Assumption wins back and forth game
By Josh Giles Sports Writer It was a close game when the Assumption Lions Jr. Girls volleyball team visited the BCI Mustangs. The game was close in nearly every set as the Lions climbed their way out of a hole. In the first set, ACS took the victory 25-18 with Assumption pulling away slowly to win it. The second and third set went to BCI with close scores of 26-24 in the second and 25-23 in the third. In the fourth set, the Lions came back with a vengeance in the fourth set and dominated it with a score of 25-13. The fifth and final set saw more domination from the Lions winning the game 15-8 and sealing the victory. After the game both coaches were optimistic about their teams....
Escape of non native salmon on B.C. coast puts farm phase out plan in spotlight
By Amy Smart THE CANADIAN PRESS VANCOUVER- The escape of an estimated 20,000 non-native fish off Vancouver Island demonstrates the urgent need to phase out ocean-based farming and calls into question the federal government’s own five-year deadline, say wild salmon advocates. Stan Proboszcz, science and campaign adviser with the Watershed Watch Society, said the salmon escape may have ecological impacts on already struggling wild stocks. “It’s incidents like this that make it pretty clear that we really do need the federal government to move on removing farms from British Columbian waters. This is just another stressor on wild fish, so we just hope that we see a plan very soon,” he said Monday. He said Atlantic salmon can compete with wild Pacific salmon for food and habitat, as well as...
Holiday Wishes from all of us at Turtle Island News
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Public safety minister asks RCMP for clarity over Indigenous blockade strategy
OTTAWA- The federal public safety minister’s office says they have spoken to the RCMP over concerns about language reportedly used by the agency in planning how it would deal with First Nations protesters blockading natural gas pipeline construction in northern B.C. A spokesman for Bill Blair says they are concerned by a report by British media outlet the Guardian allegedly outlining the RCMP’s strategy to remove the blockade. “We are committed to protecting the constitutional right to peaceful protest and are concerned by the unacceptable words and phrases that the Guardian reported were used,” Blair’s spokesman Scott Bardsley said in an email. “Our office has raised this matter with the RCMP.” In late 2018, Wet’suwet’en members had set up checkpoints preventing pipeline project workers from accessing a worksite for LNG...
Search Warrant executed in Cornwall: CRTF
On December 4th, 2019, members of the Cornwall Regional Task Force stopped a vehicle suspected of being involved in contraband smuggling activity. As a result of the investigation, a Search Warrant for a mini-storage unit located in the city of Cornwall was obtained and executed. The search lead to the seizure of 318.1 kg of fine cut tobacco not stamped in accordance with the Excise Act (2001). A 2002 Chevrolet Silverado was also seized under the authority of the Excise Act (2001). The suspect was arrested, charged and released from custody on a Promise to Appear. He is scheduled to appear at Cornwall Court on January 14th, 2020. Benjamin Roundpoint (50 years old) of Akwesasne, ON is facing the following charges: – Possession of unstamped tobacco, Excise Act...
POLICE EXECUTE CANNABIS ACT SEARCH WARRANT
On Tuesday, December 17th, 2019, Six Nations Police executed a search warrant at #1061 Chiefswood Road on the Six Nations Territory. The search warrant was executed on the Green Dreams dispensary business that was known to be an illicit cannabis dispensary as well as a DVD store. Police entered the building and located two adult males that were identified as an employee and a customer, and then arrested. Police searched and seized illicit cannabis evidence resulting in the formal charges of: Andrew Donald McAulay (34 years) of Ohsweken: – Possess Cannabis unlawfully for the purpose of selling – Distribute Illicit Cannabis – Possess Cannabis for the Purpose of Distribution Allan Scott Hill (54 years) of Ohsweken: – Possess Cannabis unlawfully for the purpose of selling – Distribute Illicit Cannabis –...
