Province proposes criteria for special economic zones
By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Thunder Bay Source THUNDER BAY — Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government has released a draft regulation proposing criteria for designating “special economic zones” under the Protect Ontario legislation it passed in June. The proposal was “informed by consultations with Indigenous communities across Ontario,” and its release is intended “to support ongoing consultations,” according to the government. The Ring of Fire — 8,000 square kilometres of mineral-rich land about 500 km north of Thunder Bay — is one place the government is likely to declare a special economic zone for expedited economic projects. In a government news release on Oct. 7, Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli said special economic zones “are a critical tool to expedite approvals and move projects of strategic importance forward faster,...
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Shelter-in-place order issued in First Nation as police search for 2 armed suspects
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) issued a shelter-in-place order in a northern Ontario First Nation as officers search for two suspects believed to be armed and dangerous. Police issued the alert Wednesday morning for residents in the area of Ginoogaming First Nation after an “active incident” involving two armed suspects. Police say all public and Catholic schools in Long Lac and Long Lake #58 First Nation, as well as the Long Lac campus of Confederation College, are closed today as a precaution. Police say motorists travelling on Highway 11 near Longlac and Ginoogaming First Nation are advised to remain vigilant and avoid unnecessary stops. Police are also advising residents to remain indoors and lock all doors and windows, and those who are not in the area should avoid travelling there until...
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Teacherages arrives in Chipewyan Lake
By Pearl Lorentzen Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeside Leader Northland School Division hopes that Chipewyan Lake School may be closer to normal by mid-October. In late May, a wildfire destroyed half of the buildings in Chipewyan Lake, including Northlands three housing units (in two buildings). “If everything goes perfectly, we could be there in a couple of weeks,” said Cal Johnson, Northland superintendent, on Sept. 29. The morning of Sept. 29, a duplex for teachers was stuck at a narrow bridge on the road up to the community. As of Oct. 3, it had arrived and was on pilings, although not ready to be lived in. Chip Lake students started the year at extra classrooms in Career Pathways School in Wabasca. As of early Oct., 11 were back home learning...
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Peacemaking program finally has a new home to call its own
By Alexandra Noad, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lethbridge Herald STAND OFF – A new facility on the Blood Reserve will be home to the Kanai Peacemaking Program and, it’s hoped, to a future circuit courtroom. Since 2008, the program has been revitalizing traditional Blackfoot practices into justice processes, while also helping Blood Tribe members learn their traditional ways of knowing. The Blood Tribe utilized Anabel Crop Eared Wolf’s dissertation on Kainai peacekeeping and peacemaking, which was published in 2007. When the Kainai Peacemaking Program began, the courts would often refer the older adults to the peacemakers but have recently expanded to referring young offenders to the Peacemakers. On Tuesday, the Blood Tribe opened a new home base for the Peacemakers to work out of to better serve those navigating the...
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Women in Mexico step up to protect ancient Aztec farms and save a vanishing ecosystem
By Teresa De Miguel MEXICO CITY (AP) — Jasmín Ordóñez looks out from a wooden boat at the water as she crosses a narrow channel that connects a labyrinth of chinampas, island farms that were built by the Aztecs thousands of years ago. “Let’s close our eyes and ask our Mother Water for permission to sail in peace,” she said as the boat moves slowly, in contrast to the frenetic traffic of Mexico City just a few miles away. Ordóñez owns one of these island farms, first created with mud from the bottom of the lakes that once covered this area. When the boat arrives at her island, she proudly shows the corn and leafy greens she grows. Her ancestors owned chinampas, but she had to buy this one because...
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Woodland Cultural Centre puts the “evidence” on display in resurrected Mohawk Institute
By Carly McHugh Writer The numbers are staggering, the stories horrifying. They happened behind closed doors and beyond parents’ eyes. For 142 years over 15,000 children attended the Mohawk Institute Indian Residential School on Six Nations lands adjacent to Brantford. Within its walls generations of children would suffer physical or sexual abuse and be subjected to back breaking labour all while never knowing if they would ever leave . The school closed in 1970, becoming a place where some survivors and their families would not even set foot. Until the Woodland Cultural Centre (WCC) began their ‘Save the Evidence campaign’ to turn it into a safe space to spread awareness about what really went on at Canada’s longest-running residential school. Last Tuesday on Sept. 30, the National Day for Truth...
