White U.S. citizens once flooded into Indian Territory, prompting calls for mass deportations
By Russell Cobb, Associate Professor of Latin American Studies, University of Alberta The scene at the end of the 19th century in what was known as Indian Territory — at one point encompassing most of the present-day United States west of the Mississippi River —would seem familiar to anyone following the news about the crisis on the United States-Mexico border. Illegal immigrants streamed in, and some leaders had seen enough. Nationalists among the Chickasaw Nation called for a mass deportation of white U.S. citizens. One Chickasaw leader, Judge Overton Love, wrote that undocumented whites should be “placed under arrest immediately and hustled out of the country with strict orders not to return.” Muskogee leaders reported intruders to the federal government. U.S. marshals escorted white migrants to Arkansas and hit them with...
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First Nations want Impact Assessment Act review for Pathways Alliance project
(CP)Eight First Nations in Alberta are asking that the massive carbon capture and storage project proposed by a consortium of oilsands companies be reviewed under the federal Impact Assessment Act. The First Nations say the project proposed by the Pathways Alliance is “massive” and “unprecedented” and poses potential risks to both the environment and human health. The Pathways Alliance group of oilsands companies is proposing to build a $16.5-billion carbon capture and storage network to trap emissions from more than 20 oilsands facilities and transport them 400 kilometres away by pipeline to an underground storage hub in the Cold Lake area. Pathways has already begun submitting applications for approval to the Alberta Energy Regulator, which has regulatory jurisdiction since the project’s boundaries lie entirely within the province of Alberta. But...
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More areas to soon connect to power grid
By Sandi Krasowski Local Journalism Initiative A total of 1,732.5 kilometres of transmission line with 22 substations, 4,231 lattice steel towers and approximately 2,572 wood pole structures make up the new Wataynikaneyap Power transmission system. The $1.8-billion project was financed by Ontario and senior bank lenders. Margaret Kenequanash, chief executive officer of Wataynikaneyap Power, said 16 First Nations will be connected to the provincial power grid for the first time, taking them off of diesel as their primary source of power. “Wataynikaneyap will be continuing to work with McDowell Lake First Nation, the 17th community to become grid-connected in the future,” she said. “As of November 2024, all of Wataynikaneyap assets have been energized and 12 First Nations have been connected. The four remaining communities are working through their independent...
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In a first, Birdtail Sioux First Nation gifted bison
BIRDTAIL SIOUX FIRST NATION — Accompanied by a posse of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Unity Riders and a caravan of cars and trucks, a trailer carrying young bison made its way down to the river valley of Birdtail Sioux First Nation on Tuesday to take part in a ceremony organized to foster stronger relations among the two first nation communities. Members of Birdtail Sioux First Nation, including more than 50 children, gathered outside a newly constructed enclosure that will house a herd of 11 young bison — a gift from Sioux Valley Dakota Nation. Drummers stepped up the tempo as chants and prayers were offered by the group, including Birdtail Sioux First Nation elder Terry Wasteste, before the ceremonial handover, which saw the gifted bison barrelling out of a trailer...
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Poilievre offers two hours on Monday for Freeland to present fall economic statement
OTTAWA-(CP)-Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is offering to give up time on an opposition day in the House of Commons to allow Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland to present the government’s fall fiscal update. Poilievre says he will allow Freeland two hours to present the fall economic statement on Monday — a day allocated for Conservatives to present their own motions in Parliament. The Conservative leader says he’ll give up that time so the government can tell Canadians whether it kept a promise to cap the federal deficit at $40 billion. The parliamentary budget officer is projecting the government will exceed its own fiscal guardrail with a deficit of $46.8 billion for the previous fiscal year. “Not only will we co-operate to let her introduce that fall update, we will actually give...
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Manitoba’s supervised drug consumption site proposed for core area
The Manitoba government has selected a location for the province’s first proposed supervised drug consumption site. An application to Health Canada, which is still being processed, lists the address as 200 Disraeli Freeway — part of Winnipeg’s core area. The government announced in the summer it would put up $727,000 to support development of an Indigenous-led supervised consumption site in partnership with the Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre of Winnipeg. The centre is located about one block away from the proposed site. Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara says the selected location is in an area with challenges around homelessness and addiction and has community agencies that provide support and care. The government has said the site will not provide any drug supply but will have consumption areas, staff trained to respond...
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Red Scarf Day!
