The 155th Six Nations Fall Fair promises to be full of fun and entertainment for the whole family, this year, featuring Canadian country music singer Michelle Wright.
It will be the country crooner’s first time at the fair on Sept. 7.
“Of course we're going to count on my band,” says Wright. “It’s fantastic and a wonderful bunch of guys. We're a pretty high energy band and we'll be bringing lots of hits.”
Wright has had six number one hits and has been inducted into the Canadian Country Hall of Fame.
She said she’ll mostly be playing her hits when she goes on stage Saturday, Sept. 7.
Six Nations Fall Fair featuring Michelle Wright
Wright hails from Chatham, Ont., and both of her parents were local musicians.
The vocalist and guitarist began playing in a band when she was in college in the early 80s and signed her first record deal in 1985 with Savannah Records.
In 1990, she was named female recording artist of the year by the Canadian
Country Music Association.
She left for Nashville in 1992 when she released her number one hit, “Take it Like a Man.”
She’s currently in the
process of remastering and re-releasing past songs.
“It's been really lovely to to go back and to reflect and to hear some of those songs and memories come
rushing over me.”
She’s also going to re-release her Christmas Album, called A Wright Christmas.
“And we've added three new tracks to to the Christmas record. That Christmas record to me is one of my greatest accomplishments. I just love it.”
She has spent the past summer touring and doing shows.
“It's summer time, so we're out there doing different shows and different events. Yeah, summer is a busy time.”
Wright was booked for the fall fair thanks to the generosity of local entrepreneur Nick “Nitro” Wyman.
“I'm a big supporter of our Six Nations fair,” said Wyman.
Some images from last years Fall Fair. LAFORCE
Run, ride and walk for Mohawk Village Memorial Park
This month, dozens will be undertaking the challenge of walking, biking, or running 17 km from the former Mohawk Institute in Brantford to Chiefswood Park.
The run, ride and walk is a fundraiser to help build the Mohawk Village Memorial Park in honour of all who attended Mohawk Institute Residential School.
There will be aid stations every four kilometres for those running and walking, and vehicle support for those who wish to just walk a few hundred meters from the school to the Mohawk Chapel and drive the rest of the way to Chiefswood Park.
People are being encouraged to build teams and raise funds for the park, a project being spearheaded by Mohawk Institute survivors.
The walk, run and ride will start at 9 a.m. on Sept. 14th at the former Mo-
hawk Institute, where the memorial park is slated to be located, and end at Chiefswood Park with a gathering and meal for all the participants.
“It’s been a long journey trying to get this park built,” said Roberta Hill, a Mohawk Institute survivor. “We’re going to start at the Mushhole (the nickname given to the institute in reference to the endless bowls of sticky, cold porridge the kids ate every morning).”
“John Elliott is the chief runaway,” said Hill.
Elliott, now a senior citizen, attended the Mushhole as a small child and
ran away numerous times trying to escape the abuse and starvation many kids faced there.
The walk, run and ride will be symbolic of the kids who desperately tried to run away from the church-run school where accounts of rampant physical, emotional, sexual, spiritual and verbal abuse took place.
"We don’t expect people to (walk or run) the whole way unless you’re a real runner,” said Hill. “It’s more of a symbolic gesture.”
She said people are welcome to walk to the Mohawk Chapel and then get in a car and head on down to Chiefswood Park. Chauffeurs will be available to pick people up along the way.
Afterwards, participants will gather at Chiefswood Park for a bite to eat.
The memorial park will span about five acres, to be built beside the former Mohawk Institute.
It is intended to be a place of remembrance where the dignity of sur-
vivors will be recognized and honoured. It will be open to all individuals, families, communities and those wishing to visit the park.
Included in the park will be memorials, walking paths and decorative landscaping, as well as a variety of accessible park features, including: -a pavilion -a fire pit/stage area -memorial circle -children’s play area -orchard -and water feature/ pond.
“The park isn’t just about Six Nations kids,” said Hill. “It’s about the 60 communities of kids who were taken and sent to the Mushhole. We want to build a memorial wall that represents all of those 60 (communities).”
Anyone who wants to get involved or participate can visit www. mohawkvillagepark.com/ parkwalk2024 or email Marilyn@mohawkvillagepark.com.
