Brantford Police asking the public for help to identify fraud suspect
BRANTFORD-The Brantford Police Service is asking the public for help in identifying a male suspect in a fraud investigation. On Tuesday, December 10, 2024, police said a victim reported receiving a phone call from a man who falsely identified himself as an employee from the fraud department of a large financial banking institution. During the course of a 2.5-hour phone call, the male suspect convinced the victim to provide his PIN number and then sent a fraudulent courier service to the victim’s residence to collect his debit and credit cards. The victim’s cards were then used to withdraw cash and purchase pre-paid Visa cards. The Brantford Police Service are seeking assistance from the public to identify the suspect shown in the surveillance photograph provided. These fraudsters can be very convincing...
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B.C.’s projected deficit grows again to $9.4 billion in latest fiscal update
(CP)-British Columbia’s new finance minister said she is “realistic” about the economic challenges facing the province after announcing this year’s record deficit is projected to reach $9.4 billion. Brenda Bailey said Tuesday that the forecasted deficit for 2024-2025 has grown by $429 million from the $8.9 billion estimated in the last fiscal update in September, mainly due to lower revenues. But Bailey said the rising deficit projection will not change the provincial government’s intention to make “smart, targeted investments” to grow the economy, rather than cutting services. She also promised affordability relief for B.C. residents on the path to a balanced budget. “It’s my view (that) you can’t pour from an empty cup,” Bailey said of the need to build up the economy instead of short-term cuts. “And so, the...
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Happy Holidays!
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Six Nations Elected Council reporting backlogs results in six month long late audit
By Lynda Powless Editor Six Nations own source revenues, to the tune of almost $10 million, are continuing to pick up funding shortages for Six Nations government programs overseen by Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC). SNEC Chief Sherri-Lyn Hill’s communications staff did not respond to requests for comment on the funding shortfalls. Instead SNEC approved the almost six months late 2023-2024 audit in a closed session and dropped it quietly on its website Monday Dec. 9th showing the community is picking up over $9 million in costs to run government programs. The audit shows last year (2023-2024) the band received a total of $120,103,972 in federal and provincial government transfers compared to the cost to run the band at $129,262,977. Without Six Nations own source revenues SNEC would have been facing...
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Administration costs increasing
Compensation paid to Senior officials. Compensation and travel expenses paid to senior officials included in the consolidated financial statements are as follows: Six Nations Elected Council’s (SNEC) administration costs are continuing to grow with the 2023-2024 audit showing a cost of $66,840,447 in salary and benefits costs. That’s a $6,513,194 increase over last year (2022-2023). Costs to run the administration rose to $129,262,977, a $7,424,610 increase. SNEC, on recommendation from former band administrator Darren Jamieson, passed a motion setting $50,000 as a compensation package base pay for band employees . Six Nations has only three departments soley operated by Six Nations band members including Lands and Resources, Lands Membership and Records Management. At the same time SNEC’s computer department is in the basement of housing. Veteran Councillor Helen Miller said...
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Six Nations Elected Council back to 12 councillors amid massive administrative changes
By Lynda Powless Editor With a year under their belt in a massive administrative shift Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) is back up to 12 full-time councillors and a year that saw $808,967 in council costs, a $25,055 dip from the year before. But the dip in honoraria isn’t due to cuts. The 2023 election saw new councillors coming on mid-stream in a transition year. The 59th Six Nations of the Grand River Elected council was sworn in November 7, 2023. It is split by six veterans and six new councillors. The new council is made up of Elected Chief Sherri-Lyn Hill, her first term as an elected chief. The 12 councillors include Alaina VanEvery, Amos Key, Audrey Powless-Bomberry, Carol Lesley Greene, Cynthia Jamieson, Dayle Bomberry, Dean Hill, Gregory Frazer, Hazel...
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SNEC Christmas turkey give-away approved in closed meeting
Six Nations is making it easier for families to celebrate the holidays with a feast. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) will dedicate $25,000 to give the community items for a holiday dinner. SNEC announced the decision at the General Council meeting on December 10, but approved the motion on December 2, at an in-camera meeting. “This is for community members living on the reserve,” Elected Chief Sherri Lyn Hill said. Hill made the announcement as part of her bi-weekly Chief’s update to the community. SNEC will use the $25,000 to purchase turkeys, hams and 5lbs bags of potatoes to help families enjoy the holiday without the financial burden of an expensive meal. Community members will have the option of choosing either a ham or turkey, but may not have both....
