Six Nations own Royal Chapel of Mohawks Coat-of-Arms sparks potential talks
By Austin Evans and Lynda Powless Writer It was not only history in the making when Six Nations’ own Royal Chapel of the Mohawks became the first Indigenous Chapel in Canada to receive its own Royal Coat-of-Arms, but a hope for more dialogue was sparked. Representatives from the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council (HCCC), in the spirit of reconciliation, met with Canon Paul Wright, Sub-Dean of Chapels royal U.K. and the King’s personal chaplain at the Onondaga Longhouse prior to the unveiling of the Coat-of-Arms Sunday (Sept 29,2024). The rare meeting resulted in the HCCC re-opening dialogue with the Crown. The surprise move was highlighted in a brief speech by HCCC representative Colin Martin during the unveiling. He said the HCCC had met with Canon Paul Wright. “We are in the...
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Six Nations band hiring policy to be reviewed, band members to have hiring priority
Six Nations band members are suppose to have first priority for jobs at the band office, but more and more non-Indigenous people are filling positions. During its council meeting Sept. 24th, Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) directed CEO Nathan Wright to look at the organization’s hiring policy and ensure Six Nations members are getting a fair shake. Wright clarified that the current hiring policy does give preference to Six Nations members in job postings and they’re given additional points during interview scoring. He also plans to review the policy with Duane Jacobs, Director of Policy, Communications and Records. He said he wants to create a policy review calendar to ensure SNEC knows when policies will come up for review. The Six Nations band administration currently employs 200 non band members....
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SNEC approves long needed crosswalk in Ohsweken
Six Nations Community members want a crosswalk near JC Hill Elementary School, and they want it done quickly. Councillor Alaina Van Every brought the request to Six Nations Elected Council’s (SNEC) General Council meeting on September 24 to let councillors and community members know she would take the matter to the Built Environment Committee and get the situation resolved as soon as possible. “Some said it was a federal responsibility to put in a school crosswalk, other people said it’s our own responsibility to take care of our own children and it’s this government’s responsibility,” she said. She wants to see Six Nations take accountability to get this done more quickly than the federal government will to ensure the safety of their youngest members. Van Every said she found the...
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A day of hope and reconciliation
Across the country a parade of orange shirts took to streets to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation or Orange Shirt Day. There were speeches everywhere, marches, new statues or memorials unveiled. It was 16 years ago that former Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologized to Indigenous people, and the country for the horrors of residential schools forced on Indigenous children. Horrors that spanned generations. For almost one hundred years between 1867 and 1996, Indigenous children were taken from their homes, from their families. The Canadian state abducted more than 150,000 Indigenous children from their parents and forced them into these schools as part of a campaign of forced assimilation. They were subject to physical, emotional, and sexual abuse and the official register says 3,213 died. But it didn’t...
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Today in History
Today in History for Oct. 6: In 2021, Parks Canada was going to update the commemorative plaques at the graves of 16 former prime ministers to reflect changes in how they are remembered. Officials were rethinking what the panels should say to reflect how the country views its past, specifically in light of historical mistreatment of Indigenous Peoples. Today in History for Oct. 7: On this date, In 1763, a Royal proclamation sought to deal with the problem of aboriginal unrest in the west. The western boundary of Quebec was set at a line running northwest from the point where the 45th parallel crossed the St. Lawrence River to Lake Nipissing. The Appalachian watershed became the western boundary of the Atlantic colonies, blocking British settlement of the Indian lands of...
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Ontario marks National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Toronto opens spirit garden
The Canadian Press A monument to honour residential school survivors was unveiled in Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square on Monday, one of dozens of events in Ontario marking the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The new spirit garden in front of Toronto City Hall comes in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s call for governments to establish publicly accessible, highly visible monuments honouring survivors and thousands of children who died in residential schools. The garden’s centrepiece is a large turtle sculpture positioned in a reflecting pool that has the names of the 18 residential schools that once operated in Ontario inscribed on its north wall. Jordan Carrier brought her children and grandchildren to the square on Monday to take part in the ceremony and for them to “learn more...
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Brantford police charge woman with 2nd degree murder
Brantford police have arrested and charged a 37-year-old female with 2nd degree murder after receiving a report of an injured male. Police were dispatched to a Colborne Street residence Saturday, September 28, 2024, at about 7:40 p.m., after receing reports of an injured male. Police found a man suffering froms stab wounds. The man was transported to hospital. However, despite the life-saving measures performed, the victim succumbed to his injuries. The accused was on scene and taken into custody by officers without incident. Brantford Police Service said the accused and the victim were known to each other and the incident has been classified as an Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) related homicide. No threat to public safety exists as a result of this incident. A 37-year-old female resident of Brantford has...
