Six Nations’ own Alicia Elliott wins another writing award
By Austin Evans Writer Six Nations award winning writer Alicia Elliott has won another prize for writing, bringing home the Indigenous Voices Award for Prose in English for her first published novel. “And Then She Fell,” is Elliott’s first published novel,, it was published by Doubleday Canada in September 2023. It’s the story of a young Mohawk woman grappling with the horrifying consequences of the picture-perfect life she always dreamed of. It deals with themes of Native life, motherhood and mental health, and Elliott’s writing process shaped by her bipolar disorder diagnosis. She won her first prize after graduating from York University. She was awarded the gold prize at the national Magazine Awards for her essay “A Mind Spread Out On The Ground.” Elliott was born in Buffalo, New York,...
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Miss Indigenous Canada to be crowned in Six Nations
By Sam Laskaris Writer The inaugural Miss Indigenous Canada contest will be held in Six Nations later this month. A total of 26 contestants from across the country will participate in the event, which runs July 24-27. Members of the public are able to attend the contest’s final show, which will be held July 27 at the Gathering Place by the Grand, beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased here https://www.missindigenouscanada.ca/tickets Aleria McKay, the committee head of the event’s organizers, said about 700 women from across Canada had expressed interest in taking part when details about the applications were released this past March. “I think that really shows there is a demand for this,” said McKay, a former pageant contestant herself who was named Miss Teenage Ontario in 2018...
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Mending fences at the AFN
The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is holding its annual meeting in Montreal this week with a packed agenda that includes none other than Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. It’s the first time the Conservative Leader will be addressing the chiefs since he took the helm of the party. In addition he is participating in a question-and-answer session with chiefs. And he will have reason to be nervous. Some chiefs aren’t exactly fans of the Conservative Leader after questioning his stand on reconciliation and they worry, in advance of the next federal election, if a Conservative government wins, potential funding cuts could hit Indigenous people. Indigenous people tend to have long memories and remember when Poilievre was booed after addressing the assembly with a video message in December 2022. That’s when...
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Today in History
Today in History for July 14: In 1978, the Inuit agreed to take 95,000 square kilometres of the western Arctic and $45 million in return for renouncing all claims to about 500,000 square kilometres, including the resource-rich Mackenzie River Delta. In 2021, Chiefs in Manitoba re-elected Arlen Dumas as the head of the organization representing First Nations in the province. The Cree leader beat out Sheila North, a former grand chief of the large First Nations group MKO. Dumas was first elected as grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs in 2017. Today in History for July 15: In 2021, the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission identified up to 6,000 missing children. The researcher who used ground-penetrating radar to find what are believed to be the...
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UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY Shoo-Shoo-Peh-Gun – The Day The Ocean Stood Still
By Xavier Kataquapit Every time I look out over a body of water, whether it is a lake, a river or even an ocean, I always think of Weeneebek, or what is known as James Bay in the English language. My father Marius Kataquapit was an expert boater that had travelled on this water on a freighter canoe all his life. He often took us out as children as a teaching on the water. Those trips were always fun but they were often difficult and sometimes even miserable as the Weeneebek was rarely calm and most often a rough sea of powerful cold waves and huge ocean swells that challenged us on every trip. There was only one moment in my lifetime that I was fortunate enough to witness the...
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Rivermen to conclude regular season schedule in Owen Sound
By Sam Laskaris Writer The Six Nations Rivermen were able to have a little bit of fun in their most recent outing. But it’s expected that it will be all business for the local Senior B club this Saturday in Owen Sound as it finishes off its regular season schedule. The Rivermen will wrap up their Ontario Series Lacrosse (OSL) regular season with a Saturday matinee versus the Owen Sound North Stars. That match, which will be held at the Bayshore Community Centre, has an opening faceoff scheduled for 3 p.m. Six Nations is sitting atop the standings in the six-team OSL sporting a 13-2 record. But the Rivermen will in all likelihood need to register a victory on Saturday to guarantee themselves a first-place finish. That’s because the Brooklin...
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MontHill Golf and Country Club once again prepping to host province’s top Indigenous golfers
By Sam Laskaris Writer For the third consecutive year elite Indigenous golfers will be converging locally to determine provincial bragging rights. The Indigenous Ontario Golf Championship will be held Aug. 12-14 at the MontHill Golf and Country Club. About 120 players took part during part in the inaugural tourney in 2022. A similar number participated in last year’s event. Both of those championships were also staged at the area course. Tournament co-chair Steve Tooshkening said, as in previous years, next month’s event is being capped at 90 participants. But organizers will in all likelihood find ways to accept additional players so he once again is anticipating about 120 competitors. Tooshkenig also said organizers do indeed plan to start having various hosts for the event, starting next year. “We plan to...
