Wabasca RCMP responded to 252 reports of spousal abuse in 2024
By Pearl Lorentzen Local Journalism Initiative Reporter In 2024, the Wabasca RCMP detachment’s most frequent ‘common police activity’ was responding to spousal abuse. In 2024, the Wabasca RCMP responded to 252 reported cases of spousal abuse. For the Athabasca RCMP, the number of reported cases was 93. For the Athabasca, RCMP this was the third highest common police activity, below suspicious person/vehicle/property (408) and false or abandoned 911 calls (99). These and the following statistics are from the Wabasca and Athabasca RCMP third quarter (October to December) reports in the M.D. of Opportunity February 12 Council agenda package. The statistics are divided into several sections including, Criminal Code, drugs, and common police activities. Spousal abuse takes many different forms, so within the criminal charges it can show up in different...
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Man facing charges after three vehicle collision
OHSWEKEN,ONT- Six Nations Police (SNP) have charged a local man after a three-vehicle collision on Chiefswood Road last month. SNP and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) all responded to a three-vehicle collision Tuesday, January 28th, 2025, at approximately 6:05 a.m. on Chiefswood Road. Police said Wednesday (Feb. 26, 2023) they found three vehicles at the scene, all with heavy damages, blocking the roadway. EMS assessed all drivers at the scene and one driver was transported to a local area hospital with minor injuries. SNP said officers spoke with the driver’s involved and learned a truck was travelling northbound on Chiefswood Road when it collided with two other vehicles. During the investigation police learned the driver of the truck was prohibited from operating a motor vehicle. Police said no signs of impairment...
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Chiefs granted intervenor status in border-crossing lobster case
By Andrew Bates, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Telegraph-Journal An Indigenous nation has been granted intervenor status in a case involving a U.S.-based lobster fisher accused of illegally fishing in Passamaquoddy Bay. Erik D. Francis, 55, of Perry, Maine, faces charges under the Coastal Fisheries Protection Act alleging that he illegally fished from a foreign vessel in New Brunswick waters. According to court documents, he was stopped on Nov. 15, 2022, off the coast of Deer Island by fisheries officials, who seized 36 lobster traps owned by Francis. Francis, who is self-represented, has claimed Indigenous fishing rights as a part of the Peskotomuhkati (Passamaquoddy) Nation, which has two communities in Maine including Sipayik (Pleasant Point), where Francis lives, and the community known as Skutik in Charlotte County. The Peskotomuhkati people, which...
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Trio of King Charles III Coronation Medals awarded in Tofino
By Nora O’Malley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Ha-Shilth-Sa Tofino, BC – Joe Martin, Levi Martin and Dr. Ricardo Manmohan were awarded King Charles III Coronation Medals on Feb. 21 in front of an intimate gathering of friends and family at the newly renovated Clayoquot Sound Community Theatre in Tofino. Courtenay-Alberni NDP MP Gord Johns presented the honour on behalf of the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada. Johns was tasked with nominating 20 individuals from his riding for the Kings Charles II Coronation Medal, an award that recognizes outstanding individuals who have made a difference in their community. “It wasn’t easy to pull all these individuals together at the same time,” said Johns. “They are extremely busy individuals that are constantly giving everything they’ve got, and when I...
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Chiefs in Ontario vote in favour of federal child welfare reform deal
By Alessia Passafiume -CP-First Nations chiefs in Ontario voted overwhelmingly Wednesday in favour of a child welfare reform deal with the federal government. The Ontario-specific deal to allow First Nations to take control of child welfare was supported by 76 chiefs in assembly, with four objections and three abstentions. As the vote concluded, Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict said the decision will allow First Nations to end discrimination in their communities and offer better support to families. “We can’t wait for a national agreement. It’s too important in our communities,” he told the chiefs gathered in Toronto. “Yes, there’s a lot of work to do, but I believe today is a very momentous moment. Not only are we stopping discrimination in our communities — in your communities — we’re advancing...
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A Safer Future – Cree Nation and Ontario fire departments launch unique fire prevention program
By Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The Cree Nation partnered with Ontario fire departments on January 31 to launch a Fire Prevention Officer (FPO) Mentorship Program in Orillia, Ontario. With 10 FPOs from Cree communities working for a month in conjunction with 11 fire departments across Ontario, the program is the first of its kind in Canada. “Fire prevention is so vital for our communities, especially with the unique challenges we face,” stated Cree Grand Chief Mandy Gull-Masty. “This mentorship program will give our Fire Prevention Officers the knowledge and support needed to better protect our communities and build a safer future for all in Eeyou Istchee.” The Cree Nation faces similar high fire risks as do other First Nations, including overcrowded housing and socioeconomic inequities. A 2021 report...