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Ontario Premier Doug Ford takes a stroll with Mississaugas of Credit First Nation through Hagersville
By Lynda Powless Editor The Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN) marked the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with an unexpected event on September 30, 2025. They took a walk… with Ontario Premier Doug Ford through Hagersville. The Premier and Chief Claire Sault were joined by Greg Rickford Ontario Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation and an estimated 150 community members and neighbours from surrounding areas as they walked through the town. The Hagersville walk was held in remembrance of those lost and in support of Survivors who continue to live with the impacts of the residential school system, MCFN communciations said. Chief Claire Sault spoke about her mother’s experiences with residential school and her own personal journey with healing. Ontario Premier Doug Ford talked...
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Six Nations health explores program transfer to local control
Six Nations is going to keep looking into and asking community members what they think of transferring the responsibility for health services from Indigenous Services Canada to the nation. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) passed a motion, at its General Council meeting on September 9. to support a community engagement plan to see what the community wants to do regarding community health services. The Well-Being Committee is exploring a potential health transfer from Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) to the community, with the decision resting on what community members want for the future of local health services. Director of the Well-Being Department, Debra Jonathan, explained that the Health Services Integrated Fund, provided by ISC since 2016, has supported the work of considering a possible transfer. “It depends on what the community...
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Former Six Nations Police officer facing breach of trust and obstruction charges
SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND RIVER- The Hamilton Police Service has been called in to investigate the conduct of a former Six Nations Police officer who is facing Breach of Trust and Obstruction of Justice charges. Sergeant Raymond Johnson, a 14-year member of the Six Nations Police Force, was arrested and charged with Breach of Trust by Public Officer and Obstruction of Justice. Johnson was scheduled to appear in Ontario Court of Justice in Brantford Oct. 9, 2025. Johnson is no longer employed with the Six Nation Police Service. Six Nations Police said because charges are before the courts police will not provide details or comments to maintain the integrity of the court proceedings....
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Six Nations Councillor questioning tourism building costs
Six Nations new Tourism Welcome Centre has Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) members questioning costs. Councillor Dayle Bomberry told SNEC he has concerns over the new tourism centre’s budget and a lack of background on the project. Bomberry asked how the cost of the new Tourism Welcome Centre grew from roughly half a million dollars to more than $1.1 million. The issue came up at SNEC’s General Finance Committee meeting on October 6. During the adoption of meeting minutes from September 15, Bomberry raised concerns about the lack of clear budget information provided to council in earlier stages of the project’s approval. “When we originally approved that, I know there was a submission being made for funding of $300,000, and that’s all we had before us,” Bomberry said. “At that...
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Walk-through vigil honours community members lost to violence
By Carly McHugh Writer This Oct. 4, Six Nations stood together to remember 43 community members that were tragically lost as a result of violence. Ganohkwasra Family Assault Support Services and its Deyetiyenyadoha program held a walk-through vigil, in honour of the Native Women’s Association of Canada’s (NWAC’s) annual Sisters in Spirit initiative and the National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ Peoples. Red clothing items hung throughout the white tent, creating stark contrast amongst the pictures and possessions left behind. However, the families of the lost wanted to spread a different message. They wanted to focus on remembering their light. “Sometimes, we don’t want to remember all the tragedy that happened, and the families want to keep it that way,” said Amber Silversmith,...
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Six Nations Firefighters bring on the heat at Second Annual Smoke Dance Competition
By Carly McHugh Writer It was about hot tips and even hotter dance moves, all in the name of fire safety. To kick off Fire Prevention Week, Six Nations Fire and Emergency Services (SNFES) held their annual Fire Prevention Open House on Oct. 4. This year’s theme, Charge into Fire Safety, focused on properly charging, maintaining and recycling lithium-ion batteries. “They’re in everything we recharge, and they’re prone to fire,” said Emma Varhaug, fire and life safety educator with SNFES. “We’re really trying to get the word out there to protect the community.” In lieu of demonstrations, this year’s open house featured a prevention tent, where firefighters gave the community crucial tips about lithium-ion battery safety. They also promoted their Community Connect system, a new tool to help gain important...
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Really…Haldimand out of line
Sometimes not everyone gets invited. Sometimes they are expected to take their own initiative and find out if there is an event. This past week, across the country everyone marked Orange Shirt Day, a day to remember what happened when Canada created the horror that became the residential school system in the country. Forcing thousands and generations of Indigenous children through the doors subjecting them to untold horrors and all in the name of killing the Indian in the child. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation comes every Sept. 30. Across the country First Nation communities plan events to mark and remember the children forced through those doors. And now they are joined by Canadians. Canadians who have taken the time to learn about what happened to Indigenous children....
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Today in History
Oct 3 In 2023, New Democratic Leader Wab Kinew led his party to government in Manitoba, becoming the first First Nations premier of a Canadian province. Oct 4 In 2023, the federal government said it was putting $740,000 toward further assessing the feasibility of searching a Winnipeg-area landfill for the remains of two First Nations women. Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree said more work needs to be done to figure out how a search can be undertaken. In 2023, a new Statistics Canada report said that between 2009 and 2021, Indigenous women and girls were killed at a rate six times higher than that of women and girls who were not Indigenous. It also said homicides of Indigenous women and girls are less likely to result in the most serious...
