Multi-million-dollar Birkett Lane Development draws questions
By Alex Murray Writer Plans to build over 1,000 housing units on unceded Six Nations lands along the Grand River in Brantford is sparking both anger and concerns from community members. Over 50 Six Nations community members attended the July 20th Six Nations Lands and Resources (SNLR) engagement session on a proposed Birkett Lane development to be built on unceded Six Nations lands in Brantford. Six Nations band member Starla Myers questioned why the development was going forward. “Here we are again, entertaining people who are not from here, they have no connections to the land,” Myers said during a passionate plea. “They don’t care about who we are, or what we want to do to the land. What about just not doing anything with it, just healing?” Myers was...
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Chief Joel Abram wins 4th Straight Term As Grand Chief At AIAI 2026 General Assembly
By Alex Murray Writer The Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians (AIAI) selected incumbent Joel Abram during their Grand Chief selection process on Day 2 of their Annual General Assembly on July 22. Abram, who has been AIAI’s Grand Chief since 2017 when he was selected despite being the youngest candidate at the time, said he has learned a lot in his nine years as Grand Chief. “I am grateful to the member Nations for their continuing support and the confidence they have in selecting me for the position of Grand Chief of AIAI,” Abram told the 57th annual AIAI general assembly at the Mohawk Community Centre on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. “I have learned much in my time here, and I will continue to advance our rights protection mandate as...
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OPP “Project Time”: 63 people arrested in major Ontario Child Exploitation ring
By Alex Murray Writer A province-wide multi-agency probe into child exploitation in Ontario resulted in charges being laid against 63 people and the identification of 51 victims.The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) announced the charges on Wednesday (July 22). The joint initiative, called “Project Time,” includes 25 other police services and was executed through the Provincial Internet Child Exploitation Strategy (PICES). Project Time is a coordinated provincial effort to target individuals making, possessing, and distributing child sexual abuse material.OPP said identified victims were safeguarded and given the appropriate support. All told, Project Time resulted in 213 charges and the seizure of 814 electronic devices. 264 criminal investigations were conducted, with 154 still ongoing. The investigation found that two of the accused were people that were in a position of trust and/or...
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“Startling and Depressing”: AIAI Looks to Bootstrap Struggling Indigenous Languages Sector
By Alex Murray Writer The Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians (AIAI) Language Lead Kimberly Snake told the AIAI General Assembly last week the low number of high proficiency speakers of Indigenous languages is “startling” and “depressing.” “It really makes all of us think and take a step back,” Snake told the assembled delegates during Day 3 of the assembly on Thursday (July 23) at the Mohawk Community Centre on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. “We want to normalize the language in our communities. Normalize it, make it every day,” she added. Snake was presenting an update from AIAI’s Language Committee, which has representation from seven of AIAI’s eight member nations, with Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN) the only one without a representative on the committee. Snake showed the assembly...
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New Iroquois Plaza roof on hold SNEC questions bidding process
A proposed $408,000 roof replacement for the Iroquois Plaza was put on hold after Six Nations councillors raised concerns about the tender process, project oversight, warranties and whether local contractors had been fully considered. The project came to the Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) July 20th, from the Housing Department seeking approval to replace the aging roof on the commercial plaza. Housing had deemed replacing the deteriorating roof necessary to protect and extend the life of the building. The tender process, facilitated by Garland DVS Canada Inc., identified Edward Roofing Inc. as the lowest qualified bidder. Funding for the project is included in the proposed 2026-27 Housing Operations and Maintenance capital budget. Before SNEC could vote, others questioned both the procurement process and the role of Garland DVS Canada Inc....
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Editorial: It’s about integrity
One thing has become clear with the current Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC). It is in desperate need of a Conflict-of-Interest seminar! The entire issue of Conflict of Interest isn’t difficult to understand. If you are a public official and you or your family stand to gain financially you are in a conflict. It’s as simple as that. No maybes or what ifs. A conflict of interest happens when an elected official’s private or financial interest conflicts or crosses with public duties. And it isn’t just in financial gain. Conflicts arise for public officials when preferential treatment is given to a relative, a friend or a business associate. Even when former marital partners are seeking contracts or support from the governing body they are sitting on council members face a...
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Today in History
Aug 3 In 1977, the Canadian government rejected aboriginal demands for their own political territory in the Northwest Territories. Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau said Ottawa would never agree to a political territory based solely on race. In 2010, the Manitoba government apologized for its part in removing members of the Sayisi Dene band in 1956 from their north-central homeland and relocating them to a Churchill community where they were unable to pursue their traditional lifestyle. Aug 4 In 1998, the Nisga’a First Nation signed a historic treaty with the federal and B.C. governments. The treaty gave them exclusive rights to resources in the 2,000-square kilometre area along the Nass River in B.C., a cash settlement and a self-designed system of government. In 2010, 20 first-degree murder charges against serial killer...