Red Scarf Day didn’t go unmarked at Six Nations thanks to the Six Nations Dept., of Well Being. Red Scarf Day focuses awareness on World AIDS Day, Dec. 1. It’s aimed at raising awareness for HIV/AIDS. The Red Scarves are placed in public spaces, like Six Nations Veterans’ Park and are free for the taking. The Six Nations Health/Well Being department has been placing the scarves since 2016. (Photo by Jim C. Powless)...
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Indigenous women suffer from intimate partner violence
By Austin Evans Writer The Ontario Indigenous Women’s Advisory Council (IWAC) is calling upon Ontario and its municipalities to keep Indigenous women in mind when addressing intimate partner violence. The Legislative Assembly of Ontario brought Bill 173 to the provincial government with the title, “An Act respecting intimate partner violence.” The Act itself is a single sentence: “The Government of Ontario shall recognize that intimate partner violence is an epidemic in Ontario.” Intimate partner violence is abuse which occurs in a current or former romantic relationship, including stalking, psychological abuse and physical and sexual violence. In 2023, rates of police-reported intimate partner violence in Ontario were at 269 per 10,000 people. While this is the lowest rate of all the provinces, it has steadily been on the rise since 2018....
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Councillor warns legal alcohol sales could hit Six Nations
Six Nations could see legal alcohol sales cropping up in the community. That is, if Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) doesn’t oppose alcohol sales local convenience stores could apply to sell it in the community. Councillor Cynthia Jamieson told SNEC at the General Council meeting on November 26, that if they don’t want alcohol sold in the community, they need to make that clear – quickly. Jamieson attended the Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) Ontario Joint Gathering November 5 to 7 and Jeff Skye, Chief of the Anishinabek Police Service expressed concerns about the impact of alcohol sales on communities because Premiere Doug Ford’s recent change to Ontario’s alcohol and gaming regulations that allow convenience stores to sell alcohol also applies to on-reserve convenience stores. Owners are eligible to apply for...
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Man facing charges after car travelling in wrong lane
OHSWEKEN, ON) A Six Nations man is facing impaired driving charges after a car was spotted driving in the wrong lane. Six Nations Police said on Sunday Oct. 13th at about 2:05 a.m. while on patrol, officers spotted a vehicle cross the centre line on Tuscarora Road. Police said the vehicle continued to be seen being driven erratically. Police successfully initiated a traffic stop of the vehicle. An officer approached the lone male driver advising him of the reason for the stop. At the same time, signs of impairment were observed on the man. Police said the man was cooperative with police. As a result of the investigation, police have arrested and charged Eldon Hill, 24, of Ohsweken, Ontario with the following offences: Impaired Operation Alcohol per se Offence “80...
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Driver charged with suspected drug impairment
OHSWEKEN, ON- A Hagersville man has been arrested and charged with multiple offences following a traffic stop. On Thursday, October 31st, 2024, at about 11:50 p.m. Six Nations Police were on general patrol on Argyle Street in Caledonia, Ontario. Police observed a vehicle swerving within the lane, crossing the centre line. Police continued to observe the vehicle driving erratically. Officers successfully conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle. Police approached the lone male driver to advise the driver the reason for the stop. Police said signs of impairment were observed on the driver. As a result of the investigation, police have arrested and charged Adriano Ditommaso,31, of Hagersville, Ontario with the following offences: Impaired Operation by Drug Dangerous Driving The accused is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of...
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First Nations Policing hopeful Supreme Court Ruling will aid in keeping communities safe
By Lynda Powless Editor A Supreme Court of Canada ruling ordering Quebec to provide more funding to a First Nation police force will aid Indigenous Police Forces in Ontario facing court action in the new year. Six Nations Chief of Police and President of the Indigenous Police Chiefs of Ontario (“IPCO”) Darren Montour said the decision comes just as First Nation community policing in Ontario is facing a similar battle. “This decision confirms what our communities have long known, which is that Canada and the provinces refuse to seriously consider the safety needs of First Nations. The result is conditions which would be unacceptable anywhere else in this country,” he said. “Every day, our First Nations police services in Ontario are asked to do more with less,” he added. The...
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Six Nations conference highlights community challenges with off reserve health care services
Six Nations Wellbeing Department (formerly Health Dept.,) held a conference recently to spotlight racism in healthcare for healthcare workers in surrounding communities. Councillor Amos Key virtually joined the Six Nations Elected Council’s (SNEC) General Council meeting from the conference on November 26. He said the community is making headway on its local health goals, including building Canada’s first Indigenous hospice and health hubs with wrap-around services for both youth and elders. Health director commended He also commended director of Wellbeing, Debra Jonathan for all her work. “We are on our way to creating a new health system for Six Nations with that kind of leadership,” he said. While working toward community goals, Jonathan, her staff, and the Wellbeing Committee continue to work toward equity in healthcare off-reserve. The conference, which...
