SNEC mourns staff member who passes away
Six Nations and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nations are mourning the loss of Sean Coaster. Six Nations Elected Chief Sherri Lyn Hill paid tribute to Coaster, a Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) staff member at the SNEC General Council meeting on December 10 and said his absence will be felt. “Council is especially saddened by a recent loss of an employee,” Hill said. “All of us at SNEC join in expressing our sincere condolences to his family, friends and coworkers.” Coaster joined SNEC on February 26, 2024, as a staff cleaner with the Housing Department and Hill said, “he quickly became known for his dedication and strong work ethic.” He was responsible for maintaining cleanliness across various key spaces within our community, including the Housing Office, Lands and Membership,...
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Volunteers backbone of community
Volunteers are the backbone of the community and without them many events, gatherings and community projects could not happen. Six Nations Elected Council made sure to thank volunteers and staff on December 10, at the last General Council meeting of 2024. Councillor Greg Frazer said without dedicated staff and volunteers events like Bread and Cheese, parades, the fall fair and many others could not have reached the size or level they’ve gotten to. “Now, we’re coming to the end of the year and we’re entering into the festive season. We’ve had a lot of social events this year,” he said. “Thank you to all of the volunteers that come to help. We can’t put this on without you. Staff of course work late and work long hours, We really do...
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Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday
It may seem early, but at Turtle Island News we want to wish you, all of our readers, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday. As office’s wind up, parties are over, and it’s now time for family. Time to reconnect, to wind down, and to have fun and remember the spirit of the season. And in that spirit, we bring you that infamous editorial from the Sept. 21, 1897 issue of the New York Sun that answers the question… “Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus.” Dear Editor, I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say that there is no Santa Claus. Papa says “If you see it in the Sun, it is so.” Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus? Virginia, Your...
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Today in History
Dec 15 In 1890, Chief Sitting Bull, whose Sioux forces had wiped out Gen. George Custer and his army at the “Battle of Little Big Horn” in Montana in 1876, died in North Dakota after being shot by police trying to arrest him. He was born in 1831 along the Grand River in South Dakota. In 2021, the Canadian Press Newsmaker of the Year for 2021 was the children who didn’t come home from Indigenous residential schools. The runners-up for Newsmaker of the Year were health workers and the two Michaels who were released after nearly three years in a Chinese prison. Dec 17 In 1982, Indian and Northern Affairs Minister John Munro announced the federal government had agreed to pay Yukon natives $183 million to settle one of the...
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Xavier Kataquapil: UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY For My Brother Philip
By Xavier Kataquapit I’m dedicating this column to my late brother Philip Kataquapit who passed away on Christmas Day in 1990 at the age of 16. Philip was a very charismatic character. Everyone loved him and wanted to be around him. I always felt that he was a great combination of so many characters in our family all rolled up in one person. He was handsome, slender and tall like the men in mom’s side of the family. He was exciting, quick witted, funny and ready to laugh like dad’s side of the family. Guys wanted to be his friend because he was so easy to be with. Girls hovered around him because he was a handsome confident young man. He was well connected with our traditional culture as dad...
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Snipers beat visiting Outlaws in their home opener
By Sam Laskaris Writer Thanks in part to a five-goal performance from Jeremy Bomberry, the Six Nations Snipers picked up their first win of the season on Sunday. Bomberry’s offensive outburst, which included an assist in his six-point effort, helped the Snipers down the visiting Oshawa Outlaws 18-13 in an Arena Lacrosse League (ALL) match at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (ILA). With the victory, the Snipers evened their record at 1-1 this season. The Six Nations squad had been downed 17-13 by the host Brampton Express on Dec. 6. Meanwhile, the two others ALL clubs that play their home contests out of the ILA are still looking for their first victories of the 2024-25 campaign. The Ohsweken Bears saw their mark fall to 0-2 this past Saturday. The Bears were...
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Arrows the newest entrant in the Women’s Arena Lacrosse League
By Sam Laskaris Writer The Ontario-based women’s division of the Arena Lacrosse League is expanding. It was officially announced this past Thursday that the Women’s Arena Lacrosse League (WALL) East Division will be expanding to six teams for its upcoming 2025 season. The league, which operates entirely out of the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (ILA) in Six Nations, had five entrants this past season. The league was originally scheduled to stage its annual draft last Wednesday. But it was announced earlier in the week that the draft would be postponed due to an overwhelming response to open registration. Then, a couple of days later, league officials revealed their expansion plans. The five franchises that participated in the league last season simply had team names. They were Blazers, Sirens, Sky Hawks, Firebirds...