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UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY: First Nation Youth Are Making The World Listen
By Xavier Kataquapit First Nation youth representatives are letting the world know that Indigenous people are ready to stand up and protect the land. Keira Spence, Kohen Mattinas and Ryan Fleming are attending the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Switzerland. This special gathering is holding its 19th session from 13 to 17 July 2026 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) was established to assist member UN states and indigenous communities in implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). It carries out this mission through research studies, country engagements and through annual forums every July. The annual July event provides a platform for Indigenous representatives, advocates and state...
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Rivermen on verge of advancing to league final
By Sam Laskaris Writer The Six Nations Rivermen find themselves one win away from moving on to their league championship final. The local Senior B squad kicked off its post-season this past weekend. The Rivermen won the opening two matches of their best-of-five Ontario Series Lacrosse (OSL) semi-final series versus the Hamilton Bengals. Six Nations thumped the Bengals 14-5 in the series opener held on Saturday at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena. The Rivermen then beat the host Bengals 14-9 in a Sunday afternoon tilt staged at the Dave Andreychuk Arena in Hamilton. Rivermen forward David Anderson is not surprised his squad captured the first two matches in its series against Hamilton. “I think we kind of expected it,” he said. “We’ve been really trying to just get some redemption for...
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Warriors’ 2026 season comes to an end
By Sam Laskaris Writer It was not the ending that the Grand River Warriors would have preferred. But members of the Six Nations-based Senior B men’s lacrosse squad are still content with their 2026 season. The Warriors, who play their home contests at the TD Civic Centre in Brantford, are the lone Canadian entry in the six-team Can-Am Lacrosse League, which also features five squads from the state of New York. The Grand River club had its season conclude this past Saturday as it was downed 14-7 by the visiting Newtown Golden Eagles. With that win the Golden Eagles captured a best-of-five, semi-final series in four games. The series included a protest, launched by the Newtown club, following the Warriors’ Game 2 overtime victory the previous weekend. The Grand River...
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Sports Briefs: Chiefs forced to forfeit game
By Sam Laskaris Writer A boardroom decision ended the Six Nations Chiefs’ quest for a perfect regular season. The Chiefs, the three-time defending national Mann Cup champs, had beaten the host Oakville Rock 10-4 last Monday. But Major Series Lacrosse, the Ontario-based circuit the Chiefs participate in and which is under the jurisdiction of the Ontario Lacrosse Association, issued a brief three-paragraph statement on Saturday. “The Ontario Lacrosse Association (OLA) has completed its review regarding Tyson Bell’s participation in the July 19, 2026 Major Series Lacrosse game between the Six Nations Chiefs and the Oakville Rock. Due to Tyson Bell being ineligible to play in this game, it is deemed a forfeit by the Six Nations Chiefs. As a result of the review, the Major Series Lacrosse standings have been...
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Neskantaga wildfire evacuees to fly home from Toronto soon
By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, SNnewswatch.com NESKANTAGA — Evacuees will fly back to Neskantaga First Nation terrain Wednesday and Thursday, Chief Gary Quisess says. “Yeah, we’re going to start flying people home tomorrow,” Quisess said Tuesday in a phone interview. The First Nation, about 430 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay, began evacuating medically vulnerable members on July 18 as smoke from wildfires worsened air quality. Another factor in the evacuation decision and Neskantaga council’s declaration of a local state of emergency, Quisess said, was the shutdown of Highway 599 to Pickle Lake due to wildfires. He explained that Pickle Lake is a supply hub for Neskantaga; goods are trucked to Pickle Lake and then flown to the reserve on the south shore of Attawapiskat Lake. The supply of...
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Lack of rain will provide little relief as wildfires continue to rage
By Clint Fleury, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, TBnewswatch.com THUNDER BAY – Environment Canada says the district should see little rain as dry conditions continue. For most of July, the Thunder Bay district’s precipitation has been 25 to 50 per cent below normal, according to Peter Kimbell, warning preparedness meteorologist. “That’s probably going to continue for the next little while because the forecast is for warm conditions, borderline heat warning. We do have a heat warning right now in effect, but for areas west of Atikokan, not including Atikokan. But that doesn’t matter because everybody in Thunder Bay, Armstrong, Atikokan — everybody’s going to be warm, above-average temperatures for the next few days,” he said. Kimbell said there will be a 30 to 40 per cent chance of showers or thundershowers...