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SPORTS BRIEFS: Stealth season ends
Stealth season ends A pair of weekend losses brought an end to the 2024 lacrosse season for the Six Nations Stealth. The local Junior C squad was up 2-1 in its best-of-five opening playoff round against the Wilmot Wild. The Wilmot squad, however, deadlocked the series at 2-2 by downing the host Stealth 12-6 this past Saturday in a match held at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena. The Wild then captured the series by posting an 11-6 victory in the decisive Game 5, which was staged on Sunday at the Plattsville Arena. The Six Nations squad was leading 2-1 after the opening period of Sunday’s match. But the Wild then outscored the Stealth 6-3 in the middle frame to hold a two-goal advantage (7-5) heading into the final period. Wilmot was...
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Manitoba Hydro names new CEO after parting ways with previous president
The Canadian Press Manitoba Hydro, the province’s Crown-owned energy corporation, has named a new president and chief executive officer to guide the utility through challenges that include a high debt load and a need for new energy production. Allan Danroth, who served as a vice-president with Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries and had a senior role at Alberta-based Capital Power, is to start in the role next month. “My job as CEO is to provide stability, to let our talented executive team run their units, and ensure our employees are empowered to do their jobs safely and to the best of their abilities,” Danroth told reporters Tuesday. Danroth replaces Jay Grewal, who was let go four months after the Manitoba New Democrats won last year’s provincial election. Grewal, appointed by the former...
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AFN head told chiefs draft child-welfare reform deal with Ottawa worth $47.8B: source
The Canadian Press 10/07/2024 The head of the Assembly of First Nations has informed chiefs that a draft deal with Ottawa on child-welfare reforms is worth $47.8 billion, a source who was in the room says — more than double what was initially promised. National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak revealed that number to chiefs and their proxies on Tuesday afternoon, says the source, who was granted anonymity because they were not authorized to share the details publicly. She also referred to the political risks of not accepting the deal that is on the table, the source said, and affirmed that she wanted chiefs to be able to discuss the offer before voting on the matter at a special assembly this fall. The closed-door session, which members of the media were...
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AFN national chief says child welfare reform deal reached with Ottawa
The Canadian Press 09/07/2024 The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations said Tuesday that she has received a draft offer from Ottawa to overhaul Indigenous child-welfare systems, but insists she cannot say publicly how much money is on the table. “This is on long-term reform,” said Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak in a statement to chiefs on Tuesday. “I’m very happy for the compensation here.” The first day of the yearly meeting, which is Woodhouse Nepinak’s first since she became national chief in December, was expected to heavily focus on child welfare. Ahead of the Montreal gathering, Woodhouse Nepinak was criticized by three AFN regional chiefs for leaving First Nations leaders out of negotiations with the federal government over the terms of child-welfare reforms. She has denied that charge. She...
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Fort Nelson First Nation orders remote B.C. site evacuated by boat due to wildfire
The Canadian Press 09/07/2024 The Fort Nelson First Nation in northeast British Columbia has issued a wildfire evacuation order for a remote riverside reserve, telling residents and visitors they must immediately leave by boat. The First Nation says the order covers the Kahntah Reserve, which is a few kilometres south of an out-of-control fire that was discovered on Monday. The BC Wildfire Service says the blaze, measuring five hectares in size, is believed to have been caused by lightning. The Fort Nelson First Nation says in its evacuation order that there is a risk to life and safety in the area. The Kahntah Reserve is about 116 kilometres southeast of Fort Nelson. Satellite imagery shows the reserve features a clearing on the bend of the Fontas River with a few...
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RCMP arrest 7 in alleged human trafficking operation in southern Manitoba
The Canadian Press 09/07/2024 15:17 RCMP have made arrests after they say two girls were exploited in a human trafficking operation in southern Manitoba. Seven people face various charges, including human trafficking, sexual assault and making child pornography. Police say a woman befriended the vulnerable 15-year-old girls and offered them drugs and money to go to different homes last year in Portage la Prairie. They allege the woman often locked the girls inside and forced them to perform sexual acts on men in exchange for drugs and sometimes money. Investigators say they believe there are more victims, including an unidentified girl believed to be 13 or 14. A 43-year-old woman from Long Plain First Nation and six men face a total of 65 offences. Mounties said they became aware of...
