Six Nations Elected Council joins men’s group in lawsuit against HDI
Six Nations Elected Council joined forces with the Men’s Fire in a class action lawsuit against The Haudenosaunee Development Institute. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) and representatives of the Six Nations Men’s Fire have formalized an agreement to work together in a proposed class action seeking accountability and transparency regarding funds received by the Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI) on behalf of the community. Elected Chief Sherri-Lyn Hill announced that SNEC had recently passed a motion to join litigation initiated by Men’s Fire with representatives Bill Montour and Wilfred Davey at the General Council meeting on June 9. The proposed class action names HDI, Aaron Detlor, Brian Doolittle, related corporations and others regarding monies received on behalf of the Six Nations community. “It’s unknown how or if our community has benefited...
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Proposed Agreement on South Caledonia Subdivision Could Net Six Nations $50 Million
By Alex Murray Writer A proposed agreement between Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) and Wildwood Developments Inc. (Ballantry Homes) to build a subdivision in South Caledonia could net the Six Nations community $50 million. Six Nations Land and Resources (L&R) department ran their third and final community engagement session on the Ballantry Homes project on June 11. The virtual session can still be viewed on Six Nations of the Grand River’s Facebook page. The proposal is for a housing development at 1536 McKenzie Road in South Caledonia. The 145-acre area includes 107 acres of developable land. The remaining 38 acres represent woodland features that will not be disturbed and would be transferred to the municipality for permanent protection if the agreement goes ahead. The project is aiming for 725 housing...
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Editorial: All governments must be financially accountable
No one should be surprised to see a local men’s group launching a lawsuit against the Six Nations Confederacy’s Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI) demanding an accounting of monies it has received off Six Nations lands. The HDI, by the way, represents the Haudenosaunne Confederacy Council (HCC) when it comes to land interests within the HCC jurisdiction. That jurisdiction extends through areas of Ontario including the Haldimand Deed tract area. At least, that’s one of the only areas in Ontario the HCC has in the recent past intervened in, or received monies from, despite it representing all Haudenosaunee lands. The local men’s group are not alone in their questioning of the HDI authority or what monies the HCC has collected off the lands. In fact, Turtle Island News has for years...
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Today in History
June 15 In 1616, the first schools for natives in New France opened at Trois-Rivieres and Tadoussac. In 2006, the Ontario Provincial Police force admitted to mistakes and apologized to the brother of Dudley George, the aboriginal protester who was killed by a police sniper when Ipperwash Provincial Park was occupied 11 years earlier. In 2007, the B.C. Supreme Court struck down part of the definition of the federal Indian Act, ruling that it discriminates against Canadians who trace their aboriginal roots through their female relatives rather than the male line....
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Rivermen register lopsided victory versus expansion Kodiaks
By Sam Laskaris Writer The Six Nations Rivermen roster keeps getting more impressive. With several players suiting up for their first game this season, the Rivermen got off to a quick 5-0 lead over the host Belleville Kodiaks on Saturday. The Six Nations squad then cruised to an 11-3 triumph over the Kodiaks, a first-year entry in the Ontario Series Lacrosse (OSL). “It was a good bus ride, a long bus ride,” Rivermen head coach Wayne Hill said of his club’s road trip to Belleville. “So, the guys, once we got to arena, we had a good warmup, good stretch. And the boys got the bus legs going and came out to a good start, transition-wise from our defence and our offence. With a few guys added into the lineup,...
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Ironmen commence signings for next season
By Sam Laskaris Writer Even though it is June, the brass of the Six Nations Ironmen is busily preparing for its upcoming season. The Ironmen, who are gearing up for their second year of operations in the Northern Premier Hockey League (NPHL), announced some key players from their inaugural campaign have resigned for the upcoming 2026-27 season. Mitch Green, who served as the captain of the Ironmen this past year, is among those who have committed to the squad for another season. “As one of the leaders of our team, he sets the standard with his work ethic, commitment, and leadership on and off the ice,” an Ironmen statement read. “His ability to play both forward and defence provides valuable flexibility to the lineup, while his experience and competitive nature...
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Six Nations children get chance to watch Team Canada
Thirty-three Six Nations children had the opportunity to watch Team Canada train at the highest level of international soccer this week. The experience was part of the FIFA-related experiences for the nation through partnerships with the City of Toronto and Indigenous Sport and Wellness Ontario. Councillor Greg Frazer provided an update to Six Nations Elected Council on June 9, at the General Council meeting and said the youth attended a Team Canada practice session at the team’s training facility in Downsview on Monday, accompanied by six adults. The trip is one of several ways Six Nations is participating in activities surrounding FIFA’s international soccer tournament, which begins in Canada this week. Frazer said Six Nations will also have a presence at Toronto’s FIFA Fan Festival and marketplace. “The children got...
