First Nations’ voices lead healing through dance, prayer and storytelling in Midland
By Derek Howard, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, MidlandToday.ca A 2025 commemoration for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was held at the Georgian Bay Native Friendship Centre in Midland Tuesday with roughly 100 attendees listening to Sixties Scoop survivors’ stories. Ernie Sandy of Beausoleil First Nation spoke at length on what the elements of truth and reconciliation were in the context of the day. “I have enjoyed teaching for the past 40 years,” said Sandy, “but it gives me great strength that I had the words, the knowledge, I’ve lived with racism, with bigotry – and through that, that’s how I rose to walk tall. ‘If it is to be, it’s up to me.’ This is what truth and reconciliation is all about. “The truth is what happened; the...
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Hegseth’s decision on Wounded Knee medals sparks outrage in Native American communities
By Graham Lee Brewer Native American communities that had long wanted the removal of military honors for the soldiers involved in the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre had their hopes dashed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in his effort to root out what he calls a “woke culture” in the armed forces. “The era of politically correct, overly sensitive, ‘don’t-hurt-anyone’s-feelings’ leadership ends right now at every level,” Hegseth said Tuesday to hundreds of military officials at a ceremony. The defense secretary announced new directives for troops that include “gender-neutral” or “male-level” standards for physical fitness and painted a picture of a military that has been hamstrung by “woke” policies. Hegseth had announced last week in a video on social media that Wounded Knee soldiers will keep their Medals of Honor, part...
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Mural project launches as part of Truth and Reconciliation Day event
By Andrew Bates, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Telegraph-Journal Attendees at Sussex’s Truth and Reconciliation Day event heard stories about the past treatment of Indigenous people in the region and contributed to a community mural project. More than 100 people attended the event at Leonard’s Gate, according to Mary Ann Coleman, who was one of the organizers. The event featured speeches including from Sixties Scoop survivors Joanne Munroe and Minda Burley, who along with local artist Bonny Hill are working on a mural as part of the Town of Sussex’s 2025 public art program. “It’s a really important part of the truth and reconciliation process, for people to understand what really happened and what happened in our community,” she said. “I think it’s really important to recognize the children who went...
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B.C. Residential school survivor says he heals from sharing his stories
By Nono Shen Squamish Nation elder Sam George says he gets his healing from the violence and abuse he suffered during nine years of residential school by sharing his stories. The crowd dressed in orange who gathered Tuesday at the University of British Columbia for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation fell silent when George came to the podium. The abuse, physical, sexual and mental, sent him into darkness, made him fall in love with alcohol and drugs, and even hurt his wives when he drank, he said. “I don’t brag about it. I’ve been married five times. I beat my wives, and when I got drunk, they left for their own protection. You know, I had two children. I abandoned them. They’re just starting to come back to...
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Kyra Northwest discusses the importance of knowing our relations with the earth
By Laura Mushumanski, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Alberta Native News (ANNews) – Growing up in Montana First Nation (Akamihk), one of the four First Nations that make up Maskwacis Cree Nations, Kyra Northwest, current Consultation Manager for Montana First Nation, had the opportunity to learn about nehiyawe, Cree values. One that has resonated over time was “always uplift each other in community,” said Northwest. The values she learned were from spending time with her grandparents, who taught about care and respect for all living beings, especially the plants. These teachings taught Northwest about the importance of reciprocity that led to unpacking what learning about community really means – who is involved, how to go about things in a good way, how to listen, learn and engage. These are all things...
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Orange Shirt Day came early at Six Nations
By Carly McHugh Writer The Orange Shirt Day giveaway brought families together with food and fun. Cars full of community members lined up outside Oneida Business Park on Sept. 26, to participate in Six Nations Elected Council’s (SNEC’s) third-annual Orange Shirt Day giveaway. Earlier that afternoon, volunteers painstakingly prepared 1,000 care packages filled with non-perishable food items and other treats for the community to enjoy over the weekend. The Traditional Family Game Night bundles were designed to bring families and friends together to share a meal and bring back some of the old knowledge, culture and traditions to the younger generation in a fun way. Seniors could also receive their own separate packages, which included other enjoyable items such as colouring books. Volunteers and department representatives, as well as Elected...
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Six Nations councillors not showing up for SNEC committees
By Lynda Powless Editor Six Nations Elected Council’s (SNEC) own committees are having trouble getting quorums with councillors not showing up. The band committees are made up entirely by band councillors with a councillor as chair. At SNEC’s September 23rd council meeting, councillors were reporting on ongoing projects like the Highway 54 and Chiefswood Road roundabout and community engagement opportunities when challenges about just getting a quorum to hold their committee meetings arose. Councillor Dean Hill, chair of the Data Governance Committee, said his committee has been facing quorum challenges at recent meetings with councillors not showing up. He called on SNEC to revisit the committee’s terms of reference to allow more effective decision-making. “This is probably the second time for our committee that we haven’t been able to move some...
