Biden, White House support Indigenous lacrosse team for 2028 Olympics
By Eddie Pells THE ASSOCIATED PRESS President Joe Biden is pushing to allow the Indigenous nation that invented lacrosse to play under its own flag when the sport returns to the Olympics in 2028. Biden’s position, being announced Wednesday at the White House Tribal Nations Summit, is a request for the International Olympic Committee to allow the Haudenosaunee Nationals to compete as its own team at the Los Angeles Games. That would require the IOC to make an exception to a rule that permits teams playing only as part of an official national Olympic committee to compete in the Olympics. The Haudenosaunee have competed as their own team at a number of international events since 1990. “We’re hopeful the IOC will see it our way, as well,’’ Tom Perez, the...
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Mixed results for Six Nations-based squads during Arena Lacrosse League’s opening weekend
By Sam Laskaris, Writer Two of the three Arena Lacrosse League (ALL) clubs that play their home contests in Six Nations managed to register victories in the first week of regular season action. For starters, the Paris RiverWolves hit the road this past Saturday and downed the host Peterborough Timbermen 14-12. That match was held at the Millbrook Arena. The Ohsweken Bears also emerged with a W, downing the visiting Oshawa Outlaws 17-10 in a match held on Sunday at Six Nations’ Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (ILA). As for the Six Nations Snipers, they were defeated 13-10 by the Whitby Steelhawks, in another contest held on Sunday at the ILA. The RiverWolves, Bears and Snipers all play their home matches at the ILA. The eight-team ALL’s East (Ontario) division also includes...
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Survivor’s Secretariat says it will take millions to find and search Mohawk Institute records and find the truth
By Lisa Iesse Writer SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND – The Survivors’ Secretariat says it’s on Canada to provide the resources needed to search millions of Mohawk Institute linked documents waiting in archives and the price tag could hit over $39 million to find out what happened at the notorious school. Laura Arndt, Survivors’ Secretariat Lead, spoke at Six Nations organization’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) Tuesday (Dec. 5) at the Six Nations community hall and virtually. Arndt was joined by board members and Mohawk Institute Survivors Sherlene Bomberry, Roberta Hill, and Diane Hill. In 2021 they helped form the Secretariat to organize and support efforts to uncover, document and share the truth about what happened at the residential school in its over 140 years of operation. So far their research...
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Coastal First Nations get $60M boost from B.C. to protect Great Bear Sea
By Rochelle Baker Local Journalism Initiative Reporter A $60-million surge in provincial funding will protect the “extraordinary beauty” of B.C.’s Great Bear Sea, said Premier David Eby. The Indigenous-led funding allows coastal First Nations to push forward with a vast marine conservation network in their traditional territories to protect marine ecosystems, create new jobs and economic opportunities, and foster sustainable fisheries and tourism, the premier said at a funding announcement Tuesday. Also known as the Northern Shelf Bioregion, the area spans the coast from Quadra Island north to the Alaska border and includes Haida Gwaii and B.C.’s central coast. Often referred to as the “Galapagos of the North,” the region’s waters and lands have been stewarded by First Nations for millennia, Eby noted. “This grant will provide stable funding for...
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Police chief, who faced calls to resign after refusing to search landfill, to retire
Chief Danny Smyth told the police board he plans to retire on Sept. 3, 2024, after nearly four decades with the force, seven of those as chief. Smyth also serves as the president of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. The police board says in a news release it has formed a recruitment committee to help choose Smyth’s replacement. Smyth told the police board during today’s meeting it has been an honour and a privilege to serve Winnipeg, and that he will help ensure there is a smooth transition for his successor. Smyth elicited calls for resignation last year after he said police would not search a Winnipeg-area landfill for the remains of two First Nations women believed to be the victims of an alleged serial killer. First Nations...
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Torys stage marathon vote pushing Liberals to axe carbon tax on home heating, for farmers and First Nations
OTTAW- Members of Parliament have now lost an entire day of work in the House of Commons as they continue with a voting marathon forced by the Conservatives, after sneaking in bites of burgers and Christmas card-writing overnight. The non-stop voting on 135 spending measures, which is happening both in person and online, began at 6 p.m. on Thursday and has pushed other agenda items off the table until next week. Conservative House leader Andrew Scheer says his party will not let up unless the government removes federal carbon pricing from all home heating, farmers’ activities and First Nations. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sat in the House overnight for the votes, and when asked today whether he’d “axe the tax,” as Tory Leader Pierre Poilievre puts it, he said he...
