Alberta’s Smith wants Canada to be friendly and double down on U.S. diplomacy efforts
-CP-Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Wednesday she wants to see Canada double down on diplomacy efforts with U.S. officials and avoid any further escalation of the trade war between the two countries. Smith, speaking to reporters for the first time since trade talks fell apart Friday, said the United States has “no excuse for their behaviour” but that she doesn’t think Canada could win the dispute through “brute force.” That means Canadian officials need to keep telling U.S. counterparts that tariffs are destructive and promise to help once they are reversed, Smith said. “Basically, it means being more Canadian: too friendly, kind and helpful to resist.” Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she wants to see Canada avoid escalating the trade war with the United States, saying she doesn’t think Canada...
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Officials say 24 Canadians missing after flash floods in Nepal and China
By Brittany Hobson Prime Minister Mark Carney says his government is closely following the situation in Nepal and China after two dozen Canadians were reported missing in flash flooding in the region. Officials in Nepal said Wednesday that 24 people from Canada were among those missing in the flash floods in a border area of Nepal and China. Police in Nepal reported at least 157 dead and hundreds of tourists, workers and others are unaccounted for. China’s state broadcaster CCTV reported at least three dead and 265 missing in the Tibet region’s Gyirong County. Carney said all Canadians in the region should sign up for Registration of Canadians Abroad, a free service that lets the federal government contact and assist citizens during an emergency in other countries. “The flash floods...
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Canada is bolstering its defense industry as US relations fray. A boom is on for local contractors
By Kelvin Chan TORONTO (AP) — As Canada moves to reduce its dependence on American military suppliers, the push is on display inside a Toronto garment factory. Hunched over sewing machines, two workers rapidly stitch together pieces of camouflage-patterned fabric and Velcro strips. In the next room, workers snip stray threads as they inspect the finished product: helmet covers for the Canadian military. The factory is assembling uniforms for Wuxly, a luxury parka maker that is among a flurry of Canadian companies branching into defense contracting. As Canadian military spending surges, others are developing remote sensors for the country’s vast Arctic region, making drones to resupply soldiers, and building autonomous robots. The boom in the defense sector reflects Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s vow to strengthen the country’s economic self-sufficiency...
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The CRTC will go ahead with Cancon rules the U.S. opposes. What will that look like?
By Anja Karadeglija The federal broadcast regulator says it will go ahead with the process to put rules in place around Canadian content on streaming services, after such efforts played a role in ending trade talks with the U.S. Here’s what you need to know about what those requirements might look like and what happens next. Why is the CRTC mandating Canadian content be available on streaming? The 2023 Online Streaming Act passed by the Liberal government says streamers should ensure “discoverability” of Canadian programs, including French language content. The law says online streamers “shall clearly promote and recommend Canadian programming, in both official languages as well as in Indigenous languages, and ensure that any means of control of the programming generates results allowing its discovery.” The CRTC is now...
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Women’s fundraising efforts dedicated to education and healing
By Emily Plihal, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, South Peace News Two Peace River women are about to raise money for Peace River Aboriginal Interagency Committee, with a variety of items designed to spread awareness regarding Truth and Reconciliation. “I believe in and support the 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada,” explains local Indigenous artist Judy Ducharme. “The residential school crisis is the darkest part of Canadian history and Canadians deserve to know, understand and learn from this history,” she adds. “The effects and impact of the residential school crisis are generational, however, with projects like this the impact lessons even in the smallest of ways.” Ducharme and her fundraising partner Candace Dobransky have expanded their fundraising efforts this year, offering the orange apparel that...
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N.B. to review ban on fracking amid U.S. tariffs, premier says
By Eli Ridder New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt says her government is launching a review of the province’s long-standing ban on hydraulic fracturing. The Liberal premier says the review of the 2014 ban on fracking is part of her government’s work to explore ways it can strengthen the provincial economy. Officials say the Liberal provincial government will consult First Nations communities, local governments, industry stakeholders and regular New Brunswickers. Holt backed the ban as recently as last year, but says the review of the moratorium doesn’t guarantee a return of widespread drilling. She says Canada’s escalating trade war with the United States in recent days has strengthened her belief the province needs to invest in ways to bring about more economic stability. Natural Resources Minister John Herron says the government...
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Montana agrees to accountability for Indigenous education
By Nora Mabie/montana Free Press A group of Montana students, families and tribes has reached a settlement with the state Office of Public Instruction that’s set to bring closure to a yearslong legal dispute about how the state implements its constitutional requirement to provide Indigenous education. The settlement, if approved, would resolve a class action lawsuit filed in 2021 in which plaintiffs alleged the state has failed to implement and enforce a constitutional mandate requiring K-12 public education to recognize the “distinct and unique cultural heritage of American Indians.” In 1999, the state Legislature enacted the Indian Education for All (IEFA) Act to implement that constitutional mandate and require public schools to teach Native American history and culture. Since 2007, the Legislature has appropriated about $3.5 million annually to school...
