Infants Bear the Brunt of RSV Hospitalizations, UBC Study Finds
By Michelle Gamage, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Tyee Infants younger than six months old get hit the hardest with respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, making up almost half of all patients hospitalized for the illness in Canada, according to a new study from the University of British Columbia. The peer-reviewed study, published recently in the Lancet Regional Health: Americas journal, found that infants under six months made up 45 per cent of the almost 29,300 patients hospitalized for RSV in Canada from 2017 to 2023. That’s because infants’ immune systems are still developing, their bodies are very fragile and they don’t have any antibodies to fight off the virus, study lead author Nirma Khatri Vadlamudi told The Tyee. Vadlamudi led the study during her post-doctoral research at UBC’s faculty...
Register
Marchers call for end to police brutality in Nunavik
By Dominique Gene, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunatsiaq News More than 40 people took to the streets of Kuujjuaq on Tuesday demanding an end to what they say is police brutality in Nunavik. Holding the march on Tuesday was significant — Nov. 4 marks one year since Joshua Papigatuk died and his twin brother Garnet Papigatuk was badly injured in a confrontation with police as officers in Salluit responded to a report of an impaired driver. Since then, there have been two other police-involved deaths of Nunavik residents. “I want people to be able to feel safe to request assistance without the fear of being harmed,” said Mary Mesher, one of the volunteers who led the march in Kuujjuaq, in an interview. Marchers carried signs with messages such as “No...
Register
Eby, coastal First Nations call on Ottawa to maintain oil tanker ban
By Ashley Joannou British Columbia Premier David Eby and coastal First Nations have signed a declaration calling on the federal government to maintain an oil tanker ban off the province’s north coast. Eby says one oil spill in the area would destroy billions of dollars in economic activity along the coast, with no technology available to clean it up. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has been calling for the tanker ban to be repealed as part of her government’s proposal to build an oil pipeline to the B.C. coast. Chief Marilyn Slett, president of the Coastal First Nations, says the tanker ban is a result of 50 years of advocacy by coastal communities and is “foundational” for keeping the coast healthy and the economy strong. Jason Alsop, president of the Haida...
Register
Your first look at what Canadian Tire is doing with the Hudson’s Bay stripes
By Tara Deschamps When Canadian Tire learned that it had come out on top of a bidding war to own the Hudson’s Bay stripes this summer, one of its marketing executives said the feeling was comparable only to the most magical time of year. “It was like Christmas, quite honestly,” Eva Salem recalled of the June moment when her company got court permission to buy a treasure trove of HBC’s intellectual property, including the multicoloured motif, the HBC name and other slogans and trademarks from the defunct retailer for $30 million. “We were so excited.” But the joy quickly evolved into a reminder that owning one of the oldest and most venerable symbols of Canadiana comes with enormous weight. The motif hearkens back to a painful past when the fur...
Register
Indigenous leaders say federal budget falls short on health care, education
By Dylan Robertson Some Indigenous leaders say Tuesday’s federal budget lacks the investments in health and education their communities desperately need. The budget froze annual base funding for Indigenous health and social services and for treaty work, which Ottawa says amounts to a two per cent cut at a time when most federal agencies face a 15 per cent cut. National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak of the Assembly of First Nations says the freeze will have serious impacts on communities with high birthrates and the budget offers no plan to close the education gap that holds back economic growth in Indigenous communities. The Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami is praising the budget’s promises of investments in the Arctic, and particularly its support for an Inuit university. But the group says it’s troubled...
Register
Federal budget ‘really met the mark’ for northern Ontario: Hajdu
By Matt Prokopchuk, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, TBnewswatch.com THUNDER BAY — Northern Ontario has a lot to gain in the federal budget tabled by the Mark Carney government says one of the Thunder Bay area’s Liberal MPs. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne presented the first federal budget under Carney’s leadership Wednesday afternoon. It projects a $78 billion deficit, while targeting spending to boost investment and domestic productivity amid cuts to federal programs and the civil service. Thunder Bay-Superior North MP and Liberal cabinet minister Patty Hajdu said the budget’s commitment to building more — with over $50 billion committed to infrastructure spending “in a very short time” — will help northern Ontario. “For northern Ontario, it really met the mark, in particular in the space of investment and community infrastructure,” Hajdu...
Register
It was scary! It was spooky! It was Six Nations halloween!
...