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Eligible Six Nations band members can apply for federal boarding program compensation
Six Nations members who were a part of a federal boarding program could receive compensation for abuse they endured. During the General Council meeting on December 10, Six Nations Elected Councillor Lesley Greene told councillors and community members she wanted to raise awareness regarding the Indian Boarding Homes class action settlement. She said she had never heard of the class action, but was informed of it at the Chief’s of Ontario General Assembly in Thunder Bay in November. In May 2024 the Federal Court approved a $1.9 billion settlement for the more than 400,000 Indigenous people who were placed in a home through the program between September 1, 1951, and June 30, 1992. “It doesn’t matter if you’ve been part of any other settlement, you can still apply,” she said....
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SNEC mourns staff member who passes away
Six Nations and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nations are mourning the loss of Sean Coaster. Six Nations Elected Chief Sherri Lyn Hill paid tribute to Coaster, a Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) staff member at the SNEC General Council meeting on December 10 and said his absence will be felt. “Council is especially saddened by a recent loss of an employee,” Hill said. “All of us at SNEC join in expressing our sincere condolences to his family, friends and coworkers.” Coaster joined SNEC on February 26, 2024, as a staff cleaner with the Housing Department and Hill said, “he quickly became known for his dedication and strong work ethic.” He was responsible for maintaining cleanliness across various key spaces within our community, including the Housing Office, Lands and Membership,...
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Volunteers backbone of community
Volunteers are the backbone of the community and without them many events, gatherings and community projects could not happen. Six Nations Elected Council made sure to thank volunteers and staff on December 10, at the last General Council meeting of 2024. Councillor Greg Frazer said without dedicated staff and volunteers events like Bread and Cheese, parades, the fall fair and many others could not have reached the size or level they’ve gotten to. “Now, we’re coming to the end of the year and we’re entering into the festive season. We’ve had a lot of social events this year,” he said. “Thank you to all of the volunteers that come to help. We can’t put this on without you. Staff of course work late and work long hours, We really do...
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Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday
It may seem early, but at Turtle Island News we want to wish you, all of our readers, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday. As office’s wind up, parties are over, and it’s now time for family. Time to reconnect, to wind down, and to have fun and remember the spirit of the season. And in that spirit, we bring you that infamous editorial from the Sept. 21, 1897 issue of the New York Sun that answers the question… “Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus.” Dear Editor, I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say that there is no Santa Claus. Papa says “If you see it in the Sun, it is so.” Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus? Virginia, Your...
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Weekly Cartoon
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Today in History
Dec 15 In 1890, Chief Sitting Bull, whose Sioux forces had wiped out Gen. George Custer and his army at the “Battle of Little Big Horn” in Montana in 1876, died in North Dakota after being shot by police trying to arrest him. He was born in 1831 along the Grand River in South Dakota. In 2021, the Canadian Press Newsmaker of the Year for 2021 was the children who didn’t come home from Indigenous residential schools. The runners-up for Newsmaker of the Year were health workers and the two Michaels who were released after nearly three years in a Chinese prison. Dec 17 In 1982, Indian and Northern Affairs Minister John Munro announced the federal government had agreed to pay Yukon natives $183 million to settle one of the...
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Xavier Kataquapil: UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY For My Brother Philip
By Xavier Kataquapit I’m dedicating this column to my late brother Philip Kataquapit who passed away on Christmas Day in 1990 at the age of 16. Philip was a very charismatic character. Everyone loved him and wanted to be around him. I always felt that he was a great combination of so many characters in our family all rolled up in one person. He was handsome, slender and tall like the men in mom’s side of the family. He was exciting, quick witted, funny and ready to laugh like dad’s side of the family. Guys wanted to be his friend because he was so easy to be with. Girls hovered around him because he was a handsome confident young man. He was well connected with our traditional culture as dad...
