Lloyd Axworthy accuses Carney of taking ‘bootlicking’ approach to Trump
By Dylan Robertson Former Liberal foreign affairs minister Lloyd Axworthy is accusing Prime Minister Mark Carney of taking a “bootlicking” approach to U.S. President Donald Trump at the expense of Canadian values. “You have to be principled, you have to be tactical, you have to be pragmatic. But you also have to be tough and know what you stand for,” Axworthy said in an interview with The Canadian Press. “Flattery is always part of the game, but you can take it to the point where you actually become unctuous.” Axworthy spoke to The Canadian Press after issuing an online broadside last Sunday against the Carney government. Axworthy, whom prime minister Jean Chrétien appointed as foreign affairs minister from 1996 to 2000, oversaw the Ottawa Treaty that banned landmines in numerous...
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Millions in ‘unfair’ legal fees part of a broader problem in First Nations law
By Sonal Gupta, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Canada’s National Observer Legal fee agreements between a First Nation and its former law firm were unfair and, in some cases, unenforceable, a Saskatchewan judge concluded. Some legal experts say the issue is more common and causes more harm among First Nations than with the general population. The decision, released Tuesday, settles a 2021 dispute over millions of dollars in legal fees and penalties tied to historic claims against the federal government. “This was obviously a big win for Beardy’s and Okemasis Cree Nation, but this is also a big win for First Nations generally,” said Edwin Ananas, chief of the nation, in a recent press release. In 1999, Calgary-based Maurice Law, which describes itself as “the first and largest Indigenous-owned national law...
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Twinn re-elected Swan River chief
By Pearl Lorentzen, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeside Leader Lee Twinn was re-elected chief of Swan River First Nation, on June 25. He beat out three other candidates: Gerald J. Giroux (former chief), Mark Giroux (Davis) (councillor on the previous council), and Darryel Sowan (Mr. D). Chief Twinn is joined on council by Dale Chalifoux, Ryan D. Davis (re-elected), and Richard Woodman. The new council is half returning and half new representatives. The last Swan River election was June 2022. Chief and all four councillors elected in 2022 ran in 2025, two for chief and two for council. In total in 2025, 473 ballots were cast, of which two were spoiled. Twinn received 176 votes. The runner up was former chief Gerald Giroux, with 112, followed by Darryel Sowan...
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Special Investigation Unit notified after Brantford Police arrest armed man
BRANTFORD ONT- Brantford police have arrested a city man after receiving reports of a man brandishing a knife at people at a Henry Street gas station. Brantford Police Service (BPS) responded to the scene at about 7 a.m. Tuesday, July 1, 2025 and after an “interaction with police” a 41-year-old Brantford man was arrested. Police said the suspect had refused to comply with police. The man was charged with possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose, and three counts of assault with a weapon. No physical injuries to the public or police occurred as a result of the incident. As a result of interaction with officers, the BPS have notified the province’s Special Investigation Unit (SIU) which has invoked its mandate. As such, BPS will be unable to provide further...
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Brant OPP lay charges in intimate partner violence
BRANT, ON – Brant County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have laid charges as the result of report of an intimate partner dispute June 29, 2025. Brant OPP said a verbal dispute between intimate partners escalated to an assault and as a result of the investigation, a 52-year-old individual from Brantford has been charged with the following offences: Assault with a Weapon Assault Cause Bodily Harm – Choke, Suffocate or Strangle (Two Counts) Mischief The accused was released from custody with conditions and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brantford on July 24, 2025. The OPP takes all reports of intimate partner violence seriously. If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse or violence, help is available. Please contact the police, a trusted support agency,...
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Sentencing delayed for young sexual assault victim caught with illegal images
By Keith Lacey, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Penticton Herald A 22-year-old Penticton man, identified as L.H. to protect his identity, pleaded guilty to possessing nine images of children engaged in sexual activity, found on his cellphone from when he was a teenager. During a day-long sentencing hearing, court learned that L.H. was a victim of childhood sexual abuse during his teenage years, a factor central to the sentencing considerations. Crown attorney Ann Lerchs proposed a six-month conditional sentence with strict conditions, including house arrest, while defence counsel Garen Arnet-Zargarian argued for a conditional discharge, which would allow L.H. to avoid a criminal record if he complies with court conditions. Justice Lynett Jung reserved her decision, to be delivered within one to two weeks. “There are a lot of mitigating factors...
