Martin completes sophomore season with Toronto Rock
By Sam Laskaris Writer Justin Martin would prefer to be participating in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) playoffs which begin this Friday. Instead, the Six Nations member and his Toronto Rock teammates had their 2025 campaign come to an end this past Saturday. The Rock did manage to edge the host Rochester Knighthawks 11-10 in its regular season finale. But despite that victory, the Rock compiled a 6-12 record. The squad ended up in 13th place in the 14-team NLL. The top eight finishers will be moving on to participate in the playoffs. Martin and his teammates were involved in numerous close outings. The Rock lost a half a dozen matches by just one goal. “If we won half of those, we’d be in the playoffs,” Martin said. Martin said...
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Federal party leaders trade jabs as election heads into final days
The clock is ticking before Canadians head to the polls to cast their ballot in the April 28 election, and attacks from federal party leaders are heating up. Both the Liberals and Conservatives are critiquing each other’s platforms, with Liberal Leader Mark Carney saying the Tory platform relies on “phantom math,” while Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is charging the Liberal platform was authored for former prime minister Justin Trudeau. Polls suggest the Liberals are ahead of the Conservatives, with the majority of respondents to a Leger survey saying they think Carney will win. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, meanwhile, is seeing support for his party dwindle, with the Green Party falling below them. Poilievre is set to spend time in Hamilton today before heading to a rally in Nova Scotia, while...
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Nunavut, Manitoba governments declare commitment to advance Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link
By Darrell Greer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Kivalliq News The governments of Nunavut (GN) and Manitoba signed a joint statement on April 16 declaring their commitment to advance the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link, a vital energy and communications corridor connecting the two regions. The strategic initiative aims to drive economic development, support reconciliation, combat climate change and strengthen Canada’s Arctic security. The Inuit-led, Inuit-driven project, estimated to cost $1.6 billion, is one of four nation-building infrastructure projects declared a priority by the GN and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok said the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link (KHFL) will deliver clean energy to Kivalliq communities while unlocking the economic potential in the region, addressing Canada’s vulnerabilities in the Arctic and advancing national sovereignty and security goals. “This partnership with Manitoba is a...
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Politicians spar in Manitoba legislature over government therapy contract
By Steve Lambert Tempers flared at the Manitoba legislature Tuesday as the Opposition Progressive Conservatives questioned the NDP government about a contract for mental health therapy, suggesting it may have been for the benefit of Finance Minister Adrien Sala. Tory Greg Nesbitt tabled a document that shows the Finance department recently signed a contract for $10,205 with a counselling services provider in Winnipeg. The provider advertises services including stress management, grief counselling and conflict resolution. The contract was one of more than 40 signed by the department for a variety of services so far this year and, without any supporting evidence, Nesbitt suggested it was to provide services for Sala. “Why can’t this minister pay for his own self-reflection?” Nesbitt asked in question period as some New Democrats shouted at...
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Taking the helm – New Cree Grand Chief Norman Wapachee aims to keep the river flowing
By Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Nation The inauguration of Norman A. Wapachee as Cree Grand Chief in Ouje-Bougoumou March 31 reflected the energy and pride of the Cree Nation. Swiftly organized after the surprise resignation of Mandy Gull-Masty four days earlier, there was genuine warmth in the speeches, elegant decor and delicious feast. Ancestral heirlooms decorated the room and guests were adorned in traditional attire and regalia. Kevin-Joseph Mianscum shared that he prepared catering for 100 in just two days, with help from Kecia Metabie-Bosum and Capissisit Lodge. Rumours about the circumstances behind Gull-Masty’s sudden “transition” to Liberal candidate in the federal election April 28 lent an air of intrigue to the event. This chatter enlivened a charter flight from Montreal with Cree government members and Gull-Masty’s...
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Comparing the Candidates – Gull-Masty’s Liberal candidacy shakes up northern Quebec’s electoral riding
By Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Nation With trade war tensions dominating narratives regarding the upcoming federal election on April 28, some are concerned that Indigenous issues are being overlooked. However, the Assembly of First Nations has listed Abitibi–Baie-James–Nunavik–Eeyou as one riding where Indigenous voters could swing results. The vast territory covering over half of Quebec’s land mass has approximately 65,500 voters, of which 40% are Indigenous. Since NDP MP Romeo Saganash’s tenure ended in 2019, Bloc Québécois MP Sylvie Bérubé has held the seat. Only a third of the riding’s eligible voters cast ballots in the last election. With this spring’s snap election, the shortest campaign allowable under Canadian law, Bérubé had a head start as the other parties scrambled to name candidates. Before becoming the first...
