Wildfires raging in northwestern Ontario trigger evacuation alerts
By Jordan Omstead Fast-moving wildfires in northwestern Ontario are triggering evacuation alerts as the region endures another day of sweltering heat. Officials say an out-of-control fire burning near the border with Manitoba has more than doubled in size since Tuesday to around 23,000 hectares. Provincial police say they are assisting with the evacuation of a First Nation located northeast of the fire. Residents and cottagers along several lakes near the border, including Malachi and Mantario, have also been strongly encouraged to evacuate. The fire started Monday near the community of Ingolf, Ont., where people were told to evacuate that same day. Another fire burning near the northern edge of Quetico Provincial Park has prompted officials to alert people in the area to prepare to evacuate on short notice. The first...
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Nicole Robertson’s Journey into Truth Telling
By Laura Mushumanski, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Alberta Native News When Nicole Robertson was an iskwesis, a little girl, she knew what her calling was, “I always wanted to write,” she shared. “I knew at a very young age that writing was my path, my journey into truth telling, justice, and providing a platform all First Nations peoples to tell their stories—in our Indigenous ways and natural laws of knowing.” Robertson, founder of Muskwa Productions has been working in communications, creating space and platforms for Indigenous stories based on kinship values in everything she does, starting with her humility into understanding that, “[everyone’s] voice is just as important as my own.” As Robertson reflects over a 24-year career, she notes that, “I am community made, not self-made” – because without...
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Liberals planning for a fall economic statement but no budget just yet
-CP-Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne says the Liberal government will not table a budget when Parliament returns in the coming weeks but will instead put forward a fall economic statement. Champagne hasn’t offered a clearer timeline for the introduction of the government’s latest fiscal plans and has not explained the delay. The finance minister says the government will present a ways-and-means motion when Parliament returns in the coming weeks to introduce the tax cut the Liberals promised during the recent election. “What we have today is a middle-class tax cut. That’s step one. Step two, you’re going to have a throne speech where we will outline the Canadian government’s priorities, and there will be a fall economic statement to follow,” he told reporters after cabinet met. The Liberals sought to underscore...
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Nicole Robertson’s Journey into Truth Telling
By Laura Mushumanski, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Alberta Native News When Nicole Robertson was an iskwesis, a little girl, she knew what her calling was, “I always wanted to write,” she shared. “I knew at a very young age that writing was my path, my journey into truth telling, justice, and providing a platform all First Nations peoples to tell their stories—in our Indigenous ways and natural laws of knowing.” Robertson, founder of Muskwa Productions has been working in communications, creating space and platforms for Indigenous stories based on kinship values in everything she does, starting with her humility into understanding that, “[everyone’s] voice is just as important as my own.” As Robertson reflects over a 24-year career, she notes that, “I am community made, not self-made” – because without...
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Historic first: Three Indigenous ministers join Canada’s cabinet
By Sonal Gupta, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Canada’s National Observer Canada’s new federal cabinet under Prime Minister Mark Carney is making history with the appointment of three Indigenous ministers, and taking a big step forward for reconciliation and Indigenous governance. Carney’s cabinet includes Rebecca Chartrand, who is new to federal politics as minister of northern and Arctic affairs. Mandy Gull-Masty, former Grand Chief of the Grand Council of the Crees, is now minister of Indigenous services. Buckley Belanger, a Métis politician, is secretary of state for rural development. “This is unprecedented,” said David Newhouse, professor of Indigenous studies at Trent University. “Not just in numbers but in expertise. These are people with deep knowledge of the communities they serve.” The cabinet has 28 ministers and 10 secretaries of state, more...
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Six Nations Police raid illegal tobacco operation
Six Nations Police raid massive tobacco operation operated by “non Indigenous criminal network” By Lynda Powless Editor Six Nations Police are continuing an investigation into a massive tobacco operation they said was being run by a “non-Indigenous criminal network who do not reside at Six Nations”. Six Nations Police Chief Darren Montour said police are going through documents and interviewing foreign workers from the operation with the aid of a Spanish interpreter. “It’s a slow process because they don’t speak English.” He said details are not yet available, but the tobacco being produced was bound for the Toronto area market. No estimate on the value of the tobacco was available. Sixteen workers were found on site during the raid, Police Chief Montour described as an “exploitation of our rights. Of...
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SNGRDC Celebrates 10th Annual Community Barbecue – “People love community awareness events”
By Tara Lindemann Writer Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation (SNGRDC) celebrated its 10th anniversary by hosting a free barbecue to live music on May 8 at Chiefswood Park. About 300 people rolled through, some to take advantage of their lunch hour, others to simply enjoy some family time at the bouncy castle, or stroll through the historic grounds. This year’s raffle proceeds, together with volunteer entry offerings, are being donated to the Youth Lodge. “People love community awareness events,” said Communications and Public Relations Officer, Katie Montour. “Calling it our 10th anniversary is an excuse to make it special, but really, we do this every year.” Montour said the official anniversary was on May 1, where staff enjoyed a catered breakfast, and then cakes were delivered to...