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Six Nations community cannabis meeting questions role of local cannabis commission as industry explains itself
By Tara Lindemann Writer The growing and contro-versial Six Nations cannabis industry is raising not only some tempers, but turned a sometimes heated public meeting at the Six Nations community hall last week into a learning session and love in for the industry. The meeting was organized by local woman Rhonda Martin who, concerned over the rapid growth of the local cannabis industry, focused in on one massive cannabis operation on Fourth Line on the outskirts of Ohsweken. The operation has raised the ire of its neighbours who were surprised to find it growing up almost in their backyards. But instead of the meet-ing raising tempers it turned into an educational aware-ness and support session for the local industry as indus-try owners took to the floor to explain their operations...
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Flooding hits band buildings, Iroquois lodge still closed
Six Nations says it is still in the early stages of assess-ing the full extent of damage caused by flooding on June 18, with no date for Iroquois Lodge residents to return home. Six Nations Elected Coun-cil’s (SNEC) new CEO, Tracy Brant, said band staff were working around the clock to secure support and survey damages. Brant provided an update at SNEC’s General Council meeting on June 23 explain-in professional assessments were ongoing, and response efforts are being coordinated in real time. Brant stressed the primary focus remained on deter-mining the health and safe-ty conditions of impacted buildings, including central infrastructure and private homes. “We haven’t even gotten to a point where we under-stand how affected some of the buildings are,” Brant said. She said an industrial hygienist has already...
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MCFN seeks to add 308 acres of Haldimand Tract to its Reserve
By Tara Lindemann Writer Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN) is seeking to expand its reserve land base by 308 acres into Haldimand County. Haldimand County has until August 25 to send comments on the expansion. The land expansion also falls within the Haldimand Tract, and one-third is within the county’s urban boundary. The county was notified by Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) in late May, advising that MCFN had applied as part of the Federal Addition to Reserve process for the 125-hectare property, which straddles a north-east portion of Hagersville at Highway 6 and First Line Road. The ISC program is intended to help First Nations expand their land base for several reasons, including housing, cultural, spiritual practices, and infrastructure. The process can become complex and can take two...
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From roads to schools to upgrades a busy construction season
From roads to bridges to buildings, Six Nations public works department has its work cut out for this construction season adding nine new roads to an already packed list of projects. The Built Environment and Climate Adaptation Committee chair Councillor Dayle Bomberry presented several infrastructure updates and announced the nine new roads that will be resurfaced this year. Those include:Road 274 (Cayuga Road between 3rd and 4th Line), Road 265 (Onondaga Road between 4th and 5th Line), Road 235 (Seneca Road between 4th and 5th Line), Road 163 (5th Line between Seneca and Chiefswood Road), Road 123 (1st Line between Seneca and Chiefswood Road), Road 253 (Tuscarora Road between 2nd and 3rd Line), Road 232 (Seneca Road between 1st and 2nd Line), Road 233 (Seneca Road between 2nd and 3rd...
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Drugs, firearms seized on Townline Road
Six Nations Police has arrested two men after a search warrant commenced at a Townline Road home on June 26. The Drug Enforcement Unit entered the home to find one man pointing a gun at police. Both men were arrested without in-cident. The search revealed 141.5 grams of cocaine, 13.2 grams of crack cocaine and bulk hydromorphone and oxycodone pills not prescribed to either man; a .22 caliber rifle with am-munition, bulk currency, a prohibited weapon, cell phones, drug packaging and scales, as well as a stolen Chevrolet Tahoe. Dakota Davey of Ohswek-en was charged with pos-session for the purpose of trafficking cocaine; pos-session for the purpose of trafficking hydromorphone; two counts of careless use of a weapon with ammu-nition; pointing a firearm, unauthorized possession of a firearm, knowledge of...
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Six Nations full of Pride
By Tara Lindemann Writer Celebrity drag performer Extacy Love spoke about body positivity and love for one’s own identity in her performance at Veterans Park as part of SIx Nations Pride festivities on June 25. “When someone tells you you shouldn’t follow your dream, Honey, you let them go, and you follow your dream,” she said to the crowd that amounted into the early hundreds. “And you find people who want you to follow your dream.” The event was a collaboration of Six Nations Department of Well-Being and Department of Social Services. In lieu of hosting a parade, the departments focused the family-friendly event around an ambitious lineup of drag performers to enthusiastic crowds, as other perused craft booths, enjoyed Indian taco bowls and strawberry juice. Every booth and activity...
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The heat is coming…and we don’t mean temperatures
It looks like it is going to be a long hot summer. Already there has been marches. A resistance camp to Ontario’s Bill 5 has been set up. And First Nation leaders have burned Ring of Fire documents protests Ontario’s Bill 5. Fearing the reality that now that Ontario’s Bill 5 exists Doug Ford’s will kick-start mining in the Ring of Fire region without Indigenous consultation. Bill 5 may say it does not affect Indigenous rights the bill has built in safe guards for Ontario. It gives Ontario the power to override any other provincial or local law to advance projects in “special economic zones.” The Indigenous Bar Association has raised concern calling for meaningful consultation with Indigenous Peoples. Switch federally to the Liberal’s saviour PM Mark Carney and what...