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Alberta chief demands action after death of Indigenous man in police custody
(CP)The chief of a southern Alberta First Nation is demanding a thorough, transparent investigation into the death of an Indigenous man in police custody. Blood Tribe Chief Roy Fox says the death of Jon Wells on Sept. 17 after a scuffle with police at a Calgary hotel, has brought back memories of a public inquiry in the 1980s that “underscored the cultural gap” between his community and police. The inquiry saw the Blood Tribe speak out against a growing number of unexplained deaths affecting Indigenous people. “It is disheartening that we again find ourselves in a similar situation and we are addressing these issues once again,” Fox said in a recent online video statement. “We will be filing a formal complaint against the three officers involved in Mr. Wells’s death...
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Both Haudenosaunee clubs capture bronze medals at world championships
By Sam Laskaris Writer Numerous Six Nations members have returned home with some hardware as they represented the Haudenosaunee Nationals at the world box lacrosse championships. Both the women’s and men’s global tournaments concluded on Sunday in Utica, N.Y. The two Haudenosaunee clubs concluded their action at the tourney on Saturday. Both squads registered convincing victories in their bronze-medal matches. The Haudenosaunee women’s club posted a 21-4 triumph over Australia. And their male counterparts thumped England 14-5. This marked the first time the women’s category had been included at the world tournament. Six Nations member Fawn Porter was the captain of the Haudenosaunee entry. Porter was thrilled to be part of the historic event. “It means so much and it’s such a big deal for this organization,” she said. “And...
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Montour scores goal in his home debut with Seattle Kraken franchise
By Sam Laskaris Writer The back of his jersey still had his surname and his signature number 62. But when Six Nations’ Brandon Montour took to the ice this past Friday at the Climate Pledge Arena it was the beginning of a new era for him. For Montour it marked the first time he was playing a home game, albeit a pre-season match, for the National Hockey League’s Seattle Kraken. Montour, a 30-year-old defenceman, joined the Seattle club during the off-season, mere days after helping the Florida Panthers win the Stanley Cup. Montour’s first exhibition contest with the Kraken was on the road in Vancouver on Sept. 24. The host Canucks beat Seattle 3-1. Then three nights later Montour made his home debut with the Kraken. He scored once, had...
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Sports Briefs: Stallions to Hawks busy sports seasons
By Sam Laskaris Writer Stallions enjoying successful season The Six Nations Stallions just might have what it takes to win this year’s Ontario Senior Men’s Field Lacrosse League (OSMFLL). Following a pair of victories this past Saturday in Brantford, the Stallions are challenging for top spot in their nine-team league. Six Nations downed the London Mollys 13-11 in a Saturday morning tilt at Brantford’s Kiwanis Field. The Stallions then edged the Toronto Blue Jays 13-12 in a match later that afternoon. With those two win the Stallions are now sporting a 5-1 record. Six Nations is occupying second place in their league standings. Only the Orangeville Generals, who are sitting in first place with a perfect 6-0 mark, are ahead of them. Orangeville defeated Six Nations 9-4 on Sept. 14...
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Local elementary schools take to the diamond for fun!
By Austin Evans Writer Oliver M. Smith-Kawenni:io Elementary not only went undefeated in the junior three-pitch tournament, they scored more home runs than their coach could count. The junior league three-pitch tournament brought six elementary schools from Six Nations and the Mississaugas of the Credit’s Lloyd S. King Elementary school together to play ball on September 17. Schools were split into two groups playing off against each other to determine who would go on to the championships. Kawenni:io and Oliver M. Smith-Kawenni:io (OMSK) schools each placed first in their groups qualifying to face off against each other in championship match. Going into the championships, Kawenni:io Coach Longboat said her team has improved since last year and played well together. “The team has been, I’d say, playing very well together as...
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Hamilton resident facing charges in fatal collision
(HALDIMAND COUNTY, ON) – Haldimand County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have charged a 26-year-old Hamilton resident after a fatal collision Sept., 13th in Hagersville. Haldimand OPP responded to a two vehicle collision on September 13, 2024, at about 12:45 p.m., at the intersection of McKenzie Road and 3rd Line, Hagersville that saw the driver and the passenger of one vehicle taken to a trauma hospital with serious injuries. OPP said the 22-year-old passenger, from Hamilton was later pronounced deceased. The driver of the second vehicle was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. A 26-year-old from Hamilton has been charged with: Dangerous Operation Causing Death Dangerous Operation Causing Bodily Harm Anyone with information regarding this ongoing investigation is asked to contact Haldimand OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to...
