The Spirit of All Nations.
OHSWEKEN – It was touch and go as the clouds gathered over the Ohsweken Speedway for the second attempt at a season opener Friday night. The event was originally planned for last week, but was rained out as was the tune up pre-season runs the week before, but the rain stayed away and the cars finally ran this Friday with a full docket of drivers in every class.
SIX NATIONS – Monday night in Burlington the Six Nations Arrows Express defeated the Burlington Chiefs by a score of 9-8. It took a goal by Haodais Maracle with 40 seconds remaining in the game to do it, but the Arrows third period collapse very nearly resulted in the Arrows’ first loss of the season.
The Aboriginal Artworks Group of North Ontario (AAGNO) presents its fifth annual Spring Aboriginal Fine Arts and Crafts Show and Sale at the Victoriaville Centre in Thunder Bay, this Wednesday, May 28 to Saturday, May 31.
The UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) wrapped up its 13th session this week. Thousands of representatives of UN member states, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and Indigenous Peoples Organizations (IPOs) as well as approved participants from academia and the media. The latter was how I got in. For two weeks hundreds of speakers offered statements and interventions, many of them coming from the Native people of Turtle Island.
This declaration does not ask for permission to be removed from the Canadian Citizenship and Immigration registries. In fact it was an act of peaceful overture that acknowledges a state of war that exists between the Canadian government and Myself.
This is a statement of support for Makayla Sault, her family, and the community that surrounds
her. It is of great concern to the Indigenous Studies Program at McMaster University to learn
that Makayla’s decision to self-determine the course of her treatment is being not only
dismissed because of her age, but also devalued by health care professionals because it is rooted
in Indigenous Knowledge. We are deeply troubled to hear that Makayla’s parents have faced
intimidation and threats of intervention for their choice to respect the agency of their child, and
that these choices have become criminalized. Makayla’s choice to seek out traditional medicine
is protected through the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
(UNDRIP), and should be supported and honoured. It is entirely inappropriate that her decision
has been dismissed, devalued, and characterized as irrelevant and unimportant.
You may have seen the multitalented Andrea Menard on the TV series Blackstone in her Leo nominated role as Debbie Fraser, or on other TV series such as Moccasin Flats and Rabbit Fall. You might have heard her as the voices of Kokum and Sarah on Wapos Bay or listened to her music on the radio or online. We caught up with Menard to ask her about some of her latest projects and initatives.
Six Nations community members got a chance to view a short film last Friday evening at the GREAT Theatre, which is directed by Karahkwenhawi Zoe…
AKWESASNE –Last week over 75 youth were put out from anywhere from 1-4 days to Fast in a rites of passage ceremony in Akwesasne called Oherokon “Under the Husk”.
Loretta Todd grew up in a television era of science fiction where giant ants or Godzilla tried to take over the world.
BRANTFORD – This coming Saturday people in over 50 countries will hold actions and rallies to voice their opposition to the giant multinational company Monsanto and their efforts to introduce genetically modified organisms (GMO) into food systems throughout the world.
OTTAWA — After the sudden resignation of AFN National Chief Shawn Atleo over his support of the controversial Bill C-33, the Harper Conservatives’ unilateral imposition of what the federal government is calling the “First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act”, the deal Harper thought was struck has hit a stone wall of resistance.
OTTAWA – Concerned Onkwehon:we people from communities and nations across the part of Turtle Island known as Canada, delivered a powerful message to Prime Minister…
It’s been almost 19 years since the fateful night at Ipperwash Provincial Park, where a stand off occurred between heavily armed members of the Ontario Provincial Police against unarmed men, women and children of Kettle and Stony Point. And now, in a much anticipated and long-awaited process, the province of Ontario has officially signed over Aazhoodena also known as Ipperwash Provincial Park, giving the land back to the Chippewas of the Kettle and Stony Point First Nation.
Feeding community first is a statement that resonates with me and will be a thought I will continue to explore. To me, it is the responsibility we all have to care for and provide for our immediate community and the communities we are connected to. I will be planting with this intention this year.