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Weekly Cartoon
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Today in History
July 2 In 1885, the Plains Cree Chief Big Bear surrendered at Fort Carlton, Sask. In 1974, Ralph Steinhauer, a member of the Cree Nation, became the first Indigenous Lieutenant-Governor in Canada, for the province of Alberta. In 2020, the Supreme Court of Canada announced the dismissal of a new appeal from British Columbia First Nations over the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. The court dismissed the appeal from the Squamish Nation, Tsleil-Waututh Nation, the Ts’elxweyeqw Tribes and Coldwater Indian Band, effectively ending the years-long legal battle over the project. July 3 In 1992, a Quebec jury acquitted 34 Mohawks for their part in the 77-day armed standoff at Oka in 1990. In 2011, Labrador’s Innu Nation voted in favour of a land and hydro deal crucial to a multi-billion-dollar Lower...
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Xavier Kataquapil: UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY: Here We Stand – Call To Action takes to water
By Xavier Kataquapit www.underthenorthernsky.com I’ve been filled with a renewed sense of hope for the future through the work of Jeronimo Kataquapit, who has made it his mission to highlight the connection that the people of Attawapiskat have to the land and it’s waters. He is the son of James Kataquapit and Monique Edwards who are both deeply connected to families in Attawapiskat and Fort Albany First Nation. James is also my cousin. Jeronimo’s grandparents Alex and Susan Kataquapit and Daniel and Elsie Edwards have always represented traditional Cree families who are deeply connected to the land. Jeronimo, his brother Jonathan and their parents James and Monique have been sharing a series of video logs on a recent trip they have embarked on from Attawapiskat to travel west along the...
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Rivermen down league-leading Brooklin Merchants
By Sam Laskaris Writer It was a much-needed win and no doubt a bit of a confidence booster as well. The Six Nations Rivermen, the local Senior B club, travelled to Whitby this past Saturday and emerged with a 13-11 victory over the league-leading and host Brooklin Merchants. The Ontario Series Lacrosse (OSL) match was held at the Iroquois Park Sports Centre. Saturday’s triumph marked the first time this year that the Rivermen were able to beat the Merchants. The Brooklin squad had downed Six Nations 8-6 back on May 10. The Merchants also eked out a 12-11 victory on May 24. “It was a good achievement on our game schedule there, especially on a day like this where both the Six Nations Senior B and Senior A teams were...
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Chiefs hoping to capture third consecutive Mann Cup championship
By Sam Laskaris Writer It’s no secret what the ultimate goal for the Six Nations Chiefs is this year. The Chiefs are the two-time defending national Mann Cup champions. Thus, the local Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) squad would dearly love to capture a third straight Canadian Senior A title. Based on some off-season acquisitions and their fortunes thus far this season, the Chiefs just might have what it takes to accomplish their three-peat. “Obviously we like where we’re going,” said Chiefs’ captain Cody Jamieson this past Saturday, the same day the Six Nations side improved its league-leading record to 10-1, thanks to an 8-7 overtime victory against the host Brooklin Lacrosse Club. “We like the direction we’re heading in.” The fact the Chiefs are once again atop the standings of...
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Six Nations player brings home silver from United World Games
SPORTS BRIEFS By Sam Laskaris Writer Six Nations youngster wins silver medal at international event Rato’ratseriio Hill managed to return with some hardware from his first international competition. The Six Nations member was on the Canadian boys’ under-11 ball hockey squad that captured a silver medal at the United World Games in Austria. Hill and his Canadian teammates were edged 6-5 in the gold-medal match, held June 22, by one of the two Quebec clubs that participated in the under-11 grouping. Hill was the only Indigenous player on the Canadian roster. His squad played a total of six games at the event. The World United Games have been held annually in the Austrian city of Klagenfurt since 2005. Besides ball hockey, the other sports featured at this year’s Games were...
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Wind farm proposed for Three Rivers
By Pratik Bhattarai, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Eastern Graphic A renewable energy company from Halifax proposed a four to five turbine wind farm at the Three Rivers Committee of Council meeting last Monday. “Our business model has us partnering with Indigenous communities and First Nations mainly, but also with universities, corporations, and smaller community economic development funds,” said Tess Donahue, the project manager for Natural Forces. Councillor Martina MacDonald asked if the project involves working with local manufacturers. “Would any of these components or products be made in Three Rivers? I know we have a plant here in Georgetown. Is that part of the project? Could it or would it be part of the project?” MacDonald asked. Donahue said the turbines come from a German company, but any material...
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