Ottawa raises catch limit for juvenile eels in the Maritimes, but complaints linger
Ottawa has increased the allowable catch for juvenile eels by 22 per cent this year, citing evidence of a healthy population and the success of last year’s relatively peaceful season in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The fishery for young American eels, known as elvers, was shut down in 2024 after illegal fishing driven by soaring prices led to violence and arrests on many rivers. Last year, the federal Fisheries Department announced new possession and export regulations aimed at improving management of the fishery, which saw buyers paying as much as $5,000 per kilogram a few years ago. As well, Ottawa confirmed in 2025 that 50 per cent of the allowable catch would be redistributed from non-Indigenous commercial fishers to First Nations entering the fishery for the first time to...
Register
Emo council meeting: Raised caps on building permit fees, new landfill rates and collaboration on drinking water
By Liam Oliver Neilson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Fort Frances Times The Township of Emo will increase the maximum fee for building permits, implement additional user rates at the local landfill and collaborate with Chapple and Rainy River First Nation on water services, the township’s council decided at its Tuesday meeting. Building permit fees in Emo are based on the estimated dollar value of construction, which remains at $8 per $1,000. The minimum building permit fee for Emo was unchanged at $50; however, the maximum fee was increased to $2,500 from the prior $2000. That still sits below the average permit costs for projects within Ontario towns. The Town of Fort Frances, for example, has a minimum of $65 on building permits and uses a rate of $13 per $1000...
Register
Haudenosaunee Nationals lacrosse program still hopeful of Olympic inclusion
By Sam Laskaris Writer LAS VEGAS-Claudia Jimerson is involved in plenty of behind-the-scenes work trying to get the Haudenosaunee Nationals women’s and men’s lacrosse teams to the Los Angeles Olympics. Jimerson, who is the Haudenosaunee Nationals’ director of lacrosse operations, was a featured speaker at a session at this year’s Reservation Economic Summit, which began Monday and continues until Thursday at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. More than 5,000 delegates, primarily from Canada and the United States, have converged for the conference, the largest Native American economic development event, which is annually held in Las Vegas. Jimerson spoke at a Monday session called The Haudenosaunee Journey to the 2028 Olympics. “This is about building something bigger than the moment,” Jimerson said. “It’s about building trust between nations, strengthening relationship and...
Register
Federal review now needed for nuclear waste burial plan
By Carl Clutchey, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Chronicle-Journal A proposal by the Nuclear Waste Management Organization to bury millions of spent and radioactive fuel rods from the country’s nuclear reactors in a specialized underground facility near Ignace is going to be subject to a federal independent review panel process. The decision by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada to refer the project to a review panel — which appeared on the agency’s website late Monday — is based on a number of factors, including recent feedback from the public, Indigenous people and First Nations, the agency said. “(The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada) is satisfied that the carrying out of the designated project may cause adverse effects within federal jurisdiction or direct or incidental adverse effects, including effects on...
Register
N.S. legislature closed to the public after singing protesters delayed budget vote
By Lyndsay Armstrong The Nova Scotia legislature has been closed to the public after singing protesters disrupted a budget vote Tuesday night. Saf Haq says she and about 40 others broke into song before midnight Tuesday when the legislature moved to vote on a budget-related bill that would result in a series of cuts to government programs. Haq said she was there because she is concerned the planned cuts will hurt vulnerable Nova Scotians and the province’s vibrant arts and culture scene. “I’m concerned for the future of Nova Scotia … I love the arts, my partner is a filmmaker … I care about Indigenous sovereignty and African Nova Scotian rights and I’m pissed at how this government is going about this budgetary process,” she said. The protesters’ song begins:...
Register
Thunder Bay Police board updates include 810 missing persons reports in 2025
By Carrie Ivardi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, TBnewswatch.com THUNDER BAY – Of the 810 total missing persons cases investigated by the Thunder Bay Police Service last year, there have been none where foul play was suspected. The annual missing persons report was presented to the Thunder Bay Police Services Board on Tuesday. Police Chief Darcy Fleury said that most of these situations can be explained as, “people that are reported missing because maybe they just don’t show up from home, from school, they run away from home or those types of things. Those are classified as missing persons.” “The real, significant piece is when they’ve been gone for some time and there’s a lack of contact or there’s some concern that they may be in a situation that they might...
Register
Treaty celebrations across Nova Scotia get strong federal support
By Rosemary Godin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cape Breton Post The Eskasoni First Nation is receiving $79,500 from the Government of Canada to support a project marking the 300th anniversary of the 1726 Treaty of Peace and Friendship. Jaime Battiste, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Member of Parliament (Cape Breton–Canso–Antigonish), recently announced funding for two projects in Nova Scotia that will provide commemorative activities. He also commented on the difficult times the Mi’kmaq are currently having with the provincial government and assured the Mi’kmaq Grand Council in attendance that the federal government is committed to supporting the reconciliation process as it goes forward. Battiste announced that the government has allocated $229,125 through the ‘Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage’ program, including $79,500 to the Eskasoni Band...