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All nations walk to protect and restore Grand River’s water
By Carly McHugh Writer With about 170 km already behind them, a small group of walkers moved through Six Nations, a copper water pail in hand. Part of the All Nations Grand River Water Walk, the 270-km trek is now in its third of four years, not just spreading awareness about the need to protect the river, but connecting with its spirit. Mary Anne Caibaiosai is the lead walker and founder of the initiative, aiming to bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous people together to honour Nibi (water) and raise awareness of local water issues. This year’s walk was part of the cycle dedicated to waters held behind dams, which interrupt its natural flow and compromise the health of the river. Standing along the bank in York Park, one of the daily...
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Brantford raises a flag for Truth and Reconciliation
By Carly McHugh Writer BRANTFORD-Despite a rainy morning, the skies cleared just in time for the Every Child Matters recognition and flag raising at Harmony Square on Sept. 23, where Six Nations and Brantford united to spread awareness and honour victims and survivors of residential schools. Representatives from First Nations organizations throughout the area, as well as members of the public, stood by to witness the momentous event. Hosted by the Indigenous-led EarlyON centre and introduced by Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis, it was intended as a crucial step toward remembrance, healing and reconciliation. “Raising the flag for Truth and Reconciliation Day is much more than a symbolic act,” said Mayor Davis. “It’s a public commitment to remembering the painful truths of our shared history and to building a better path...
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Six Nations health exploring transfer of programs to local control
Six Nations is going to keep looking into and asking community members what they think of transferring the responsibility for health services from Indigenous Services Canada to the nation. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) passed a motion, at its General Council meeting on September 9. to support a community engagement plan to see what the community wants to do regarding community health services. The Well-Being Committee is exploring a potential health transfer from Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) to the community, with the decision resting on what community members want for the future of local health services. Director of the Well-Being Department, Debra Jonathan, explained that the Health Services Integrated Fund, provided by ISC since 2016, has supported the work of considering a possible transfer. “It depends on what the community...
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Six Nations elected council accused of disrespect and undermining Haudenosaunee Confederacy Council
By Lynda Powless Editor SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND RIVER- It’s an invitation that came back to bite them. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) invited the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Council (HCCC) to a joint meeting to discuss community issues but may be surprised at getting back both a political and historical lesson. The March 2025 SNEC invitation called for the two to meet because, “There is a history with HCCC and SNGREC (Six Nations Grand River Elected Council) working together for the benefit of our community.” The letter from Elected Chief Sherri-Lyn Hill went on to cite a “partnership” she claimed existed between the two bodies during the controversial 2006 Douglas Creek Estates negotiations. In 2006, Six Nations community members re-took un-surrendered Six Nations lands on the outskirts of the town...
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Six Nations Polytechnic gets $2.46 million 20 year commitment from community’s development corporation
The Six Nations community is helping to keep post-secondary education in the community with a $2.46 million donation over 20 years from its economic development venture. The donation was announced by the Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation (SNGRDC) and Six Nations Polytechnic (SNP) last week. The first donation came in the form of a $950,000 commitment to Six Nations Polytechnic to cover tuition costs for students attending the post-secondary facility. The donation was announced Friday, September 26, 2025. The funds will come through the community’s investment in the Oneida Energy Storage facility. The SNGRDC said $50,000 will be distributed annually over the next 19 years to cover tuition costs for Six Nations members attending SNP. “This funding commitment reflects the importance of SNGRDC’s work in creating projects...
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Gov. Gen. Mary Simon says major projects push can coexist with reconciliation
By Alessia Passafiume Gov. Gen. Mary Simon says reconciliation hasn’t returned to the back burner as the country pushes forward to develop major projects. In an interview just ahead of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Simon tells The Canadian Press she sees a firm commitment to ensure Indigenous Peoples are involved as the major projects process evolves. The major projects legislation that passed in June received widespread condemnation from Indigenous leaders who feared it wouldn’t respect their rights to free, prior and informed consent. The bill allows the federal government to sidestep existing laws and select projects to fast track for development with cabinet approval. Simon says there has been much discussion in recent months about increasing development in the country and removing interprovincial trade barriers, which she...
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Orange Shirt Day…remember!
Six Nations, and the country, has once again marked the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, or as most of us refer to it, colloquially, Orange Shirt Day. For Indigenous peoples Orange Shirt Day is a day we take a step back to the history of our parents and grandparents. We remember what happened to all of the Six Nations children now our parents and grandparents who were sent to the schools. And we understand now today how it affected their children. We confront the horrors of the schools and what happened in them and we mark it as part of Canada’s history, its legacy and a national shame. A shame brought to the mainstream when Canada officially recognized its first national Truth and Reconciliation Day as a statutory holiday...