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Rain didn’t stop the Mississauguas of the Credit First Nations’ Three Fires Homecoming Powwow and Traditional Gathering
Photos by Jim C. Powless...
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Six Nations/Brantford lands MOU raises community ire
By Lynda Powless Editor After facing a storm of community anger Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) is trying to cool the fires claiming it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of Brantford over what’s known as the “Boundary Lands’ because Ontario has blocked First Nations from benefiting from their homelands. The controversial MOU sparked a barrage of angry comments in the community and flooded Face Book postings accusing SNEC of corruption, secrets and calling for Elected Chief’s Sherri-Lyn Hill’s impeachment or to step-down. The anger also sparked safety concerns for SNEC members prompting police patrols around their homes. SNEC had approved the move in a closed meeting. The turmoil erupted after SNEC Chief Sherri-Lyn Hill, in a surprise move, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Brantford...
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Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council says agreement belittles Haudenosaunee lands and treaty value
By Lynda Powless Editor The Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council (HCCC) says a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Brantford and Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) over the “Brantford Boundary Lands” attempts to reduce the HCCC’s relationship to its unsurrendered lands. The HCCC statement, issued late Friday, says it did not authorize the agreement, is not a party to it and has not seen it. Instead, the HCCC said the agreement attempts to reduce the Haudenosaunee lands at Brantford to little more than an “interest, economic benefit, or a seat at a table, but forgets the acres are unsurrendered Haudenosaunee lands. The HCCC was responding to SNEC’s signing an MOU with Brantford over lands known as the boundary lands. The HCCC said “ Our relationship to these lands does not originate with...
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Gihekdagye Friendship Centre Opens Permanent Facility
By Alex Murray Writer It’s been a “torturous” process, but Gihekdagye Friendship Centre finally has a permanent facility in downtown Brantford, “For the last several years, our centre has bounced around the community,” Gihekdagye Friendship Board of Directors President Ralph Summers said at the grand opening August 20. “We’ve gone from this rental location to that rental location or events have been in different hotels. Finally, we have a permanent home here in downtown Brantford, Ontario,” he added to a raucous round of applause from the nearly 100 people in attendance. Brantford’s last full-time friendship centre closed its doors in 2005. The Brantford Regional Indigenous Support Centre (BRISC) provided services from a small location at Harmony Square starting in 2018. Now located in a large facility that was vacated by...
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She didn’t just break a nail…
So…it was a secret. And once it came out it became apparent why it was kept secret. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) thought it could sign a lands agreement with Brantford without giving a thought as to how the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Council or the Six Nations people would react ! Without warning the community or contacting the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, Elected Chief Sherri-Lyn Hill simply held a closed-door meeting with the band council where a decision about lands Six Nations has an interest in was made. She did not suggest, as any previous leader has, that they may want to notify the Confederacy or the community about their plans. She didn’t debate with SNEC about how signing this agreement would affect the Confederacy or the community. And she did not discuss...
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Today in History
Aug 23 In 1691, First Nations people in Saskatchewan allowed explorer Henry Kelsey to become the first white man to take part in an Indian buffalo hunt. The Hudson’s Bay Company employee was also the first white man to see the Prairies. While heralded as the first European explorer on the Canadian plains, modern historians note his journey was entirely Indigenous-led, relying on the guidance, knowledge, and hospitality of his First Nations traveling companions In 1882, Regina was established as the seat of government for the Northwest Territories. The territorial capital of what was then the Northwest Territories was renamed Regina when the first Canadian Pacific Railway train arrived in the town. The new Latin name honoured Queen Victoria. The town was earlier known as Wascana, or Pile of Bones,...
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Six Nations Language Commission gets $1 million in funding from Six Nations Elected Council
The Six Nations Language Commission (SNLC) will receive $1,096,400 in funding for the 2026–27 fiscal year after Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) approved the organization’s funding request at the General Finance Committee meeting on August 17. “It took one generation, but we did it ourselves in this community because you know we’re always talking about sovereignty. We always want to know what that is. This is the sovereignty of who we are, trying to support languages,” Councillor Amos Key Jr. said. The funding decision followed the Commission’s annual presentation from Karen Sandy, executive director, Roronhiakehte Deer, an instructor and language revitalization strategist. The presentation outlined its language programming, community initiatives, student achievements and ongoing efforts to support the revitalization of the six Haudenosaunee languages in the community. Deer said the...