Mohawk Institute also known as the Mush hole. WCC
Attention Seniors 55+
SENIOR HOME VISITS SENIOR HOME VISITS
Every Wednesday during the months of August & September 9 am - 4 pm
We want to meet with you to engage in meaningful discussions about the future of senior services!
By participating, you will receive a light meal and be entered into our free raffle!
Give us a call or send us an email to schedule a convenient time for us to visit with you at your home!
To register a home visit, call (519) 757-7382 or email transformation@sixnations.ca
Families can make the most of summer’s end
JACE KOBLUN
jace@tworowtimes.com
TWO ROW TIMES
It seems like just yesterday people were heralding the arrival of summer. After many months of fickle weather, summer’s warm temperatures and ample sunshine can be that hug from Mother Nature people need. But soon summer will be coming to an end, making room for apples, corn and pumpkin spice.
Even though summer will soon be singing its swan song, there is still plenty of time for families to enjoy the waning days of surf and sunshine. Here are some family-friendly options to consider.
Catch a concert. Summer is a time of year when many artists go on tour and sell out everything from arenas to amphitheatres to more intimate venues. Find a singer the
entire family enjoys and grab some tickets.
Pick fruit. Peach season varies depending on where you live, but May through September is a prime time for pickyour-own farms to open their orchards to the peach-picking public.
Watch some fireworks. Those who didn’t have an opportunity to catch a fireworks display already this summer, or who enjoyed it so much that they want more, can find out when the next big display will take place. Some beachside towns and even amusement parks regularly host fireworks shows on the weekends.
Pick a day to re-do. Ask all members of the family what sticks out in their minds as the best summer day so far. It may have been paddle boarding in a lake or taking a scenic drive. Compile the answers and then pick one activity to enjoy all
over again.
Head to a fair. Fairs fill calendars this time of year. They’re perfect ways to enjoy carnival rides, fair foods, live entertainment, and even livestock.
Enjoy an outdoor movie. Purchase or borrow a movie projector and set up a screen outdoors. That screen can be an actual outdoor screen or a white sheet stretched between two poles. Invite the neighbourhood to come over, set up picnic blankets and enjoy a family flick.
Camp out. Pitch a tent at a campground or even in your own backyard and spend an evening sleeping under the stars.
Visit a garden or arboretum. Plan a day trip to a botanical garden or arboretum to view the various trees, flowers and shrubs in bloom. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy a day in nature.
Teen killed in police shooting
CANADIAN PRESS editor@tworowtimes.com TWO ROW TIMES
A band councillor with an Alberta First Nation is calling on two RCMP officers to resign after the shooting death of a 15-year-old boy.
Izaiah Swampy Omeasoo of Samson Cree Nation says in an online statement that members of his community are mourning the death of Hoss Lightning.
Speaking on behalf of Hoss's family, he says the presence of the officers poses a “serious danger" to people living near Maskwacis, south of Edmonton.
He also called for police reform, Indigenous-focused de-escalation training and greater access to mental health support funding.
“We must … come together to stand up against the injustice Indigenous Peoples face (and) the justice Hoss Lightning deserves,” Swampy Omeasoo said.
Wetaskiwin RCMP said they received a report Friday about a boy who had called 911 and told a dispatcher he was being followed by people trying to kill him.
About an hour later, police said officers found the teen with several weapons, which they confiscated.
Police said a confrontation
then led to two officers shooting the boy, who later died in hospital.
RCMP did not identify the teen but offered condolences to his family and loved ones.
On Tuesday, RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Gina Slaney directed questions about the officers and the shooting to Alberta’s police watchdog, which is investigating.
An official with the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team did not provide further details but said an update was forthcoming. Swampy Omeasoo said Hoss must have felt scared and alone when he was shot.
PANDEMIC REFLECTIONS:
Honouring our Journey & Moving Forward
– An Immersive Experience Saturday, September 14th
Community Hall (1738 4th Line)
This unique immersive experience will take the participant on a guided tour of the SNGR and community experience during the COVID-19 pandemic.
10am-3pm: Speakers Debra Jonathan and Amber Skye, Immersive Experience Tours, and Lunch & refreshments
By Michelle Gamage, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Tyee
A collaboration between VIU and the feds is working to improve testing and identify other reliable seafood sources.
