Six Nations looking to find funds to finish Social Services building expansion
Six Nations Council must find $800,000 to finish the Social Services Building Expansion. Arliss Skye, Director of Social Services, presented a change order request for the ongoing Social Services Building Expansion project during the Six Nations Elected Council’s (SNEC) General Finance meeting on November 18, but SNEC deferred it until December 2 to give finance time to find a funding source, which will delay the project even further. The Social Services building at 15 Sunrise Court expansion is at $15 million, having used $1.3 million of its contingency fund. It was approved for a $10 million expansion in April 2023, but at the time Skye noted it has been in the works since 2014. The building was originally built in 1995. “There was a big cost when we started building...
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Six Nations hears Metis self-governance bill is dead
Legislation to grant Metis self-governance and ancestral land rights is dead. Six Nations Elected Chief Sherri Lyn Hill told the Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) at its Dec., 16th General Council session the Bill C-53 was recently killed. Hill said it happened during a recent meeting of the House of Commons Standing Committee of Indigenous and Northern Affairs,. Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, Gary Anandasangaree, said the bill “would not move forward.” “Six Nations of the Grand River has been strongly opposing Bill C-53 as this bill would have set a dangerous precedent for the recognition of false claims for First Nation identity,” Hill said. She congratulated SNEC on its hard work and wanted the community to know about SNEC’s success. “It’s great news,” she said. “It...
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Brantford launches city’s Truth and Reconciliation Action plan
BRANTFORD-The City of Brantford’s journey to create a Truth and Reconciliation Action Plan continues to creep forward. Brantford’s Committee of the Whole recommended a motion for approval at its meeting on December 10 that included a direction to staff with steps to take to develop the action plan, and endorse truth and reconciliation as a priority in the 2025-2028 Community Safety and Well-being Plan. Staff project the action plan will take two to three years to complete. The proposal includes four steps to take toward completing the first phase of plan creation. Staff will bring recommendations for the action plan to Brantford’s council in June 2026. The first step is to hire a consultant with Indigenous expertise, and previous experience in developing municipal Truth and Reconciliation Action Plans. In November...
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Brantford woman facing charges after attempt to evade police
(OHSWEKEN, ON) A Brantford woman is facing a series of charges after a Six Nations Police traffic stop of a vehicle driving erratically saw the driver flee from police., Six Nations Police were on general patrol Sunday, November 17, 2024, at about 2:25 a.m. When they saw a vehicle travelling at a high rate of speed on Fifth Line. Police said the vehicle continued to drive erratically and a traffic stop was conducted of the vehicle. Police approached the vehicle and found a female driver and multiple passengers inside the vehicle, including a toddler in a car seat. While police confirmed the identity of the female driver signs of impairment were observed, and the driver was read an Approved Screening Device demand to check the sobriety of the driver. As...
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2024 – Year in Review
January 3 Six Nations Elected Council ordered a review of Iroquois Lodge policies and process after Turtle Island News revealed allegations of sexual abuse and questionable care. Six Nations Elected Band Council said it would be conducting a “thorough review” of all existing policies, clinical processes and procedures at the Iroquois Lodge after a Turtle Island News article detailed issues found by a Ministry of Long-Term Care inspection including allegations a patient had been sexually assaulted. January 10 Sexual assault at Iroquois Lodge never reported to police. While Six Nations of the Grand River says it will “review” policies and process at the Iroquois Lodge and Nursing Home, it has yet to contact Six Nations Police over an alleged sexual assault that occurred at the lodge last fall. January 17...
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Six Nations Elected Council holds turkey give away for holidays
Photos by Jim C. Powless The SNEC give away was just one of three turkey giveaways taking place in the community over the holidays....
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Really Trudeau! What’s next!
It’s 2025! And it couldn’t have come any sooner. No question 2024 was an interesting year. With the third woman elected to head the Six Nations Elected Council still getting her feet despite her more than a decade on band council to the enlargement of the band council from eight to 12 and a learning curve still in place at the end of the year. And a female finance minister and deputy prime minister getting dumped. While Ottawa may have thought the smoke was clearing First Nation leaders began taking aim when the federal government tried to blame First Nation land settlements for the deficit that ballooned past the $40 billion and is expected to hit $61 billion. The Finance Department charged the huge increase was due to a “significant...
