Eagle Lake First Nation challenges NWMO in court
By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter EAGLE LAKE – Eagle Lake First Nation is challenging the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s site selection in court, and that’s more than welcome news to Neecha Dupuis. “I love it,” Dupuis, a member of the Ojibway Nation of Saugeen (Savant Lake), said from Ottawa. “Just pure love.” Eagle Lake’s chief “came and walked with us” in this year’s Walk Against Nuclear Waste, she noted. “It’s all coming together, like one giant dream catcher,” Dupuis said. Dupuis said she doesn’t understand Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation’s decision to move forward with the NWMO on possibly constructing a deep geological repository, or DGR, for high-level nuclear waste. “For them to choose nuclear waste over the land, that doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t make sense at all.”...
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Churchill becoming a key attraction for tourists flocking to Manitoba
By Dave Baxter is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter A new study shows how important the Town of Churchill is, not only to Manitoba’s tourism industry, but to the overall economy, as visitors from around the globe flock to the northern town and spend tens of millions of dollars. “Churchill is becoming more and more of a year-round destination,” Travel Manitoba President and CEO Colin Ferguson said in a media release announcing results of a new study that looked at the “size and value” of Churchill’s tourism industry. The study, according to Travel Manitoba, shows “just how heavily” Churchill’s economy relies on tourism its impact on Manitoba’s economy. It shows tourism in Churchill contributes an estimated $99 million to the provincial GDP and creates an estimated 1,395 direct and indirect...
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No:ia! Happy New Year!
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Six Nations Elected Council committees discuss dumping
Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) has been fielding a series of complaints as Illegal dumping continues to plague the community. SNEC Elected Chief Sherri Lyn Hill urged community members, during the Dec. 10th council session to report illegal dumping to Six Nations Police (SNP) or SNEC. She warned “Companies and individuals could be fined.” She told the zoom meeting,. “please, as a reminder, if you see or suspect illegal dumping, call Six Nations Police or my office to report the location, company name or the license plate.” Hill said SNP received another report of dumping on November 27th on Fourth Line Road that has since been cleared up. During Hill’s Bi-weekly update she said between November 26 and December 10 she fielded 14 complaints from community members. She said many...
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Six Nations Elected Council’s new committee system continues to cause confusion
Six Nations continues to work out the kinks of its committee system. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) enacted its committee system in November 2023 after the 59th council was elected and it continues to cause confusion for councillors and the community. Councillor Greg Frazer, chair of the Unity Building and Government Relations Committee told SNEC the committee had amalgamated with the Justice Committee. Councillor Frazer said the move would strengthen information sharing among committees and to council. “As you know, we are working to streamline governance information,” he said. “We’ve also been rescheduling meetings and adding some new councillors to this committee.” The elected chief can attend any committee meeting. He said “committee members now include myself, Cynthia Jamieson, Leslie Greene, Melba Thomas and Dean Hill.” Elected Chief Sherri-Lyn Hill...
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Six Nations Elected Council passes motion to pay auditors
Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) passed a motion to pay its final invoice for the 2023-2024 financial Audit at its General Finance Meeting on December 16. SNEC entered into a five-year agreement with KPMG to perform its annual audit and granted a one-year extension for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. The fiscal year ended March 31, but the audit was not completed or released to the public until earlier this month, which SNEC has attributed to the late completion and submission of the Six Nations Natural Gas audit. SNEC approved a motion to pay KPMG’s final invoice of $34,026. Councillor Helen Miller said previous sitting councils have also released audits late because departments couldn’t get the information to the auditor. She said in that case SNEC was charged a late fee...
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St. Louis was once known as Mound City for its many Native American mounds. Just one remains.
ST. LOUIS (AP) — What is now St. Louis was once home to more than 100 mounds constructed by Native Americans — so many that St. Louis was once known as “Mound City.” Settlers tore most of them down, and just one remains. Now, that last remaining earthen structure, Sugarloaf Mound, is closer to being back in the hands of the Osage Nation. The city of St. Louis, the Osage Nation and the nonprofit Counterpublic announced on Thursday that an 86-year-old woman who owns a home that sits atop Sugarloaf Mound has agreed to sell it and eventually transfer the property to the tribe. Meanwhile, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen plans to pass a resolution in January recognizing the Osage Nation’s sovereignty, Alderman Cara Spencer said. Eventually, the goal...