When it’s feeding time, Vancouver Island University biology student Chloe McLaughlin carefully scoops a palm-sized green sea urchin out of a tank. Flipping it upside down, she exposes the creature’s mouth and gently feeds it a biotoxin that is highly poisonous to humans.
The biotoxin, also known as paralytic shellfish poison, affects only creatures with central nervous systems, she says. Potentially lethal to humans, it doesn’t hurt sea urchins or other bivalve filter feeders such as oysters, clams, scallops, mussels and cockles. This experiment is part of a larger collaboration between the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Vancouver Island University to improve testing for biotoxins in seafood and ultimately improve food security for remote and Indigenous communities along the coast, says lead researcher Timothy Green, VIU’s Canada Research Chair in shellfish health and genomics.
Coastal Indigenous communities are at higher risk of being affected by paralytic shellfish poison because their diets rely more heavily on seafood than those of the general population, Green says. A person in Bella Bella, for example, eats about 24 times more seafood than someone in Kelowna. Harvesting, eating and sharing traditional foods supports the culture,
community and public health of First Nations. And there may not be other healthy or affordable food sources available. A study published this winter also found that reducing how much seafood a First Nations person could eat in B.C. increased their risk of heart disease.
There are ongoing Indigenous-led initiatives working to test and identify hazards in their own waters too, like the We All Take Care of the Harvest project run by the First Nations Health Authority, and biotoxin testing labs set up by Southeast Alaska Tribal Testing program.
McLaughlin is exposing sea urchins to paralytic shellfish poison, or PSP, to see if they bioaccumulate the toxin to dangerous levels. If they don’t, sea urchins can continue to be relied on as a safe, alternative food source for Indigenous communities when shellfish harvesting gets shut down due to biotoxin risk, Green said.
The ultimate goal is to create a portable and accessible testing kit that can be widely distributed to remote communities to accurately test for biotoxins that can be lethal when consumed but have no taste or smell and can’t be cooked off, Green said. These biotoxins can remain in clams for two years after the animals are exposed, he added.
“Could we eventually get a test that’s reliable and easy to use like a pregnancy test or COVID RAT [rapid antigen test] into Indigenous communities which could tell people if the seafood is safe to eat? That’s our aim,” Green said. These tests would need to check for hundreds of biotoxins, but Green is optimistic. “Bright ideas
happen all the time,” he said.
How biotoxin testing currently works Currently there’s only one lab in Western Canada that tests Pacific shellfish for biotoxins, says Carolyn Bateman, director of the CFIA Burnaby laboratory. The lab tests for toxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning, amnesic shellfish poisoning and diarrhetic shellfish poisoning.
When an area is declared safe, harvest can be allowed — so long as it’s the right season and harvesters have rights or a licence to harvest in an area.
The BC Centre For Disease Control and Fisheries and Oceans Canada both have maps that show what areas are open for harvest. The Can U Dig It app is a free, mobile-friendly version of the DFO map.
Bateman said the current testing method is “expensive, complex and infrastructure heavy” and requires highly trained chemists to prepare live samples for testing on “very expensive chemistry instruments.”
Adding to the overall cost, it’s beneficial to have a couple of backup machines in case one goes down and takes days to repair, she said.
While the test results are accurate, Bateman says, the testing process is slow, and cost-prohibitive for remote communities. The remoteness of some communities also creates barriers to shipping live samples to the lab, she added.
Testing for PSP means testing for 12 toxins and seeing how each one contributes to overall toxicity in people, Bateman said. In mild cases it can cause numbness in the mouth and limbs, and in severe cases it can cause inco-
herent speech, respiratory paralysis and death, according to DFO.
PSP is one of the most potent natural poisons in the world and has no known antidote, DFO says. Amnesic shellfish poisoning, also known as domoic acid poisoning, causes severe nausea, vomiting and diarrhea within six hours, and within 48 hours can progress to neurological symptoms like disorientation, memory loss, coma and death, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Diarrhetic shellfish poisoning “feels like you’re going to die but you will survive,” Bateman said. It causes diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and cramps. PSP is caused by red tide, which happens when there is a bloom, or explosion in population, of single-celled plants known as phytoplankton that live in the ocean. As bivalves feed on the phytoplankton, the toxin accumulates in their bodies.
