Inuit languages streaming service Iipitiki TV launches with 180 videos
By William Koblensky Varela, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunavut News An early childhood education Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun streaming service called Iipitiki TV launched on April 10, featuring 180 animated videos ranging from 47 seconds to just under an hour. The Qikiqtani Inuit Association, non-profits the Unaaq Cultural Society and the Nunavut Bilingual Education Society, along with Inuit film company Taqqut Productions are behind the service. “We heard from Inuit educators and community members that Inuit children are not exposed to enough rich oral Inuktitut in their home, at playgrounds and throughout the communities. This lack of early exposure to oral language is contributing to language erosion in Nunavut,” said Don MacDougall, senior project manager at the Nunavut Bilingual Education Society. The organizations wanted to give parents and schools Inuktitut and...
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RBC establishing practice focused on Indigenous finance as project push accelerates
-CP-RBC says it is launching an advisory service to help Indigenous groups buy into major projects as Canada moves to accelerate development on numerous fronts. Speaking at the First Nations Major Projects Coalition conference in Toronto, RBC chief executive Dave McKay said that with most major projects on or next to Indigenous lands, it’s critical that Indigenous partnership is at the centre of this development push. McKay said Indigenous groups face barriers to access the capital needed to become partners, and while banks are still learning how to operate in this space, they can play a meaningful role in boosting Indigenous equity. Mark Podlasly, chief executive of the FNMPC, says banks recognize that Indigenous financing is a growth area as Indigenous people in Canada already have about $120 billion in...
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Good Roads conference offers valuable insights, says councillor
By Joe O’Grady, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Temiskaming Speaker TEMISKAMING SHORES – City staff in Temiskaming Shores deserve to take a bow for the work they do in making big projects happen. That’s the view of Temiskaming Shores councillor Nadia Pelletier-Lavigne, reporting back from her attendance at the recent Ontario Good Roads Association annual conference in Toronto. Pelletier-Lavigne said the keynote speaker for the event was author Dan Gardner, who spoke about what it takes to get projects done on time and on budget. “The markers for that are is it done on time, is it done on budget?” she said in her verbal report at city council on April 21. “I feel like the city is good at this. So I wanted to just give kudos to the directors...
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Ballet tackles endless wildfires and the fear of cultural burn teachings
By Crystal St.Pierre, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Windspeaker.com Cikilaxʷm: Controlled Burn, a full-length narrative contemporary ballet, will be presented by Ballet Kelowna May 1 and May 2 at the Kelowna Community Theatre. The original piece by Cameron sinkʷə Fraser-Monroe explores Indigenous fire stewardship and cikilaxʷm, meaning prescribed fires, related to the restoration of the land and community through traditional practices. “We have been working with Cameron since 2021 when we commissioned the first piece from him for Ballet Kelowna called taqəš,” said Simone Orlando, artistic director and CEO. “Cameron has worked closely as an artist-in-residence for our 20th anniversary season and there were a couple of other works that were developed during that year and he has continued as our associate artist.” Cikilaxʷm: Controlled Burn is the fifth piece Fraser-Munroe...
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Carney says clean electricity strategy promised weeks ago is still on its way
By Nick Murray The federal government still has not announced its clean electricity strategy, despite Prime Minister Mark Carney saying it would land weeks ago. At a news conference in Halifax on March 26, Carney told reporters the government would be releasing “next week” a strategy to expand the electricity grid through hydro, nuclear and renewable energy. When asked on his way into a caucus meeting Wednesday for an update on the electricity strategy, Carney said only, “It’s coming.” The Prime Minister’s Office told The Canadian Press it had nothing further to add. In the spring economic update released on Tuesday, the government said it was planning to issue a “discussion paper” to seek input from provinces and territories on how to modernize the grid. The economic update did say...
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Violence prevention program to be implemented in all Dilico communities
By Maya Ekman, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, NWOnewswatch.com THUNDER BAY – Dilico Anishinabek Family Care is rolling out a culturally-grounded anti-violence program to all First Nations the organization serves. MPP Kevin Holland held a press conference on Monday to announce that the province is allocating $200,000 over the next two years to fund delivery of the 12-week Kizhaay Anishinaabe Niin (I am a Kind Man) program. “This funding is to get into the communities and help people that are having difficulties with interpersonal violence, domestic violence, to make sure that we can support them in a cultural way to work towards healing and being accountable for the actions that they’ve taken towards their intimate partners” said director of substance health and special projects, John Dixon. “We believe that we can...
