Today in History
Nov 24 In 1807, Joseph Brant (1742-1807), Chief of the Six Nations Indians, died at Burlington, Ont. He fought on the British side in the War of American independence and later led his tribe to Ontario’s Grand River Valley. He was a Christian and translated Anglican services and scripture into Mohawk. In 1999, Reform MP Jack Ramsay was found guilty of attempting to rape a native 14-year-old girl at the Pelican Narrows police station where he was an RCMP corporal in command 30 years earlier. In 2005, a $5 billion deal for First Nations was announced at a meeting of first ministers and aboriginal leaders in Kelowna, B.C. In 2017, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologized on behalf of the government of Canada for abuse and cultural losses to former students...
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UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY: Mushkegowuk Council Declares Emergency To Deal With Addictions
By Xavier Kataquapit www.underthenorthernsky.com An epidemic of addictions has led Mushkegowuk Council in north eastern Ontario to declare a state of emergency. A crisis has occurred including issues of homelessness, limited access to shelters, the lack of mental wellness and too few addictions supports in the council’s territory. Myself and our First Nations leaders have been watching as this crisis has been developing over the years to the point where it is killing and severely impacting people in our communities as well as our members living off reserve. Things have gotten to the point where it is making our communities unsafe and resulting in so many tragic endings for my people. I am hopeful these days as I see more of our people with addictions education and experience being involved...
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Ironmen defeated by host Stratford Irish
By Sam Laskaris Writer The Six Nations Ironmen hit the road this past Saturday and managed to outshoot their hosts, the Stratford Irish. But the Ironmen, who held a 29-28 advantage on the shot clock, were downed 5-2 by the Irish in the Northern Premier Hockey League (NPHL) match held at Stratford’s William Allman Memorial Arena. “You can outplay somebody and then dominate the game but that doesn’t necessarily translate to wins,” said Six Nations head coach Ryan Davis. The Ironmen played some of their best hockey on Saturday in the middle frame, outshooting Stratford 15-8. But the Irish scored twice in the middle frame while the Ironmen only managed one goal. “We had some good (offensive zone) time and some good possession,” Davis said. “And we outplayed them in...
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Snipers among those duped by false registrations for Arena Lacrosse League draft
By Sam Laskaris Writer President Paul St. John is considering some changes to the Arena Lacrosse League (ALL) draft process. This comes on the heels of the fact at least two teams, including the Six Nations Snipers, selected players that were falsely registered for this year’s draft held Nov. 15. The Snipers utilized their first-round pick, sixth over-all, on Justin Tavares, the son of John Tavares, the head coach of the three-time defending Mann Cup champion Six Nation Chiefs. As it turned out the younger Tavares never actually registered for the draft. That’s because he’s in Colorado and is a freshman with the University of Denver men’s field lacrosse squad. Thus, some other individual, for whatever reason, decided to pretend that Tavares himself was signing up for the draft. St....
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SPORTS BRIEFS: Styres matches rookie point production
By Sam Laskaris Writer Six Nations teenager Kane Styres has already tied the number of points he earned during his rookie junior season. Styres, who will turn 17 on Dec. 11, is in his second season with the Caledonia Corvairs, a Junior B squad that competes in the Greater Ontario Hockey League. Styres, a defenceman, collected a half dozen points, including one goal, in 42 games during his rookie season with the Corvairs. As for this season, Styres has picked up six points, all assists, in his first 12 regular season matches. Styres had been selected by the Barrie Colts in the 2024 Ontario Hockey League’s Priority Selections draft. He has yet to crack the Colts’ roster and has been honing his skills with the Corvairs. Styres’ next opportunity to...
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Thomas King’s revelation he is not Indigenous sends ripples through culture sector
By Nicole Thompson Thomas King’s revelation that he has no Indigenous ancestry sent ripples through Canada’s cultural sector, while raising questions about what responsibility a person has when they claim a heritage they say they cannot prove. The 82-year-old author of “The Inconvenient Indian” revealed on Monday that he is not part Cherokee on his father’s side, as he said his mother told him as a child. The same day, the Edmonton Opera announced it would no longer stage an adaptation of his 2020 novel “Indians on Vacation,” following conversations with Indigenous community members from Treaty 6 territory. Communications director Jelena Bojić said those conversations were not in response to any single article or revelation, but began several weeks ago when community members raised concerns about the production. She didn’t...