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AMC calls for criminalization of residential school denialism
By Miranda Leybourne Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs is lobbying Ottawa to make denying the history of residential schools in Canada a criminal offence. Late last month, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) put out a call to Justice Minister Arif Virani and the federal government to move forward on a recommendation made by special interlocutor Kimberly Murray to make residential school denialism punishable under Canadian law. According to a press release sent out by the AMC on Nov. 28, the legislation would provide a legal mechanism to address the denial of the existence of and harm caused by residential schools, which the association says undermines the experience of First Nations Canadians who went to such institutions. “This is an opportunity for Canada to demonstrate an...
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Indigenous lawsuit ‘unprecedented in this country,’ says lawyer
By John Chilibeck Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Hugh Cameron raised a big white binder several inches thick with both hands in the air and let it drop to the courtroom table in front of him with a thud. The lawyer representing Acadian Timber wanted to emphasize to the judge in front of him on Wednesday that it would be absurd to force the company and several other tree-cutting firms to provide a Wolastoqey Nation lawsuit to prospective buyers of their land or lenders who need property as collateral. The Wolastoqey Nation wants its traditional Indigenous territory back that encompasses all western New Brunswick and has filed legal proceedings against the big tree-cutting firms, seeking certificates of pending litigation. Such certificates would provide official court notice to the public that a...
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N.L. university hires consultants on Indigenous heritage after president removed
ST. JOHN’S, N.L.- Memorial University has hired consultants to advise the school on Indigenous verification eight months after it was embroiled in a controversy over First Nations ancestry. On April 6 the university in Newfoundland and Labrador removed president Vianne Timmons from her role after she faced weeks of scrutiny about her claims of Indigenous heritage. The move came after CBC News raised questions about Timmons’s claims that her father’s great-great-grandmother was Mi’kmaq, which prompted Timmons to issue an apology. Memorial has since confirmed it has hired First Peoples Group to prepare and plan for consultations with Indigenous leaders, Indigenous organizations, faculty, staff and students. The Ottawa-based company describes itself as a certified Aboriginal business that offers training, facilitation and relationship-building services. The university says the consultations will take place...
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Gwich’in Nation delegation travels to Washington, D.C. to discuss ANWR
By Amy Kenny Local Journalism Initiative Reporter We’ve lost count, that’s what Gwich’in tribal leaders say about the number of times they’ve travelled to Washington, D.C. to discuss the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Seventeen representatives of the Gwich’in Nation from across Canada and the U.S. are in Washington this week to meet with the Biden administration and congress about protecting ANWR from oil and gas drilling. Three of those representatives spoke with the News from D.C. on Dec. 4. Karlas Norman was one of them. “We want to make it as easy to protect that land as it is to open it to development,” said Norman, a council member with the Arctic Village Council. “It should be as easy to protect life as it is to start an oil...
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Manitoba government prepares plan to deal with larger deficit as legislature breaks
By Steve Lambert THE CANADIAN PRESS WINNIPEG- Manitoba’s NDP government plans to review some of the commitments made by the former Progressive Conservative government in order to address a larger-than-expected deficit, Premier Wab Kinew said Thursday. “We are going to be ? pulling back on certain areas where we need to tighten our belt as government,” Kinew told reporters after delivering his annual state of the province speech to the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce. “Because of vacant positions or initiatives that didn’t get off the ground, we’re able just to hold those initiatives back. In other areas, it has to do with commitments that were made which the leg work was never done to be able to deliver on.” Kinew said details are to be revealed next week as part...
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Cindy Woodhouse paints self portrait of unifying force as AFN’s new national chief
By Alessia Passafiume THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA- After a late night and long morning of voting, deal-making, concession speeches and tense last-minute pleading, Cindy Woodhouse was elected Thursday as the new national chief of the Assembly of First Nations. In her new post, Woodhouse, 40, faces the daunting task of uniting more than 600 chiefs after years of bitter internal strife, punctuated with complaints from chiefs that the assembly often neglects their best interests. That’s why Woodhouse and David Pratt, the challenger whose strong showing throughout 15 hours of voting Wednesday kept him in the race, took to the Ottawa convention centre floor in a hand-in-hand show of unity. “I knew it wasn’t doing our convention any good to prolong it when we’re facing a housing crisis, when we’re facing...
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Bills to commemorate Orange Shirt Day and Louis Riel pass final vote in Manitoba
WINNIPEG-A bill to make Orange Shirt day a statutory holiday in Manitoba has passed its final vote in the legislature. The bill will ensure that workers under provincial jurisdiction get a day off, or holiday pay if they work, every Sept. 30. The day, also known as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, commemorates Indigenous children who attended residential schools. The day is already a statutory holiday for federally regulated workers and employees in some other provinces such as British Columbia. The legislature also passed a bill to designate Metis leader Louis Riel as Manitoba’s honorary first premier. Both bills are scheduled to come into effect Thursday after receiving royal assent by the lieutenant-governor. The bills were a campaign promise of the New Democrats and Premier Wab Kinew, whose...