Register
MCFN human rights case could lay foundation for First Nations education claims
By Carly McHugh Writer The Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN) human rights hearing into whether the federal government is upholding it educational equality for First Nation children has begun. The hearing began at MCFN last week . The hearing will address the long-standing systemic underfunding and inequity of education for First Nations children. The case opened before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) on Oct. 27 and is scheduled to take place over 15 days. By bringing it before the tribunal, the MCFN aims to ensure the federal government upholds its obligations to ensure First Nations students in Ontario have access to the same quality of education and educational funding as other children in Canada. “For far too long, First Nations students have faced barriers that no child...
Register
Six Nations Elected Council updating community plan
Six Nations will explore options for updating the community’s 2019 Community Plan. The Lands and Resources, Wealth and Economy Committee brought forward a resolution at the October 28 General Council meeting and Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) passed a motion to look into funding and resources to update the plan as well as hire both a community planner and land use planner. The Comprehensive Community plan, developed in 2019 guides development, land use, and community priorities across the territory. Councillor Alaina VanEvery said that while the plan is a “living document,” it has not been updated since 2019, and an update would help ensure Six Nations’ interests are reflected in future decision-making. Particularly as the community prepares for upcoming land claim litigation in 2026. Councillor Dayle Bomberry raised the question...
Register
Six Nations Police charge two with drug trafficking related charges
OHSWEKEN, ON- A Six Nations Police Drug Enforcement Unit investigation has resulted in police seizing bulk cocaine, oxycodone and laying trafficking charges. Six Nations Police executed warrants Tuesday, October 21, 2025, as part of a drug trafficking investigation at residence on Fourth Line near Cayuga Road. As a result of the Section 11 Controlled Drugs & Substances Act search warrants five persons were arrested and taken into custody, two of which had outstanding warrants with Six Nations Police. One individual was released from police custody unconditionally. A search was conducted resulting in the seizure of bulk cocaine, oxycodone, currency, a cell phone and drug packaging materials. As a result of the investigation, Robbe Beaver, 50, and Mackenzie Bomberry-Whitlow, 24, both of Ohsweken were arrested and charged with: Possession for the...
Register
Haudenosaunee deer harvest underway
The 14th annual Haudenosaunee deer harvest on Hamilton Conservation Authority (HCA) area lands began this week. The hunts are being held under the Nanfan Treaty. The Haudenosaunee Wildlife and Habitat Authority (HWHA) and the HCA meet annually to address any issues and have reached a Specific Agreement for the 2025 season. The hunt is based on the existing Protocol to address the Treaty Rights of the Haudenosaunee on HCA-owned lands. Deer harvesting for the 2025 season will be conducted in two areas of the Dundas Valley Conservation Area. For November and December 2025, harvesting will occur concurrently on HCA-owned lands between November 3 and December 4, 2025. The number of deer to be harvested is limited to 60 deer. Hamilton Police Services, the City of Hamilton municipal law enforcement and...
Register
Future unclear about rural Canada Post outlets serving First Nations
By Carly McHugh Writer Hundreds of post offices in rural, remote, northern and Indigenous communities throughout Canada—including Six Nations—are now facing the possibility of potential closure. The move comes after the federal government lifted a protective moratorium that has been in place for more than 30 years. On Sept. 25, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement, Joel Lightbound, announced plans to restructure Canada Post’s current model, in an effort to rectify its financial losses and update its services. The recommendations for change included moving non-urgent mail by ground instead of air, lifting the moratoriums on community mailbox (CMB) conversions and rural post offices, and increasing the stamp rate for items at the post office. Lightbound also stressed the importance of protecting services in rural, remote and Indigenous communities...
Register
Six Nations Elected Council approves new housing loan signers
Six Nations Senior executive team will now be able to sign housing loans, but their approved spending limit won’t change. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) approved an increase to the signing authority for senior administration, raising the spending limit to $350,000 for housing loans while maintaining a $300,000 limit for all other expenditures at the General Finance meeting on October 20. Jennifer Court, Chief Financial Officer, presented a recommendation to update the financial management policy to address delays in processing housing loans. Court explained that both she and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tracy Brant currently hold the authority to incur expenses up to $300,000, but housing loan amounts exceeding that limit required additional Council approval, slowing the process. “This has caused some delays in processing those loans in a timely...
Register
SNEC Cannabis Commission changes faces again
The Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) has once again replaced the leadership of the Six Nations Cannabis Commission (SNCC), marking the second time in four years that the oversight body has been restructured. In a statement dated October 6 and released publicly on October 31, SNEC announced the appointment of Leslie Powless as the new Chair of the SNCC and Kim Frazer as a Commissioner. In addition, Councillor Alaina VanEvery and Carole Lesley Greene have agreed to sit with the Commission until a full complement of commissioners is appointed. SNEC stated that all current SNCC Commissioners have been removed “effective immediately” due to what Council described as a failure to meet obligations under the Six Nations of the Grand River Cannabis Law, corporate bylaws, and the Memorandum of Understanding between...