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Manitoba’s plan to tackle meth to include co-ordination, new resources: Kinew
By Steve Lambert Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew was applauded by municipal leaders Tuesday as he promised a crackdown on the distribution of methamphetamines, although details of the plan have yet to be revealed. Kinew told the Association of Manitoba Municipalities that his idea, alluded to in last week’s throne speech, will see a body set up to help co-ordinate drug enforcement among all police agencies in the province. “When we have other parts of the world sending new, higher-octane meth that is taking advantage of our vulnerable people here in Manitoba, we’ve got to push back,” Kinew told the convention. “And so we’re taking action. A meth task force — Winnipeg Police Service, RCMP, all the law enforcement agencies including First Nations, working together to bring the hammer down on...
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Cold November rain in the B.C. legislature puts First Nations’ rights into question
By Nora O’Malley Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Victoria, B.C. – This November B.C. MLAs punted into oblivion a pair of private members’ bills concerning First Nations. On Nov. 19, Independent MLA for Peace River North Jordan Kealy put forward the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Statute Repeal Act. His bill was blocked from advancing by a vote of 48-43. On Nov. 20, OneBC MLA for Vancouver-Quilchena Dallas Brodie pitched the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Statute Repeal Act, which introduced a motion to repeal the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a provincial holiday in B.C. Brodie’s bill was quashed with 86 ‘nays’ and three ‘yeas’. Spencer Chandra Herbert, minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation and NDP MLA for Vancouver-West End, called the two pieces...
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Lawsuit seeks damages against B.C., federal government over Cowichan title ruling
A proposed class-action lawsuit filed in B.C. Supreme Court says the provincial and federal governments had “long-standing” knowledge that unresolved Indigenous land claims threatened the security of property ownership in Canada. The lawsuit filed this week in New Westminster, B.C., alleges the recent decision by the court recognizing the Cowichan Tribes’ title over a swath of property in Richmond, B.C., has caused economic and ‘psychological harm” to members of the proposed class. One of the plaintiffs, Jasjeet Grewal, says in the lawsuit that he owns property in B.C. and claims title to the land is now uncertain because “all properties in British Columbia are now subject to claims of pre-existing Aboriginal title.” The other proposed representative plaintiff is John Doe, an unnamed Richmond property owner whose property is “directly located...
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Alert system for missing Indigenous women in Manitoba appears to be one step closer
By Steve Lambert The Manitoba government is welcoming a report on a potential Red Dress Alert system that could protect missing Indigenous women and girls. The federal and Manitoba governments have been looking at the idea, which would be similar to Amber Alerts for abducted children, under a pilot project run by a grassroots organization. A final report from the group says the proposed system could be in place next year and should be accompanied by a 24-hour call centre, professional help in communicating with police, and support for searches by ground, water and air. Manitoba Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine says the report is not asking anything of the province right now but the government is supportive of the idea. She says people have been asking for a Red Dress...
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Explainer on Alberta UCP legislature members facing recall petitions
Fourteen Alberta legislature members with Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative Party caucus are facing recall petitions from constituents. It’s the first time the province’s Recall Act has been used on provincial politicians. It was brought in under former UCP premier Jason Kenney as a way to empower citizens and hold politicians accountable between general elections. Under the legislation, a petitioner must submit a reason in 100 words or fewer about why they feel an MLA should be recalled. The person must live in the constituency and pay a $500 processing fee. There are no set criteria on what the reasons can be. If the petition is approved by Elections Alberta, the applicant has 90 days to collect enough names from people in the constituency to trigger a vote. The number...
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Carney says B.C. ‘has to agree’ on pipeline plan from Alberta
By Nick Murray British Columbia “has to agree” on any pipeline from Alberta to the Pacific coast, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Tuesday, as his government edges closer to unveiling the details of a new energy pact it has been negotiating with Alberta. In question period Tuesday, Carney was pressed by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to state when a pipeline would be built. Carney said a memorandum of understanding with Alberta — expected to be announced Thursday while the prime minister is in Calgary — would lay out “necessary conditions but not sufficient conditions” for a new pipeline. “We believe in cooperative federalism,” Carney said. “We believe the Government of British Columbia has to agree. We believe that First Nations rights holders in this country has to agree and support.”...
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Manitoba Premier Kinew asks PM Carney for sentencing, parole overhaul
By Steve Lambert Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has asked the prime minister for stiffer sentences for repeat or serial killers, citing the recent release of one killer that Kinew says “disgusts” him. In a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney, Kinew said he also wants changes to the parole system in the wake of the release of Shawn Lamb, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 2012 deaths of two Indigenous women — Carolyn Sinclair and Lorna Blacksmith — and was sentenced to 20 years the following year. Lamb was released earlier this month under statutory release — a provision under federal law that sees most inmates automatically let out after serving two-thirds of their sentence. Kinew said the release “is not justice.” “The release of Mr. Lamb disgusts many...
