“We Remain Certain”, a Haudenosaunee art exhibit of land rights along the Grand River
By Lisa Iesse Writer HAMILTON – An exhibit, titled “We Remain Certain” brings together artists, activists and academics from across the Haudenosaunee community. “By showing contemporary art, it shows how (Haudenosaunee teachings) are living in all of us. It’s living in the artists. You can see the common themes and the way the different artists incorporate and express our culture. I think it really demonstrates that we’re a living and vibrant people, a vibrant culture where all of this is shared amongst,” Courtney Skye told Turtle Island News at the exhibit’s opening on January 11 at McMaster’s museum of art in Hamilton. Skye is Mohawk Turtle Clan from Six Nations, and is the co-director of Protect the Tract who curated the exhibit. Protect the Tract is a Haudenosaunee-led initiative conducting...
Register
SNEC staff to attend IESO meetings after councillors refuse
It appears Six Nations may be wary of getting too involved when it comes to the Independent Electricity Systems Operator (IESO). Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) tried to find councillors to attend online information sessions being held by the IESO on January 15 or 17. But not one of the 12 councillors volunteered at its Jan., 9th General Council meeting. Nathan Wright, CEO explained the meeting relates to what IESO does, its programs, how they are running and how they could support First Nations better and drum up interest. “The IESO is embarking on – at least they have been over the last 20 years, upon the process for Indigenous engagement. This is part of that strategy to start doing a bunch of engagement with the First Nations community,” he...
Register
Norfolk County taking new shot at “Indigenous acknowledgement”
By Lisa Iesse Writer SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND – Fear of a potential lawsuit or land claim has Norfolk’s latest version of a proposed “Indigenous acknowledgement” leaving out any reference to land and the First Nations connected to it including the Haudenosaunee and Mississaugas. At Norfolk County’s December 19th council meeting, Councillor Tom Masschaele urged it was council’s “duty” to implement an “Indigenous acknowledgment” as a way to “work toward truth and reconciliation — not just on Orange Shirt Day, but every day.” Norfolk County is right next door to the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN), and Six Nations (the most populous First Nation in the country). Other counties bordering Six Nations and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN) do practise Indigenous land acknowledgments. Brant County...
Register
K/G school board asks SNEC to guarantee $25 million loan
The Kawenni:io/Gaweni:yo Elementary and Secondary School has a chance to fund the construction of a new school, but it can’t do it unless the Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) backs the school. Ruby Jacobs, a member of the board for Gaweni:yo plead the school’s case once again at the Six Nations Elected Council’s (SNEC) General Finance meeting on January 15. She told council CIBC is willing to loan the school $25 million, but the bank will only provide the loan if SNEC comes on board to service the debt. “This is where council has to look at it from the point of getting it done,” She said. “You’re elected to fight for the people. If you think we got the dialysis unit by just waiting for them or the birthing...
Register
SNEC extended Christmas holiday may be going after complaints
The landfill site was closed. You couldn’t pay a water bill or get your septic tank emptied. Six Nations Elected Council SNEC) found itself the centre of community complaints when it shut down the entire band administration for a two-week holiday over Christmas. Now, back at work with band departments opened SNEC faced the issue at its Jan., 9th meeting saying in light of the complaints, it is considering cancelling its two-week holiday closure at Christmas time. Councillors talked about looking into keeping the or ganization open over the holidays and instead offering employees more mental wellness days in lieu of the two-week closure employees now enjoy. The conversation comes after local residents experienced issues over the break that required SNEC staff or departments to address, but no one was...
Register
Six Nations drone show – costs mean only one more showing
By Lisa Iesse Writer SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND – Friendship Walks organisers say despite the hard work invested in the Six Nations drone show, it will be shown just one last time due to the high costs of presenting it. TAP resources (an event management firm in Six Nations) is the company that organized Six Nations drone show. It was created to be shown at the Friendship Walks, which took place over three days in September along the Haldimand Tract. The walks celebrated the crucial role of Six Nations people in Canada’s history and the present. 1784’s Haldimand Tract Proclamation acknowledged Six Nations territories six miles deep along each side of the Grand River. Tuesday Johnson-MacDonald, president and lead project manager of TAP Resources explained the role of the...
Register
Six Nations Fire getting new rescue truck
Six Nations will receive an additional light rescue fire truck. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) approved the purchase of the four-door Extreme Tactical Sawtooth at the General Finance meeting on January 15, after deferring the motion from the December 12 meeting. The truck was originally due for purchase in 2021 with the funds to cover the $366,574 truck coming from 2020-2021 and 2022-2023 Minor Capital funds. Crystal Farmer, assistant fire chief, told SNEC the department received the first invoice in December for $183,287, but SNEC deferred the motion to “clarify the numbers.” Now the entire cost needs to be paid. Councillor Dayle Bomberry pointed out the department doesn’t have the full amount ready to go, and asked if they had found the additional funds to purchase the vehicle. The fire...
