Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok survives confidence vote after effort to oust him
-CP-P.J. Akeeagok is still the premier of Nunavut after surviving a tight confidence vote in the Legislature on Wednesday. In a 10-8 vote, MLAs defeated a motion to strip him of his premiership and remove him from cabinet. “Well, I’m relieved,” Akeeagok said in an interview minutes after the vote. “I feel we’ve done some incredible work in the past three years that I feel so proud of.” On Monday Aivilik MLA Solomon Maliki advised the legislative assembly of his intent to move the motion, citing what he said was a lack of transparency in Akeeagok’s leadership. In Nunavut’s consensus government system — where there are no political parties — MLAs elect the premier and the cabinet. The remaining MLAs, who essentially serve as the opposition, also have the power...
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‘Aging membership, aging buildings:’ Some legion branches struggle to keep doors open
The Royal Canadian Legion branch in Montreal’s Verdun borough meets once a week in a community centre space it rents by the hour, less than 500 metres from the elegant brick building it sold over a decade ago when maintenance costs got too high. After years of rising rents, a forced move and general instability, its members are happy to have somewhere to meet. But president Darlene Harrison says one question keeps coming back: “When are we going to have our own home again?” It’s a question she doesn’t know how to answer. She recently went to check out a space, only to find out the rent was $6,700 per month — not including costs like phone and internet. “All of these things cost money, and until we can generate...
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Who ruined Hobo Hot Springs? Ministry investigates as mystery roils Harrison, B.C.
(Canadian Press)Stories passed down from elders tell how First Nations from afar would paddle their canoes to bathe in the hot springs on the territory of the Sts’ailes First Nation. They believed the water contained medicine, said Sts’ailes Grand Chief William Charlie. “Our people have been using it for tens of thousands of years,” he said of the springs he called Qwólts, meaning boiling medicine water. The steaming waters in the Village of Harrison Hot Springs, 130 kilometres east of Vancouver, could once be enjoyed in pools known as the Hobo Hot Springs for free — unlike the neighbouring Harrison Hot Springs Resort where users of its pools must be resort guests. But last month, the Hobo Hot Springs were mysteriously filled in with dirt and rocks, surprising the nation,...
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B.C. court allows police to apply to dispose of evidence at serial killer’s property
(Canadian Press)The B.C. Supreme Court says it has jurisdiction to order the disposal of thousands of pieces of evidence seized from Robert Pickton’s pig farm decades ago, whether it was used in his murder trial or not. The court says in a ruling issued online today that the RCMP can apply to dispose of some 15,000 pieces of evidence collected from the search of Pickton’s property in Port Coquitlam, including “items determined to belong to victims.” Police asked the court for directions last year to be allowed to dispose of the mountain of evidence gathered in the case against Pickton, who was convicted of killing six women and died in May after being attacked in prison. However, some family members of victims disputed the disposal because they have a pending...
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‘Should never have ended like that’: Inuk man killed by police in Quebec’s Far North
A remote northern Quebec community is demanding justice after a man was shot and killed and his twin brother seriously injured by police responding to someone allegedly trying to drive while impaired. Joshua Papigatuk was killed and his twin brother Garnet is recovering in a Montreal hospital following an altercation with the Nunavik Police Service early Monday in Salluit, an Inuit fly-in community about 1,850 kilometres north of Montreal. Mosusi Tarkirk is a 24-year-old Salluit resident who grew up with the brothers in the Inuit village and considered them best friends. “It should never have ended like that,” he said, adding that from what he has heard neither brother was armed. “They get called because someone is about to be driving intoxicated … from that to shooting, they’re (supposed to...
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Kuujjuaq protest demands justice after police shooting in Salluit
By Cedric Gallant – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter For the second straight day, about 50 people angered by a police shooting that killed one person and injured another protested the Nunavik Police Service’s actions. Outside the Kuujjuaq police station on Tuesday, protesters carried signs saying “justice for Joshua” and “justice for the twins.” Protesters stand in front of the Nunavik Police Service station in Kuujjuaq with photos of Garnett and Joshua Papigatuk. (Photo by Cedric Gallant) There was a similar scene in Salluit Monday where the shootings had occurred earlier that day. On Monday in Salluit, two Nunavik police officers responded at 4:10 a.m. to a report of someone attempting to drive while impaired, a news release issued Tuesday by Quebec’s police watchdog, the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes, said. Minutes...
