Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige talks tariffs in Washington
By Jacqueline St. Pierre, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter WASHINGTON, DC—The Great Lakes, vast and ancient, cradle the lives of millions. They are not just bodies of water but living, breathing entities—repositories of history, sustenance and spirit. Now, as new tariffs imposed by President Trump threaten economic stability and environmental protections across this sacred watershed, Indigenous leaders, municipal officials and policymakers are uniting in an urgent stand to defend them. At the heart of this movement is Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige who arrived in Washington, DC as a representative for the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (GLSLCI) with a clear message: “ First Nationshave never surrendered the Great Lakes, and we must be at the table where decisions about them are made.” GLSLCI is a binational...
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Canada spends $1.5 billion to boost Arctic sovereignty and empower Inuit communities
By Sonal Gupta, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Canada is strengthening its Arctic sovereignty and helping to empower Inuit communities with a $1.5-billion contract in the North. The investment covers a wide range of priorities, including skills training, employment, cultural preservation and institutional capacity development. It will roll out over a decade until 2034 and be accompanied by an additional $77.6 million in annual funding to support Nunavut communities. “This is a historic moment,” said Gary Anandasangaree, minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs. “It’s a joint vision for Nunavut – where we work together on issues important to Inuit.” The contract falls under the Nunavut Agreement, a land claims and self-governance agreement signed in 1993 that created the territory of Nunavut in Canada. The new contract was signed on Saturday...
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Next Generation program launches in Mashteuiatsh
By Marc Lalonde, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The very first edition of a new education program aimed at supporting young Indigenous people and helping them learn leadership skills wrapped up last. The first iteration of the Next Generation program, aimed at Indigenous youth aged 18 to 35, who wish to explore their future and develop essential leadership skills was held March 4 to March 6 at the Ilnu Museum in Mashteuiatsh. The initiative was launched by First Nations Executive Education (FNEE), which in turn is powered by Executive Education at Hautes Etudes Commercials (HEC) Montreal. Through a series of workshops, training sessions, and group discussions, participants had the opportunity to enhance their abilities and gain key tools for their professional and personal journeys, the FNEE said. “This initiative is part...
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Kusugak praises Ilitaqsiniq staff after accepting medal from governor general
By Darrell Greer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Ilitaqsiniq executive director Adriana Kusugak, of Rankin Inlet, was awarded with the King Charles III Coronation Medal for Education by Gov. Gen. Mary Simon in Ottawa on Feb. 21. Kusugak was recognized by the governor general for her incredible work in empowering local communities and strengthening Inuit cultural connections. She was informed by the governor general’s staff that she would be receiving the recognition a couple of weeks in advance of the ceremony, but it was to remain confidential. She said it all didn’t seem real to her until she actually went to Rideau Hall in Ottawa and saw the space where the ceremony was going to be held and met some other recipients. “I also didn’t realize how big of a deal...
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Manitoba to no longer have jail as an option for people with communicable diseases
By Steve Lambert The Manitoba government is planning to stop using jails to detain people who have communicable diseases that pose a risk to others. A bill now before the legislature would give the provincial cabinet the power to spell out specific sites for detention such as hospitals and other health-care facilities. Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara says it’s important to treat people as patients and not put them in jail. The Public Health Act currently allows someone to be detained at a wide variety of facilities if they fail to comply with a communicable disease order or if they are exposed to a virulent and highly communicable disease. The proposed change follows a CBC report last year about a woman from God’s Lake First Nation, a remote fly-in community, who...
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Lil’ NHL opens over 200 teams take over arenas from Toronto to Hamilton
The LIl NHL is on with the Six Nations Blackhawks taking the Chippewas of Nawash Warriors 6-0 in their tournament opener, held Sunday afternoon at the Angus Glen Community Centre in Markham. (Photo by Sam Laskaris)....
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Trump’s on and off tariffs hurting Indigenous business
By Lynda Powless Editor First Nation communities are sounding the alarm in wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff hit. Some Indigenous organizations across Canada have begun cutting business trips to the U.S. other Indigenous business owners are sourcing out made in Canada suppliers while the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and two of Ontario’s largest First Nation organizations are defending First Nations Economic Rights in wake of the U.S.tariff hit. U.S. President Trump’s 25 per cent tariff on imports has hit on all imports from Canada and Mexico into the U.S.. Six Nations Elected Chief Sherii-Lyn Hill did not responded to Turtle Island News questions on how the increase would affect Six Nations. But Six Nations councillors have. Councillor Hazel Johnson says the move by the US is “very unsettling” for...