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SPORTS BRIEFS: Attack splits weekend matches
By Sam Laskaris Writer The Six Nations Chiefs extended their winning streak to six games with a convincing road victory this past Thursday. Buoyed by a six-goal outburst in the second period the Chiefs cruised to a 12-4 win versus the host Brampton Excelsiors. The Excelsiors, who have only managed to win one of their first five Major Series Lacrosse starts this season, only trailed the Chiefs by one goal, 2-1, after the opening 20 minutes of action. After Brampton managed to tie the game at 3-3 in the middle frame, the Chiefs then took control, scoring five unanswered goals during the rest of the period. The Six Nations squad also scored the first four goals of the third period before the Excelsiors managed to net their finally tally of...
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OMSK Emerges Victorious at Six Nations Junior School Lacrosse Tournament
By Alex Murray Writer Is Oliver M. Smith-Kawenni:io creating a lacrosse dynasty? It certainly seems like it, as they emerged victorious in the junior Six Nations School Lacrosse Tournament on June 9 after winning the intermediate tourney the week before. Because of construction on the blue track where the tournament is normally held, the co-ed event, which has been a Six Nations tradition for decades, was hosted at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena. Teams played a combination of box and field lacrosse in 20-minute games that featured two 10-minute halves. While the primary lacrosse tournament had five teams and the intermediate had just three plus one combination team last week, the junior bracket was filled to the brim. Seven schools fielded full junior teams: OMSK, I.L. Thomas, Emily C. General, Everlasting...
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Chiefs rallied in Calgary against separatism
By Alexandra Noad, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lethbridge Herald Chiefs from Treaties 6,7 and 8 gathered in Calgary on Sunday to rally against the Alberta separatist movement. The rally was organized by the Blackfoot Confederacy to help build unity between the tribes and allies. The day began with a pipe ceremony, followed by speeches from Chiefs and allies. Troy “Bossman” Knowlton, chief of the Piikani Nation and president of the Blackfoot Confederacy says Premier Danielle Smith has given racists and white supremacists a platform by not talking the separatist movement immediately, but despite this, the First Nations of Alberta have created their own platform, which is welcoming of everyone. “The First Nations have created a platform for all those who want to support us-to stand with us.” The Blackfoot Confederacy...
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B.C. must learn from Site C dam before starting new projects, says environmentalist
By Wolfgang Depner An environmental group is condemning plans by the British Columbia government to consider building two new hydropower projects, including a fourth dam on the Peace River, saying the province first needs to “come to grips” with the negative impact of the recently completed Site C dam. Joe Foy with the Wilderness Committee said damming and diverting big rivers had big negative impacts, which continue far into the future. He said the John Horgan Dam on the Peace River — as the Site C project is now known — had massive cost overruns leading to public debt, huge losses of farmland and wildlife habitat and unacceptable impacts to Indigenous rights. Energy Minister Adrian Dix announced on Monday that B.C. was “seriously” looking into plans for dams at another...
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Ontario’s repealed wage restraint law Bill 124 still rippling through public sector
By Allison Jones Ontario’s ill-fated wage restraint law known as Bill 124 is still sending ripples through the public sector across the province, even years after the law was repealed, with the electricity system now attempting to untangle the fallout. The Independent Electricity System Operator is looking to recover $329 million from ratepayers this year, which is a 40 per cent jump from last year. The large increase is mostly due to the Bill 124 reversal and won’t be repeated in the next few years, when the IESO looks for increases of nine per cent and two per cent, the Crown corporation wrote in its 2026-2028 business plan. “As a not-for-profit corporate entity, this step change largely represents a one-time correction to address the structural deficit to bring the IESO...
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Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict tells Chiefs of Ontario Assembly unity is “powerful” Indigenous collection action
By Alex Murray Writer RAMA, ONT-The First Ministers Meeting, the Ontario Final Agreement (OFA), and Bills 5 and C-5 were the main topics as the annual Chiefs of Ontario (COO) Assembly got underway at Casino Rama in Rama First Nation this week. Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict kicked off the three-day event with a speech about what the COO achieved last year and their vision for the future. Benedict said that with the “important and unprecedented” joint First Nations-First Ministers’ Meeting (FNFMM) coming up in the fall, First Nations of Ontario need to come together to focus on messaging and communicating their ideas clearly. “We need to be prepared as a region. We must work together to have focused, concise messaging. We must have concrete political positions and actions at...
