Six Nations Chiefs made it 8! Chiefs win second consecutive Mann Cup title!
The Six Nations Chiefs won their eight Mann Cup championship in franchise history on Wednesday night at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena. (Photo by Sam Laskaris). By Sam Laskaris Writer The Mann Cup is staying in Six Nations for at least another year. That’s right. The Six Nations Chiefs won their second consecutive national Senior A championship on Wednesday having now won the national title eight times in their franchise history. The Chiefs downed the visiting Victoria Shamrocks from British Columbia 13-9 in front of a jam-packed crowd at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (ILA). With that victory the Six Nations club won its best-of-seven Canadian championship series in five games. The Chiefs had won their 2023 title in B.C., downing the host New Westminster Salmonbellies, also in five games last September....
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Mi’kmaq death: First Nation wants Indigenous representation on N.B. police watchdog
The Canadian Press 11/09/2024 16:44 Interactions between Indigenous people and law enforcement “too frequently” end in violence or death, say the six chiefs of the Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick in reaction to the recent killing of a Mi’kmaq man by a Mountie conducting a wellness check. In a statement issued Wednesday, the chiefs said they were also joining Mi’kmaq chiefs in calling for an inquiry into systemic racism within the province’s justice system. The death of Steve “Iggy” Dedam is the result of systemic racism, Chief Ross Perley of the Tobique First Nation, which is part of the Wolastoqey Nation, said in an interview Wednesday. Perley noted that two Indigenous people were killed by New Brunswick police in 2020 — 48-year-old Rodney Levi and 26-year-old Chantel Moore. “It’s unacceptable...
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Manitoba grand chief’s death marked with ceremonies, mourners attend legislature
Canadian Press WINNIPEG – Family members, community leaders and dignitaries were on hand to pay tribute to Grand Chief Cathy Merrick, of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, who died last Friday. Merrick’s casket was brought in to the legislature for a closed-door ceremony Wednesday (Sept, 11 2024) morning, and she will lie in state this afternoon to allow the public to pay their respects. As RCMP and members of the Winnipeg Police Service carried the casket into the legislature, family members, Premier Wab Kinew and others followed behind in a solemn procession. Her death was marked by a vigil outside the Winnipeg courthouse earlier, and a sunrise ceremony. Merrick collapsed while talking to reporters last Friday and was rushed to hospital. She became the first woman to head the Assembly of...
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Woman facing impaired driver charges
OHSWEKEN, ON- Six Nations Police have charged an Ohsweken resident with impaired driving offences after a complaint was received from the public. The charges stem from an incident last month when Six Nations Police received a complaint about a possible impaired driver Friday, August 16, 2024, at a 2:25 a.m.. Police patrolled the area where they found a vehicle matching the description provided heading along Fourth Line Road. Police conducted a traffic stop to check the sobriety of the lone female driver. Police said signs of impairment were observed. As a result of the investigation, police arrested and charged, Robyn Green, 32, of Ohsweken with the following criminal offences: – Impaired Operation – Alcohol per se Offence “80 plus” The vehicle was towed and placed on a 7-day hold. The...
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Arrest made in death of man whose body was found four years ago: police
The Canadian Press Ontario Provincial police say they’ve made an arrest in the death of a man whose body was found two days after he was reported missing four years ago. Police say 29-year-old David Oliver was reported missing by his family in Kettle and Stony Point First Nation July 31, 2020. Officers with the Lambton County OPP helped the Anishinabek Police Service in their search for Oliver. His body and his red Dodge Ram pickup were found on a former army base in Lambton Shores two days later on Aug., 2, 2020 Police say an investigation deemed Oliver’s death a homicide. OPP said a 20-year-old man from London, Ont., was arrested and charged on Tuesday with second-degree murder and indignity to a body in the case. The accused can’t be...
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Province has ‘unclean hands’ in title talks, says Indigenous nation
By John Chilibeck Local Journalism Initiative Reporter New Brunswick faces another lawsuit – the fourth – from an Indigenous group claiming territory as its own, this time from the Peskotomuhkati in the southwestern corner of the province. The representatives of the Indigenous people who live in the area that includes St. Stephen and Saint Andrews – also known as the Passamaquoddy – filed notice at the Saint John Court of King’s Bench on June 13 that it wants the provincial government to begin negotiating in good faith for its claim of Aboriginal title. The court application states that the province’s “denial of negotiations indicates that it arrives in court with unclean hands.” Unlike the lawsuits filed by eight Mi’gmaq First Nations along the eastern coast this year, the Wolastoqey Nation...