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Mississaugas of Credit First Nation to vote on $183.4 million Toronto area land settlement
MISSISSAUGAS OF THE CREDIT FIRST NATION- The Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN) are about to settle a 230-year-old land rights’ deal worth $183.4 million for lands encompassing the Rouge River Valley tract in the Greater Toronto Area. The $183.4 million proposed settlement, announced Saturday, (March 8) includes $108.4 million from Canada and $75 million from Ontario for past losses. The proposed financial settlement follows almost three years of negotiations that began in 2022 with the federal government. Ontario joined in the fall of 2024. MCFN Ogimaa-Kwe (Chief) Claire Sault called it a “milestone.” “The proposed settlement represents a significant milestone in our collective efforts to renew and repair our Nation-to-Nation relationships with Ontario and Canada.” She said “resolving these claims is both necessary and just. “ Just last...
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SNEC Briefs: Administrative details make up meeting
New Signing Authorities Six Nations will remove former staff as signing authorities from its bank more than four months after a resignation. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) passed a motion to remove the former CEO, Nathan Wright and former director of Policy, Records and Communications, Duane Jacobs at the General Finance meeting on March 3. Wright resigned at the end of October 2024 and Jacobs, a long time SNEC employee, left his position at SNEC last week. Both were signing authorities on the First Nation’s Royal Bank of Canada accounts and will be removed. Councillor Dayle Bomberry asked if anyone else should be added as signing authority to replace the two directors. Acting CEO Jennifer Court said there are three current signing authorities, and she will come back with a...
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Local woman wins $200,000
Six Nations own Sally Henhawk is $200,000 richer after winning a top prize with INSTANT RUBY SOLITAIRE. A retiree, she has been playing the lottery with OLG for decades. She says she plays a variety of INSTANT and jackpot games. The mother and grandmother’s favourite INSTANT game is CROSSWORD, but it was a RUBY SOLITAIRE ticket that led her to her first big win! “On the day I won, I was with my family, celebrating my grandson’s birthday,” she said. She said that night she decided to play her ticket. “I decided to play my ticket and thought I’d won $20,” she said, while visiting the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to claim her windfall. “I showed my ticket to my husband, and he was the one who said, ‘No–you...
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Some Brant County residents will head to the federal polls as part of a new riding
By Celeste Percy-Beauregard, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter New changes to the federal election boundaries will put several Brant County communities in different districts for the upcoming election. Federal parties are anticipating an election call as soon as next week – once the Liberals announce their new leader – and for some voters, that will mean heading to the polls as part of a new riding. The federal electoral boundaries are reviewed after each 10-year census to ensure the population is reflected equally in the House of Commons, according to the Elections Canada website. The most recent redistribution process began in 2022, with the 2023 representation orders coming into effect now. How do the new electoral boundaries affect Brant County residents? Residents of Paris, St. George (formerly Brantford-Brant) and Glen Morris...
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Mississauga man charged with arson
OHSWEKEN, SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND RIVER-A 24-year old Mississauga man is facing charges in connection with an arson investigation at Six Nations of the Grand River. The charges came after Six Nations Police (SNP), Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) West Region Canine Unit and Six Nations Fire and Emergency Services, responded to a Third Line Road structure fire at about 2:20 a.m. on Sunday, March 2, 2025. An investigation determined a fire had been set intentionally to a structure. The fire caused minor exterior damage to the building. No injuries were reported. SNP arrested a man Wednesday, March 5, 2025, without incident at a Fourth Line address in Ohsweken. As a result of the investigation, Daryoush Khosravi, 24 from Mississauga, was charged with the following Criminal Code offences: Arson –...
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It’s LIl NHL time!!!
Now we could take time to remind people there’s a new Prime Minister . ‘ But that’s a topic for another day or days! Today it’s all about Indigenous youth! And you don’t have to put on your skates, but you do have to get ready. It’s Lil NHL time! It’s the biggest year ever with over 250 teams signed up and more than 6000 Indigenous youth family and supporters from across Ontario hitting the arenas. That translates into one heck of an injection into the economy. The 2024 tournament alone pumped some $8 million into the Markham economy in just six days. And this year is even bigger! Millions more will be injected into Southern Ontario this week as Lil NHL players hit the ice and family, and friends...