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Today in History
Sept 29 In 2021, Indigenous rights campaigner Freda Huson of B.C.’s Wet’suwet’en First Nation won Sweden’s Right Livelihood Award. The foundation that awards what are known as the “Alternative Nobel’’ recognized her “fearless dedication to reclaiming her people’s culture and defending their land against disastrous pipeline projects.’’ The foundation also recognized a gender and peace activist who has worked to prevent sexual violence against girls in Cameroon, a Russian environmental campaigner and India’s Legal Initiative for Forest and Environment. In 2021, Ottawa lost its bid to appeal a decision that called for First Nations children to be compensated after it was ruled the government didn’t properly fund child and family services on reserves. The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruled in 2019 that Ottawa didn’t properly fund the services, which amounted...
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UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY: Mother Earth Needs You Now
By Xavier Kataquapit I am the product, evolution of many thousands of years as are you. I grew up on the land in the remote far north of Ontario following in the footsteps of my Cree ancestors of the great James Bay and Muskego. I speak my Cree dialect based on a language that is ancient and I understand the history of my people and our connection to Mother Earth. My people have been living the nomadic life of hunters and gathers for thousands of years and this is knowledge that I have learned from my parents and Elders. I grew up on the land in my remote First Nation of Attawapiskat but I have also lived and worked in southern cities and towns of Ontario. I have been fortunate...
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Ironmen down Lakers in historic senior hockey contest
By Sam Laskaris Writer Thanks to a four-goal outburst in the second period, the Six Nations Ironmen managed to win their historic season-opening game. The Ironmen downed the visiting Woodstock Lakers 6-4 in their first Northern Premier Hockey League (NPHL) match held Sunday at the Six Nations Sports & Cultural Memorial Centre. In previous years the Ironmen had exclusively competed in Indigenous adult hockey tournaments, including the annual Fred Sasakamoose Chief Thunderstick National Hockey Championship, always held in Saskatoon. While the Six Nations club still plans to participate in the 2026 national tourney, it has also joined the NPHL, a Senior A circuit that features 25 squads, primarily in Ontario. The Ironmen are competing in the league’s eight-team Capital Conference. Ironmen general manager Darrell Anderson was obviously pleased his charges...
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Six Nations members crack Hawks’ 2025-26 roster
By Sam Laskaris Writer Three Six Nations teenagers cracked the opening-night roster for a local junior hockey squad. Avery Sault, Cruz General and Asher Martin, who are all forwards, are suiting up for the Hagersville Hawks. The Hawks compete in the Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL). The Junior C circuit features a total of 62 squads, divided up into eight divisions, across the province. Hagersville is a member of the eight-team Bloomfield Division. Sault and General, who are 18 and 19, respectively, are both in their second season with the Hagersville team. For Martin, who is 19, this is his first year with the Hawks. But he does have some experience in the league as he played 11 contests with the Hawks’ divisional rival Port Dover Sailors, last season. Hagersville’s...
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SPORTS BRIEFS: Styres in sophomore season with Corvairs
By Sam Laskaris Writer Styres in sophomore season with Corvairs Though he’s still only 16, Six Nations member Kane Styres is now in his second season of junior hockey. Styres, who does not turn 17 until Dec. 11, is once again patrolling the blueline for the Caledonia Corvairs, a Junior B squad that competes in the recently renamed Greater Ontario Hockey League (GOHL). Styres, a 5-foot-10 defenceman, was credited with six points (one goal and five assists) in 42 regular season appearances during his rookie campaign. And he’s well on his way to surpassing his point total in his second year with the Corvairs. Styres has earned three points, all assists, in his first six outings with the Caledonia squad. The Corvairs are one of the 11 squads participating in...
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Virtual Healing Quilt provides a shared space to honour loved ones
By Aaron Walker, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Windspeaker.com The virtual Healing Quilt is uniting families across distance and time, blending Indigenous tradition with digital innovation to create a shared space to remember and honour loved ones. Launched Sept. 26 at HealingQuilt.ca, the Canadian Healing Quilt is the first national project of its kind, allowing families to create memorial squares with photos, stories, and memories that can be shared publicly or remain private. The vision comes from Elder and knowledge keeper Albert McLeod, who has roots in the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and the Métis community in Norway House, and who lives in Winnipeg. He’s an advisor with Canadian Virtual Hospice. During the COVID-19 pandemic, McLeod witnessed how families were often kept apart at critical moments of illness and loss. “There were...
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