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Police clear protesters from Vancouver Island logging blockade
Police say they have arrested four people during enforcement of a court injunction prohibiting anyone from blocking or interfering with forestry activities in the Carmanah Valley of southwestern Vancouver Island. A statement from the RCMP on Tuesday says a blockade of people, vehicles and wooden items had been established along the Walbran Forest Service Road for several months. The unnamed protesters had issued a statement on Aug. 25, saying they had put up large wooden sculpture of a cougar as part of their effort to block logging trucks, and calling for the permanent protection of ancient forests across British Columbia. The clearing of the protest camp by police follows a B.C. Supreme Court ruling in September that granted the injunction to Tsawak-qin Forestry Limited Partnership, which is co-owned by Western...
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Trouble in ‘Team Canada’ as B.C.’s deputy premier raises spectre of pipeline lawsuit
By Wolfgang Depner Rifts in “Team Canada” appear to be widening on the brink of a federal announcement on a potential pipeline from Alberta to the West Coast, with B.C.’s deputy premier even raising the prospect of legal action against the project. Asked if she expects B.C. to file a court challenge against the pipeline that Premier David Eby has derided as a “fictional” project, Attorney General Niki Sharma said Tuesday she was “staying tuned to see.” It’s the latest example of interprovincial sniping over the pipeline, with Eby dismissing it as a “communications exercise” from Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Smith, meanwhile, has suggested that B.C. should get little say in the matter. She said Friday of B.C.’s opposition that “there was also a lot of sabre rattling in previous...
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Search continues for bear that attacked B.C. pupils, two other grizzlies to be freed
By Nono Shen The B.C. Conservation Officer Service says two grizzlies captured in Bella Coola will be fitted with tracking collars and relocated far from the community, while the search goes on for the bear that attacked and badly injured three schoolchildren and a teacher last week. The bears were captured as officers search for the mother bear thought to have attacked the group of 20 people on a trail in the central coast community about 700 kilometres northwest of Vancouver. The service says in an update on Tuesday that the second bear, a male, is still being assessed, but there isn’t conclusive evidence either of the grizzlies that were caught on Monday was involved in the attack. It says an intense search continues for the grizzly sow and her...
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Federal Offender unlawfully at large arrested in Hamilton
Hamilton, ON – The Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement (R.O.P.E.) Squad has arrested Federal Offender Heather Bell who went unlawfully at large on October 1st, 2025 . Bell was located and arrested by the ROPE Squad in Hamilton, Ont. She is serving a 4 year, 11 month and 8 day sentence for; Possession of Schedule I/II Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking x 3 counts Fail To Comply with Order – At Large Possession of Weapon knowing unauthorized Possession of Weapon contrary to Prohibition Order The Provincial R.O.P.E. Squad would like to thank the public and the media for their assistance in this investigation....
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FBI surge leads to charges in 2020 killing in Native American community
By Susan Montoya Bryan BERNALILLO, N.M. (AP) — Unconditional love. That’s what Vangie Randall-Shorty felt the moment she first held her son. She still feels it — even though Zachariah Shorty is now gone. “I carry him in my heart every day,” she said, while trying to find the words to describe the wave of emotions that washed over her Monday when she learned that federal authorities had charged three people in connection with her son’s killing on the Navajo Nation in 2020. She had waited so long for answers, telling herself with each new year that she would finally see justice for her 23-year-old son. Her wait ended as the U.S. Department of Justice announced the results of the latest deployment under Operation Not Forgotten. Under the operation this...
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Alberta minister reportedly putting together first AI-generated legislation in Canada
By Fakiha Baig The Alberta government is about to take the next logical step in artificial intelligence — using it to draft a proposed law. Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally says the plan is to use AI to develop and introduce the Alberta Whisky Act when the house sits next spring. “AI is a tool that is being leveraged across many sectors in Canada,” Nally said in a statement Tuesday. “In sectors such as health care, it can be a useful tool to assist health professionals in diagnostics, helping them find abnormalities during screening procedures for patients.” Nally said the AI-generated legislation will then be vetted to ensure all checks and balances are met. “This would make Alberta the first jurisdiction in Canada to utilize AI for this purpose.” Alberta’s...
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Energy minister to brief B.C. Liberal MPs on expected Alberta pipeline deal
By Nick Murray Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson is set to brief B.C. Liberal MPs today on the government’s expected energy deal with the province of Alberta. The move comes after B.C. Liberal MPs last week said any deal involving a pipeline to the West Coast would need consent from First Nations and the B.C. government, repeating talking points from the government in recent weeks. Prime Minister Mark Carney said Tuesday in the House of Commons that B.C. “has to agree” to any pipeline being built to the Pacific coast. Concerns have been raised from B.C. this week about how the deal is shaping up, with Premier David Eby saying it was “unacceptable” that Ottawa and Alberta were negotiating a potential pipeline through his province without involving his...
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