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B.C. must learn from previous dams before starting new ones, says environmentalist
By Wolfgang Depner An environmental group is condemning plans by the British Columbia government to look into building two new hydropower dams, including a fourth dam on the Peace River. Joe Foy with the Wilderness Committee says damming and diverting big rivers has big negative impacts, which continue far into the future. He says the effects of the recently completed John Horgan Dam on the Peace River include massive cost overruns leading to public debt, huge losses of farmland and wildlife habitat and unacceptable impacts to Indigenous human rights. Energy Minister Adrian Dix announced on Monday that B.C. is “seriously” looking into plans for dams at another Peace River site known as Site E near the border with Alberta, as well as Bute Inlet on the provincial mainland. The Site...
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Liberal government tables new First Nations drinking water legislation
By Alessia Passafiume New legislation tabled by the government on Tuesday will create a legislative framework to protect drinking water in First Nations communities, Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty said. But one chief who helped draft a previous version of the legislation warns that the bill’s vague language on First Nations’ right to clean drinking water will only leave communities worse off. Gull-Masty told reporters on Parliament Hill that Bill C-37, tabled in the House of Commons on Tuesday, will “advance the critical work of addressing long-term drinking water advisories” and recognize First Nations jurisdiction over water on their lands. She said the new bill is backed by $4.6 billion in funding over five years, describing the sum as the single largest commitment ever made to First Nations water protection....
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News Alert: Liberal government tables First Nations drinking water legislation
Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty has tabled the Liberal government’s long-awaited legislation to govern clean drinking water in First Nations communities. Ottawa has committed $4.6 billion in funding over five years for water and wastewater in First Nations communities. The text of the new bill, Bill C-37 First Nations clean water bill, was not immediately available. But a draft bill obtained by The Canadian Press labelled “for consultation until June 11, 2026” blurs the language from a previous version that affirmed access to clean drinking water as a human right. The Liberal government’s new First Nations water bill is expected to “advance the critical work of addressing long-term drinking water advisories,” Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty said on Tuesday, shortly after the legislation was introduced in the House of Commons....
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Federal officials cite decline in opioid-related deaths but warn progress is fragile
By Jim Bronskill and Sarah Ritchie The federal government says the toxic drug crisis continues to have devastating effects despite a drop in opioid-related deaths last year. Toxicity deaths declined by 23 per cent in 2025 due to several factors, including naloxone distribution and changes to the drug supply, federal health officials said Monday. Opioid-related hospitalizations also decreased by 12 per cent last year, the government said. Dr. Joss Reimer, Canada’s chief public health officer, says there has been some progress in addressing the national toxic drug crisis but it is fragile and requires continued effort. She says toxicity deaths declined by 23 per cent in 2025 due to several factors, including naloxone distribution and changes to the drug supply. (June 15, 2026) Officials stressed, however, that these changes are...
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B.C. eyes two new hydropower dams, including Site E near Alberta border, Dix says
By Wolfgang Depner The British Columbia government is looking at building two new hydroelectric dams, including a fourth dam for the Peace River where the Site C project generated opposition and cost overruns. The so-called Site E project would have a capacity of up to 750 megawatts, while a project near Bute Inlet northeast of Powell River would be bigger at 900 megawatts. Energy Minister Adrian Dix said Monday that the province is “seriously” re-examining the plan for a Site E dam at the confluence of the Peace and Alces rivers. The announcement comes amid growing demand for electricity that the government said in a news release was projected to grow 20 per cent by 2030 and 50 per cent by 2050. “We have real demands in B.C.,” Dix said....
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Minister expected to table First Nations drinking water legislation today
By Alessia Passafiume Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty is expected to table long-awaited legislation to govern clean drinking water in First Nations communities today. The House of Commons is expected to rise by Friday for the summer break, which means the legislation likely won’t be debated or voted on until the fall. The Canadian Press has obtained a draft of the bill labelled “for consultation until June 11, 2026.” It’s not clear if any changes were made since the consultation period ended. A previous bill was introduced in 2023 by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Indigenous services minister, Patty Hajdu. That legislation, drafted in response to a lawsuit against the government that was settled in 2021, went beyond the terms of the settlement. It included an option for source water protection...
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First Nations to hold majority ownership of new wind energy project
By Sam Laskaris, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Windspeaker.com Tina Rasmussen, CEO of Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC) Industrial Investments, is excited about the future benefits that will accrue to First Nations from a new wind energy project in Saskatchewan, which was officially announced on June 15 at a celebratory sod turning ceremony. The Rose Valley Wind project is comprised of 28 wind turbines. M Squared Renewables, a development corporation owned by the nine Nations of the MLTC, as well as the Mistawasis Nêhiyawak First Nation, will hold majority ownership. The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) reached an agreement to loan more than $160 million for the project, located near the town of Assiniboia in the Rural Municipality of Excel No. 71. Once completed, the 210 MW project will generate enough electricity...
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