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Six Nations man now a member of Royal Kingdom of Kush court
By Lynda Powless Editor Six Nations has its own royalty! Much to his own surprise, well known Six Nations member Steve Williams is now his Highness Prince Steven Rodney Williams of the Kingdom of Kush! And no one was more surprised by it than him. Williams was on a trip to Florida recently when he met Her Majesty, Queen Mother Delois Blakely Queen of the recently formed country of Kush. A friend, who had set up the country’s new central banking system, called him to go to a meeting . “He didn’t really say what it was about, but it was only two hours away from where I was in Florida at the time, so I went.” He said he didn’t know he was about to meet the Queen of the...
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Walking through a winterland of gifts
By Lynda Powless Editor A jam-packed Winter Market by the Grand River drew huge crowds over the weekend all looking for that unique Christmas gift. The annual Winter Market by the Grand is fast becoming the place to go for Christmas shoppers looking for that unique Six Nations’ gift. There were crafters, artists, bead work, silverwork and more. The market, organized annually by Dakota and Jesse Brant doesn’t just bring together great shopping for holiday buyers but features entertainment to keep shoppers happy and of course food! From Smoke Dancers to a Baby Pageant crowning the Mister and Miss Grand River Winter Baby. Over 40 vendors packed the Gathering Place by the Grand along with that special someone everyone wants to see at this time of the year Santa Claus!...
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In 2025 the message is simple…do better!
The year is slipping away and along with it the country found itself watching a Prime Minister imploding and a country nervously watching knowing the only thing that could save the federal government was slipping off for the holidays. Instead of worrying about 2024, that’s history, we are looking ahead to 2025, albeit with a bit of nervous trepidation about what is to come politically on the national and local scene. But what to hope for 2025? Simply put…better. We look for all politicians at all levels to simply do better. We watched as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau imploded and interestingly enough watched Ontario’s Premier Doug Ford shine. Ford and premiers across the country took the bull by the horns and came together to take on the coming Trump government,...
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Weekly Cartoon
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Details of Quebec-Nfld/Labrador Churchill Falls energy deal
Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador have announced an agreement in principle that would overhaul the contentious Churchill Falls energy deal. Hydro-Québec President and CEO Michael Sabia calls it a balanced deal that benefits both provinces, securing low-cost energy for Quebec at a price that is more beneficial to the Atlantic province compared to the previous 1969 deal. Here are some of the details of the proposed pact: What’s in the new deal? Quebec secures electricity from the Churchill Falls plant into the future at a fairer price for Newfoundland and Labrador. Hydro-Québec says the Atlantic province currently receives about $100 million yearly and that will rise to $1 billion. A major part of the deal will have Hydro-Québec will pursue new developments, notably Gull Island, a 2,250-megawatt project targeted to...
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Mohawk Council of Kahnawake Chief tells AFN they are only an advocacy group
By Eve Cable Local Journalism Initiative Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) grand chief Cody Diabo used the recent Assembly of First Nations (AFN) special chiefs’ assembly to challenge federal leaders to envision what a future relationship could look like between Kahnawake and Canada. He also pushed for an official apology for the Oka Crisis at the assembly, where First Nations leaders from across the country gathered. “It’s always good to network with other communities and build relationships,” said Diabo, who attended the AFN alongside MCK chiefs Jeffrey Diabo, Iohahí:io Delisle, and Ryan Montour, as well as representatives from the external government relations portfolio team and Council technicians. Representatives from the federal government, including prime minister Justin Trudeau, were in attendance and addressed the AFN. “I feel the same urgency as...
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Chiefs’ players now starring again in the National Lacrosse League
By Sam Laskaris Writer It was certainly a star-studded lineup. Featuring a roster stacked with professionals who also toil in the National Lacrosse League (NLL), the Six Nations Chiefs were able to have another extremely successful season in 2024. The Chiefs captured their second consecutive national Mann Cup championship in September. The Six Nations squad downed British Columbia’s Victoria Shamrocks 4-1 in the best-of-seven Canadian Senior A box lacrosse series. All matches were held locally at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena. Besides defending the national title that they had captured in 2023 while squaring off against the host New Westminster Salmonbellies from B.C., the Chiefs were also able to win their eighth Mann Cup crown in franchise history. While local fans had up-close views of the pros showcasing their skills with...