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Local junior lacrosse squads hooking up to hold combined training camp
By Sam Laskaris Writer For the first time all three Six Nations junior teams that are members of the Ontario Lacrosse Association (OLA) will stage a joint pre-season training camp. The Six Nations Junior Lacrosse Training Camp will be held Jan. 3-4 at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena. Those looking to crack the rosters of the Six Nations Arrows (Junior A), Six Nations Rebels (Junior B) or Six Nations Stealth (Junior C) are encouraged to attend the two-day camp. There is no registration fee to attend the camp. But players need to sign up in advance. Those who are interested in participating in the camp must register through the SportzSoft website. But those applications will not start being accepted until Jan. 1. As a result, players will need to sign up...
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Brant OPP arrest two after break and enter
BRANT COUNTY, ON – Brant County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have arrested two people who and are facing charges after OPP members responded to a break and enter in progress at a commercial property on Colborne Street East. On Tuesday December 17, 2024, at about 10:43 p.m., Brant County OPP received a report of a break and enter in progress at a business on Colborne Street East in Brant County . The property owner had been monitoring the site and was able to direct police to the location of the suspects. Two Brantford residents were arrested. Charged with Possession of Break In Instruments were Christopher St Denis, 61, of Brantford and Cynthia Tickle, 57, of Brantford. The accused have been released from police custody and are scheduled to appear in...
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Harassment investigation clears Navajo president and stokes new wave of political upheaval
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Political turmoil erupted within one of the largest Native American tribes in the U.S. as the attorney general for the Navajo Nation announced that an investigation had cleared the tribal president of sexual harassment allegations by the vice president. Even as results of the investigation were announced Monday, Navajo Nation Attorney General Ethel Branch was removed from office by the Navajo Nation Council in a 13-6 vote without public discussion or a reason outlined in the legislation. The tribe has been mired in political upheaval since April, when Navajo Vice President Richelle Montoya publicly outlined allegations of intimidation and sexual harassment against President Buu Nygren, stemming from interactions at an August 2023 meeting in Nygren’s office. Outside counsel investigated the allegations and found the incident...
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Bill to have Inuktut on election ballots gains traction
By Kira Wronska Dorward Local Journalism Initiative nuktut is a step closer to being included on election ballots in Nunavut following a two-year battle by Nunavut MP Lori Idlout to pass a private member’s bill. The proposed legislation was recently accepted by the Procedure and House Affairs Committee (PROC) and must now gain Senate approval. Idlout said she welcomed the “long overdue decision” by the committee to recommend a trial run of Inuit languages on the ballot in Nunavut. “During both, my numerous appearances at committee and as a witness, I stressed the importance of reflecting the languages we speak on our land and improving access for Inuit,” the MP said. “When I was first elected, I made it a priority to fight for this change to make elections more...
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How Squamish Indigenous parents are reclaiming love
By Bhagyashree Chatterjee Local Journalism Initiative Content warning: This article contains references to residential school trauma, physical and emotional abuse, intergenerational trauma, domestic violence and substance use. Parenting is never easy. It’s a journey filled with joy, challenges, and constant learning. How can you raise children to feel loved, secure, and proud of themselves while you’re still healing from generational wounds? For many Indigenous families, this question isn’t just about parenting—it’s about survival, healing, and rediscovery. Randall W. Lewis, Deanna Lewis, and Anjanette Dawson have all asked themselves these questions. Their journeys as parents show their commitment to their children and their efforts to heal, and rebuild connections to culture, family, and identity. These are stories of resilience expressed through everyday acts of love and hope. A father’s promise: Ta’hax7wtn’s...
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Cayuga man facing three counts of sexual assault
HALDIMAND COUNTY, ON – A 31-year-old Cayuga, Ont., man is facing sexual assault charges in connection with an ongoing historical sexual assault investigation. The Haldimand County detatchment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) launched an investigation November 25, 2024, into a report of a series of sexual assault incidents that took place between May 2024 and November 2024 at a Talbot Street address. As a result, a man was taken into custody without incident. Joseph Caruso, 31, of Cayuga has been charged with three counts of sexual assault. The accused is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Cayuga on a later date. The Haldimand County OPP Major Crime Unit continues to investigate, as investigators believe there may be additional victims. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact...