ROAD RAGE INCIDENT OVER PARKING SPOT RESULTS IN SEVERAL CHARGES
(NORFOLK COUNTY, ON) – On Tuesday, December 17, 2019, approximately 11:42 a.m., the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Norfolk County Detachment investigated a road rage incident at a Queensway East, Simcoe, Norfolk County, Ontario address. It was determined that two drivers engaged in a confrontation over a parking spot at a local business. As a result, one of the drivers fled from the area with the other driver following. Both vehicles then stopped on Ireland Road when one of the drivers exited their car and damaged the other vehicle and then fled from the area. Investigators subsequently located the vehicle after it had collided with a parked vehicle and business at a Norfolk Street South address. As a result, police have charged 24-year-old Jordie SMITH of Norfolk County, Ontario with...
Ottawa funding mental health services for Saskatchewan Indigenous youth
SASKATOON – The federal government is committing $2.5 million over the next two years to support mental-health services and suicide prevention programs for Indigenous youth in Saskatchewan. Federal Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller and Chief Bobby Cameron of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations made the announcement in Saskatoon. A number of young people in several Indigenous communities in the province have taken their own lives in recent months. The Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation at Loon Lake, for one, has raised concerns about what it has called “cluster suicides” _ three deaths over three weeks, including that of a 10-year-old girl. While in Saskatchewan, Miller met with Makwa Chief Ronald Mitsuing and members of the community, about 360 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon. Chief Louis Mercredi of the Fond du Lac...
Annual Christmas Concerts in full swing
Jamieson Kindergarten students belt out a Christmas tune during their annual Christmas concert. Photo by Donna Duric....
SNEC seeking $200,000 from farmer after promising to look at removing injunctions against Six Nations People
By Justin Lethbridge and Lynda Powless Writers The same night Six Nations Elected Council agreed to look at removing injunctions imposed on Six Nations people the band council agreed in a closed session to settle a $1 million damage suit against Six Nations Farmer Kris Hill for $200,000 last Tuesday night. Turtle Island News has learned SNEC was given the option by its lawyers to either walk away from the suit, seek the lesser amount of $200,000 or continue the action seeking $1 million. The damages came after SNEC sought and was granted an injunction against Kris Hill and John and Jane Doe of Six Nations over the controversial farming of the Burtch lands. Hill had been farming the lands on a three year lease from the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs...
SNEC says it’s exploring options to get out of injunctions against community members
By Justin Lethbridge Writer Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) says it is exploring options to vacate or eradicate at least two injunctions the previous council sought against community members. The decision came after community members flooded the SNEC chambers last Tuesday night. An Ontario Court granted two injunctions against Six Nations people after the previous band council petitioned the court to remove people from outside the council building and local farmer Kris Hill from the controversial Burtch lands. In addition the former Six Nations Band Council and the Six Nations Grand River Development Corporation were both instrumental in supporting Hydro One who sought and was granted an injunction, against community members and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council, to remove a protest from the Niagara Reinforcement Line. Following a statement delivered by...
Six Nations Election hangs in the balance council reviewing concerns
By Justin Lethbridge Writer Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) is taking another week to look at concerns raised over the recent election, two appeals and the fate of the Chief Election Polling Officer ((CEPO)). The council chambers were packed with community members last Tuesday as Alaina VanEvery told council her appeal had been rejected but she had concerns with the legitimacy of the election and the CEPO. SNEC said they needed more time to look at the complex issue. Councillor Wendelyn Johnson said Council is not debating the merits of the concerns brought forth by multiple community members. “At the end of the day the accountability lies here, with this system. We’re having big discussions about that and what that means in terms of legal ramifications and so on…” She...
The Perfect Storm: Homelessness in the city
By Donna Duric Writer BRANTFORD – At least two dozen homeless people in Brantford were left scrambling to find a place to stay for the winter after their tent city was shut down. In a city struggling with overflowing shelters and a lack of affordable housing, homeless people are sleeping in ATM lobbies, stairwells, and finding brief respite in overnight shelters. Although the camp seemed to provide a homelessness solution from the perspective of the people who lived there, at least one shelter manager in Brantford believes otherwise. “I think the camp being shut down is a good thing,” said Tim Philp, executive director of Rosewood House, a 24-hour co-ed shelter. “I guarantee you that if that camp continued, someone would’ve died there.” The six-month long encampment came to an...