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Snipers beat visiting Outlaws in their home opener
By Sam Laskaris Writer Thanks in part to a five-goal performance from Jeremy Bomberry, the Six Nations Snipers picked up their first win of the season on Sunday. Bomberry’s offensive outburst, which included an assist in his six-point effort, helped the Snipers down the visiting Oshawa Outlaws 18-13 in an Arena Lacrosse League (ALL) match at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (ILA). With the victory, the Snipers evened their record at 1-1 this season. The Six Nations squad had been downed 17-13 by the host Brampton Express on Dec. 6. Meanwhile, the two others ALL clubs that play their home contests out of the ILA are still looking for their first victories of the 2024-25 campaign. The Ohsweken Bears saw their mark fall to 0-2 this past Saturday. The Bears were...
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Arrows the newest entrant in the Women’s Arena Lacrosse League
By Sam Laskaris Writer The Ontario-based women’s division of the Arena Lacrosse League is expanding. It was officially announced this past Thursday that the Women’s Arena Lacrosse League (WALL) East Division will be expanding to six teams for its upcoming 2025 season. The league, which operates entirely out of the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (ILA) in Six Nations, had five entrants this past season. The league was originally scheduled to stage its annual draft last Wednesday. But it was announced earlier in the week that the draft would be postponed due to an overwhelming response to open registration. Then, a couple of days later, league officials revealed their expansion plans. The five franchises that participated in the league last season simply had team names. They were Blazers, Sirens, Sky Hawks, Firebirds...
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Local junior lacrosse squads hooking up to hold combined training camp
By Sam Laskaris Writer For the first time all three Six Nations junior teams that are members of the Ontario Lacrosse Association (OLA) will stage a joint pre-season training camp. The Six Nations Junior Lacrosse Training Camp will be held Jan. 3-4 at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena. Those looking to crack the rosters of the Six Nations Arrows (Junior A), Six Nations Rebels (Junior B) or Six Nations Stealth (Junior C) are encouraged to attend the two-day camp. There is no registration fee to attend the camp. But players need to sign up in advance. Those who are interested in participating in the camp must register through the SportzSoft website. But those applications will not start being accepted until Jan. 1. As a result, players will need to sign up...
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Brant OPP arrest two after break and enter
BRANT COUNTY, ON – Brant County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have arrested two people who and are facing charges after OPP members responded to a break and enter in progress at a commercial property on Colborne Street East. On Tuesday December 17, 2024, at about 10:43 p.m., Brant County OPP received a report of a break and enter in progress at a business on Colborne Street East in Brant County . The property owner had been monitoring the site and was able to direct police to the location of the suspects. Two Brantford residents were arrested. Charged with Possession of Break In Instruments were Christopher St Denis, 61, of Brantford and Cynthia Tickle, 57, of Brantford. The accused have been released from police custody and are scheduled to appear in...
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Harassment investigation clears Navajo president and stokes new wave of political upheaval
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Political turmoil erupted within one of the largest Native American tribes in the U.S. as the attorney general for the Navajo Nation announced that an investigation had cleared the tribal president of sexual harassment allegations by the vice president. Even as results of the investigation were announced Monday, Navajo Nation Attorney General Ethel Branch was removed from office by the Navajo Nation Council in a 13-6 vote without public discussion or a reason outlined in the legislation. The tribe has been mired in political upheaval since April, when Navajo Vice President Richelle Montoya publicly outlined allegations of intimidation and sexual harassment against President Buu Nygren, stemming from interactions at an August 2023 meeting in Nygren’s office. Outside counsel investigated the allegations and found the incident...
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Bill to have Inuktut on election ballots gains traction
By Kira Wronska Dorward Local Journalism Initiative nuktut is a step closer to being included on election ballots in Nunavut following a two-year battle by Nunavut MP Lori Idlout to pass a private member’s bill. The proposed legislation was recently accepted by the Procedure and House Affairs Committee (PROC) and must now gain Senate approval. Idlout said she welcomed the “long overdue decision” by the committee to recommend a trial run of Inuit languages on the ballot in Nunavut. “During both, my numerous appearances at committee and as a witness, I stressed the importance of reflecting the languages we speak on our land and improving access for Inuit,” the MP said. “When I was first elected, I made it a priority to fight for this change to make elections more...
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