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Community workshop builds replicas of decades-old Inuit kayak
By Dominique Gené, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunatsiaq News Two kayaks that replicate a 60-year-old model built by an elder are being reconstructed at a community workshop in Kuujjuaq. The event, scheduled to run April 20 to May 1, was originally designed for eight participants aged 17 to 30. However, due to strong interest, the organizers have opened it to all Inuit, said Alice Roy, a psycho-social worker with Nurrait — Jeunes Karibus, which offers on-the-land programs for youth. “This workshop is a place where people can gather, talk about kayaks but also where these organizations can be in contact with the community,” Roy said. In 1968, the Canadian Museum of History commissioned Tuumasikallak, an elder from Kangirsuk, to create a kayak. It construction was documented by Bernard Saladin D’Anglure,...
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Province putting measures in place to defend against invasive mussel species
By Alexandra Noad, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lethbridge Herald Boating season is quickly approaching and Alberta’s government is strengthening its defences against invasive mussel species to protect lakes, rivers and critical infrastructure. Invasive mussels including quagga, zebra and golden mussels destroy ecosystems, threaten shorelines and can cause hundreds of millions of dollars in damage. One female mussel can open up and release one million eggs, which can quickly lead to an infestation.These mussels also attach themselves on hard surfaces and rapidly accumulate in layers to the point where they can begin clogging things like the intakes to irrigation pipelines, intakes to the canals and the reservoirs. If mussels were to invade irrigation canals, Richard Phillips, chair of Alberta Irrigation Districts Association says it would have devastating consequences on the farmers...
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Whitehorse protest decries manslaughter verdict in First Nation man’s death
By Noah Korver, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Yukon News Several hundred protesters shut down Main Street in Whitehorse on April 28, marching over what they say is a miscarriage of justice after a Yukon judge convicted Seth Boss of manslaughter in the death of Anthony Primozic in March 2022. In an agreed statement of facts, Boss admitted to killing Primozic in an attack that left him with multiple blunt and sharp-force injuries, including more than 100 puncture wounds. Crown prosecutors argued the prolonged and violent nature of the attack showed Boss intended to kill. Boss’ defence lawyers argued that the charge of second-degree murder requires subjective foresight and that Boss was severely intoxicated to comprehend his actions, and that it is not possible to prove he intended to kill Primozic,...
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Amnesty International report warns of deepening Indigenous people’s housing crisis
By Pierre Saint-Arnaud A new report by Amnesty International warns that overcrowded and unsafe housing in an Atikamekw community north of Montreal reflects a broader crisis putting Indigenous people’s health, safety and rights at risk across Canada. In Manawan, about 250 kilometres north of Montreal, community leaders say families are regularly reaching out for emergency housing support as homes become increasingly overcrowded and conditions deteriorate. “Every week, elected officials and community leaders receive calls, messages and urgent requests from families in search of housing who are often motivated by critical situations where the safety of women and children is at stake,” said Sipi Flamand, chief of the Atikamekw Council of Manawan, at the release of the report in Montreal. The report is based on a two-year investigation into housing conditions...
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Teen arrested in Manitoba bar shooting that killed one, injured another
A 16-year-old boy has turned himself in a day after a fatal shooting on a First Nation in northern Manitoba. RCMP had been looking for a suspect after two men were shot on Tuesday at the Playgreen Inn bar on Norway House Cree Nation, about 800 kilometres from Winnipeg. Police say a 25-year-old man from the community died, while a 38-year-old was treated and released from hospital. A lockdown order that was put in place after the shooting lasted into Wednesday. The First Nation says there’s no ongoing threat to the community. It says the shooting appears to have been targeted. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 29, 2026. ...
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Six Nations takes on climate change with Turtle Island News annual tree give-away
Six Nations tree lovers came out in droves to Turtle Island News’ annual Earth Day tree give-away By Alex Murray Writer Photos by Jim C. Powless Even the Sun came out on Earth Day making sure Turtle Island News’ 28th annual Earth Day free tree giveaway was not only filled with sugar maples, paw-paws, and smiles, but with sunny skies and scores of Six Nations community members coming out to the first festival of the year at Six Nations. For nearly 30 years Turtle Island News has been celebrating Earth Day with a free tree giveaway, handing out over 400 trees just this year and over 50,000 trees to the Six Nations community across three decades. This year, Turtle Island News handed out hundreds of budding sugar maples, the rare...
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Six Nations Aerodrome raising neighbourhood questions
By Alex Murray Writer A Six Nations’ businessman’s construction of an aerodrome is raising questions after Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) closed a meeting with the owner to the public. SNEC held the closed meeting Feb., 23 after receiving complaints from neighbours concerned about safety. Mike Isaacs, who also owns Isaacs Automotive in Ohsweken, is building the aerodrome—to be named the L. Stoney Isaacs Aerodrome- on his property on 5th Line. The property is located in a residential area. Isaacs did not return Turtle Island News calls. Canada’s Aviation Regulations (CARs) guidelines require anyone building an aerodrome to consult with a variety of different “interested parties” 75 days before construction begins and to place a sign at the location. Six Nations residents learned of the coming aerodrome when a sign...