The Burnaby CFIA lab tests all shellfish in B.C. If you’ve enjoyed local mussels at a restaurant or bought oysters from a fishmonger, you’ve got Bateman’s team to thank. Shellfish testing has largely been built around the commercial harvest, Green said. Shellfish farms tend to be set up along accessible shipping routes, making it easier to ship animals in for regular testing. By comparison, shipping seafood from remote communities takes a week at best, which increases the chances the shellfish arrive dead and can’t be tested.
Warming oceans are supporting more frequent red tide blooms and the season is getting longer, starting during a warm spring and lasting into the
fall, Bateman said. It’s also possible to have a red tide that doesn’t produce any biotoxins or a very minor bloom that produces a lot of toxins, she said.
Different bivalve species take up the toxin differently. Mussels are quick to absorb the biotoxins but also quick to purge them from their system, Bateman said, while butter clams hold on to toxins for quite a long time.
If someone is poisoned by PSP and is able to get emergency medical care, it’s possible to be put on a respirator while your body works through the toxin, Bateman added — but remote communities might not have access to these emergency health services.
Anyone who eats shellfish and experiences tingling in their mouth, jaw or hands should call 911 or poison control right away.
Canada is a bit of a “hot spot” for marine biotoxins, Green said, “and it’s getting worse.” Marine heat waves like the Blob are associated with biotoxin blooms. Without accessible and reliable testing, Green said, remote communities are forced to adopt strategies like having the largest member of the community take a “nibble” to see if they get sick — the safety measure being that their larger body means they can handle more toxins. It’s not fair to force communities to resort to this in the 2020s, Green said. “Within the decade we hope to have something better to mitigate risks.”
Improving testing
One big bottleneck Green and Bateman both pointed to is how shellfish samples have to be shucked and prepared at the Burnaby lab.
Shucking needs to be
done carefully. If a bivalve’s guts are ruptured, it can change the pH of the tissue and create false test results, Bateman said.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is working with Vancouver Island University to create a second lab where shellfish can be processed and then shipped to the Burnaby lab for testing.
Bateman said this second lab will also be used to train new chemistry analysts who can help speed up testing.
Green said another possible solution that is being explored at VIU is using mass spectrometry to test samples dabbed onto paper. Mass spectrometry creates a reading of every single molecule in a sample, allowing researchers to then check for the presence of toxins.
Mass spectrometry is used as the gold standard for drug testing.
Dabbing a sample on paper could mean only the paper needs to be shipped to a lab for testing, Green said.
Turning to uni McLaughlin is trying to see if green sea urchins absorb PSP into their gonads, also called “uni,” which can be a valuable food source as they are high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids, similar to salmon.
Sea urchins are herbivores, grazing on kelp and other seaweed. Under normal circumstances, they don’t eat food sources that contain biotoxins, so toxins don’t bioaccumulate in their bodies, McLaughlin said.
They can be harvested year-round, according to DFO, with a valid B.C. tidal waters sport-fishing licence. Some Indigenous fishers may have rights to harvest without a licence.
The Audrey Sandy Memorial GOLF CLASSIC Nya:weh for
your support of
We are submitting this acknowledgement for the kind and generous support we received in hosting the 2nd annual Audrey Sandy Memorial Golf Classic at the Chippewa Creek Golf Club on July 27, 2024. On behalf of The Audrey Sandy Memorial Golf Classic organizing committee, nya:weh for taking time from your family and weekend schedule to celebrate and honor our Mom, Audrey Carol Sandy who was called home peacefully on November 5th, 2020 in her 79th year.