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Laurier Brantford hosts inaugural MarketFest
By Kimberly De Jong, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Around 200 residents attended Wilfrid Laurier University’s inaugural MarketFest: In Peace and Friendship event in Brantford’s One Market atrium on Friday, September 27 and Saturday, September 28, 2024. Darren Thomas, Laurier’s associate vice president of Indigenous Initiatives and associate professor of Indigenous Studies, said that the overall idea for the event came from the history surrounding the One Market building (formerly the Eaton Market Square Mall). “This is an idea we came up with because of the historic ties to this land because originally, this land was ceded by the Haudenosaunee Confederacy to be a public market for mutual benefit.” he said. “Somewhere along the line, the Haudenosaunee farmers were actually displaced and were no longer allowed to come and sell, and...
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Ontario is lagging on winter road funding, says Mamakwa
By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter THUNDER BAY – The Ontario government needs to do more to address the transportation needs of the Far North, says Kiiwetinoong’s member of provincial parliament. “The Ontario government continues to invest only $6 million (annually) for winter roads in the Far North,” Sol Mamakwa said Tuesday in an interview. The funding has been the same for years, he said. “It’s just a program that they re-announce every year,” Mamakwa added. Seeing the static budgeting for winter roads while inflation carries on and climate change chips into winter road season, Mamakwa said, “you just shake your head.” The winter roads line in the provincial budget is overdue for a substantial increase, he said. Mamakwa represents a riding that comprises much of Ontario’s North and...
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Award-winning book to become docudrama series
By Crystal St. Pierre, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Métis/Cree filmmaker Barbara Todd Hager will be adapting the award-winning book On Savage Shores: How Indigenous Americans Discovered Europe to a three-part docudrama series titled On Distant Shores. Todd Hager also owns Acimow Media, which she established in 2021. Acimow means “she tells her story,” in Cree. The Indigenous-owned production company, based in Vancouver, specializes in the production of international Indigenous documentaries. The book was optioned to the company by its author Caroline Dodds Pennock providing Todd Hager a certain amount of time to find financial support and a broadcaster for the series. Todd Hager said she became interested in reaching out to Dodds Pennock after she read the book. She travelled to Europe for other reasons but decided to reach out...
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Montana US Senate candidate says derogatory comments about Native Americans were ‘insensitive’
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Montana Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tim Sheehy acknowledged Monday that derogatory remarks he made last year about Native Americans were “insensitive.” But Sheehy rejected his opponent’s call to apologize, during a contentious debate in a race that’s emerged as pivotal for control of the Senate. Three-term incumbent U.S. Sen. Jon Tester had challenged Sheehy over remarks last year in which the Republican told a group of laughing supporters about bonding “with all the Indians … while they’re drunk at 8 a.m.,” while working cattle at a ranch on the Crow Indian Reservation. “Yeah, insensitive,” responded Sheehy, a former U.S. Navy SEAL. “I come from the military as many of our tribal members do. You know, we make insensitive jokes and probably off color-jokes sometimes.” Sheehy then...
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Nunavik dentist laments ‘frustrating’ state of dental care in region
By Cedric Gallant, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Anita Gordon has been living with a cracked tooth for more than five months with no relief in sight. “I never got a call, it is just getting worse and it is a lot of pain,” she said. “But they can’t do anything about it, they don’t have the equipment, they can’t fix it.” The Kuujjuaq resident says she’s in agony but not crying about it — she’s one of many people in Nunavik who have to live with their dental problems. With extremely long waitlists, a lack of infrastructure and no competitive salaries for staff, access to dental care in the Ungava Bay region is “appalling,” says Nathalie Boulanger, who works as a director with Ungava Tulattavik Health Centre. The centre offers...
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‘Indigenous-led stewardship’ supported
By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Thunder Bay Source THUNDER BAY – Bertha Sutherland, Constance Lake First Nation’s land and resource officer, appreciates the work of the Four Rivers Regional Guardians Network. A grad student with Four Rivers “has been with us for almost two years now and she’s doing an excellent job,” Sutherland said at the announcement of a major development for the Canada-wide Guardians environmental initiatives program. Four Rivers, an initiative of Matawa First Nations Management, is part of that of the National Guardians Network and has been helping Constance Lake figure out what happened in late 2021 when the First Nation northwest of Hearst was hit by an outbreak of fungal infection called blastomycosis. Caused by spores found in soil and rotting wood, blastomycosis often has...
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