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‘Not warranted’: Chiefs pass resolution reversing course on forensic audit of AFN
The Canadian Press 09/07/2024 15:48 The Assembly of First Nations has passed an emergency resolution that says a forensic audit of the advocacy body is “not warranted and should not be undertaken.” Former national chief RoseAnne Archibald called for a forensic audit of the organization in 2022 over allegations of financial impropriety, a call that chiefs supported at the time. In an emergency resolution today, chiefs voted against an audit, and instead directed the assembly to comply with the Canada Labour Code. The resolution also calls for the AFN to update all of its policies to ensure there are clear processes for contracting procedures and enforcement. And chiefs also say the organization must impose strict compliance policies on the use of credit cards it issues. An amendment that would have...
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GRCA issues flood warning
GRCA Flood Message #1: GRCA Watershed Conditions Statement – Flood Outlook Post-tropical storm Beryl is forecast to move through the Grand River watershed from late Tuesday, July 9, 2024 through to Thursday, July 11, 2024, bringing significant rainfall. Remnants of Hurricane Beryl are forecast to merge with an upper trough that is currently over central North America, creating a highly efficient conveyor belt of moisture into southern Ontario. Rainfall across the watershed is forecasted to be from 50 mm to 60 mm. However, there is the possibility of isolated areas receiving over 100 mm of rain. Water levels and flows are currently at their normal summer levels. The forecasted rain, combined with isolated thunderstorms with high rainfall intensities, can be expected to elevate water levels and produce significant amounts of localized runoff. ...
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‘Giving people choice’: Country food network gets a boost in Nunavut
By Kira Wronska Dorward, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter 09/07/2024 09:37 Country food distribution in Nunavut will be getting a boost and an expanded network with the launch of Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre (QCFC) in Iqaluit. “A really important component is still giving people choice. Giving people that opportunity for choice feeds back into the components of dignity, respect, autonomy — the things that Qajuqturvik stands for,” said Rachel Blais, co-executive director of QCFC. With the goal of bolstering “food sovereignty across Nunavut and other remote and Indigenous communities,” the initiative will be held in conjunction with the Alianait Arts Festival in the form of a country foods market and live music on July 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside the new QCFC, at 655 Mattaaq Cres. ‘How to...
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Behind Upper Midwest tribal spearfishing is a long and violent history of denied treaty rights
The Associated Press 09/07/2024 09:38 HAYWARD, Wisc. (AP) — On a twilight so calm the red and white pines are reflected in the waters of northern Wisconsin’s Chippewa Flowage, John Baker plans to go spearfishing — a traditional Ojibwe method of harvesting walleye. But before he sets out, he detours his boat to land on a sandy shore, hops out and crosses the tree line, crunching through dead leaves. “This is my sanctuary,” he says, recalling childhood visits in his dad’s rowboat. He points out divots in the earth — former graves, once behind a church, whose occupants have since been moved. But the burial sites of many Native people in the area were not. When a local power company created the Flowage by building the Winter Dam in the...
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Rivermen to conclude regular season schedule in Owen Sound
By Sam Laskaris Writer The Six Nations Rivermen were able to have a little bit of fun in their most recent outing. But it’s expected that it will be all business for the local Senior B club this Saturday in Owen Sound as it finishes off its regular season schedule. The Rivermen will wrap up their Ontario Series Lacrosse (OSL) regular season with a Saturday matinee versus the Owen Sound North Stars. That match, which will be held at the Bayshore Community Centre, has an opening faceoff scheduled for 3 p.m. Six Nations is sitting atop the standings in the six-team OSL sporting a 13-2 record. But the Rivermen will in all likelihood need to register a victory on Saturday to guarantee themselves a first-place finish. That’s because the Brooklin...
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Judge in murder trial weighs motivations of admitted Winnipeg serial killer
The Canadian Press 09/07/2024 04:00 A judge is expected to decide this week whether a man who admitted to killing four Indigenous women in Winnipeg did so because he was in the throes of a psychotic episode or was driven by a rare form of perverse sexual interest. The tragic case dating back to 2022 renewed calls for governments and organizations to address the ongoing issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Countrywide protests were also held demanding a search of a landfill for the remains of two of the victims. The search is set to start in the fall. The judge is scheduled to give his verdict Thursday in the first-degree murder trial of Jeremy Skibicki. Skibicki has admitted to killing Morgan Harris, 39; Marcedes Myran, 26; Rebecca Contois,...
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