Sam Laskaris – BEHIND THE ACTION – Jace Martin
By Sam Laskaris Writer If you mention the name Jace Martin most Six Nations members would know that he’s a rather talented musician. But what many of those same community members probably don’t know is that Martin continues to be actively involved in lacrosse. Besides playing for the Six Nations Tomahawks, a Senior C men’s box lacrosse squad, Martin is also serving as the team’s president. Chances are if you didn’t know about Martin’s lacrosse exploits, you probably don’t also know that he’s related to two of the greatest players ever in the sport. Martin’s grandfather was Ross Powless. And his uncle was Ross’ son Gaylord. Both of Martin’s relatives are inductees into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame. Though he didn’t start playing in a lacrosse league until he...
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Rivermen split weekend games
By Sam Laskaris Writer The Six Nations Rivermen continue to sit atop their league standings after splitting a pair of weekend matches. But the local Senior B squad has plenty of company as squads jockey for positioning near the top of the Ontario Series Lacrosse (OSL). The Rivermen, the defending OSL champions, have 15 points courtesy of their 7-2-1 mark. Six Nations defeated the visiting Owen Sound North Stars 11-6 this past Saturday in a match held at the Six Nations Sports and Cultural Memorial Centre. But the Rivermen were then downed 13-7 by the host Oakville Rock on Sunday. That contest was at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville. With the victory Oakville is right on Six Nations’ heels now with 14 points. The 7-1-0 Rock have played...
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OPP search house and property for evidence in Missing Amber Ellis case
OPP search last site where Amber Ellis was seen alive By Lynda Powless Editor It was the last place anyone knew that Amber Ellis, missing for over two years, had been seen alive. Last week Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) finally searched it. An army of OPP searched the grounds for evidence in connection with the case of missing Hagersville woman Amber Ellis. It wrapped up Friday but OPP aren’t commenting on it except to say investigators left the site on Friday June 9, 2023. Because the “investigation is on-going, there is no further information to be released at this time.” OPP launched what they described as an “evidence based search’ at a house and property at 3698 Sixth Line on Six Nations of the Grand River. Six Nations Police sent out...
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Six Nations Bingo Hall biggest earner for SN Development Corp
By Lynda Powless Editor Six Nations Grand River Development Corporation (SNGRDC) almost doubled its revenues in 2022 bringing in over $42 million from a variety of sources including green energy to the bingo hall. At the same time it also had an almost $3 million increase in salary and benefit costs in 2022. The vast majority of the $42,152,314 revenues are generated from what they have termed “nation” businesses that include the biggest revenue generator the corporation oversees on behalf of the community, the Six Nations Bingo Hall. The 2022 audit shows revenues of over $22 million generated by the bingo hall, Six Nations Tourism, the Gathering Place by the Grand, Chiefswood Mansion, Chiefswood Park and the Mohawk Chapel. However the audit does not break down how much each entity brought...
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Dollars found to renovate Iroquois Lodge but not for build
Iroquois Lodge Long Term Care Home is “long overdue” for renovations, but Six Nations Elected Council doesn’t know where the funds will come from. Six Nations Elected Council passed a motion to pay HDR Architecture and Associates Inc. $1.8 million to design the redevelopment and manage the project at its General FInance Committee meeting on June 5. The tender also includes a 10 per cent contingency fee of just more than $188,000. The motion says there are “compliance issues” from the Ministry of Long-term Care that will come up in the fall of 2024. Janet Gasperelli, Health Services Portfolio Lead, Family and Community Care said Health Services and the finance department have found deferred funds from health that they can use to cover the cost of the redevelopment plan and...
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Six Nations Elected Council approves a study on polio
Six Nations approved participation in a study of polio and fear surrounding polio on the territory. Tarah Brookfield Associate Professor, Wilfrid Laurier University submitted an application for the Ethics Committee and told Six Nations Elected Council she had conducted the study in Brantford and County of Brant previously and wanted to expand it to include Six Nations at the General Council meeting on May 23. Brookfield is a historian who specializes in the history of children and youth in the 20th century. “This project is collecting oral histories and archival evidence to try and understand what it was like to try and live between the 1920s and 1970s, which was a period that had local outbreaks of polio,” she said. Polio is an infectious disease caused by a virus that...
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And SN Elected Council approves professor’s tourism study
Six Nations tourism may get some help from the University of Waterloo. Anke Foeller Carroll, a University of Waterloo researcher was approved to co-create a course with Indigenous perspectives and explore how Indigenous Tourism Experiences are Created. Foeller Carroll’s application was approved at Six Nations Elected Council’s General Council (SNEC) meeting on May 23 after agreeing to share her research and physiological profiling with Six Nations Tourism. Darrin Jamieson, Six Nations CEO said Six Nations Tourism is now under SNEC. “I also think the results of the research, part of the ethics process to share that in Six Nations just in terms of the psychological profiling for the marketing, will be very helpful,” he said. Foeller Carroll said her goal is to help improve how future tourism students and tourists...