We’d like to acknowledge the generous contribution of our major Platinum Sponsors: Nitro 54 Variety and Grand River Enterprises. Funds raised will go directly to the Audrey Sandy Scholarship which will be distributed to mature students returning to academia. This year we are able to offer 6 scholarships (up 50% from the prior year) at $2,500 each. Last year we helped Dakota Bennett, Rachel Montour and Karissa Hill. This year at the May 1 deadline for postsecondary funds, 457 students were approved and 278 were denied. We genuinely appreciate all of the individuals, companies, organizations and businesses who sponsored holes, volunteered their time, gave prizes or contributed in some way to the event and the cause. We thank the golfers (those who returned for the 2nd year and to our new friends that we hope to see next year!), for participating in a round of friendly competition, camaraderie and shenanigans! We believe in maintaining transparency to all sponsors, individuals and the community who support our cause:
Platinum Sponsors
River
Hole Sponsors
Otahyoni Management
Haudenosaunee Lacrosse
Longfish Ranch
Chris Hill – Big 6 Convenience (x9)
CA Culinary Services (x2)
357 Tobacco
Scott Hill
Shelley Burnham-Shognosh
Greens to Go
Aaron Porter
Karen and Monte
Six Nations Womens Singers
Flowers by Leenie
Sam Squire (Iron Maiden Steel) (x2)
Six Nations Fire Lacrosse team Route 54
Donations (Cash & Prizes)
Janie Jamieson
Vincent Sandy Kevin Sandy
Laura and Jeff Day
Karen and Monte
Laurie Froman
Donna Bomberry
Carmen Thomas
June Sowden
Graeme and Marcie
Ken and Tee
Six Nations Women’s Singers
Monica - MTS Native Services
M&M McCleary & Michaud
Greens to Go
Kris Hill – Route 54
Lauren Hill
Mark McEachern
Chippewa Creek Golf Club
Volunteers
Tammy Hill
Kateri Sandy
Hayley Sandy
Mackenzie Skye
Abigail Galbraith
Whitney Sandy
Mixed Div. Winners Doob, Carol, Sheila, Ritz
Mixed Div. Runners Up Stu, Lisa, Brandi, Dobbs
Women’s Div Winners Tonya, Bonnie, Karen, Angel Men’s Div. Winners Lindsay, Cecil, Mike, Chad
Get your hearing checked by a licensed hearing care professional at your local Connect Hearing clinic.
Native Centre finds a 'novel' way to get kids into reading
By Julia Sacco, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Lake Report
There’s a vending machine at the Niagara Regional Native Centre, but it’s not packed with chips and snacks.
There’s a vending machine at the Niagara Regional Native Centre, but it’s not packed with chips and snacks.
This vending machine is filled with books — specifically, Indigenous-authored books, for community members to take home for free.
The machine is sponsored by Start2Finish, a Canadian charity that provides educational support to the country’s at-risk children, intending to break the child poverty cycle.
The Niagara Regional Native Centre received one of eight book vending machines provided to friendship/cultural centres and schools on Anishinaabe Algonquin, Anishinaabek, Haudeno-
Wyller Fushtey, the Native Centre’s Akwe:go program coordinator, controls the book vending machine.
“It’s an opportunity for our community to access Indigenous literature by Indigenous authors and see themselves represented in that literature
as well,” Fushtey told The Lake Report.
Community members who would like to get a book from the vending machine can ask any staff member for a free token to operate the machine, Fushtey said. “If they want two books, we will give them two tokens. There’s no limit or anything like that,” he said.
The machine gets restocked around twice a year and Fushtey is able to
select which books fill the machine from a provided catalogue. Most books are geared toward children, but there are a select number of chapter books and interesting picture books that appeal to all ages, Fushtey said.
"I would love for more people to know about it," he said, adding that the completely free resource is a great new way for kids to get into reading.
The novelty of the vending machine makes it an encouraging and fun way to get kids to read.
"They’re not usually excited to get a book from the library, so to get a token and choose their own book adds a bit of excitement," he said.
For more information on the Niagara Regional Native Centre’s book vending machine, email Wyller Fushtey at akwego@nrnc.ca. juliasacco@niagaranow. com
Six Nations person facing child pornography charges
By Donna Duric
The community has been rocked by recent news of a local resident facing child pornography charges but a publication ban means the person can’t be identified and neither can any details of the case.
Six Nations Police said in a press release last week a 58-year-old Ohsweken individual was charged with possession of child pornography.
The publication ban means the person’s gender can’t even be revealed although the community has been abuzz with speculation of who the person is.
Six Nations Police, with the assistance of Ontario Provincial Police digital forensic technicians, took the person into custody where they were held for a bail hearing in Brantford on Aug. 28.
Police are continuing their investigation and said in a press release that further charges may be pending.
“No information will be released as there is a publication ban imposed by the courts,” Six Nations Police said.
According to the Cana-
dian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime, a court might order a publication ban to: -encourage witnesses who are afraid to testify -protect vulnerable witnesses, such as children and victims of crime -to encourage victims to report under-reported crimes, such as sexual offences -to protect the privacy of those participating in the justice system.