Register
Ashern hospital expansion adds beds, expands emergency care capacity
By Steven Sukkau, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Winnipeg Sun A major expansion and renovation at Lakeshore General Hospital is now complete, increasing inpatient capacity and significantly expanding emergency care services for residents in Ashern and surrounding communities. The project, delivered in phases, has increased the hospital’s inpatient beds from 14 to 26 and expanded the emergency department from five treatment spaces to 13. Health officials say the upgrades will improve patient flow, enhance care delivery and allow more people to receive treatment closer to home. “For our inpatient unit, we had gone from 14 to 26 inpatient beds. Each of these rooms are private rooms,” said Candace Blahey, Director of Acute Care. “So you have that privacy and the rooms are a little bit larger… there’s room to have your...
Register
Sarnia councillors urge province to pass bill with more tools to deal with rogue politicians
By Cathy Dobson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Petrolia Lambton Independent Sarnia city councillors say municipal councils do not have the tools to go further than demanding an apology after trying to make amends for divisive and disrespectful online comments by Councillor Bill Dennis directed to Indigenous people. It’s up to the province to provide municipal councils with a process to remove politicians for Code of Conduct violations, said Mayor Mike Bradley, and Councillors Adam Kilner and Anne Marie Gillis during council’s special meeting about Dennis’ social media comments. The councillor has already been reprimanded four times by Integrity Commissioners and his pay was suspended for 45 days in one of the offenses. Dennis has also been barred from going to council meetings or city hall in person. On Tuesday, politicians...
Register
Mush! KTC students experience world class sled dogs
By Sara Driedger, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeside Leader Imagine being in grade school, walking into the school yard to hear the excited howling and barking of sled dogs, jumping in the air, eager to begin their day’s work. This special experience was a reality for students at the five schools governed by Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council Educational Authority (KTC EA) earlier this month. Students and staff were offered an up-close experience with world class sled dog teams from Mar. 2 to 5, when a team of sled dogs from Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan visited each KTC EA school. According to Chelsea Cattroll, KTC EA Land Based Learning Specialist, this was the third annual event of its kind. Other dog sledding events were put on previously, but this one...
Register
It could take years to trace Indigenous artifacts being returned by the Vatican
By Alessia Passafiume More than 60 Indigenous items repatriated from the Vatican are back on Canadian soil — but their journey home is just getting started. Experts and elders are now working to trace their origins and return them to the communities that created them. The items — which include baby carriers, embroidered gloves, a bow and arrow, moccasins, a sealskin kayak and a model Métis sled and dog team — are being housed for now at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que. They are not being made available for public viewing without the permission of the national Indigenous organizations working to determine their origins. The Canadian Press was the only media outlet given permission to view all 62 returned items. In 2022, members of an Indigenous delegation...
Register
Six Nations-based Mavericks win Little NHL championship!
By Sam Laskaris Writer Declan Hunter picked a rather opportune time to score a rather important goal in his hockey career. Hunter provided the overtime winner as the Six Nations-based Grand River Mavericks posted a 3-2 triumph over Dokis First Nation in the boys’ Under 15 A final at the Little Native Hockey League. The championship match in the annual tourney, often simply called the Little NHL, was held at the Angus Glen Community Centre this past Thursday. Hunter and his teammates were able to capitalize on a rather fortunate play in the OT session. That’s because Dokis goaltender Liam Hunter Restoule wandered from his crease, believing action had been stopped at the other end of the rink. Mavericks’ netminder Ryker Sandy had made a save at the other end...
Register
Six Nations Elected Council gets $38 million in program funding
Six Nations will receive $38 million to run programs funded by Indigenous Services Canada. The Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) approved the latest amendment to its Comprehensive Funding Agreement with Indigenous Services Canada, securing more than $38 million in federal funding for programs and services for the upcoming fiscal year at the General Finance Committee meeting on March 16. SNEC passed a motion approving Amendment No. 191 to the existing five-year funding agreement between Six Nations and Indigenous Services Canada (ISC). The amendment provides startup funding for the 2026–2027 fiscal year. SNEC will receive $38,071,249.61 for a range of community programs delivered through Six Nations administration. Jennifer Court, Chief Financial Officer, said that the amendment is part of the ongoing Comprehensive Funding Agreement between the federal government and Six Nations...