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“It was really beautiful,”: Eskasoni residents learn to pick sweetgrass and embrace tradition
By Megan Dewar Local Journalism Initiative Reporter On August 26th, Eksasoni residents had the opportunity to learn the proper methods of picking sweetgrass during an event hosted by band councillor, Starr Paul. Eskasoni youth, Eliza Gus Gould took advantage of the opportunity and took her younger sister and grandmother with her. “I’ve always heard that people will go pick some sweetgrass and that’s something I never really experienced. So, I signed up to go and also signed up my little sister and her friend and our cousin, because they never really experienced it either,” Gus Gould explained. “I’m a beader, I’m pretty crafty, so it was really good that instead of spending so much money on sweetgrass, someone was able to teach me how to pick it and do it correctly....
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Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick calls for Indigenous representation in SIRT
The six chiefs of New Brunswick’s Wolastoqey Nation are calling for an inquiry into the recent fatal shooting of an Indigenous man by a Mountie conducting a wellness check. The chiefs issued a statement today saying they have joined with Mi’kmaq chiefs in calling for an inquiry into systemic racism within the justice system. The Wolastoqey chiefs say they are concerned that interactions between Indigenous people and law enforcement “too frequently” end in violence or death, noting the fatal police shootings of 48-year-old Rodney Levi and 26-year-old Chantel Moore in 2020. They are calling for Indigenous representation on the independent police oversight agency known as the Serious Incident Response Team, which is investigating the latest shooting. They are also asking for transparency in the process, which they say must include...
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Celebrating 155 years of Six Nations Fair
If its fall it’s Six Nations Fall Fair time By Austin Evans Writer Raptors, the Rhyno, and a baby kangaroo – the 155th Six Nations Fall Fair had it all! From September 6 to 8, the community centre was home to carnival rides, wrestling matches, live music and more as part of the Fall Fair. Leslie McDougall has been the President of the Six Nations Agricultural Society Fair for two years and has been a lifelong attendee. McDougall and the new fair board worked to make the Fall Fair bigger and better by including a wide range of events. “Fair [starts the] changing of the seasons, and for us it’s a good time because we’re trying to change,” she said. “We’re trying to bring the community back together. We’re trying...
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Former Six Nations principal named in child pornography case
By Austin Evans Writer Two weeks after announcing an unnamed community member was arrested on child pornography charges, Six Nations Police have confirmed his identity. Police Chief Darren Montour confirmed Chester Gibson was the man charged on August 28 with possession of child pornography. Gibson is a former principal of J.C. Hill Elementary and Jamieson Elementary schools. The announcement on August 28 said no further information will be released due to a publication ban imposed by the courts. Police Chief Montour said the ban was in place to protect the witnesses, victims and minors involved and did not extend to Gibson. He claimed Gibson was not named at first in case he was connected to anyone involved in the case. “We weren’t sure if there was any link to any...
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Feds giving $100k to NOTL Museum for enhanced history education
By Richard Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter As the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum treads along the path of its $10-million expansion plans, the federal government has pledged $100,000 to aid in its growth. Niagara MPs Vance Badeway and Chris Bittle, for Niagara Centre and St. Catharines, respectivley, made the announcement Sept. 3 on the front yard of the historical repository, with museum staff and board members, municipal officers and members of the public in attendance. This is part of the federal government’s plan to allot $1.3 million total to regional organizations through its Tourism Growth Program. The money will be used to create the new exhibits, says curator Sarah Kaufman, with an added goal of enhancing Indigenous and Black history education in the region so, “we can better tell these under-told stories...
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Six Nations man featured in RBC film promoting business careers to Indigenous youth
A Six Nations community member will be featured in a promotional film to encourage Indigenous youth to advance their careers in business. Travis Shand, from Corus Entertainment came to Six Nations Elected Council’s (SNEC). General Council meeting on August 27th seeking permission to film on behalf of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). “It focuses on telling the stories of Indigenous employees at RBC, this employee is located on Six Nations,’ Shand said. The video will feature Chad Garlow, Senior Manager of the Indigenous Development Program (RBC). Shand and his team plan to visit Garlow’s home on Six Nations on September 9th in the morning to interview him, get some footage around his home and in the afternoon as well as September 10, get some shots of him in and around...
