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More COVID 19 tests, masks announced in some provinces as economy flails

May 29, 2020 157 views

By Nicole Thompson THE CANADIAN PRESS The COVID-19 pandemic’s economic toll came into sharper focus on Friday as several provinces…

Minister of Indigenous Services Marc Miller during a press conference on COVID-19

Minister says Ottawa must respect choice of First Nations to hold powwows

May 29, 2020 223 views

Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller By Kelly Geraldine Malone in Winnipeg OTTAWA-Canada’s Indigenous services minister says Ottawa won’t dictate terms…

Turtle Island News annual tree give-away huge success

May 29, 2020 173 views

Turtle Island News writer Donna Duric helps out with tree selection during Turtle Island News’ annual tree give-away Friday May…

Six Nations confirms third positive COVID-19 case this week

May 29, 2020 280 views

After almost five weeks without a single case, Six Nations Public Health is confirming the third positive case of COVID…

NEWS ALERT: Another $650M in COVID 19 aid bound for Indigenous communities, Miller says

May 29, 2020 178 views

OTTAWA- Federal Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller says the federal government will spend another $650 million to help Indigenous communities…

USMCA poised for star turn and protests in Minneapolis; In The News for May 29

May 29, 2020 141 views

News Round-up for May 29 2020— COVID-19 in Canada … The federal government is pumping millions more into helping remote…

‘Two tiered health:’ Manitoba premier wants PM to clear up rules on powwows

May 28, 2020 163 views

By Kelly Geraldine Malone THE CANADIAN PRESS WINNIPEG- Manitoba’s premier has added his voice to provincial leaders calling on Ottawa…

‘It is our culture:’ Chief says Manitoba First Nation going ahead with powwow

May 28, 2020 276 views

By Kelly Geraldine Malone THE CANADIAN PRESS WINNIPEG- A Manitoba chief says his community will hold its annual powwow next…

If an MP heckles in a virtual House of Commons, does it make a sound?

May 28, 2020 137 views

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks and is projected onto large screens as he takes part in the COVID-19 Pandemic Committee…

It was round two for Six Nations Elected Council Saturday May 23, 2020. They took to the roads to hand out Bread and Cheese to families who didn’t receive any when council ran out during the first round on Victoria Day weekend. Elected Chief Mark Hill and Councillor Sherri-Lyn Hill finished up on Fourth Line Saturday while more council members took to other roads. (Photo by Donna Duric)

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It’s Bread & Cheese 2020…again!

May 27, 2020 161 views

Bread and Cheese Round Two sees everyone served By Donna Duric Writer Not even COVID-19 was going to stop Six…

Councillors question Lifelong Learning Task Force

May 27, 2020 174 views

By Donna Duric Writer At least two elected councillors are questioning the work of the Lifelong Learning Task Force, which…

Waste transfer tentatively to begin in July 2020

May 27, 2020 165 views

By Donna Duric Writer Six Nations is poised to begin transferring waste to the Niagara region at $71 per tonne…

Non-Native man in altercation with checkpoint guard charged with death threats in incident a year ago

May 27, 2020 611 views

By Lynda Powless Editor SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND -In a bizarre twist Six Nations police have charged a COVID-19 checkpoint…

Six Nations and Tyendinaga federal schools closed for rest of school year

May 27, 2020 163 views

It’s official. All federal schools on Six Nations and Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory are closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020…

Two positive COVID-19 cases on Six Nations after five weeks of none

May 27, 2020 217 views

By Donna Duric Writer After five weeks without a single additional case of COVID-19 on Six Nations, a positive test…

Risks complicate reopenings WHO warns 1st wave not over

May 27, 2020 205 views

By Elaine Kurtenbach THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BANGKOK-The risks of reigniting coronavirus outbreaks are complicating efforts to fend off further misery…

Editorial

Plant a tree save a world and each other

May 27, 2020 114 views

We are living in a new world with masks and gloves becoming as necessary an item when leaving the house…

Actor Michael Greyeyes hopes pandemic will lead to ‘a kinder society’

May 27, 2020 137 views

By Victoria Ahearn THE CANADIAN PRESS TORONTO-”Blood Quantum’’ star Michael Greyeyes has a hopeful outlook for how the COVID-19 pandemic…

By John Chidley-Hill THE CANADIAN PRESS Romaine Mitchell is confident that a summer without powwows will be “just a small blip’’ in the cultural history of Indigenous Peoples. Mitchell has been a fixture on North America’s powwow circuit for more than 30 years, but restrictions on public gatherings because of COVID-19 have led to the cancellation of all 12 of the events he planned to attend this summer. Although losing an entire season is disappointing, Mitchell says First Nations culture was able to survive colonization and having such cultural celebrations outlawed, so losing one year for the common good is a relatively minor problem. “The embers have been there for years,’’ said Mitchell. “Given the colonial movement’s attempts to assimilate all people into one melting pot, many of the traditions and cultures that we have in order to maintain them and for them to survive had to be taken underground. “Our celebrations and our ceremonies we had done in secret.’’ Mitchell is the co-chair of the powwow organizing committee for the Akwesasne First Nation, a territory that straddles the borders of Ontario, Quebec, and New York state. The reserve is predominantly inhabited by Kanien’keha:ka, commonly known as Mohawk, and the community puts an emphasis on respect for its elders and veterans. Given that the novel coronavirus can have particularly severe effects on older people, Mitchell says Akwesasne’s powwow will likely be cancelled this year. “As a committee that’s what we’re watching, what’s the tail end going to look like of this?’’ said Mitchell. “Yes, you’re going to have your apex and then you’re going to have your tail. “But how far is that tail going to go? At what point will we as a community be safe to open our gates? It’s looking like that tail is going to go just beyond the date of our powwow.’’ Josee Bourgeois, a dancer who performs at powwows across the continent, was holding out hope that she would be able to make her planned schedule of events. That optimism dwindled as the end of May, the usual start of powwow season, drew near. “We are just now experiencing that sense of loss because weeks ago it was still like, ‘Well, you never know! maybe they’ll still happen!’’’ said Bourgeois. “But no, that’s not the case.’’ Although Mitchell and Bourgeois aren’t especially worried about the cultural impact of having no powwows, they do have other concerns. Bourgeois said she’s worried that the cancellation of powwows will have consequences for people who have been housebound all winter. “It’s something that people look forward to so much,’’ said Bourgeois, who is from Pikwakanagan. The territory just outside Ottawa is inhabited by Omamiwinini, more commonly known as Algonquin. “There’s a lot of reasons why people would be spiritually, emotionally and mentally affected from this.’’ Mitchell said he’s concerned with the economic impact, as powwows are a financial boost for the host territories as well as neighbouring communities. As an example, he said Akwesasne’s powwow draws approximately 6,000 visitors every year, filling hotels in nearby Cornwall, Ont. Also, as a vendor of traditional First Nations clothes and accessories, Mitchell said the cancellation of powwows will also affect his family and other Indigenous-owned small businesses. “Many of them are independent contractors and performers that are impacted by it,’’ said Mitchell. “It’s a ripple that’s affected and felt throughout all of Indian country.’’