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Weekly Cartoon
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UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY Live To Drive Another Day
by Xavier Kataquapit www.underthenorthernsky.com When I was a teenager attending high school in Timmins in the early 1990s people from the James Bay coast were just starting to get accustomed to the modern way of life in the south. There were not a lot of people who had drivers licenses and there were even less people who owned their own vehicles. It was a very special thing to see someone from the James Bay coast driving a vehicle and even more so if they owned the car or truck they were in. My dad Marius was an entrepreneur who was constantly searching for ways to build a business or gain a foothold in industry where ever he could. Although English was his second language and all his skills mostly had...
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Woman facing charges after collision
OHSWEKEN-A Hagersville woman is facing multiple charges after a car crash on Chiefswood Road. Six Nations Police were called to the scene of a single vehicle collision Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024 at about 6:55 p.m.. Six Nations Police said when they arrived to scene of the vehicle collision on Chiefswood Road they found a woman who identified as the driver of the vehicle. Police said signs of impairment were observed on the female. Police said they attempted to conduct an Approved Screening Device to check for sobriety, but the female failed to provide a suitable sample. As a result of the investigation, police have arrested and charged Sarah Bianchi from Hagersville, Ontario with the following offences: Impaired Operation Alcohol per se Offence “80 plus” Failure or Refusal to Comply with...
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Snipers down visiting Peterborough squad in Arena Lacrosse League match
By Sam Laskaris Writer Thanks to some stellar netminding the Six Nations Snipers were able to conclude the 2024 portion of their current campaign on a winning note. Dusty Hill made numerous key saves and backstopped the Snipers to a 16-13 triumph over the visiting Peterborough Timbermen in an Arena Lacrosse League (ALL) contest staged at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (ILA) on Sunday. With the victory the Snipers boosted their record to 2-1. The Six Nations club is now on a two-game winning streak following its season-opening loss. Meanwhile, the two other ALL teams that play their home matches out of the ILA are both still seeking their first victories of the season. The Ohsweken Bears saw their mark fall to 0-3 on Sunday when they were downed 15-11 by...
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2024 Review of Sports Headline Makers
By Sam Laskaris Writer Calendars have now been switched over to December. And that means we are in the home stretch and soon we’ll be saying farewell to yet another year. But before we ring in 2025 and the vast majority of people continue writing 2024 on their cheques (never mind, I’m dating myself with that attempt at humour), it’s time to look back on some local sporting accomplishments. During the past 12 months there have been plenty of Six Nations athletes and teams, as well as a local golf club, that have generated local, provincial, national and even international headlines. A closer look at some of these headline makers follows. DOUG POWLESS It certainly didn’t take Powless long to adjust to a new school. Or playing a new position...
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New KFN Chief Elaine Auger officially sworn in
By Claire McFarlane, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Elaine Auger has big goals for her first term as K’atlo’deeche First Nation (KFN) chief. Auger was elected on Dec. 13, replacing outgoing chief April Martel, who had held the job for six years. “I’m still going through the transition,” Auger said on Dec. 19, the day before she was official sworn in as leader. “Once [the swearing in] is done, then I think it will hit me. “Once I get working, then it’ll really hit me.” Auger defeated opponent Ken Norn 129 votes to 80 to win the election, which means she received more than 60 per cent of the 211 votes cast. Two ballots were spoiled. The new chief previously worked as KFN’s negotiations administrator, assistant executive director and acting director...
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ROPE seeking public’s help in localing federal offender
HAMILTON, ON – The Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement (R.O.P.E.) Squad is requesting the public’s assistance in locating a federal offender wanted on a Canada Wide Warrant as a result of a breach of his Statutory Release. Sheldon Eriya is described as male black, 28 years of age, 6’2” (188cm), 190 lbs (86 kgs) with black hair and dark eyes. He often has facial hair in the form of a goatee or beard. Tattoos; Above Left eyebrow: ‘Jose’ Left Upper arm: kids’ faces and flowers Sheldon ERIYA is serving a Five (5) year sentence for; Discharge Firearm with Intent Aggravated Assault Possession of Drugs for the Purpose to Trafficking The offender is known to frequent the Greater Toronto Area, specifically Markham and Toronto area. Anyone having contact with this offender or...