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Six Nations Bingo turns 30 setting post-COVID attendance record
By Alex Murray Writer The Six Nations Bingo Hall held its largest event in years to celebrate their 30th anniversary on Sunday (April 18), setting a post-COVID attendance record with 659 guests attending the Double Dazzle game. According to Six Nations Development Corporation (SNDC), which oversees the Bingo Hall, a lineup filled with both new and returning patrons extended out the door an hour before the doors were opened. The main draws for the event were the two massive $30,000 jackpots, one of which was won by a member of Kettle & Stony Point First Nation, which is located on the southern shore of Lake Huron near Sarnia. Katie Montour, public relations officer for the SNDC, told Turtle Island News that the 30th anniversary celebration was one of the biggest...
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Brant County Mayor David Bailey won’t seek third term
By Alex Murray Writer Brant County is going to have a new mayor soon. David Bailey, who served two terms as Brant County mayor, announced “with a full heart and deep gratitude” that he will not be seeking a third term. In a statement issued on April 20, Bailey said that he gave the job “everything” and that he was “proud” of what he was able to accomplish. He also said serving the County of Brant has been an honour “from start to finish.” But after eight years at the helm of the County, Bailey decided it was the right time for a transition. He believes it’s healthy for an organization to welcome new energy and new leadership. A lifelong entrepreneur, Bailey had very little political experience when he was...
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Editorial: We love our trees…and so do you!
Six Nations didn’t let Mother Earth Down! For the past 28 years Turtle Island News has been marking the community’s first festival of the warm weather with its annual Earth Day Tree-Give-Away. And Six Nations didn’t let us down. Instead, they came out in droves to mark the spring, celebrate the earth and plant a tree. For Turtle Island News we could not be happier and more grateful to make our home in a community that cares so much about the earth. And we do have to give credit to where its due. Our now almost three-decade old celebration began because as a newspaper we use paper. And lots of it. And with that comes the downing of trees to provide it. So, 29 years ago we decided we too had...
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Today in History
April 29 In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI expressed “sorrow” to a delegation from Canada’s Assembly of First Nations over the abuse and “deplorable” treatment that aboriginal students suffered at residential schools run by the Roman Catholic Church. May 1 In 2007, the House of Commons unanimously apologized to former students of Canada’s Residential Schools for the trauma they suffered as a result of policies intended to assimilate Indian, Inuit and Metis children into mainstream society. In 2022, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said Canada’s residential school system was a cultural genocide. And after listening to residential school survivors share their stories during his visit to Saskatchewan’s James Smith Cree Nation, the head of the Anglican Church said he could understand why many survivors feel it was an actual genocide. Welby...
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UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY: The Birds Are Calling For Spring
By Xavier Kataquapit I recently took a long walk out into a beautiful spring day. The weather was pleasant, the sun was bright and the air was brisk and cool. I could still feel the sting of winter hanging on and to confirm that feeling, I could hear it from the song of a familiar bird this time of year. The Chickadee was singing its familiar ‘tee-tee’ song. My Kookoom, my grandmother, often pointed out to us children that this little bird was actually calling out the name of the season. The bird changes its tune depending on the weather. When winter is still lingering with cold winds, the Chickadee will continue its plain one-tone ‘tee-tee’ song. As soon as it senses that warmer weather is on the way, it...
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Rebels open season with pair of wins
By Sam Laskaris Writer The Six Nations Rebels managed to kick off their 2026 regular season campaign with a lopsided victory this past Friday. And then the local Junior B lacrosse squad registered its first road W of the season one night later. The Rebels thumped the visiting Welland Raiders 22-3 in their season opener, which was held at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena. The Six Nations squad then hit the road on Saturday and posted an 11-7 triumph versus the Point Edward Pacers. Rebels’ captain Chaz Hill said he was anticipating a huge Rebels’ victory in their season opener. “I was kind of expecting that,” he said. “The boys were coming off a good pre-season environment, fired up, ready to go.” The Six Nation club had won four out of...
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Six Nations and Mississaugas of Credit First Nations involved in FIFA
By Lynda Powless Editor Six Nations may play a role in one of the world’s largest sporting events as discussions continue around participation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 in Toronto. At Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) General Finance committee meeting on April 20 Councillor Greg Frazer provided an update to the community, noting that tournament activities are set to begin June 12, with Canada’s first game to follow and a FIFA Fan Festival planned to start on June 11 lasting 22 days. Frazer said Six Nations is part of an Indigenous advisory body exploring how the community can participate in the international event, particularly in cultural programming tied to the festivities. “We have been in discussion… to see how SNEC can participate and be involved with the festivities...
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