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Federal party leaders trade jabs as election heads into final days
The clock is ticking before Canadians head to the polls to cast their ballot in the April 28 election, and attacks from federal party leaders are heating up. Both the Liberals and Conservatives are critiquing each other’s platforms, with Liberal Leader Mark Carney saying the Tory platform relies on “phantom math,” while Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is charging the Liberal platform was authored for former prime minister Justin Trudeau. Polls suggest the Liberals are ahead of the Conservatives, with the majority of respondents to a Leger survey saying they think Carney will win. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, meanwhile, is seeing support for his party dwindle, with the Green Party falling below them. Poilievre is set to spend time in Hamilton today before heading to a rally in Nova Scotia, while...
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Team Kivalliq out to nab Indigenous Junior Hockey Championship
By Darrell Greer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Kivalliq News The final selections have been made for the Team Kivalliq squad that will compete at the inaugural U20 National Indigenous Junior Hockey Championships from June 9-13 at the CanLan Sports York University in Toronto. Three rinks will be used for the event, plus the facility’s two simulator rooms. The event will be an annual competition that brings together Indigenous junior hockey athletes from across the country to compete for the national title. The championships are open to male and female division players aged 16-20 and are an opportunity for players to showcase their skills, and for the Indigenous hockey community to come together and celebrate their achievements. All team members and staff must be of Indigenous ancestry (First Nation, Metis, and...
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Advance voter turnout much higher than in 2021
By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Thunder Bay Source THUNDER BAY — Nationwide and locally, this federal election is on track to have the highest voter turnout in more than 35 years. Elections Canada disclosed Tuesday that an estimated 7.3 million people voted at advance polls April 18-21 across the country. That’s about 25 per cent more than the 5.8 million who voted in advance in the 2021 general election. In Thunder Bay-Superior North, 15,244 of the riding’s roughly 68,000 eligible voters cast advance ballots, returning officer Dale Mason said. Numbers from advance polls in neighbouring Thunder Bay-Rainy River and Kenora-Kiiwetinoong were not yet available. Mason said the local and national numbers suggest that, when the election-day polls close next Monday night, voter turnout will be at a greater...
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Energy efficient school in Coquitlam, B.C., gets clean energy designation
The Coast Salish Elementary school in Coquitlam, B.C., has been designated a Clean Energy Champion by BC Hydro for its energy efficiency. The school is equipped with solar panels, a hybrid heat pump, LED lighting and uses technology to track its energy production and consumption. It’s the first “green” school in the Coquitlam School District and is projected to save about 740 tonnes of carbon emissions over 15 years. Frank Pearse, the school’s principal, says energy education is embedded in the student learning experience. BC Hydro CEO Chris O’Riley says using energy efficiently is the cleanest way to meet growing demand and the utility has been a leader in helping customers reduce their energy bills. BC Hydro says in a statement the schools commitment to energy conservation and sustainability has...
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The pope was a friend, and they talked sports: TRC commissioner remembers Francis
By Fakiha Baig Wilton Littlechild remembers closing his eyes before Pope Francis lead his first mass at the Vatican more than a decade ago. He wanted to clearly hear every word. As the pope’s voice grew louder, Littlechild, a residential school survivor and former commissioner for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, says he became still and thought: “I was listening to one of our elders.” Littlechild says it was the first time he saw the head of the Catholic Church as an ally of Indigenous people. “(Francis) was telling some of us traumatized as adults to seek to love … that’s how our elders talk to us. We grew up not knowing love. That stuck with me all the way until today,” Littlechild, 81, said following the pope’s...
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Ohsweken woman charged with impaired driving in Brant County
SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND RIVER-A 35-year-old Ohsweken woman has been charged with impaired driving following a Brant County OPP RIDE program stop. The driver was stopped shortly after 1 a.m. on April 19, 2025, at the intersection of Newport Road and River Road, according to an OPP news release. Officers administered an Approved Screening Device (ASD) test, resulting in a failure. Police said Donna Henhawk was arrested and charged with operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration 80 plus. She was taken to the Brant County OPP detachment for further tests and later released with conditions. Her vehicle was impounded for seven days. Henhawk is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice on May 1 to answer the charges. Police continue to remind motorists of the dangers of...
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Poilievre to address Assembly of First Nations on clean drinking water, policing
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks at a press conference in Vaughan, Ont., on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Laura Proctor Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is expected to address the Assembly of First Nations Tuesday to discuss his party’s plan for U.S.-Canada trade, closing the infrastructure gap and ensuring communities have access to clean drinking water and adequate policing. The meeting is part of a series of engagement sessions with First Nations chiefs and federal party leaders ahead of the April 28 election. Green party leaders Elizabeth May and Jonathan Pedneault addressed the AFN earlier in April, while NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is scheduled to address the organization Wednesday. It’s not clear whether Liberal Leader Mark Carney will participate in the exercise. Poilievre has long said a government led by...