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Weekly Cartoon
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Xavier Kataquapil: UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY
By Xavier Kataquapil, Writer Winter flu season is causing all kinds of sickness and notably for our senior citizens and those with compromised immune systems. This past couple of weeks have been so hard as two of my favourite Elders have passed. John Mercier of Timmins and Ignace Koostachin from my home community in Attawapiskat. They will always have a place in my heart and memories and they were known and well respected far and wide. John started out with a vibrant French Canadian family and at a young age excelled in hockey. He progressed to the point that he was playing at high levels and although he had his aim on the NHL he got sidetracked when he met his wild Irish Rose Celia Dunn from Iroquois Falls. The...
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Six Nations man killed in double homicide
BUFFALO NY- City Police are investigating a double homicide that saw a Six Nations man and his partner killed in their home Tuesday March 4th. Jordan Celotto, 37, and his partner, Michael (Mickey) Harmon, 40, were both found dead in their residence in the Allentown area at about 4:30 p.m Celotto was known as a artist. Buffalo’s acting mayor, Christopher Scanlon, told media both men were victims of a double homicide and cause of death was blunt force trauma. Police said a friend of the couple went to the home after one of the two men failed to report to work and saw a person with a knife inside the home. He called 911. Police found a man on the scene with a knife. Police said he cut himself before...
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Six Nations Economic Development Trust gives out over $79,000 to local organizations
A number of Six Nations community organizations are sharing $79,842.38 after receiving funding from the Six Nations of the Grand River Economic Development Trust (EDT) The EDT funding will go to seven local volunteer organizations and initiatives during 2025. Receiving 2025 funding were: Two Row on the Grand will receive $15,000 for Two Row on the Grand 2025 canoeing event. J.C. Hill Home & School Association will receive $15,000 for their Grade 8 Year-End Trip to Quebec The Miss Indigenous Canada Committee will receive $7,500 for Miss Indigenous Canada 2025 Emily C. General Home & School Association will receive $15,000 for their Grade 8 Year-End Trip to Quebec The Indian Defense League of America will receive $4,842.38 for their Fight for the Line initiative The Six Nations Skating Club will...
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Six Nations Blackhawks register shutout at Little NHL opener
By Sam Laskaris Writer It’s not a huge surprise that Kayla Miller is hanging around hockey rinks at this time of year. “As far as I could remember, this is what I do on March break,” said the Six Nations member. To be more specific, Miller is participating in this year’s Little Native Hockey League tournament, often simply referred to as the Little NHL. Miller is serving as the head coach of the Six Nations Blackhawks, who are competing in the boys’ Under-13 recreational division. The Blackhawks’ roster includes her son Zayden. Miller’s brother Brody is the club’s trainer while his son Keidrick is also on the squad. The Blackhawks started off the Little NHL on a positive note. They blanked the Chippewas of Nawash Warriors 6-0 in their tournament...
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Six Nations Arrows sign affiliation agreement with Kahnawake Hunters Junior B team
By Sam Laskaris Writer The Six Nations Arrows have a new affiliate. It was announced this past week that the local Junior A lacrosse squad has joined forces with the Quebec-based Kahnawake Hunters, who compete in the Ontario Junior B Lacrosse League. “I think it’s a really good opportunity (for our players) to be able to play at a higher level and for another Haudenosaunee team,” said Hunters’ general manager Greg Horn. The Arrows participate in the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League. Since they are from the same community, the Arrows are automatically affiliated with both the Six Nations Rebels, a Junior B team, and the Six Nations Stealth, a Junior C franchise. “We are allowed one more affiliation with a Junior B squad,” said Delby Powless, a director with the...
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New Report Shows Indigenous Entrepreneurs Are Key to Canada’s Economic Resilience – But the Digital Divide is Holding Them Back
OTTAWA, Ontario, March 12, 2025 — As Canada navigates economic uncertainty and rising trade tensions with the U.S., a groundbreaking new report from the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation (IPF) reveals an overlooked opportunity to strengthen Canada’s economy from within. The report, Bridging the Digital Divide: Enhancing Access for Indigenous Entrepreneurs in Canada, shows that Indigenous businesses are primed for growth, yet digital barriers—high costs, unreliable broadband, and limited access to training—are holding them back from contributing fully to the national economy. “Indigenous entrepreneurs are not just an untapped economic force—we are an essential part of Canada’s future prosperity,” said Michelle Okere, Executive Director of IPF. “In a time of global economic uncertainty, investing in Indigenous businesses is not charity—it is smart economic policy. When we create pathways for Indigenous-led innovation, digital...
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