The CRCVC said that courts sometimes impose publication bans to protect witnesses or “justice system participants” from retaliation or intimidation if the public knew their identity.
A publication ban can be requested by the prosecutor, victim, the accused or any other person who may be affected by the publication in writing explaining why they need this type of protection, according to the CRCVC.
Hearings to decide on publication bans can be held either in open court or private.
Publication bans include transmitting any information about the person or case on social media.
Niagara Regional Native Centre. FILE
Sights to see at fall festivals
JACE
Just as summertime is synonymous with concerts and carnivals, fall is a prime time for its own opportunities for seasonal entertainment, such as harvest festivals. Certain features overlap between summer carnivals and fall festivals, but the latter offers some unique offerings as well.
The following are some things to expect when fall festival season hits full swing.
Seasonal fare. Many fall harvest festivals are built on the foods harvested in the fall for that region. Considering location, that may be cranberries, or it could be pumpkins. Apples also turn up in many areas starting in September. For those who can’t wait to bite into food picked at the peak of its season, a fall harvest festival can’t be beat.
Wagon rides. Farms and the tools of the farming trade are part of harvest
festivals. Wagons transporting crops are a classic sight, even if they’re no longer heavily relied upon on the farm. Rather than a cargo bed full of corn or apples, harvest festivals tote families around on wagon rides or on hay bale beds towed by tractors.
Apples galore. Candied and caramel apples and many other apple products feature prominently at many harvest festivals. Apple fritters, apple turnovers, apple pies, fried apples, and others are bound to be sold by vendors, along with traditional fair foods, like funnel cakes.
Cider stations. Lemonade stands that are staples of summer give way to hot or cold cider offerings come the fall. Cold ciders are perfect for an unseasonably warm fall day while warm varieties are tailor-made for days when there’s a chill in the air.
Pumpkin patches. Fall harvest organizers pick and display pumpkins in fields to make it easier for youngsters to find the perfect pumpkin for Hal-
AFN and chiefs
loween carvings. It’s a sea of orange this time of year, and things may get more colorful with non-edible gourds in shades of white or yellow.
Leaf-peeping opportunities. Some festivals are geared around chances to view the fall foliage that abounds in primarily rural areas. A mountain or forest backdrop adds vibrant colour to any event. Coastal areas may set up fall foliage cruises that let guests see the leaves from a new perspective.
Corn mazes. Fall festivals set up adjacent to or on farms may have corn mazes for the kids. These mazes may be kept up throughout October and repurposed into haunted mazes for older kids looking to get a scare for Halloween.
Fall offers a host of entertaining festivals geared around the harvest season. These festivals are ideal ways for people to see the sights and nibble on seasonal delights along the way.
start talks on FNCFS long-term reform program
JACE
jace@tworowtimes.com
The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak is launching a national dialogue with chiefs regarding the Draft Agreement on Long-Term Reform of the First Nations Child and Family Services (FNCFS) Program.
The Draft Agreement, totalling $48.7 billion in a funding commitment from the federal government, will empower First Nations sovereign rights-holders to administer or direct child welfare programming, as they determine for themselves.
The AFN is a national advocacy organization that works to advance the collective aspirations of First Nations individuals and communities across Canada on matters of national or international nature and concern.
Mandated by Reso-
lutions 40/2022 and 86/2023 To Ensure Quality of Life to the First Nations Child and Family Services Program and Jordan’s Principle, the AFN was directed to negotiate this draft agreement, conduct regional engagements, and seek approval from First Nations-in-Assembly.
“This First Nations-led agreement will ensure the rights of First Nation children and families are respected,” said Nepinak. “With this historic funding, we can get serious about replacing Canada’s broken system with a compassionate, families-first approach that promotes prevention before apprehension and empowers First Nation families to care for our own children.”
Nepinak began a national dialogue in August with visits to several First Nations in Ontario and other First Nations across the country. The AFN initiated bi-weekly virtual
Rustad tells Jordan Peterson B.C. needs nuclear talk, end to school 'indoctrination'
ly need more power and be open to nuclear technologies such as small modular reactors.
The leader of B.C.'s Conservatives says there needs to be a conversation about nuclear power's role in the province's energy future and a review of educational materials he says are designed for "indoctrination" of children.
other products," Rustad says.