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Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president, has died at 100
ATLANTA (AP) — Jimmy Carter,the peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. He was 100 years old. The longest-lived American president died on Sunday, roughly 22 months after entering hospice care, at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023, spent most of their lives, The Carter Center said. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” the center said on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. As...
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Winnipeg homicide victim was from northern Indigenous community: police
(Canadian Press)WINNIPEG-Police in Winnipeg have identified the city’s most recent homicide victim. Byron Frederick Moose, a member of South Indian Lake in northern Manitoba, was found early Friday. Police say he had wounds consistent with an assault. The 50-year-old was transported to hospital in critical condition and later died of his injuries. Police say the man’s family has been notified, and the homicide unit is investigating. Police have not identified a suspect. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 30, 2024. ...
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Michipicoten First Nation members voice concerns surrounding chief amid treaty settlement discussions
By M Kirk Local Journalism Initiative Reporter As Michipicoten First Nation awaits the Robinson-Superior Treaty (RST) settlement payments, some members have raised concerns about the band’s leadership allegedly overriding their treaty rights. Several Michipicoten First Nation members have told The Sault Star they feel unheard by the current chief and council. A key point of contention is a financial administration bylaw passed January 2023, which requires the band to freeze 60 per cent of the treaty settlement for 15 years. After five years, the interest can be used. A Band Council Resolution (BCR) was passed about two months ago to rescind the bylaw, mandating community consultation and a referendum to determine the allocation of RST funds. Chief Patricia Tangie said she does not personally believe that the BCR is valid,...
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Grants, bursaries to help carve talent for air ambulance system
By Sandi Krasowski Local Journalism Initiative A partnership between Ornge and Confederation College has resulted in the expansion of eligibility criteria for acquiring bursaries for students considering studying and working in Northern Ontario. Up to 15 entrance grants each valued at $1,000 or more and up to 15 in-program bursaries of $1,500 each are now available for Northern Ontario residents and/or those identifying as First Nation, Métis or Inuit. The college’s supported programs for the awards include primary care paramedic, advanced care paramedic, aviation flight management, aviation technician – aircraft maintenance, and nursing programs. Wade Durham, chief operating officer at Ornge, said the air ambulance service recognizes the importance of supporting northern students in their careers, especially as Ornge expands its services to better support Northern Ontario. “Ornge wants to...
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Peyote sacred to Native Americans threatened by psychedelic renaissance and development
HEBBRONVILLE, Texas (AP) — In this corner of southern Texas, the plump cacti seem to pop out of arid dust and cracked earth, like magic dumplings. It’s only here and in northern Mexico that the bluish-green peyote plant can be found growing naturally, nestled under thorny mesquite, acacia and blackbrush. For many Native American Church members who call this region the “peyote gardens,” the plant is sacrosanct and an inextricable part of their prayer and ceremony. It’s believed to be a natural healer that Indigenous communities have counted on for their physical and mental health as they’ve dealt with the trauma of colonization, displacement, and erosion of culture, religion and language. Lack of access for religious use The cactus contains a spectrum of psychoactive alkaloids, the primary one being the...
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Investigating the Bigfoot phenomenon by marrying traditional knowledge with science
By Nora O’Malley Local Journalism Initiative Reporter This story starts down an abandoned forest service road deep in central Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations territory on Vancouver Island. It was fall, two or three years ago. Tyee Wilson Jack was bucking up a log for firewood when he saw something move on the right side of his periphery. “Did something just stand up?” thought the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ (Ucluelet First Nation) Hereditary Chief. “I didn’t want to turn my head, but I moved my eyes. I swore. It’s a frickin’ Pookemis.” “He’s just watching me,” Jack thought as he continued chopping, as he said to himself, “I’m not gonna panic. One more swing and I’m gonna look.” “THWACK!” Jack swung his axe then turned his head to look. The creature jumped off the stump...
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