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Six Nations Police’s Project Dinero nets over $130,000 in illegal drugs two Hamilton people charged trafficking drugs at Six Nations
OHSWEKEN, ON- Two Hamilton people are facing drug trafficking and possesion charges after Six Nations Police launched Project Dinero, a drug trafficking investigation that yield over $130,000 in carfentanil, fentanyl, cocaine and oxycodone. Six Nations Police, with the assistance of Brantford and Hamilton city police, launched Project Dinero, an investigation into illicit drugs being actively trafficked on Six Nations and in surrounding areas, with all three forces raiding residences in both Hamilton and Brantford Thursday ( June 8 2023). Six Nations Police said three section 487 Criminal Code Search Warrants were executed on a vehicle and residences in Hamilton and Brantford with the assistance of the Brantford Police Service Tactical Unit. Police seized carfentanil, fentanyl, cocaine and oxycodone with a street value of approximately $130,000. In addition to the drugs,...
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The Feather Report Summer Blues
“The bluebird carries the sky on his back.” – Henry David Thoreau By Rachel A. Powless Feather Reporter Bird behavior is a curious thing. Field guides tend to mirror each other in their explanation of known behavior. What they don’t tell you is anything is possible within reason. So much so, that these birder field guides become standard and when something out of the ordinary happens, all bets are off! One such behavior stands out to Carl & I and it’s a big one, even huge. Here is our story: Four years ago, I purchased a wooden nesting box because I got a great price on it. Carl put it up and we waited, not sure what to expect. The wooden box was the type meant for larger birds but...
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Not on our land you won’t…
The Chiefs of Ontario are sending a clear message to the federal government. Simply put…not on our land you won’t! The federal government has decided,without consulting First Nations, it is going to bring in Métis self-government legislation and recognizing what the feds are calling Métis “historic communities,” that will directly affect Indigenous land holdings and the rights of the First Nations living there. A move that is being opposed solidly by First Nations across the province. Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare says First Nations across the province are voicing not only concern but their opposition to the federal governments’ plan to bring in Métis self-government legislation and recognizing what the feds are calling Métis “historic communities.” Métis “historic communities? An idea that can’t help but raise the question of what...
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A third of Canadians support changing anthem to say ‘our home on native land’: poll
By Maan Alhmidi THE CANADIAN PRESS TORONTO- A new poll suggests only a third of Canadians support a proposal from Mississauga, Ont., to ask the federal government to change the lyrics of the national anthem. The proposed resolution put forward by Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie would – if passed by council – ask Ottawa to alter the line that reads “O Canada! Our home and native land’’ to “O Canada! Our home on native land.’’ Market research firm Leger surveyed 1,525 people online between June 7 and June 11, asking whether they support the proposal. The results indicate 33 per cent of those polled support changing the anthem, with 48 per cent opposed, and 19 per cent saying they don’t know. Support for the change was higher among younger Canadians,...
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More work to be done on Indigenous representation in corporate world: panel
TORONTO-More work needs to be done to improve Indigenous representation on corporate boards and in business, according to a panel of Indigenous women in the business world. “There are so many highly talented and capable Indigenous people in this country that could take those seats on boards, but we have to ensure that we’re … looking outside of the criteria that we’ve always looked at,’’ said Tabatha Bull, president and CEO of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business. Corporate boards should expand their criteria when seeking new members, said Bull, as Indigenous people are often excluded because they lack things like top management experience. One common criteria for board positions is chief executive-level experience, said Bull. “We know that there’s a barrier to have Indigenous people on the C-suite,’’ said...
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‘Get at the truth’: Judge to study handling of sex allegations against Nunavut priest
By Emily Blake THE CANADIAN PRESS A retired Quebec judge is to lead a review into how the Oblates handled past allegations that a former priest sexually abused Inuit children in Nunavut. The Oblates of Mary Immaculate, OMI Lacombe Canada and the Oblates of the Province of France said Monday they have appointed former Superior Court justice AndreDenis to lead the Oblate Safeguarding Commission. They said it will aim to understand how allegations against Johannes Rivoire were addressed within the Catholic congregation and to identify improvements to Oblate policies and governance to better protect minors and ensure accountability. A final written report is to be made public no later than April 1, 2024. “We recognize that … there’s no healing, there’s no reconciliation without truth. And so we’re trying to...