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Manitoba Grand Chief Cathy Merrick to lie in state after sudden death
Grand Chief Cathy Merrick of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs will lie in state at the provincial legislature following her sudden death. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew made the announcement during a news conference Saturday where the province’s Indigenous leaders paid tribute to the late leader. Merrick was outside the Winnipeg Law Courts building on Friday talking to reporters about two court cases when she said she felt dizzy and fell to the ground. Fire and paramedic crews arrived, performed chest compressions and carried Merrick away on a stretcher to an ambulance, but she did not survive. Premier Kinew says the decision to have Merrick lie in state at the legislature was made in consultation with her family as well as the leadership of Pimicikamak Cree Nation, where Merrick was a...
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Waterloo airport seeking Indigenous artists for new murals
By Austin Evans Writer The Waterloo Region International Airport (YKF) wants Indigenous artists to submit proposals for its new murals. YKF will add three murals to greet passengers going through its Domestic Arrivals Building. The murals are joined by pieces from the Dibaajimowin: Stories from this Land exhibit formerly on display at the Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum. Dibaajimowin highlighted the Indigenous contributions to the history of Turtle Island which are often overlooked in favour of settler narratives. “The public art call is meant to compliment the exhibit, they’re both part of an initiative to increase visibility in Indigenous pride at the airport,” said Waterloo Director of Cultural Services Julian Kingston. Nearly half a million people go through the airport each year according to Kingston. “There’s a good opportunity for...
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Six Nations Police advising drivers to watch for students
By Austin Evans Writer As another school year begins, the Six Nations Police advise the community to drive safe. Six Nations Police has increased the officers on patrol to monitor traffic during school hours in school zones and the village of Ohsweken. Additionally, school bus drivers have been asked to get the license plates of cars which ignore their stop signs. Any drivers who fail to stop for a school bus face a minimum $490 fine and six demerit points for a first offence. Police Chief Darren Montour said Six Nations Police will continue their heightened traffic monitoring for the first two weeks of the school year. After two weeks, Six Nations Police will release a report on how many traffic stops and charges they made. Speeding in school zones...
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Talks will be needed
No one wants to see Six Nations massive billion-dollar land claim lawsuit resolved more than the municipalities surrounding the community. Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis recently jumped on the get the Six Nations land rights mire resolved bandwagon noting the claim value could hit billions of dollars and has “merit” Six Nations massive land grant, was negotiated in perpetuity but over the years Six Nations lands have been improperly sold, leased or given away by various Canadian governments, leaving only 5 per cent of the original lands under Six Nations control. Mayor Davis says it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to not only resolve injustices but to ease tensions along the Grand River lands. Brantford and communities abutting Six Nations are feeling the tension more than cities of Toronto or...
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Spring rains destroyed white corn harvest Oneida Farmers working to adapt
The Associated Press This spring, a torrent of rain sent a river rushing over a field on the Oneida Nation in Wisconsin, destroying most of what was in its path, including the traditionally important crop of white corn. Families tried planting a second time, but it was too wet; many seeds dissolved in the water-soaked soil. The corn that did sprout was patchy and stunted. It looked “anemic,” said Lea Zeise, one of the coordinators of Ohe·láku, a non-profit that works with the families planting crops. “Really skinny and really frail.” A few members picked what remained at the end of August in its early form, known as green corn, but it was barely enough to go around. There will be none of their white corn in the annual food...
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Chiefs rally from three-goal deficit to register Game 3 victory in Mann Cup series
By Sam Laskaris Writer Things were not looking good for the Six Nations Chiefs early on Monday night. The Chiefs found themselves trailing 5-2 early in the second period of Game 3 of the best-of-seven Mann Cup championship series. The Six Nations squad, however, managed to keep the Victoria Shamrocks off the scoreboard for the remainder of the match while scoring five unanswered goals themselves. And with their 7-5 victory, in the contest held at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena, the Chiefs now lead the national Senior A championship final 2-1. The series resumes Tuesday night at 8 p.m. All of this year’s matches are being staged at the ILA, the Chiefs’ home rink. Six Nations had a rough start on Monday night. The Chiefs found themselves down 4-2 after 20...
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Longboat-coached Badgers will host November’s Baggataway Cup
By Sam Laskaris Writer The Brock University Badgers came up a bit short in their season-opening match. The Badgers were edged 11-10 by the host University of Guelph Gryphons. But Vince Longboat, the Six Nations member who is once again serving as the head coach of the St. Catharines-based men’s field lacrosse team, is not overly upset with that loss. That’s because Longboat realizes no matter how his club fares during its regular season action it will still have an opportunity to capture a national title. The Badgers will host this year’s Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association (CUFLA) championships. As the host, Brock receives an automatic entry into that tournament, which is called the Baggataway Cup and runs from Nov. 1-3. The CUFLA’s moniker is a bit misleading. That’s because...
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