Rustad was a member of the B.C. Liberals, now known as BC United, until he was thrown out of the party caucus for downplaying the role of humans in climate change.
information sessions open to chiefs, technicians and interested observers, which will continue until September 5. Each session is designed to explore a specific topic related to the reform. Dates for in-person sessions will be announced as they are confirmed with each region. Additionally, the draft agreement and other relevant information are being mailed to each chief this week.
An email address (social.development@afn. ca) has also been set up to field inquiries from Chiefs.
“With the unity of First Nations, we have reached another historic turning point. We lift up the chiefs, knowledge keepers, representative plaintiffs, experts, and allies for leading us on this journey. You have been pillars of strength for the thousands of children and families who have experienced generations of discrimination,” said Napinak.
John Rustad, speaking on an episode of Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson's podcast released Monday, says he also wants to get rid of the carbon levy, which he calls "a vain attempt to change the weather."
In the episode, which runs just over an hour and 45 minutes, Rustad and Peterson discuss a variety of topics including his revival of the B.C. Conservative Party as an election contender, energy and education policy, and what they call "cancel culture."
Rustad says B.C.'s education system is "teaching kids what to think" rather than how to think critically, and some materials in the system are "designed for more of an indoctrination" than teaching kids important skills.
The party leader also says it was "crazy" for the former B.C. Liberal party to have banned nuclear power, saying the province needs to have "a conversation" about reconsidering its position, tying high energy costs to lower living standards.
Rustad said the ban was "because of politics" and a means of chasing votes, and that B.C. will eventual-
The B.C. Conservative Party's slate of candidates remains in flux after BC United leader Kevin Falcon last week pulled the party out of the race, urging people to support Rustad to defeat David Eby's NDP in the provincial election in October.
Rustad, who spoke to Peterson before the BC United withdrawal, says B.C. needs to learn its energy lessons from places such as Germany, where he says the decommissioning of nuclear plants meant a heavier reliance on fossil fuels that drove up costs and affected people's quality of life.
He also takes aim at renewable energy technology such as solar panels, wind generators and heat pumps, saying that such devices are not reliable enough to support base load electricity demand or consumption.
"Wind and solar have their place, but they are additives to our energy mix," Rustad says. "They're not base load. They can't be base load.
"Where you can drive down the cost is higher-density energy … When you look at uranium, the amount of energy you can generate out of uranium is phenomenally better from an amount of material you need as opposed to the
Rustad also calls the BC Liberals' previous decision to ban nuclear power in the province was an example of politicians who "chase where they think the vote is as opposed to standing on the principles … that are needed to create a good society and quality of life."
"Often, it's not necessarily politics of the right or the left," he says. "It's just politics that is willing to actually stand up and say these are the values that we stand for … and ask people to support that, make the case as opposed to trying to pander to the various political positionings."
Rustad says the current B.C. power grid is almost completely green "if you consider hydro power green," but the province doesn't have enough and is already a net-importer of electricity with no plans to build additional dams.
"And this is where we actually have to start having that conversation about nuclear, whether it's small modular reactors or other types of nuclear technology," he says. "We're going to need that power in British Columbia."
On the carbon levy, Rustad says "it makes no sense whatsoever" to be "taxing people into poverty."
He adds that such a charge adds costs to goods from B.C. and Canada that make exports less competitive globally, further cutting into Canadians' capacity to generate wealth.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 3, 2024.
Jordan Peterson. FILE
Mongolia ignores an international warrant for Putin's arrest, giving him a red-carpet welcome
CANADIAN PRESS editor@tworowtimes.com
ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin received a red-carpet welcome to Mongolia on Tuesday, as the country ignored calls to arrest him on an international warrant for alleged war crimes stemming from Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
The trip, which concluded Tuesday night, was Putin’s first to a member nation of the International Criminal Court since it issued the warrant in March 2023. Ahead of his visit, Ukraine urged Mongolia to hand Putin over to the court in The Hague, and the European Union expressed concern that Mongolia might not execute the warrant.
The warrant put the Mongolian government in a difficult position. After decades under communism with close ties to the Soviet Union, it transitioned to democracy in the 1990s and built relations with the United States, Japan and other new partners. But the landlocked country remains economically dependent on its two much larger and more powerful neighbors, Russia and China. The ICC has accused Putin of being responsible for the abductions of children from Ukraine. Member
countries are required to detain suspects if a warrant has been issued, but Mongolia needs to maintain its ties with Russia and the court lacks a mechanism to enforce its warrants.