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Treaty No. 6 First Nations Raise Concerns Over Canada’s Proposed Fast-Tracking of Major Projects
By Chevi Rabbit, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Alberta Native News The Confederacy of Treaty No. 6 First Nations is raising serious concerns about Canada’s proposed reforms to accelerate the approval of major projects across the country, warning that increased speed cannot come at the expense of Treaty rights, environmental protections, and Indigenous decision-making authority. The proposed reforms, outlined in Canada’s May 8, 2026 discussion paper, Getting Major Projects Built in Canada, would reshape how major projects are assessed, consulted on, and approved throughout Canada, including within Treaty No. 6 territory. While Treaty No. 6 Nations say they are not opposed to responsible development, they emphasize that they must be recognized as governments, Treaty partners, and rights holders in decisions affecting their lands, waters, and future generations. “Treaty No. 6 Nations...
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Grand Council Chief calls on senior MNR officials to resign following wildfires that left citizens scrambling and communities in ashes
By Jacqueline St.Pierre, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Manitoulin Expositor MANITOULIN—As First Nations across Northwestern Ontario continue to grapple with the aftermath of one of the province’s most devastating wildfire seasons on record, calls for a public inquiry are growing louder. But for Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige, the crisis did not begin when communities were forced to flee. It began long before the first evacuation order was issued. “This community has been failed in epic proportions by both Canada and Ontario,” Grand Council Chief Debassige told The Expositor, referring to Namaygoosisagagun (Collins) First Nation, where wildfire destroyed homes and forced residents to flee with little warning. “This was the full responsibility of the province to monitor what was happening on the ground, as delegated by Canada, and...
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Nevada program waives college costs for Native American students. It’s facing a murky future
By Rocío Hernández/the Nevada Independent Ronica Spute always wanted to go back to college to get her bachelor’s degree, but life kept getting in the way. Two years ago, her path was finally cleared thanks to a Nevada program that allows certain Native American students to attend college virtually for free. As a member of the Moapa Band of Paiutes, the waiver along with a scholarship from her tribe allowed Spute, 57, to pursue a criminal justice degree at UNLV and graduate in two years. It was one year less than it took her to get an associate’s degree from the College of Southern Nevada when she could only afford to take a few classes at a time. “I don’t think I could have done it if I wasn’t able...
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Police say autopsy on Manitoba animal rescue worker indicates death by dog attack
SANDY BAY OJIBWAY FIRST NATION-Police in Manitoba say an autopsy on a 37-year-old animal rescue worker shows injuries consistent with a dog attack. The Manitoba First Nations Police Service says Amanda Nobiss was killed in Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation earlier this month while trying to pick up puppies from a residence. They say in a news release that she went alone. The resident wasn’t home, and the owner’s dogs attacked her. Police say arrangements were made to destroy two male dogs, while K9 Advocacy rescued a female dog and several puppies. K9 Advocacy, the Winnipeg Humane Society and more than a dozen other groups are calling for all levels of government to increase support for groups trying to rescue stray animals. This report by The Canadian Press was first...
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Report urges Winnipeg to set up fourth emergency service for mental health calls
By Brittany Hobson Thousands of calls could be diverted from Winnipeg’s emergency services with the development of a fourth response model dedicated to handling mental health crises, says a report. Police, fire and paramedic services are the current response options when someone dials 911. The report, initiated last year by Mayor Scott Gillingham and released Tuesday, proposes that the city work with Indigenous organizations, community agencies, health-care providers and emergency services to determine who’s best to respond to a call. “If we keep responding the same way we have been responding, we’re going to keep getting the same results. This is a different model. It disrupts the system in a very positive way,” said Gillingham. “This is really about the people at the end of the call … let’s get...
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Eby defends minister’s criticism on LNG expansion citing ‘big tent’
Conservative Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay and her senior staff directed some MLAs to stop using term “First Nations,” use terms like “Indian” instead By Ashley Joannou British Columbia Premier David Eby says he helped a cabinet minister write her statement denouncing plans for the expansion of a liquefied natural gas plant neighbouring her riding, despite his government advocating for the project. It’s a break from the long-standing tradition of “cabinet solidarity” — the understanding that elected ministers can disagree behind closed doors but fall in line in public — which one political watcher says could be an attempt by the premier to provide relief for those who disagree with him amid falling poll numbers. Kelly Greene, the minister of emergency management and climate readiness, posted a statement on Friday saying she...
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New York school pauses plan to deploy humanlike AI robot teacher after backlash
By Philip Marcelo NEW YORK (AP) — A school district in a rural corner of upstate New York is hitting pause on plans to deploy an AI-powered, humanoid robot in the classroom after state education officials, teachers and local residents raised concerns, including the maker’s ties to a company that produces hyper realistic sex bots. The Salamanca City Central School District’s board approved the nearly $60,000 purchase from Realbotix with visions that “Sally,” as the stationary robot with long dark hair has already been nicknamed, would enhance the education of high school students studying robotics and technology fields. “Having a difficult time programming an Arduino board? Don’t even know what an Arduino board is? Ask Sally and she can explain it,” Superintendent Mark Beehler, said Tuesday. “The robot also provides...
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