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Fatal MMA fight near Edmonton linked to company cited in death of U.K. boxer
EDMONTON-(CP)-A mixed martial arts organizer being questioned by police about an Alberta fighter’s death is linked to a company earlier cited for safety concerns after a novice boxer died in the United Kingdom. A senior coroner in Worcestershire, England, urges in a report that U.K.-based Ultra Events Ltd. improve its safety standards following the 2022 death of fighter Dominic Chapman. The company’s website promotes MMA and boxing fights, comedy shows and adventure trips. “Chapman sustained a fatal head injury in the course of a charity boxing match organized by Ultra Events Ltd.,” coroner David Reid says in the report. “In my opinion, there is a concern that future deaths will occur unless action is taken.” Reid’s report was dated June 6. Almost six months later near Edmonton, on Nov. 25,...
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Harassment probe appears to clear Navajo president, stokes new wave of political upheaval
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Political turmoil erupted at one of the largest Native American tribes in the U.S. on Monday as the attorney general for the Navajo Nation announced that an investigation had cleared the Navajo president of sexual harassment allegations by the vice president. On the same day, Navajo Nation Attorney General Ethel Branch was removed from office by legislators by the Navajo Nation Council, in a 13-6 vote without public discussion. The tribe has been mired in political upheaval since April, when Navajo Vice President Richelle Montoya publicly outlined allegations of intimidation and sexual harassment against President Buu Nygren, stemming from interactions at an August 2023 meeting in Nygren’s office. Results of an investigation by outside counsel into the harassment allegations were announced Monday morning in a...
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Curfew, probation for Prince George man guilty of assault, threats and firearm charges
By Bob Mackin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter A Prince George man was sentenced Dec. 16 to one year of curfew followed by two years of probation after he pleaded guilty in Provincial Court to assault, threats and firearm storage charges. Prince George RCMP arrested Aaron Robert Jonathan Young, 46, on July 31, 2023 after neighbours complained that he was making threats and attempting to gain entry to their residence. The Emergency Response Team was called in to assist and a search warrant obtained to seize a .30-06 rifle in Young’s bedroom. An RCMP officer heard Young make further threats to a neighbour. “Mr. Young was in a difficult place back on the 31st of July 2023 and his life was marred at that time by substance abuse and that led...
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‘Only viable path’: Freeland quits cabinet, carves out new role on federal backbench
OTTAWA-CP-In a career filled with fresh milestones, Chrystia Freeland is taking up another new role: backbench member of the governing Liberal party. Freeland resigned from the federal cabinet Monday, the day she was set to present the government’s fall economic statement. In a resignation letter, posted to social media, she said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered her another ministerial position on Friday, and the “only honest and viable path” was to leave cabinet. Freeland’s move came amid persistent rumblings that Trudeau has been wooing former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney to be finance minister. In the letter, addressed to Trudeau, Freeland said she and the prime minister had found themselves at odds about the best path forward for Canada. “To be effective, a minister must speak on behalf of...
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A list of Liberal cabinet ministers who have recently quit or don’t plan to run again
OTTAWA-Canadian Press-Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s abrupt departure from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet on Monday resulted in a mini cabinet shuffle, with Dominic LeBlanc stepping into the role. It is the latest in a string of small shuffles Trudeau has been forced to make in recent months to replace ministers who have made clear they won’t be seeking re-election. Several others who indicated publicly in October that they won’t run again have yet to be replaced. Here’s a look at who is on that list: Chrystia Freeland A loyal stalwart in the Trudeau inner circle, Freeland saw the Liberals through difficult trade negotiations Donald Trump during his first term in the White House, when he ended NAFTA. After helping usher in the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, Freeland was eventually promoted to deputy...
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Documentary crew from Japan visits Ignace
By Mike Stimpson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter IGNACE — A Japanese documentary crew’s visit last week is part of a huge surge in media attention for Ignace since its selection as host municipality for a nuclear waste management project, says a township spokesperson. “The story has been picked up everywhere – across everything from Cottage Life to The Economist,” Jake Pastore, the township’s outreach lead, said Monday. The Japanese science documentary series Galileo X sent a crew to the Northwestern Ontario community for an examination of how Ignace came to be selected to host a deep geological repository for spent nuclear fuel. The Nuclear Waste Management Organization, a federally mandated and industry-funded body, announced on Nov. 28 that a site between Ignace and Wabigoon Lake has been chosen for the...
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