Regional

In October 1956, Charles Ombash, aged 12, and his brother, Tom, aged 14, left the Pelican Falls Residential School near Sioux Lookout, Ontario. Having planned to canoe back to Cat Lake or alternately, take the train to Savant Lake, a ride to Pickle Lake and then canoe to Cat Lake, their families have not seen them since.

The Indigenous Education Coalition (IEC) held their 7th annual storytelling event at the Antler River Elementary school on the Chippewa of the Thames territory this past Wednesday. The event had youth from the Standing Stone elementary of the Oneida of the Thames, Antler River elementary of the Chippewa of the Thames, and Kettle and Stony Point Hillside Elementary Schools from grades four to eight competing for the prize of best storyteller.

The students of Kawenna on:we Primary Mohawk Immersion were asked to open the Tribe Called Red concert held at Queen’s University in Kingston on March 19th. The students were very enthusiastic and with very little prompting they were able to recite an approximately fifteen minute Thanksgiving Opening Address entirely in Kanyen’kehà:ka (Mohawk).

AKWESASNE – Recent comments by Quebec provincial leaders regarding the possibility of Quebec leaving Canada have led to a First Nation backlash. Some Mohawk band councils wasted no time in putting their two cents in following the referendum speculation. The Quebec provincial election takes place on Monday, April 7, 2014.

Anna Faulds is Dene Suline from Lue’ Chok Tue’ (Cold Lake, AB) who grew up in and currently resides in Edmonton, Alberta. Anna appears on the APTN series Blackstone as Teresa the band council office manager. Anna is currently involved with the return of one of the most sacred items of the Cree and Blackfoot peoples – the Manitou Stone.

“This is Harriet Boots, and I’m looking for my son,” Stacey’s mother told the OPP detachment at Long Sault on the afternoon of March 22, just a couple hours after the Mohawk Akwesasne police had executed the warrant on behalf of the OPP.

Hamilton – Yesterday was the third day of testimony of Rainbow Hill, who was charged in the death of 2-year-old Marissa Whalen, whose remains were found on Third Line west of Chiefswood Road back in October 2011. Hill was convicted in her death back in August 2013 and sentenced to life in prison. Roseanne Whalen, mother of Marissa, is now on trial for second degree murder, criminal negligence causing death and accessory after the fact to murder, which she has plead not guilty to. The jury trial consists of 8 women and 4 men.

TYENDINAGA – At 1:15 PM, the skies were overcast but much warmer for the women of Tyendinaga as they stood their ground about 52 feet from the tracks at the Wyman Road location on the edge of Mohawk Territory.

On March 8, following a week of action demanding a national inquiry into the at least 825 missing and murdered indigenous women across Canada, warriors from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory blocked the CN mainline.

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.

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.