Register
HCCC work stopped Canada’s move to melt down UNDRIP
Secrets always surface. Especially government secrets. And when it comes to the Rights of Indigenous People recently released Australian government documents from 2003 reveal it was Canada itself that led the parade to weaken any draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The two countries, home to large Indigenous populations, had worked together in secret to weaken the draft United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Australian cabinet records from the early 2000’s show it was Canada under the Chrétien Liberal government that took the lead, with the support of Australia, to water-down UNDRIP and use the weakened version as a pressure tactic against Indigenous leaders, including the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council, (HCCC). Indigenous leaders who wouldn’t budge on their original 1993 draft, the records showed....
Register
Weekly Cartoon
...
Register
Cabinet papers: Howard government worked with Canada to oppose UN declaration on Indigenous rights
By Daniel Hurst @danielhurstbne The Guardian Australia led by Prime Minister John Howard’s government fought strongly against recognizing the right of Indigenous peoples to “self-determination” and worked secretly with Canada to try to change a draft UN declaration, newly released cabinet papers show. The cabinet papers from 2003, released by the National Archives on Monday, show that some Australian government departments held concerns about potential impacts of the UN declaration on the rights of Indigenous peoples, but Australia’s talks with Canada on amendments were being pursued with “no Indigenous consultation about the process or its product” as such input would be “premature”. John Howard’s government ultimately opposed the declaration when it was adopted by the UN general assembly in 2007, with 143 countries voting in favour and just four –...
Register
Newly elected chief provides welcoming at Leafs’ Indigenous Celebration Game
By Sam Laskaris Writer TORONTO – Claire Sault is a casual hockey fan. But the recently elected chief of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation found herself on the ice prior to a National Hockey League contest this past Saturday. There was no need, however, for Sault to display her skating, stickhandling or shooting abilities. That’s because Sault was asked to deliver a welcoming at the Toronto Maple Leafs’ second annual Indigenous Celebration Game. “It was a very huge honour for me to do that,” Sault said of her on-ice appearance at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena. “It’s important in our territory that we elevate our First Nation and that people understand that whole history.” Sault said she wasn’t nervous welcoming the spectators and participants to the game. More than 19,000...
Register
Local protected players and draftee join Arrows’ organization
By Sam Laskaris Writer Several potential players have joined the Six Nations Arrows in recent days. For starters, 20 local players were placed on the Arrows’ protected list last week, ahead of the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League (OJLL) draft held on Sunday. These 20 individuals suited up for one of Six Nations’ two Under-17 box lacrosse squads from this past year. The Arrows entered Sunday’s draft, which featured players across the province born in 2007, with two picks. But the Six Nations squad only ended up choosing one individual in the draft, held to stock players for the 11-team Junior A circuit. That’s because the Arrows ended up trading their first-round selection, the fifth pick over-all, and their second-round pick, 16th over-all, to the Peterborough Lakers. In exchange the Arrows...
Register
Sports Briefs: Six Nations members contributing to undefeated teams
By Sam Laskaris, Writer Some local players are making an impact with the two National Lacrosse League squads that are still undefeated. For starters, Justin Martin is the lone Six Nations player on the Toronto Rock roster. Martin, a rookie, has scored three goals this season for the Rock, who are off to a perfect 4-0 start. Meanwhile, the Albany FireWolves are the only other team in the 15-club pro circuit that is still undefeated. The FireWolves, who only managed to win three of their 18 contests a year ago, are off to a 6-0 start this season. The Albany squad is being led by goaltender Doug Jamieson, a Six Nations member, who has backstopped his side to all of their wins in their first half dozen matches. Meanwhile, a...
Register
Metis player proud to hit the ice as part of new women’s pro hockey league
By Sam Laskaris, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Though her club was unable to register a victory, elite hockey player Jocelyne Larocque, was thrilled to be on the ice as part of a pro squad. Larocque made history in 2014, becoming the first Indigenous player to suit up for the Canadian Olympic women’s team, which captured the gold medal at the Sochi Games in Russia. Larocque, who is Metis and 35, plays defence, and is now a member of the Toronto squad in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). The six-team league held its first ever match on Jan. 1 at Toronto’s Mattamy Athletic Centre, the facility that is the old Maple Leaf Gardens. Larocque and her Toronto teammates were blanked 4-0 by the visiting New York team in the New...