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Francis Verreault-Paul picked by Assembly of First Nations as Quebec-Labrador chief
-CP-Francis Verreault-Paul has been elected the new regional chief of the Assembly of First Nations for Quebec and Labrador. Verreault-Paul, 37, from the Innu community of Mashteuiatsh in Quebec’s Lac-St-Jean region, takes over from Ghislain Picard, who stepped down after 33 years in the role and 11 terms as chief. “I commit to be a unifying voice, to listen, to act and to carry our claims forward with conviction,” Verreault-Paul, who before the vote served as chief of staff at the assembly, said in a news release on Wednesday. After a vote Tuesday in Lac-Beauport, Que., north of Quebec City, Verreault-Paul beat three other candidates: Constant Awashish, grand chief of the Atikamekw Nation council; Cathy Martin, council member of the Listuguj Mi’kmaq government; and Monik Kistabish, chief of the Abitibiwinni...
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Discrepancies over funding: Survivors Secretariat warns of closure
By Joshua Santos Writer A financial dispute between the federal government and the Survivors’ Secretariat has placed the future of critical residential school investigations at risk. The organization is warning that it can be forced to fold by the end of March. Ottawa claims the Secretariat still has $4.2 million in unspent funds while the organization insists that money has already been allocated, leaving it without resources to continue its work. “They are denying us funding because they say we have a surplus,” said Laura Arndt, secretariat lead. “Canada knows we do not have a surplus. We have been essentially begging them for funding since June. The hardest part is Canada is not being honest about our financial resources, and they are using that to say they are not funding...
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Canada takes on fentanyl but Indigenous communities left behind
By Joshua Santos Writer Canada is ramping up its fight against fentanyl, with new border security measures and the creation of a fentanyl czar, but in Indigenous communities, where the crisis is hitting hardest, the resources to fight back are still out of reach. The Ontario Chiefs of Police said fentanyl, a drug linked to organized crime, saw an increase in police seizures and overdose-linked deaths. It saids the uptick, coupled with supply issues of other drugs, may have contributed to an increase in overdoses across Ontario and Canada. “It’s bad all over the place but more so in Indigenous communities because of less resources and manpower for law enforcement,” said Six Nations Police Chief Darren Montour. “It boils down to funding.” Montour said the police’s drug enforcement unit has...
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Woman facing impaired charge after vehicle found in ditch
OHSWEKEN- A Six Nations woman is facing multiple charges after police found a vehicle in the ditch on Second Line. Six Nations Police said an anonymous caller contacted police Friday, Jan.3 at about 7 a.m. saying a vehicle was in the ditch on Second Line. Six Nations Police responded to the scene where they said they found a vehicle that appeared to have been backed into the ditch. Police spoke with the lone female driver and noticed signs of impairment. The woman was arrested and transported to another local police service to conduct a breath test. As a result of the investigation, police have arrested and charged Myka Burning, 44, of Ohsweken, with the following criminal offences: Impaired Operation Alcohol per se Offence “80 plus” Operation while Prohibited Burning is...
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No Ontario Election 2025 polling station at Six Nations
By Joshua Santos and Lynda Powless Writers If Six Nations voters want to cast a ballot in tomorrow’s ( Feb. 27) Ontario Elections, they will have to leave Six Nations to do it. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) told Elections Ontario officials, in a closed meeting, that no voting station was to be opened at Six Nations. Election Ontario sources said the reason behind the decision was a protest that occurred the last time a poll was held at Six Nations. Instead, if Six Nations band members want to cast a ballot, they will have to go to an official polling station on Feb. 27th at Burtch Baptist Church, 352 Cockshutt Rd. in Brantford. Polls will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at which point staff will count...
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SNEC hopes new office space will bring staff back to office
Six Nations band staff will now have access to two new office spaces. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) hopes making the new offices available will help get staff, who have worked from home since 2020, or those sharing desks, back into the office. Councillor Audrey Powless-Bomberry introduced a motion to continue paying for two units at the Oneida Business Park for SNEC and the Education Committee’s staff person. Councillor Bomberry introduced the motion at SNEC’s open General Finance meeting earllier this month but withdrew it when the motion didn’t receive support. “I think we think we should hold on to them. Any councillor could have office space to work or if they want to have a focus group they could take them there and for meetings. We think it just...
