decision, which is expected next year. Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said in an interview...
Register