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Children’s Mental Health Week – event full of smiles
By Tara Lindemann Writer Veterans Park in Ohsweken was filled with life as dozens of families visited the Children’s Mental Health “Holistic Connections” event on May 8. Shrieks of delight burst over the din of conversations between dozens of families and community partners. Information booths offered interactive games with children and youth, giving caregivers an opportunity to learn more about options through Six Nations Social Services, Child and Family Services and partners. The event was so popular the hot dogs ran out in the first hour. Snacks, however, were plentiful, and children ran through the park freely, playing hide-and-seek around the cenotaph. “This is what mental health should look like,” said mother Andrea Skye. “How fitting they held an event about holistic healing for children at this particular park. “I...
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MCFN Acting Chief calls Alberta’s Bill 54 “an Indian problem”
By Tara Lindemann Writer Alberta premier Danielle Smith’s recently introduced Bill 54, could lower the voter threshold and allow for more citizen-led referendums opening the door for separatism. The widely criticized bill has been called “destabilizing,” and while Smith has claimed the Bill will not affect existing Treaties, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN) Acting Chief Larry Sault said he stands in solidarity with First Nations in Alberta opposing the bill. He told Turtle Island News the matter “is an Indian problem. “Our treaties are pre-Confederation treaties and post-confederation treaties,” he said. “To understand what’s happening, you need to look at what has already happened. “On a federal level, if you look at the early beginnings of Canada, before Canada was, the first Indian Affairs Minister and the first prime...
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Jordan Principle changes hampering family support
Sweeping changes to Jordan’s Principle funding are severely hampering support for children and families in need. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) discussed recent changes to Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) Jordan’s Principle Funding at the General Finance Committee meeting on May 5 when Councillor Dean Hill said SNEC should hear discussions regarding the funding changes that had occurred at the Committee Committee. Director of Wellbeing Deb Johnson, highlighted the administrative backlog, funding restrictions, and delayed approvals stemming from federal restructuring of Jordan’s Principle – a program originally created to ensure equitable access to health and social services for First Nations children. Johnson warned that since receiving notices last November from IISC, the community has lost the ability to provide immediate emergency assistance. “It’s also a requirement now that any applications going...
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Grisly wildlife dumping discovered on Fifth Line
By Tara Lindemann Writer Many drivers passed by what, upon a distracted glance, would look like just another illegal dump site. One field west of the tracks, however, at the treeline on the south side of Fifth Line, surrounded by faded, partially empty take-away food containers, cloaked beneath thousands upon thousands of plump flies, was a grisly tableau of decomposing wildlife. The soupy mess included carcasses of several coyotes, turkeys; at least one hawk and an eagle; sawed deer hooves and skins, and rotting ducks spilled out from a tipped pail. There was fecal evidence that other animals – raccoons and coyotes – had since visited and feasted on the maggot-filled scene. “It’s abhorrent that anyone would be this cruel, this disrespectful,” said Six Nations of the Grand River Councillor,...
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Haudenosaunee Two-Spirit Artist Wins $20,000 Toronto Arts Foundation Indigenous Artist Award
By Joshua Santos Writer A celebrated Indigenous artist has claimed this year’s Toronto Arts Foundation Indigenous Artist Award and a $20,000 cash prize at a ceremony in Tkaronto sparking intrigue across the cultural landscape. works Wolf Bomberry, known artistically as Wolf⁷a:z from the Gayogohó:nǫʼ (Cayuga) Nation of Six Nations, was honoured at the Mayor’s Arts Lunch for their remarkable 17-year career. Mastering public mural installations, carvings, jewelry fabrication, epoxy resin, and welding, Bomberry has reshaped Tkaronto’s cultural narrative. “I feel very lucky that I am alive to make it this far,” said Bomberry. “I had a rough life. A lot of times it could have been a shortened journey but I keep making it.” Their work, deeply rooted in Cayuga heritage, transforms urban spaces into vibrant expressions of Haudenosaunee stories....
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Yes, we have a right to trade…
Six Nations Police have taken a very visible step towards eradicating the local community of outside criminal groups infiltrating what was a local growing to bacco trade. And at the same time sent out a clear message to those that would take advantage of Six Nations…not here you won’t! Criminal gangs have tried to take over what has been a local legitimate industry that has helped put food on the tables of so many local people, been used to launch other businesses, build a local economy and supported those in need. Tobacco itself has been part of the Haudenosaunee and other Indigenous groups’ culture since time immemorial. It was not only used for cultural and ceremonial purposes but traded with other Indigenous peoples and eventually non-Indigenous traders who came to...
