The Spirit of All Nations.
TORONTO – The graphic evidence of the murder of a Plains Indian child from the late 19th century that went up for auction at Toronto auction house as “decorative art” was abruptly removed from display and taken out of the auction’s catalogue Monday after public outcry.
TYENDINAGA – The Tyendinaga Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte administration office is expected to move into a new building at the end of June. According to Daniel J. Brant, the Chief Administration Officer, this move is a long time coming. Brant states, “The current building has just outlived its usefulness”.
TORONTO – Cordillera Day, an annual commemoration of the Indigenous peoples’ struggle in the Cordillera region in the northern Philippines, was celebrated in Toronto. Amidst skits, traditional dances and food, speakers discussed solidarity for Indigenous peoples’ defense of their lands and their right to self-determination in the Philippines and in Canada.
After the federal government paid nearly $2 million to destroy homes on a condemned, flood-ravaged Manitoba First Nations reserve slated for demolition, dozens of buildings were moved off the land and sold, CTV News has learned.
On March 28 Taylor David began his journey from Victoria, British Columbia that will end on June 21 in Ottawa. David states that “this walk is done to honor our grandmothers, grandfathers, brothers, sisters, and anyone affected by the residential school atrocity.
The Ontario Convenience Store Association has delivered 20,000 postcards signed by voters to Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne urging her not increase taxes on tobacco. An increased tax on cigarettes would hurt convenience stores, but would be a boon to the so called “contraband” tobacco market that already flourishes in many First Nations communities.
A recent study Walking in their shoes published by Anishnawbe Health Toronto finds that the average age of death for users of four “Aboriginal” health and social service centers in Toronto are shockingly below the average Torontonian at 37 years. The Onkwehon:we male clients who died over the period of the study at the four centers had the average age of 34, with women at 41.
In the Great Law as told by Jake Thomas, there would be a time that a strong wind would come in and threaten to blow down our great tree of peace. It was said that the tree would fall, but that it would not touch the ground because Haudenosaunee people would care for it so deeply that they would stand together around it, and that it would rest upon their joined arms.
On April 1, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources’ (MNR) 10 year Forestry Management Plan (FMP) for the Whiskey Jack Forest comes into effect, with over 50 000 hectares – that’s more than 500 square kilometers of forest scheduled for clearcutting.
The Harper Government – as our Prime Minister modestly likes it to be called – has been showing its teeth during the past several years.
Every year, on the first nice day after the snow is gone, Jamie Kunkel, a Mohawk Bear, gets ready for spear fishing. Self-taught Jamie has been spear fishing for most of his life. Aboriginal fishing begins weeks before the regular open fishing season.
Trial has finally wrapped up for accused killer Roseanne Whalen who, for the past three weeks, stood trial for the murder of her 2-year-old daughter Marissa whose remains were found in a shallow grave in a secluded area near Ohsweken, Six Nations in October 2011. Jurors are expected to begin deliberations this week in a Hamilton courthouse.
EDMONTON – The Truth and Reconciliation Committee’s seventh and final National Event took place in Edmonton, on March 27-30. As the committee noted, “There were more Indian Residential Schools in Alberta than in any other province. For 116 years, thousands of Aboriginal children in Alberta were sent to Indian Residential Schools funded by the federal government and run by the churches. They were taken from their families and communities in order to be stripped of language, cultural identity and traditions. Canada’s attempt to wipe out Aboriginal cultures failed. But it left an urgent need for reconciliation between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples.”
TYENDINAGA – Kahnawake, Six Nations and Tyendinaga Kanyen’keha Immersion programs gathered for the 6th Annual Kanyen’keha Variety Show on Thursday April 3rd to show off their Kanyen’keha speaking abilities. Ella Boomhour (5) and Ellie Claus (9) opened the night with the Thanksgiving Address. Both girls enunciated quite skillfully and required little to no prompting.
AKWESASNE – Tensions on Cornwall Island (Kawehnoke) remain high after a hearing in the city of Cornwall resulted in a judge ruling on the fate of several empty buildings on the Kanienkehaka island.