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Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok survives confidence vote after effort to oust him
P.J. Akeeagok is still the premier of Nunavut after surviving a tight confidence vote in the Legislature on Wednesday. In a 10-8 vote, MLAs defeated a motion to strip him of his premiership and remove him from cabinet. “Well, I’m relieved,” Akeeagok said in an interview minutes after the vote. “I feel we’ve done some incredible work in the past three years that I feel so proud of.” On Monday Aivilik MLA Solomon Maliki advised the legislative assembly of his intent to move the motion, citing what he said was a lack of transparency in Akeeagok’s leadership. In Nunavut’s consensus government system — where there are no political parties — MLAs elect the premier and the cabinet. The remaining MLAs, who essentially serve as the opposition, also have the power...
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‘Should never have ended like that’: Inuk man killed by police in Quebec’s Far North
-Canadian Press-A remote northern Quebec community is demanding justice after a man was shot and killed and his twin brother seriously injured by police responding to a drunk driving call. Joshua Papigatuk was killed and his twin, Garnet, is recovering in a Montreal hospital following an altercation with the Nunavik Police Service early Monday in Salluit, an Inuit fly-in community about 1,850 kilometres north of Montreal. The pair were identified by Mosusi Tarkirk, a 24-year-old Salluit resident who says he grew up with the brothers in the Inuit village and was best friends with them. Other residents have been paying tribute to the brothers online and have been fundraising for their family. Tarkirk says that since the shooting everyone is shocked and angry, adding that people don’t feel safe with...
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Pembina Pipeline seeing increased interest from potential Cedar LNG suppliers: CEO
-CP-One of the partners behind the Cedar LNG project says it has seen an uptick in interest from potential long-term contracted natural gas suppliers since the project was green-lit in June. Calgary-based Pembina Pipeline Ltd. and its project partner, the Haisla First Nation, made a final investment decision at that time to go ahead with the US$4-billion facility. Pembina CEO Scott Burrows said Wednesday the positive final investment decision has given potential suppliers more confidence, and he expects the facility’s remaining uncontracted capacity will be in demand. “The interest in the project has increased, just given that it’s real in people’s eyes now,” Burrows said on a conference call with analysts. “We do believe that, coupled with the fact that this will be a scarce resource in terms of (being)...
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Nip-Rock High students building a home for Ginoogaming
By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter RED ROCK — Right now it may not look like a new house, but that’s what 19 Nipigon-Red Rock High School students will have completed by the end of June. The secondary school’s new Indigenous Skilled Trades Training Program launched in mid-October with a project to construct a new home that will be someone’s abode in Ginoogaming First Nation. The project, akin to one that wrapped at a Thunder Bay high school earlier this year, is getting support from Matawa First Nations Management, Red Rock Indian Band, Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek (Rocky Bay), Ginoogaming First Nation and other partners. It provides First Nations youth at Nip-Rock High with hands-on trades training and certifications in carpentry, electrical work and more while they earn high school...
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Judy Sinclair re-elected to PTFN council
By Pearl Lorentzen Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Judy Sinclair was re-elected as a Trout Lake councillor for Peerless Trout First Nation (PTFN) on October 30. She was running against Norman Gladue for the position. The vote breakdown isn’t publicly available. Peerless Trout members who want to know the number of votes can contact the electoral officer at 780-467-3946 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. This will be Sinclair’s third term, according to her bio on the PTFN website. Her goal for her second term, the bio says, was “to ensure that the Trust Program was properly set up, with processes that were transparent for the members. These processes ensure accountability to the membership and allow them to be involved in decision-making as it relates to trust funds.”...
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Blackfoot sign project continuing
By Alexandra Noad, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Businesses and organizations in southern Alberta have the opportunity to have public facing signage in the Blackfoot language, thanks to a grant from Community Futures Lethbridge Region. This project is currently in Phase 2 after a very successful first phase of the project. Troy Grainger, executive director of Community Futures Lethbridge Region, says it took a while to get the word out because they were working with a small budget, but once it took off, he was happy with the response. “We were really happy with the response. We were over subscribed (and) we ended up with a waiting list. So we applied for another provincial grant, which we were successful in and we were able to secure additional funding,” said Grainger. The...
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Former Senator, TRC Chief Commission Murray Sinclair passes
‘The best that we can be’: Indigenous judge and TRC chair Murray Sinclair dies at 73 Across Canada Indigenous people are mourning the loss of a giant. Murray Sinclair, who was born when Indigenous people did not yet have the right to vote, grew up to become one of the most decorated and influential people to work in Indigenous justice and advocacy. A former judge and senator, one of Sinclair’s biggest roles was chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission into residential schools. He died Monday morning in a Winnipeg hospital, said his son Niigaan Sinclair. He was 73. Sinclair was a father of five and a grandfather. His traditional Anishinaabe name was Mizhana Gheezhik or The One Who Speaks of Pictures in the Sky. — Assembly of First Nations...