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First Nations Policing isn’t about funding a program…it’s about saving lives…
In 2018, police serving Indigenous populations reported an abysmal statistic. The overall crime rate for Indigenous populations hit 30,333 incidents per 100,000 population. To make it easier to understand that amounts to three criminal incidents being reported for every 10 people. Think of 10 people you know and include yourself…now the statistic hits home. For First Nation Policing across Ontario seeking proper funding and manpower isn’t about updating a program…it’s a cry for help. Sadly, its one the province believes it can negotiate down, or are willing to put the public at risk. First Nation Policing, for whatever reason, doesn’t seem to hit the radar of politicians until there’s a disaster. This past September marked the second anniversary of the tragic mass killings on James Smith Cree Nation in Saskatchewan....
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Today in History
Nov 17 In 2023, the Canadian government announced the launch of a new $10-million program aimed at providing grants to small businesses involved in Indigenous tourism across Canada. The fund, to be administered by the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, would supply qualifying small businesses with up to $25,000 each in non-repayable funding. Nov 18 n 2021, PJ Akeeagok became the new premier of Nunavut. Akeeagok, 37, is from Nunavut’s most northern community of Grise Fiord and represents an Iqaluit constituency in the legislative assembly. Akeeagok beat out incumbent premier Joe Savikataaq and former health minister Lorne Kusugak for the job. In 2013, former northern priest Eric Dejaeger pleaded guilty in a Nunavut courtroom to eight of 76 sex-related charges he faced involving Inuit children more than 30 years earlier....
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Six Nations hockey youngster to represent Canada at Austrian international hockey tournament
By Sam Laskaris Writer A young Six Nations hockey player will be getting a taste of international hockey in Austria next June. Rato’ratseriio Hill, a nine-year-old, has been named to a Canadian under-11 boys’ team that will participate in the United World Games in the Austrian city of Klagenfurt. Rato’ratseriio is a Grade 4 student at Skaronhyase’ko:wa Everlasting Tree School in Ohsweken. And he’s currently playing hockey with the Norfolk Knights, an under-10 A squad that competes in the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA). He had spent last season with the Brantford 99ers, who also take part in the OMHA. Rato’ratseriio’s hockey career started when he joined a Brantford-based program when he was just three years old. “For an opportunity to come like this, we’re really excited,” said Hill’s father...
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AFN special chiefs assembly focusing on child welfare, policing, economics
OTTAWA-CP- Hundreds of First Nations chiefs are gathering in Ottawa for three days this week to discuss economic reconciliation, reforming the First Nations child welfare system, the policing system and the carbon price at an Assembly of First Nations’ special chiefs assembly. The gathering comes after a testy October assembly that saw chiefs vote down a $47.8-billion child welfare reform deal with Canada after decades of legal fights that found the federal government discriminated against First Nations children. It also comes as chiefs grow increasingly worried about a change in government, with a federal election looming and a gridlocked Parliament that means key pieces of legislation for First Nations people are not moving forward. The assembly’s gatherings are often attended by federal politicians, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose address...
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RCMP investigating death after mixed martial arts fight
Canadian Press -Mounties in Alberta are investigating the death of a fighter following a mixed martial arts charity event. RCMP Cpl. Troy Savinkoff said the man was taken to hospital after he fought Saturday at a community centre in Enoch Cree First Nation west of Edmonton. Parkland RCMP received a report of the man’s death on Monday morning, he said. “This fighter did die in hospital. However, it was immediately after the fight, so you would attribute it to the fight,” Savinkoff said Wednesday. “This is a very traumatic incident, and I’m sure it’s traumatic for those that were watching the event.” The fighter was 33 and lived in Edmonton. The organizer of Saturday’s event, Ultra Events Canada, said in an email Wednesday it was devastated to hear about the...
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Teenage girl among two killed in Saskatchewan First Nation house fire
Canadian Press-Police say two people, including a teenage girl, are dead after a house fire on a northern Saskatchewan First Nation. They say the identity of the second person killed in the fire has yet to be confirmed. The fire occurred on Clearwater River Dene Nation about 600 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon. RCMP spokesperson Keely Grasser says the girl was transported to hospital, where she died, while the other person was found dead inside the house. Grasser says the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency is investigating the cause of the fire. Clearwater River Dene Nation Chief Teddy Clark posted on social media that the First Nation is putting together a crisis team to support the community and families involved. “Our hearts go out to the families affected by this tragedy, and...
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