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Six Nations Elected Council Briefs: Six Nations Fair gets funding
Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) has approved four amendments to its Comprehensive Funding Agreement with Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), providing more than $1.75 million in additional funding for programs and services during the 2026-27 fiscal year. The four amendments provide funding for youth employment, child and family services, mental wellness, maternal and child health, midwifery, and assisted living services. The amendments are part of Six Nations’ five-year Comprehensive Funding Agreement with ISC. The agreement, which originally covered April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2026, has since been extended to March 31, 2028. Amendment 203 provides $200,421.28 for post-secondary education and the First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Skills Link program, along with $87,588.92 in capital funding for Child and Family Services. Amendment 204 provides $200,421.28 for the expanded trauma-informed health...
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Tomahawks capture B Division at season-ending tournament
By Sam Laskaris Writer Despite dropping their first game at their season-ending provincial tournament, the Six Nations Tomahawks managed to live up to their billing as a favourite and capture some hardware in Newmarket on Sunday. The Tomahawks, the local Senior C men’s squad, competed in the Senior Series Lacrosse (SSL) provincial championships. The three-day tournament featured all 11 entrants of the SSL. The Six Nations club had placed seventh in the regular season standings after winning six of its 16 contests. Only the top six finishers participated in the A Division of the provincial tourney. Those that had placed seventh through 11th took part in B Division action at the season’s wrapup event. The Tomahawks edged the Guelph Regals 5-4 in Sunday’s B Division final. “You don’t ever go...
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Rivermen preparing to compete at Presidents Cup
By Sam Laskaris Writer The Six Nations Rivermen are about to find out whether they do indeed have what it takes to win this year’s Presidents Cup. The Rivermen are scheduled to fly to Edmonton on Friday to compete in this year’s national Senior B lacrosse tournament, often simply called The Prezzy. The eight-team event will begin on Sunday and continue until Sept. 5. The Rivermen qualified for this year’s nationals by winning their Ontario Series Lacrosse (OSL) title. Six Nations beat the Whitby-based Brooklin Merchants 3-2 in their best-of-five OSL championship final. The Rivermen have won The Prezzy twice in their franchise history, in 2015 and 2019. The local club just missed out on some hardware at the 2025 Canadian tourney, which was held in Whitby. Six Nations ended...
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Powless joins Rebels’ organization
By Sam Laskaris Writer One of the busiest men in the local lacrosse community is getting even busier. It was announced on Sunday that Darcy Powless has joined the Six Nations Rebels’ Junior B squad as its assistant general manager. Powless is currently also the head coach for both the Six Nations Snipers, who compete in the Arena Lacrosse League, and the Six Nations-based Grand River Warriors, a Senior B club that participates in the Can-Am Lacrosse League. Powless guided the Snipers – a team he is also the general manager of – to the ALL championship this past March. He had also led the Six Nations club to the ALL title in 2022. The Snipers are one of eight teams that compete in the ALL’s Ontario-based East Division. The...
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Recovery Alberta closes Edmonton addiction treatment program, drops nearly 600 people from wait list
By Brett McKay, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Investigative Journalism Foundation Recovery Alberta is closing the addiction treatment program at Henwood Treatment Centre in Edmonton, the IJF has learned. The decision to end the program came as a shock to staff and hundreds of Albertans seeking addiction treatment, and the lack of transparency surrounding the closure is fuelling questions about the Alberta government’s plans for the site. The details of Henwood’s closure have not previously been reported. With 62 residential treatment beds, Henwood is the largest provincially-run voluntary addiction treatment centre in the Edmonton region. Operations at Henwood were temporarily suspended in late June due to flooding. Sources familiar with the situation have told the IJF that on Aug. 20, staff were informed that Recovery Alberta is permanently closing the treatment...
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Tsawwassen First Nation returns to the water after 10 years for 25th annual Pulling Together Canoe Journey
By Radha Agarwal, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Delta Optimist For the first time in nearly a decade, the dip of Tsawwassen First Nation paddles cut through the waters of the Fraser River, marking a long-awaited homecoming during the 25th anniversary of the Pulling Together Canoe Journey. The eight-day voyage, themed Reclaiming Our Waters, brought together more than 220 pullers across a dozen canoes from Aug. 15 to 22. Travelling from Sts’ailes First Nation territory near Agassiz down to Tsawwassen and Musqueam waters, the annual journey pairs Indigenous, youth and community members with public service personnel, including police departments and the Royal Canadian Navy, to foster reconciliation, mutual respect, and cultural healing. For Tsawwassen First Nation (TFN), serving as a host community from Aug. 19 to 22 and crewing their own...
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