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Burger Barn takes tasty Brant Burger Wars Championship
Burger Barn manager Paul McAllister and staff member Landon Thomas-Hill hold up the Brant Burger Wars sign. Six Nations Burger Barn won the contest and is now Brant County’s best burger. (Photo by Austin Evans) By Austin Evans Writer Six Nations own Burger Barn has the best burger in the area and an award to prove it. The first ever Brant Burger Wars champion: Burger Barn will be adding thier victorious “The Duel Burger” to their menu. Brant United Way hosted a 14-restaurant burger competition, pledging to donate $2 from every burger a restaurant sold to programs in their area. Burger Barn topped the competition with 1,720 burgers sold, raising $3,440 for Six Nations programs. Burger Barn manager Paul McAllister created the brand-new “The Duel Burger” over six weeks,...
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Six Nations Police Project Sideshow shuts down drug operation, over 20 charges laid
By Lynda Powless Editor SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND RIVER- Six people are facing charges after a drug trafficking investigation by Six Nations and Brantford Police. Six Nations Police, with the aid of the Brantford Police department, launched an investigation dubbed Project Sideshow earlier this month resulting in over 20 charges being laid and a drug trafficking operation shut down. Police searched six homes in Brantford and at Six Nations and seized cocaine, hydromorphone, cash a loaded handgun and ammunition. Four people from Brantford between the ages of 23 and 46 and a 54-year-old man from Ohsweken were arrested. They have been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking: cocaine, possession for the purpose of trafficking: hydromorphone and proceeds of crime under $5,000.A 24-year-old from Brantford was also arrested...
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Brantford seeking names of World War II casualties
BRANTFORD, ONT-The City of Brantford is asking the public to submit names of local World War II casualties missing from the Brant War Memorial. The city is planning an addition to their memorial to service members from Brantford, the County of Brant and Six Nations of the Grand River who died in WWII. Brantford accepted submissions at in-person sessions on October 29 and November 2 and will continue taking online submissions until November 15. “The call has been open since October 11 and we are still in the process of collecting missing names,” said Brantford Arts and Culture Coordinator Adrienne Briggs. “We encourage all families and Veterans Associations to put forward any names they think are missing.” After Brantford verifies submissions, the new names will be added to the memorial...
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Ohsweken swarmed with ghouls and monsters for Halloween
By Austin Evans Writer Veterans Park was swarmed with monsters and ghouls for a second year in a row as Six Nations Social Services hosted their annual Trick-Or-Treating event. While their building is under construction, Social Services has moved their trick-or-treating event to Veterans Park. Event organizer Mandi Styres said the extra space gave them room to invite other organizations to join them. “We had some interest from Land and Resources, Dreamcatcher’s here,” she said. “I didn’t even know they were participating, but the more the merrier.” Though the move to Veterans Park was originally done out of necessity, Styres felt bringing more organizations in to join them was good for the trick-or-treaters. “The less stops the kids gotta do, the better,” she said. “Everything all in one spot, [it’s]...
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Six Nations invited to free Christmas dinner
The Six Nations community is invited to a free Christmas dinner as a way to come together and support each other as some grieve for lost family and friends. Lisa Greenfrom Rekindling Fires, a Six Nations Community member, came to Six Nations Elected Council’s (SNEC) General Finance meeting on November 4 to request use of the Community Hall on December 24 to host a Christmas Dinner, games and craft day and asked for a $4,000 donation to fund the event. SNEC passed two motions, one to allow Green use of the Community Hall during SNEC’s Christmas closure and to waive the fees. A second motion was passed to provide the funds to help pay for 150 meals for community members from Ontario First Nation Limited Partnership (OFLNP) funds. Last year...
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WCC new building to get donation from Robbie Robertson tribute concert
By Austin Evans Writer Woodland Cultural Centre’s executive director says the donation from Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson will fund a project formerly co-chaired by the late guitarist. A tribute concert to Six Nations guitarist Robbie Robertson was held in Los Angeles October 17, with a portion of the proceeds going towards the Woodland Cultural Centre. Executive Director Heather George said she was just as surprised to find out about the donation as everybody else. “We just found out through the posts on social media, basically,” she said. “I think because of his friendship with Martin Scorsese, who I think was one of the organizers of this event, that’s how that interest in making that donation came to be.” Director Martin Scorsese recorded the Life...
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Turtle Island News: It was frightful, funny and all together fun!
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