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Pro teams hosting upcoming Indigenous heritage games
By Sam Laskaris Writer With a little bit of travel Six Nations sports fans can attend various Indigenous heritage games that will be hosted by professional squads in the coming weeks. A couple of Six Nations members will even be participating in those contests. And there will be other Indigenous individuals taking part as well. The two-time defending National Lacrosse League (NLL) champion Buffalo Bandits will stage their Native American Heritage Night on Jan. 10. The Bandits are partnering with the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino to celebrate Native American heritage and honour the origins of lacrosse. Buffalo’s roster includes Six Nations member Tehoka Nanticoke. Now in his third NLL season, Nanticoke was a member of the Bandits’ league-championship squads in both 2023 and ’24. Buffalo will host the Toronto...
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SPORTS BRIEFS
By Sam Laskaris Writer Jr. Snipers register lopsided win The Six Nations-based Jr. Snipers are looking for some better results during their current season. And the local Under-22 squad, that competes in the Junior Arena Lacrosse League, certainly got off to an impressive start to its 2024-25 campaign. The Jr. Snipers had posted a 4-6 mark last season. The club is obviously hoping to improve upon that record this year. The Jr. Snipers kicked off their season on a rather positive note, thumping the Toronto-based Jr. Monarchs 17-8 in a match held at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena on Dec. 14. Wayne Hill, the president and head coach of the Six Nations Rivermen Senior B squad, has joined the Jr. Snipers as an assistant coach this season. Hill said the club...
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First Nations water act obstructed by Conservatives: Hajdu
By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter THUNDER BAY — Reaching a consensus on Parliament Hill is difficult, Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu says. “The water legislation is a great example,” she told Newswatch in a recent interview. “I’ve got water legislation right now. The AFN (Assembly of First Nations) has a public letter out saying ‘stop obstructing this water legislation.’ “It’s transformational for communities and yet they won’t let it through.” “They” in this case refers to the Conservative opposition in the House of Commons. Hajdu, the member for Thunder Bay-Superior North, said the Pierre Poilievre-led Conservatives have been obstructionist on her First Nations Clean Water Act and other legislation put up by the Liberal government. The First Nations Clean Water Act, also called Bill C-61, was introduced in...
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No charges against Mounties in arrest of prominent Alberta chief
Canadian Press-Alberta’s police watchdog says there’s no evidence an offence was committed when Mounties used force to arrest a prominent First Nation chief outside a Fort McMurray, Alta., casino in 2020. The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team also said in a report released Thursday that there’s no evidence of racist treatment by officers against Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam. It said a confrontation began when an officer working alone was patrolling the parking lot of the Boomtown Casino and found an unregistered truck. ASIRT said the officer was approached by Adam, who was agitated, swore and said he was tired of being harassed by RCMP. The report describes the chief throwing down his jacket, removing his ring and taking a fighting stance, making it “clear that (Adam) was...
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‘It’s a connection you can feel in your marrow’: Fort Smith instructor
By Tom Taylor Local Journalism Initiative Kyle Napier is achieving big things outside the NWT, but his connection to his home is as strong as it’s ever been. “I go back a few times a year,” the 35-year-old said. “Whenever I cross into the boreal, that’s when I feel home. “It’s a connection you can feel in your marrow.” For Napier, who grew up in Salt River First Nation with Dene/Cree/Metis heritage, home is Fort Smith. However, he currently lives in Edmonton, where he teaches at the University of Alberta, NorQuest College in Edmonton and MacEwan University and remotely at the University of Victoria and Mount Royal University in Calgary. He teaches a number of disciplines, including communications, linguistics and Indigenous studies. He’s passionate about all of the subjects he...
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Why is it so hard to type in Indigenous languages?
By Mark Turin and Rbyn Humchitt The Conversation, When it comes to digital access and internet technologies, some languages are still more equal than others. Speakers of majority languages, who type in English or text in Korean, assume their message will be transmitted accurately. But Indigenous language communities don’t share this same confidence. Computers and smartphones don’t come with the ability to type all letters in all languages. The unique characters integral to many Indigenous languages are often mangled as they travel across the ether. However, the inclusion of two capital letters needed to write Haíɫzaqvḷa in a recent update of the Unicode Standard means this Indigenous language can finally be written and read on all digital platforms. Why did it take so long? And what challenges do Indigenous communities...
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