Register
Environmental assessments to be done on two properties
The Addition to Reserve process continues for two properties with environmental assessments. The Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) approved a resolution March 16, at its General Finance meeting, supporting an application to secure funding for environmental site assessment work on two properties connected to Six Nation’s Addition to Reserve (ATR) process. The motion supports an application from the Lands and Resources Department to help cover costs associated with the next phases of environmental site assessments on the properties. The properties are located at 160 Concession 7 in Walpole Township near Wilsonville, Ontario, and 404 Old Onondaga Road in Brant County. The assessments are required as part of the ongoing work to advance the lands through the ATR process. To support that work, the Lands and Resources Department is applying to...
Register
Two Row on the Grand Honoured at Local Tourism Awards
By Alex Murray Writer Two Row on the Grand, one of Six Nations popular summer events, continues to rack up the awards. The latest honour received by the non-profit was the Sustainable Tourism Award. Founder Ellie Joseph was presented with the award at the 2025 RTO Hamilton-Halton-Brant Regional Tourism Awards at the Lamplighter Inn in London, ON on March 3. “Might I say that today was the best day ever?” Joseph said in a Facebook post announcing the award. It was one in a series of awards the Two Row on the Grand have earned. They also received the 2023 Partnership and Collaboration Award from the Hamilton-Halton-Brant recognition program. In the fall of 2025, they won the Haldimand County Major Multi-Day Community Festival Award. Two Row on the Grand is...
Register
Brantford sees drop in suspected overdoses after February spike
By Alex Murray, Writer A recent spate of drug overdoses in the Brantford area led officials to send out a public community drug alert on March 3. The Grand Erie Public Health (GEPH) department reported that they observed an increase in drug overdoses over the final two weeks of February based on data from the Brantford Police Service (BPS). The increase continuing across a second week is what triggered the GEPH to send out their community warning. From February 16 to 22, there were seven non-fatal overdoses in the Brantford area. The next week, from February 23 to March 1, there were 10, five of which occurred on the same day on February 27. According to the GEPH, those numbers are above what is typical for such a short timeframe....
Register
Indigenous programming included at PDAC conference in Toronto
By Sam Laskaris Writer Times have changed. And now that Indigenous people have more control of what happens to mining initiatives in their communities, it’s not surprising that more Indigenous youth are becoming interested in the industry. One such individual is Josee Filion, a member of Dokis First Nation in northern Ontario. Filion is the Indigenous relations and business opportunity co-ordinator for PowerNorth Utility Contractors, which operates in the mining, utilities and renewables sectors. Filion was also a speaker at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) conference, held Mar. 1-4 in Toronto. She spoke on a panel titled Looking to the future: Indigenous youth in the mining sector. “I think as youth right now, we have a really cool opportunity to be up and have a seat at...
Register
Black Balloon Day Event Brings Six Nations Community Together
By Alex Murray Writer For those struggling with substance use disorder or with a loved one dealing with addiction, there is a place to come together to remember and heal: the Black Balloon Day event. Now observed worldwide, Six Nations held their own in early March at Six Nations Community Hall. Black Balloon Day is a time for those that have lost someone to overdose to remember their loved ones. It’s also a day to raise awareness for harm prevention and support those impacted by substance use disorder. Eve Kahama, who was part of the team that organized the Six Nations Black Balloon Day event, explained the focus: a unique format called a “Living Library.” “What the Living Library is is a person who volunteers to tell their story in...
Register
Six Nations skating club marking 50th anniversary with showcase
By Alex Murray Writer Sitting in her home away from home at the Six Nations Figure Skating Club (SNSC), President Rhonda “Bush” Skye is working on designing the program for the year-end SNSC Skating Showcase and 50th anniversary celebration. The showcase is being held March 28 at the Six Nations Sports & Cultural Memorial Centre. Bush, as she is largely known, is a volunteer. But she and other volunteers, like treasurer and fundraising chair John General, are putting in so much work on the event that they say it’s like a second full-time job. Bush says she’s been so busy that she hasn’t even been on the ice since Christmas time. The day before she spoke with Turtle Island News, Bush says she and General spent 12 hours on the...
Register
When is a conflict a conflict….?
Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) is facing a major conflict of interest debacle created after the hiring of the daughter of an elected councillor. While the new CEO is certainly qualified for her new job and will no doubt do it well, as she has in other positions and we congratulate her for that, But it has put Six Nations Elected councillor Hazel Johnson in a quandary. There is no question she is in a conflict of interest when it comes to voting on matters brought to council by her daughter/CEO, especially issues that would directly affect the CEO. Including any issues that could affect the CEO’s employment, compensation, or performance. But it doesn’t stop there. Governing bodies from municipal to federal enact legislation that protects both the employee and...
Register