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New AFN chief ‘absolutely’ supports Ontario chiefs in push for carbon price review
By Stephanie Taylor THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA- The incoming leader of the Assembly of First Nations says she’ll back demands by chiefs in Ontario for a judicial review of Canada’s carbon price. Cindy Woodhouse, a former regional chief from Manitoba, was elected Thursday as the assembly’s national chief _ leader of the largest First Nations advocacy organization in the country, representing more than 600 communities. The Chiefs of Ontario, which represents 133 First Nations, asked the Federal Court to undertake a judicial review of the federal government’s carbon pricing system. Shortly after taking the oath of office, Woodhouse told a news conference in Ottawa that she’s “absolutely” willing to support the application, and wants the AFN to take a closer look of its own at the carbon regime. “From what...
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‘He’s got a battle, but this group seems pretty good’
By Emily Blake and Aastha Sethi Local Journalism Initiative Reporter “All of the communities in the South Slave will be very excited we have a new premier from the South Slave,” said Chief April Martel of the Kat?’odeeche First Nation. Martel wants the new government to consult Indigenous people and bring Indigenous leaders to Ottawa when advocating for the territory or seeking federal funding. Simpson has said he wants that to happen, too. “They really need to work par with us,” Martel said of the GNWT. “We talk about truth and reconciliation … but it just started, beginning with the last government, so we need to really strongly advocate for all those things.” Premier Caroline Cochrane led that last government. On the last full day before handing over to Simpson,...
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The Assembly of First Nations has a new leader…National Chief Cindy Woodhouse
The Assembly of First Nations new National Chief Cindy Woodhouse...
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Assembly of First Nations new National Chief is Cindy Woodhouse
By Lisa Iesse Writer OTTAWA-Manitoba Regional Chief Cindy Woodhouse has emerged as the next leader of the Assembly of First Nations after six rounds of voting. Neither of the two final candidates reached the 60 per cent threshold needed to win, nearly pushing the AFN into a seventh round of voting Thursday (Dec. 7) morning. But Pratt conceded to Woodhouse before another round of voting was put to the assembly. After the sixth ballot Woodhouse grabbed 234 votes or 50.8 percent of the vote. Close at her heels was David Pratt with 181 votes or 39.3 percent of the votes cast. Woodhouse remained in the lead for all six rounds. Reginald Bellerose and Craig Makinaw, were dropped after the first ballot. Dean Sayers was dropped after the second ballot. Sheila...
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Manitoba Regional Chief Cindy Woodhouse to be named Assembly of First Nations National Chief after competitor concedes
OTTAWA-Manitoba Regional Chief Cindy Woodhouse will be the third woman to lead the Assembly of First Nations after her closest competitor conceded today. Neither of the two final candidates reached the 60 per cent threshold needed to win, nearly pushing the AFN into a seventh round of voting Thursday (Dec. 7) morning when David Pratt conceded to Woodhouse before another round of voting was put to the assembly. After the sixth ballot Woodhouse grabbed 234 votes or 50.8 percent of the vote. Close at her heels was David Pratt with 181 votes or 39.3 percent of the votes cast. Woodhouse remained in the lead for all six rounds. Reginald Bellerose and Craig Makinaw, were dropped after the first ballot. Dean Sayers was dropped after the second ballot. Sheila North was...
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Assembly of First Nations assembly continues without electing new national chief
By Alessia Passafiume THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA- The Assembly of First Nations’ special chiefs assembly continues in Ottawa Thursday without a new national chief. First Nations leaders were growing impatient late Wednesday as voting for the new national chief of the Assembly of First Nations went long into the night, with neither front-runner reaching the 60 per cent victory threshold. After six separate rounds of voting, AFN regional chief Cindy Woodhouse had collected 50.8 per cent of the registered vote, leading her closest challenger: David Pratt, vice-chief of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations. Pratt did not concede as expected after the fourth ballot, leading to a tense conversation with Woodhouse on the floor of the convention centre in downtown Ottawa and another round of voting. He did not concede...
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AFN headed to fifth round of voting
By Lisa Iesse, Writer OTTAWA-Manitoba Regional Chief Cindy Woodhouse is still in the lead coming out of the fourth round of voting to become the next leader of the Assembly of First Nations. After the fourth ballot Woodhouse grabbed 237 votes or 51.4 percent of the vote. Close at her heels is David Pratt with 185 votes or 40.1 percent of the votes cast. Neither of the two final candidates reached the 60 per cent threshold needed to win pushing the AFN into a fifth round of voting. Reginald Bellerose and Craig Makinaw, were dropped after the first ballot. Dean Sayers was dropped after the second ballot. Dropped from the third ballot was Sheila North. Woodhouse could become the second First Nations woman to become the National Chief of the...
