The Spirit of All Nations.
TORONTO – Tensions were high last week as members of the Mohawk Nation of Grand River (MNGR), formerly known as the Mohawk Workers, were at the Superior Court of Justice in Toronto asserting their sovereignty to not only the federal court but the federal government as well.
Six Nations – The trial has finally begun for the third person charged in the murder of 2 year old Marissa Whalen, whose remains were found on Six Nations territory on October 16, 2011. Her remains were positively identified in January of 2012. Investigators determined however, that she hadn’t been seen since the previous July.
SIX NATIONS – Six Nations Economic Development (SNED) was before Band Council once again last week to give an update on the two wind turbine projects that Six Nations Elected Council is planning to sign agreements with.
NEWFOUNDLAND – Newfoundland and Labrador joined the Nova Scotia Provincial government in demanding Prime Minister Steven Harper call a national inquiry into murdered and missing Aboriginal women, Friday.
The mayors of Nunavut’s Qikiqtani (Baffin) region passed a motion opposing offshore oil and gas exploration at the 2014 Baffin Mayors’ Forum held in early March in Iqaluit. The motion was passed unanimously, with all thirteen mayors of the region voting in favour.
AKWESASNE – Many visitors to this historic Onkwehon:we community are just passing through an international transit point, either heading north or south.
KITIGAN ZIBI FIRST NATION – On September 6, 2008, two young women went missing from Maniwaki, Quebec, which is located in close proximity to the Kitigan Zibi First Nation about an hour and a half’s drive north of Ottawa. On Friday, September 5, Maisy Odjick spent the night at Shannon Alexander’s place. On Saturday morning, Shannon walked her dad Brian, to the bus station which would be the last time he seen or heard from his daughter again.
Huxah, the name of this mischievous creature, is a 20 year old rescued bird owned by a falconer in the Simcoe area. He has been reported missing for about two weeks and has reportedly been on an adventure of sorts, showing up in photos across the Facebook feeds of people from all across Southern Ontario; once caught stealing fish from ice fisherman at Deer Point Lake and snacking on grey squirrels near Vittoria.
AKWESASNE – In May of 2009 massive community opposition to the presence of armed border guards forced the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) to abandon the customs house in the Kanienkehaka territory of Akwesasne. Since then the building has been sitting empty and unused. A group of grassroots activists organized by Stacey Boots of Akwesasne are planning to change that later this month.
BRANTFORD – There seems to be mixed messages coming out of Brantford’s City Hall regarding what should and should not be taxed.
On March 6th, the National Energy Board (NEB) approved the Enbridge Line 9 reversal project, allowing tar sands bitumen and Bakken shale oil to flow within 50 km of over 9.1 million people, and 18 First Nation communities, including directly through the Haldimand Tract, just south of Wrigley and Beke Roads.
Ontario’s Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, the Honourable Brad Duguid visited Six Nations last Thursday to drop in on Grand River Employment and Training during their March Open House.
CALEDONIA – A very important Art Show opened at the Edinburgh Square in downtown Caledonia last week. You will not find any Monets, or Picassos, or Renoirs, but you will see creative and expressive works done by Six Nations, New Credit, Caledonia, Brantford and surrounding area elementary school students.
St Catharines – Niagara residents are organizing a peaceful awareness rally for this Saturday, March 15th at nNoon at the Gazebo at Montebello Park on 64 Ontario Street in St Catharines.
SIX NATIONS: The Community Education Meeting was well attended last Wednesday night as the Cayuga Room at Six Nations Polytech was packed shoulder to shoulder. Facilitated by Richard Powless, the meeting opened up with an update on the First Nations Education Act.