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Chiefs square off versus Excelsiors in season opener
By Sam Laskaris Writer The Six Nations Chiefs will begin their quest for a three-peat this coming Monday. The two-time defending national Mann Cup champions will play their first regular season game of their 2025 campaign against the Brampton Excelsiors. The contest, which will be held at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (ILA), has an opening faceoff scheduled for 8 p.m. The Chiefs, who have captured eight Mann Cup titles in their history, are hoping to fulfil a goal this year that they last accomplished in the mid-1990s. The Six Nations franchise captured back-to-back-to-back national championships in 1994, ’95 and ’96. The Chiefs won their most recent crown last September. They defeated the British Columbia-based Victoria Shamrocks 4-1 in a best-of-seven series. All matches in that series were held at the...
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Ironmen head to Saskatoon looking for success at The Freddy
By Sam Laskaris Writer The Six Nations Ironmen are heading west this week in pursuit of some national bragging rights. For the fifth straight year the local men’s squad will participate in the Fred Sasakamoose Chief Thunderstick National Hockey Championship. The four-day event begins on Thursday and continues until Sunday. A total of 40 teams will compete in the men’s division of the best Indigenous tournament for adults in the country. The event is named after the late Fred Sasakamoose, an Indigenous hockey legend who is believed to be the first First Nations man to play in the National Hockey League. Sasakamoose appeared in 11 games for the Chicago Blackhawks during the 1953-54 season. Family members help organize the tourney named in his honour and which is often simply called...
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Rivermen drop home contest versus visiting Merchants
By Sam Laskaris Writer The Six Nations Rivermen suffered their first loss of the season on Saturday. But Wayne Hill, the head coach of the local Senior B squad, isn’t fretting too much about his squad’s 8-6 setback against the visiting Brooklin Merchants at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (ILA). It was the first meeting for the two Ontario Series Lacrosse rivals since squaring off in the league finals last year. The Rivermen won that best-of-five series in four games. The Rivermen had won their first two contests of their 2025 campaign before Saturday’s loss. “A loss is never a bad thing,” Hill said. “You take the losses as a learning thing really.” The clubs were deadlocked at 6-6 in the third period. The Merchants scored the eventual game-winning goal with...
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Arizona governor signs ‘Emily’s Law’ to alert when Native Americans go missing
By Sejal Govindarao And Susan Montoya Bryan PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona’s governor on Tuesday signed legislation to create an alert system for Native Americans who have gone missing in the state, a measure that won unanimous approval from lawmakers in the wake of the disappearance and death of a San Carlos Apache teen. With Gov. Katie Hobbs’ signature, Arizona becomes the latest state to join a movement that began in 2022 in Washington state to use alert systems to quickly share information about cases involving Native Americans. Colorado, California and other states have adopted their own versions of such systems. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham recently signed what is known as “turquoise alert” legislation, and North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong approved a “feather alert.” The alerts take their names...
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Prime Minister Mark Carney says new cabinet will act with ‘urgency and determination’
By Kyle Duggan Prime Minister Mark Carney shook up his cabinet Tuesday by moving some key players involved in Canada-U.S. relations into new positions and promoting 24 new faces in a move meant to signal change at the top. While some were prominent figures in former prime minister Justin Trudeau’s government — including Dominic LeBlanc, Mélanie Joly, Chrystia Freeland and François-Philippe Champagne — Carney froze out other prominent members of his predecessor’s team. Carney named 28 full ministers to his cabinet, which will meet for the first time on Wednesday. He also appointed a second tier of 10 secretaries of state — essentially junior ministers. On Tuesday, Carney called the two-tier arrangement a “more traditional cabinet.” Carney said he sought to balance new perspectives with experience in picking his team,...
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Connecticut Sun exploring all options, including sale of franchise according to team president
By Doug Feinberg The Connecticut Sun are looking at all options for the franchise’s future, including a potential sale, team president Jen Rizzotti said Tuesday. The team is owned by the Mohegan Tribe, which runs the casino where the team has played since 2003. The Tribe bought the franchise for $10 million and relocated it from Orlando that year. The Connecticut franchise was the first in the league to be run by a non-NBA owner and also became the first to turn a profit. Rizzotti, who took over in her current role four years ago, said that Mohegan’s decision was the move of “responsible business owners” and that “it’s more about being consistent about how they’re evaluating all of their businesses, the Connecticut Sun being one of them.” The news...
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