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Ohsweken man facing charges after vehicle fails to stop for stop sign
OHSWEKEN-An Ohsweken man is facing a series of charges after Six Nations Police spotted a vehicle drive through a stop sign last month. Six Nations Police were on general patrol, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025 at about 7:15 a.m. when they saw a motor vehicle fail to stop for the posted stop sign at Fourth Line Road and Onondaga Road. Police conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle and spoke to the lone male driver. Police said while speaking to the driver signs of impairment were observed. The man was arrested and taken to the Six Nations detachment to provide a sample of his breath. The man refused to provide a sample and as a result of the investigation police arrested and charged the man. Charged Matthew Turner, 33, of Ohsweken,...
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RCMP Black Hawks to Patrol International Borders
By Joshua Santos Writer Black Hawk helicopters may roar through the skies as law enforcement agencies increase patrols at both the Canadian and American borders but not over Six Nations. Royal Canaidan Mout Police (RCMP) said the helicopters aren’t patrolling over Six Nations but it was included in an alert the agency sent to all communities within a certain distance of the international borders. The office of the Six Nations Elected Chief was one of several communities notified that there will be increased international border patrols on both land and air. “A Black Hawk helicopter with the RCMP logo will be utilized for air patrols,” said Caitlin Court, communications coordinator for Six Nations in a news release. “If you see this helicopter, it does not mean a specific threat or...
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What’s public and what isn’t … is a public matter
Six Nations current elected council’s decision to move into closed sessions on issues affecting the local community hit a new level this past week. The Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) decided to discuss the community’s ability to vote in elections behind closed doors. Now, whether you vote or not, or support the issue of voting. the issue isn’t putting a ballot in a box. The question is why? Why would a discussion on whether an election or vote would be held at Six Nations go behind closed doors. In the past the holding of voting polls, for provincial elections in particular, has come under fire with protesters showing up at the single voting station wherever it may be on Six Nations. But the discussion of whether to hold one at...
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Anderson completes university rookie season with Golden Hawks
By Sam Laskaris Writer Brenden Anderson is already looking forward to his sophomore year in the university hockey ranks. Anderson, a Six Nations member, was a rookie with the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks this season. The Golden Hawks had their season come to an end earlier this month. The squad only managed to win five out of its 28 regular season contests. As a result, the Wilfrid Laurier squad, which failed to qualify for the playoffs, finished last in the 10-team West Division of the Ontario University Athletics (OUA). The OUA also has an East Division featuring nine squads. Anderson, a 21-year-old forward, appeared in 17 of the Golden Hawks’ games. He scored three goals and added an assist. Unfortunately, his season came to an end in mid-January. That’s because...
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Snow Snake winners announced at winter tournament
By Joshua Santos Writer Young competitors gathered to test their skills in the traditional Indigenous game of Snow Snake as winter snow blankets the landscape. The Porter Snowsnake Team organized the Snow Snake Competition at the Woodland Cultural Centre on Feb. 22 and 23. Categories include kindergarten, Grades 1 and 2, Grades 3 and 4, Grades 5 and 6, Grades 7 and 8, two high schools, mudcats and three men’s classes. This year’s competition featured a mix of veteran players and newcomers, each eager to make their mark. The winners are as follows: Kindergarten: Russell Scanlan Grade Grades 1 and 2 – Cayson Scanlan Grade 3 and 4 – Charles Scanlan Grade 5 and 6 – Mo John Grade 7 and 8 – Ivan Abrams High School – Pooty Scanlan...
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Raceway gearing up for 2025 season
By Sam Laskaris Writer The 2025 race schedule has been released for the Ohsweken Speedway. But officials with the local racing track continue to plan for the season, which will commence in May. That includes a pre-season information and registration meeting, which will be held this coming Sunday, Mar. 2. That meeting will be held at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena. Among those who will be at the meeting will be officials for the track’s Thursday Night Micro Sprints program. “Our Thursday night program is the perfect stepping stone for young racers looking to move into full-sized cars, and for veteran racers who just want to have fun,” said Clinton Geoffrey, who is the general manager of the Ohsweken Speedway. “The growth we’re seeing is incredible.” The track’s Thursday night program...
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Indigenous-owned Tse’K’wa cave spotlighted on ‘Before the Peace’ podcast
By Ed Hitchins, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Repatriation, history, reconciliation and the future of the Tse’K’wa cave Heritage Site was discussed for an episode of the Before the Peace podcast. The cave in Charlie Lake is co-owned by Doig River First Nation, Prophet River First Nation and West Moberly First Nations, and its history stretches to the Ice Age. Host Chris Walker was joined by the Tse’k’wa Heritage Society’s executive director, Alyssa Currie, to discuss what she described as a “busy” 2024. She says her job varies daily, but she oversees the operations of the heritage site and its governing society. “Some days, it’s running programs. Others, it’s writing grant reports so that we can continue to bring in funding to support the important work...
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