Weekly Cartoon
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Liberal minority focus won’t be on Indigenous issues
Four years ago in the 2015 federal election, Justin Trudeau came to Indigenous people bearing gifts. He promised if elected as Prime Minister, he would enact calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), develop a nation-to-nation relationship and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Elected, giving Canada its glittering dynasty, Trudeau began the work on a nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous peoples. One he said would be based on respect and consultation. But during his first term as Prime Minister reality sunk in for the young politician. It kicked off with the inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) that came close to sinking. Then came the Indigenous Rights legislation he planned to implement without talking to First Nations....
UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY: For The Love Of Our Elders
By Xavier Kataquapit My uncle Cheekanish passed away on November 24 at the age of 88 in Attawapiskat. He is my father Marius’s older brother. Uncle Cheekanish’s English name was Leo Kataquapit. My family mourned at his passing but we also celebrated his memory as he had lived a long full life that he filled with as much fun, happiness and goodness as he could. Uncle Cheekanish and his wife Theresa raised a strong family of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren that inherited their sense of laughter, warmth and kindness. His children include Robert, Maria, Noella, Peter, Rollande, Jeffrey and Jerry. I remember my last visit with him and his wife Theresa in 2016. It was a visit full of laughter and recollections that I had together with my cousins...
Chief Stacey Laforme re-elected to third term
Chief Stacey Laforme, along with five elected Councillors, were re-elected in the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation Election (MCFN). Back for his third term as Chief, Laforme has served his community on council for the past two decades after first being elected as a councillor in 1999. During that time he was also involved with MCFN’s Pan Am Games Secretariat (PAGS), as Chair of the PAGS Committee. After the Election results were released, Laforme released a short statement on Facebook. “I look forward to serving with the new council. I also believe that there were others who ran for council and should be elected in the future and I will do my best to assist them next year. Miigwech.” Of the 413 valid votes cast for Chief, Laforme garnered...
Judicial review of election could be in the offing
By Justin Lethbridge Writer Six Nations’ recent election could be facing a Judicial Review leaving the fate of the current council still up in the air after an anonymous Election Appeals Committee deemed a complaint “irrelevant.” Alaina VanEvery told Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) Tuesday court action may be the only avenue left open to her. She said the Six Nations Election Appeals Committee called her concerns “irrelevant” and SNEC seems unwilling to act on her concerns. Alaina VanEvery questioned the actions and conduct of the Chief Electoral Polling Officer Steve Williams and questioned the operations of the election including the use of online voting. “How are my concerns irrelevant?” VanEvery asked Council after reading out the response she received from the Election Appeals Committee. “This response is a slap...
Cayuga Chief Cleveland General (Deyotowehgoh) passes
On Dec. 16, family, friends and the community lost one of its longest-serving traditional chiefs. Cayuga Chief Cleveland General (Deyotowehgoh) has passed, after serving as Chief for 61 years with the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council. The funeral will be held this Thursday at Sour Springs Longhouse at 11 a.m. “He will be sadly missed,” said HCCC Secretary Leroy Hill....
Assumption makes quick work of the Thunderbirds
ACS Lions feast on Pauline Johnson By Josh Giles Sports Writer BRANTFORD – Dominance is the only way to describe Assumption College’s play when they visited Pauline Johnson for a Jr. Boys basketball game. It was a lopsided affair from the start when the Lions put the pressure on and never let off for the rest of the game. By the time the first half was over, the game’s fate was already sealed with Assumption up 61-14. But that didn’t stop team coach Steve Petrella from being on his team to perform to their best abilities. “You always have to make sure that they’re talking with each other and communicating with each other. Especially on defense. And right from day one I told our guys that the best offense is...