Register
Cree School Board launches Department of Higher Learning
By Patrick Quinn Local Journalism Initiative Reporter As more options become available in the region for the growing number of Cree students interested in post-secondary education, the Cree School Board has launched a new department dedicated to higher learning. The department will manage the post-secondary programs currently offered in Eeyou Istchee and those yet to come. So far it includes the Cree Teacher Training Program and the Iyeskuwiiu CEGEP-level springboard program. “We’re in the midst of negotiations to form my department, which will determine our plans for programs we want to develop in the next five years,” said director Darlene Cheechoo. “All the programs we are developing will emphasize Cree culture and language as much as possible, that’s a real high priority for the CSB and our department.” The land-based...
Register
Human rights complaint filed over Manitoba election ad against landfill search
By Brittany Hobson THE CANADIAN PRESS WINNIPEG- The daughter of a slain First Nations woman has filed a human rights complaint against Manitoba’s Progressive Conservatives for an ad campaign about its decision not to search a Winnipeg-area landfill for her mother’s remains. “Families need to be protected ? there should be laws in place to ensure that no political party could play off of a national tragedy. It should have never been a political thing,” Cambria Harris said in an interview Tuesday. “This is a humanitarian search.” Harris and Robyn Johnston, an advocate who represents the family, said they submitted the complaint last week. Harris posted a copy of the complaint on her Facebook page Monday. It alleges the party discriminated against Indigenous women and girls. The “decision to run...
Register
Chretien era effort to soften UN’s Indigenous language a ‘stain’ on Canada: Hajdu
By Alessia Passafiume THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA-The current federal Liberal government tried to distance itself Tuesday from the Jean Chretien-led one that reportedly conspired with Australia to weaken United Nations language on Indigenous Peoples in the early 2000s. Newly released Australian cabinet documents from 2003 show the two countries worked together on putting forward a softer version of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The declaration spells out Indigenous rights, including self-determination, language and cultural preservation, prohibits forced removal from lands or territories and requires states to consult with Indigenous Peoples. The proposed changes from Australia and Canada would have removed references to restitution of land, cultural genocide and demilitarization, significantly diminishing the scope and potential impact of the final version. The idea of a more state-friendly...
Register
Manon Jeannotte becomes Quebec’s first Indigenous Lieutenant Governor
By Patrick Quinn Local Journalism Initiative Reporter First Nations groups across Quebec applauded the nomination of Manon Jeannotte as the province’s first Indigenous lieutenant-governor on December 7, despite the unanimous vote in Quebec’s National Assembly only one day later to abolish the position. “Prime Minister Trudeau gave me his confidence with this position so it’s an honour,” Jeannotte told the Nation. “I was afraid that my new position would not be accepted by First Nations but it’s the contrary. Everybody is proud of this nomination and see I can change relations with the provincial government.” In his nomination, Trudeau noted, “Jeannotte has dedicated her career to advancing Indigenous Peoples’ well-being and making a real difference in the life of our communities.” Originally from the First Nation of Gespeg, a Mi’kmaq...
Register
Homelessness and housing emergency resolution passed by Edmonton city council
EDMONTON- Council of Alberta’s capital city passed a motion Tuesday declaring a homelessness and housing emergency, but the vote wasn’t unanimous. The resolution was brought by Mayor Amarjeet Sohi who said action had to be taken, because of a jump in homelessness in the city and because people are dying. “If we don’t treat this as a long-term emergency, more and more Edmontonians will fall through the cracks and become homeless,” Sohi said in his final pitch to council. “They’re one cheque away from losing their housing. At one time, I was one of those Edmontonians. I could have ended up on the street but community was there to support me, lift me up. But as a system we are failing people.” The emergency was passed by a vote of...
Register
New highway signs in Cape Breton dedicated to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
By Mitchell Ferguson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter WE’KOQMA’Q- In a tribute to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) human rights crisis in Canada, two new road signs have popped up along Highway 105 near both ends of We’koqma’q First Nation. These signs, featuring the image of 16-year-old Aleah Young of Eskasoni, are not only a symbol of remembrance but also a call for awareness and change. Barry Bernard, a community member who works in communications at Mi’kmaq Legal Support Network and runs the Red Tribe Boxing Club in Eskasoni, initiated the project with a vision to spread the message of MMIWG across Mi’kmaw territory. Bernard, emphasizing the gravity of the issue affecting Indigenous communities, says the MMIWG crisis has often been overshadowed, with investigations into the disappearances...
Register