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Six Nations Rebels seeking undefeated regular season
By Sam Laskaris Writer Six Nations’ three junior lacrosse clubs are having varying degrees of success in their 2023 campaigns. The most successful local squad thus far has been the Six Nations Rebels, who were undefeated after winning their first 18 regular season outings. The Rebels racked up three more victories this past week. For starters, they downed the host Elora Mohawks 11-7 last Thursday. Six Nations then defeated the visiting Guelph Regals 11-6 in a match held at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (ILA) on Friday. The Rebels completed their three-games-in-three-days schedule by edging the host St. Catharines Athletics 10-8 on Saturday. The Six Nations squad had just two regular season contests remaining, including a Tuesday night road tilt against the Cambridge Highlanders, staged after The Turtle Island News press...
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Four First Nations artists to collaborate on Invictus Games 2025 visual design
By Mina Kerr-Lazenby, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Four Indigenous artists have been chosen to create and design the visual identity for the upcoming Invictus Games, due to be held in Vancouver and Whistler in the winter of 2025. The logo will represent the four local First Nations, with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation’s Olivia George, the Squamish Nation’s Ray Natraoro, the Lil’wat Nation’s Levi Nelson and the Musqueam Nation’s Mack Paul to collaborate on one Coast Salish design. “This is a big honour,’’ said Natraoro, an accomplished carving artist renowned for his wood masks, rattles, totems and canoes. “I am honoured and privileged to be the Nation member selected to represent the Squamish Nation.’’ Natraoro said the creative gig was a “great opportunity’’ to showcase and tell the story of his own...
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Rivermen require third-period rally to register road victory
By Sam Laskaris Writer The Six Nations Rivermen have reached the midway mark of their regular season. And the Rivermen, the defending Ontario Series Lacrosse (OSL) champions, find themselves sitting atop the standings of their six-team circuit, sporting a 6-1-1 mark. The local Senior B squad entered the week with a game in hand and two points ahead of the second-place Owen Sound North Stars, who had compiled a 5-3-1 mark in their first nine outings. Though Six Nations managed to win its latest match, the club’s brass was not entirely happy with the proceedings of Saturday’s road contest versus the Ennismore James Gang. The Rivermen required a seven-goal, third-period outburst to down the James Gang 10-8. Ennismore has only managed to win one of its first seven contests but...
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Six Nations members gearing up for world lacrosse championship
By Sam Laskaris Writer Six Nations will be well represented at the world men’s field lacrosse tournament which begins next Wednesday in San Diego. The Haudenosaunee squad that will participate at the 10-day event includes nine players that are Six Nations members as well as two others living in the community. Also, the club’s general manager Darcy Powless and assistant coach Vince Longboat are Six Nations members as well. A total of 30 teams will compete at the world tournament. The Haudenosaunee side will take part in the highest-calibre Pool A. This grouping also includes Canada, United States, Australia and England. All squads will play four round-robin matches before playoff action commences. “I think we’re going to do well,” Powless said. “The players have bought into what we want to...
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New Canada Post stamp honours first Indigenous woman to lead a Canadian government
ULUKHAKTOK, N.W.T. -The first Indigenous woman to lead a provincial or territorial government in Canada is being honoured with a new stamp. Canada Post says it has unveiled a stamp in honour of Nellie Cournoyea, known as a champion of her people in Canada’s western Arctic. Cournoyea was the first Indigenous woman, and second woman, to head a provincial or territorial government in Canada, serving as premier of the Northwest Territories from 1991 to 1995. Canada Post says in a statement Cournoyea is known for the unwavering vision, work ethic and heart that have guided her fight for Indigenous self-determination and Inuit empowerment. Canada Post says the stamp is one of three Indigenous leaders stamps that will be released on June 21. The postal operator is also issuing stamps paying...
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Squamish Nation to celebrate centennial Amalgamation Day anniversary
By Mina Kerr-Lazenby Local Journalism Initiative Reporter One hundred years ago, in the summer of 1923, 16 First Nations chiefs, a large group of government officials and a smattering of interpreters gathered around a document that would shape the future of the u?xwumixw, the several Squamish communities that lived in British Columbia. The political amalgamation agreement declared that the chiefs’ 16 villages would assemble as one governing body, and with the signing of the document the S?wx?wu7mesh ?xwumixw (Squamish Nation), as we now know it, was born. This July, the Squamish Nation will celebrate its centennial year with a month-long hosting of events. Designed to showcase the Nation’s culture, heritage and history, the events, funded with $129,700 of the government’s B.C. Fairs, Festivals and Events (BCFFE) fund, span the modern...
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