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Candidate Carney draws a crowd in Brantford
By Kimberly De Jong, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Brant Beacon Nearly one thousand people attended a meet and greet event with Liberal Leader Mark Carney as he made a stop on his campaign trail to visit Sassy Britches Brewing Co. in Brantford on Friday, April 18, 2025. The leader was there to not only speak to the residents from nearby communities, but to show support for local Liberal candidates like Joy O’Donnell, who is running to be the next MP for Brantford – Brant South – Six Nations; Chuck Phillips, for Flamborough-Glanbrook-Brant North; David Hilderley for Oxford, and Colin Walsh for Haldimand-Norfolk. Upon his arrival, O’Donnell welcomed Carney in multiple languages including English, French, Mohawk, Cayuga and Ojibwe. “We are standing here in a very historical spot; we all know...
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Federal report due on Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina’s path to recognition as a tribal nation
By Graham Lee Brewer And Allen Breed Members of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina are awaiting the release of a Department of the Interior report that, as soon as this week, could light a path for federal recognition as a tribal nation. In January, President Donald Trump issued a memo directing the department to create a plan to “assist the Lumbee Tribe in obtaining full Federal recognition through legislation or other available mechanisms, including the right to receive full Federal benefits.” The memo required the plan to be created within 90 days, a deadline that comes Wednesday. The Lumbee are a state-recognized tribe that has been seeking federal acknowledgment, a distinction that comes with access to resources like health care through Indian Health Services and the ability to create...
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‘Pressure conference’ demands June election in Kanesatake
By Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The Mohawk Council of Kanesatake (MCK) is steadfast in its summer election plans, even as calls grow louder for a June election date to be respected. A flurry of posts on social media accusing Council of ignoring the Custom Electoral Code have not been quelled by its confirmation of an August 2 election date, the first Saturday following four full years in office for the chiefs. Leading the charge has been Amanda Simon, who was MCK’s former certified lands manager until her resignation last year, blaming a dysfunctional culture for her departure. Simon, who confirmed Tuesday that she intends to run for a Council seat in the next election, has characterized the MCK’s failure to begin the process for a June 14 election...
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‘Man of compassion:’ Indigenous leaders, residential school survivors on Pope Francis
By Brittany Hobson It’s been nearly three years since Pope Francis travelled to Canada to apologize for the Catholic Church’s role in residential schools. But for some Indigenous survivors, memories of the historic day remain fresh in their minds. “His statements of apology still have a lot of impact to a lot of us residential school survivors,” Piita Irniq said in an interview following news of the pope’s death Monday. The pontiff was 88. Irniq was in Iqaluit in July 2022 for the pope’s final stop in Canada as part of what was described as his “penitential pilgrimage.” The former politician was forced to attend a residential school in Chesterfield Inlet, in what is now Nunavut, where he was stripped of his Inuit culture and language and was abused by...
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‘We are Indigenous’: NCC vows to fight back against MUN’s Indigenous verification policy draft, saying it’s “designed to exclude NunatuKavut Inuit”
By Anasophie Vallee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Telegram Memorial University released a draft of the Indigenous verification policy earlier this month for public consultation with the university community, but it isn’t sitting well with the NunatuKavut Community Council (NCC). The NCC is calling out the university for putting forth a policy draft that is a “huge failure in Indigenous reconciliation,” saying it is “designed to exclude NunatuKavut Inuit.” When the policy was still in development, NCC President Todd Russell received a call from Memorial’s vice president of Indigenous affairs two years ago informing him that the university would undertake a consultation process with Indigenous groups in the province regarding a verification policy. The problem? “I have never received a worse call than that call on April the 11th, 2023,...
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In Wyoming, the Eastern Shoshone tribe decided to classify buffalo as wildlife. Here is why
By Taylar Stagner, Grist Jason Baldes drove down a dusty, sagebrush highway earlier this month, pulling 11 young buffalo in a trailer from Colorado to the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. His blue truck has painted on the side a drawing of buffalo and a calf. As the executive director of the Wind River Buffalo Initiative and Eastern Shoshone tribal member, Baldes has helped grow the number of buffalo on the reservation for the last decade. The latest count: the Northern Arapaho tribe have 97 and the Eastern Shoshone have 118. “Tribes have an important role in restoring buffalo for food sovereignty, culture and nutrition, but also for overall bison recovery,” he said. ___ EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is a collaboration between The Associated Press and Grist. ___ The Eastern...
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‘I won’t be the last’: Tréchelle Bunn elected as first female chief of Dakota nation
By Brittany Hobson Tréchelle Bunn has had a whirlwind month. She wrapped up her two-year tenure as one of the Southern Chiefs’ Organization youth chiefs, finished her second year of law school at the University of Manitoba and received an Indspire award for her work in Indigenous communities at a ceremony in Vancouver. Then an election held the day Bunn returned to Manitoba from B.C. put the young woman in the history books. On April 10, Bunn was voted in as chief of Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation, marking the first time the community located near the Saskatchewan boundary has elected a female leader. At age 25, Bunn is also the youngest person elected as chief in her community and is believed to be one of the youngest sitting chiefs in...
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