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Montour hoping to play in Kraken regular season opener
By Sam Laskaris Writer The Seattle Kraken will kick off its 2025-26 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season on Thursday with a home game versus the Anaheim Ducks. Though he missed all of Seattle’s training camp and pre-season contests, Six Nations member Brandon Montour is hoping he’ll be able to play in the Kraken opener. Just before Seattle’s training camp opened in mid-September it was announced that Montour, a 31-year-old defenceman would not be available for a few weeks as he had a bursa removed from his ankle. Montour is heading into his second season with the Kraken. He joined the Seattle squad mere days after helping the Florida Panthers win the Stanley Cup in 2024. Montour, who was a free agent at the time, signed a seven-year contract, worth...
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Haudenosaunee Nationals teams compete at Super Sixes tournament in Oshawa
By Sam Laskaris Writer A preview of the lacrosse action that will be staged at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will be held in Oshawa starting on Friday. The Haudenosaunee Nationals women’s and men’s squads will compete at the three-day World Lacrosse Super Sixes event. But it remains to be seen whether the Haudenosaunee clubs will also be allowed to participate in the Olympics three years from now. Since Indigenous people introduced the sport to the world, members of the Haudenosaunee squads believe they should be included at the LA Games. Their case is strengthened by the fact Haudenosaunee clubs traditionally fare extremely well at international competitions they participate in. But officials from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have yet to publicly announce whether the Haudenosaunee teams will be included...
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Ironmen drop road contest in Orangeville
By Sam Laskaris Writer It was not the preferred result. But Ryan Davis, the head coach of the Six Nations Ironmen, is not overly concerned his charges were downed 8-5 this past Friday by the host Orangeville Blitz. The Ironmen, who are in their first season competing in the Northern Premier Hockey League, had won their home opener a week earlier. But the match against the Blitz was their first road contest. Davis knew the Blitz would be a formidable opponent. “It was to be expected,” he said. “Orangeville on paper has a really good team. I wasn’t surprised. I made our team aware that they’re probably one of the top teams in the league. They’ve got 3-4 guys drafted to the National Hockey League. They’ve got 3-4 guys that...
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Smith’s plan threatens ‘fragile’ consensus over development of B.C. coast: Eby
By Wolfgang Depner Premier David Eby says a pipeline plan across northern B.C. by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith threatens community support and social licence that would allow other major projects along the provincial coast to move forward. Smith’s proposal for an oil pipeline to B.C.’s north coast would require Ottawa to scrap a tanker ban in the region, and Eby said Tuesday that such a move risks upsetting the current “fragile consensus” over resource development, one that he hopes to strengthen. If there is to be a conversation, Eby said, it should be about a “real project,” not one that hasn’t secured a proponent, funding or environmental assessment approval. When you apply that test, Eby said, Smith’s plan “fails on every count.” “The premier of B.C. is not a threat...
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Inuit-led solution aims to avoid killing of Marineland’s 30 belugas
By Dominique Gené, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunatsiaq News A Nunavik man says Inuit leaders should step in to provide habitat to 30 beluga whales at Marineland that are at risk of being euthanized because the amusement park in Niagara Falls, Ont. can’t afford to keep them. Jason Etok, who lives in Montreal but grew up in Kangiqsualujjuaq, suggested the whales can be reintegrated into the wild in areas such as the Hudson Bay, Ungava Bay or the St Lawrence River. “I believe they could survive if they were to be put into the wild with the assistance of trainers that could provide them with nourishments or maybe guidance,” Etok said in an interview Monday — as the clock ticked down on Marineland’s warning. The Niagara Falls amusement park asked...
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First Nation healthcare gets big expansion in local areas
By Sean Porter, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Sault Star Indigenous members in Wawa and Chapleau are receiving upgraded and in-depth healthcare from the hospital to their homes. Maamwesying is expanding its Indigenous System Navigator (ISN) to Lady Dunn Health Centre and Services de santé Chapleau Health Services, providing support to members of the Chapleau Ojibwe First Nation, Chapleau Cree First Nation, Brunswick House First Nation, and Michipicoten First Nation, according to a release. “Oftentimes, hospitals are not familiar with the resources available back in our First Nations communities, so our navigators are there to help bridge that information and link clients with the services needed,” said Edith Mercieca, director of home and community care to the Sault Star. The service is offered to patients who respond “yes” to the Voluntary...
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