Register
Elected Chief says she is keeping eye on future projects
Six Nations Elected Chief Sherri-Lyn Hill says she continues federal and intergovernmental engagement and local community participation during her update at the Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) General Council meeting on October 28. Hill said she remains active on several files affecting Six Nations, including ongoing discussions with federal and provincial ministries on policy, infrastructure, and governance matters. From October 20 to 22, Hill attended the Iroquois Caucus meeting in Akwesasne, along with Councillor Greg Frazer. The caucus discussions focused on internal administration, harvesting, fire and emergency services, and land management. Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu was unable to attend in person, but Northern Affairs and Indigenous Services Canada Regional Director Michael Laverne participated virtually. Hill said she raised several Six Nations concerns with federal representatives, including land management, membership,...
Register
Finance office now has access to online portal
Six Nations approved a motion authorizing the Chief Financial Officer to access Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)’s online portal. Jennifer Court, CFO, was granted full access to Six Nations Elected Council’s CRA account at the October 20 General Finance meeting. Court discovered that a previous motion earlier in the year had granted offline rather than online access. Court told SNEC online access is necessary to ensure the finance department can receive up-to-date documentation and manage accounts efficiently, especially during mail disruptions like the Canada Post strike. “It was very challenging to get the access online,” Court said. “Several phone calls were made into the CRA, multiple hours on hold trying to find the information. And essentially, when I got a hold of them, they said, ‘well, somebody needs to authorize you...
Register
Time to rethink cannabis regs
Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) is changing the faces of its cannabis commission…again. It’s not the first time the fledgling body has undergone a shift in the people sitting on it and restructuring. But this time, elected councillors are taking seats at the table. The four-year-old body, and anyone left on it, will now be joined by band councillors Alaina VanEvery and Carole Lesley Greene. At least until the commission can get a full board. Which considering the controversy the industry has created volunteers may be in short supply. The cannabis commission has struggled to maintain any kind of continuity. And it has faced criticism for its lack of foresight in allowing huge cannabis operations to locate near large residential areas and schools. Community members have launched petitions in an...
Register
Today in History
Nov 2 In 1796, Six Nations natives authorized Chief Brant to sell or lease some of their land to provide a steady income for the people.who were struggling to survive in their new settlements after the Revolutionary War. The goal of investing the money to generate a permanent annuity. In 1869, Louis Riel seized Fort Garry in Winnipeg during the Red River Rebellion. Nov 3 In 1995, Queen Elizabeth II signed a formal apology and compensation deal for indigenous Maori people dispossessed by British colonization of New Zealand. In 2021, Indigenous writers Katherena Vermette and Tomson Highway took home the top prizes at the Writers’ Trust Awards. Vermette, a Red River Métis author and poet in Winnipeg, won the $60,000 fiction award for “The Strangers.” Highway, based in Gatineau, Que.,...
Register
UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY – The Day The Earth Shook
by Xavier Kataquapit www.undethenorthernsky.com I was outside under the bright warm fall sunlight when I felt the world turn dark on me and the earth shook beneath my feet. My sister called with the tragic news that we had lost our 31 year old niece Myris Kataquapit. Myris, whom the family enjoyed simply calling ‘Mie’, was a bright light that touched many people in her extensive Kataquapit and Sutherland family of Attawapiskat. She is the daughter of my older brother Mario and Mie’s mother Margaret Sutherland. Her passing was deeply felt by our family as she was a dedicated mother to her daughters Auria and Eleanor. She also is survived by the girls’ father Warren Louttit. Mie was also the stepdaughter of Kelly Harris and the late Doug Medd. She...
Register
Bomberry inducted into Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame and Museum
By Sam Laskaris Writer It’s now official. Cory Bomberry has become a Hall of Famer. Earlier this summer it was announced that the Six Nations member was part of the 2025 class for the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame and Museum. But the induction ceremony was held this past Saturday at the MontHill Golf & Country Club in Caledonia, mere minutes from Bomberry’s Six Nations home. “I had my family there with me,” Bomberry said. “So, that was quite an emotional day. The induction was special having my whole family there.” Bomberry becomes the third member of his family to be inducted into the Canadian hall of fame. His father Oliver, whose nickname is Cap, went into the hall via the Builders category. And his brother Cam was recognized for...
Register