The Russian leader was welcomed in the main square in Ulaanbaatar, the capital, by an honor guard dressed in vivid red and blue uniforms styled on those of the personal guard of 13th century ruler Genghis Khan, the founder of the Mongol Empire.
A throng of people watched from behind temporary barriers as Putin and Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa walked up the red-carpeted steps of the Government Palace and bowed toward a statue of Genghis Khan before entering the building for their meetings.
A small group of protesters who tried to unfurl a Ukrainian flag before the ceremony were taken away by police. Five others who gathered a few blocks west of the square held up an anti-Putin banner and Ukrainian flag but disbanded after hearing about the arrests.
As Putin was welcomed in Mongolia, his forces struck a military training facility and nearby hospital in Poltava, Ukraine, killing at least 50 people and wounding over 200 others, the country's president said. The strike
appeared to be one of the deadliest by Russian forces since the war began on Feb. 24, 2022. Mongolia and Russia signed agreements to design and study the feasibility of a power plant upgrade in Ulaanbaatar and to ensure the supply of Russian aviation fuel to Mongolia. Another agreement covered an environmental study of a river where Mongolia wants to build a hydroelectric plant that Russia is concerned would pollute Lake Baikal on the Russian side. Putin also outlined plans to develop the rail system between the countries. He invited the Mongolian president to attend a summit of the BRICS nations — a group that includes Russia and China among others — in the Russian city of Kazan in late October. Khurelsukh accepted, according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. The visit ended Tuesday night, with an honor guard lining Putin's walk to his airplane. He arrived early Wednesday in Russia's major Pacific port of Vladivostok, where he is to take part in an economic forum.
On Monday, the EU said it had shared its concern that the ICC warrant might not be executed with Mongolian authorities.
“Mongolia, like all other countries, has the right to develop its international ties according to its own interests,” European Com-
mission spokeswoman Nabila Massrali said. But she added that Mongolia has been a party to the ICC since 2002, "with the legal obligations that it entails.”
Given Mongolia's dependence on Russia and China for trade, energy and security, it was hardly possible to expect Mongolia to arrest Putin, said Sam Greene, the director of democratic resilience at the Center for European Policy Analysis.
“The overriding reason for this trip will have been to show that Putin can travel right now,” he said.
But, Greene added, the warrant still narrows the circle of possibilities for Putin, forcing “any governments that’s going to think about hosting him to consider both the domestic and the international political consequences of that in a way they wouldn’t have had to before.”
Kenneth Roth, the former longtime director of Human Rights Watch, called Putin’s trip to Mongolia “a sign of weakness,” posting on X that the Russian leader “could manage a trip only to a country with a tiny population of 3.4 million that lives in Russia’s shadow.”
But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stressed the trip wasn’t about “showing something to Western countries,” but rather about developing bilateral relations between two countries root-
ed in history and “wonderful glorious traditions.”
His remarks were made to state TV reporter Pavel Zarubin, who posted them on his Telegram channel.
More than 50 Russians outside the country signed an open letter urging the government of Mongolia to “immediately detain Vladimir Putin upon his arrival.” They included Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was freed from a Russian prison in August in the biggest East-West prisoner swap since the Cold War.
Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy secretary of Russia’s Security Council, denounced the warrant as “illegal” in an online statement Tuesday, describing those who would try to carry it out as “madmen.”
Putin, on his first visit to Mongolia in five years, participated in a ceremony to mark the 85th anniversary of a joint Soviet and Mongolian victory over Japan's army when it controlled Manchuria in northeast China.
Thousands of soldiers on both sides died in months of fighting in 1939 over the location of the border between Manchuria and Mongolia.
“I am very delighted about Putin’s visit to Mongolia," said Yansanjav Demdendorj, a retired economist, citing Russia's role against Japan. “If we think of the ... battle, it’s Russians who helped free Mongolia.”
Uyanga Tsoggerel, who
supports the protests, said her country is a democracy that doesn't tolerate dictatorship and accused Putin of “recklessly humiliating and shaming Mongolia in front of the world.”
Putin has made a series of overseas trips in recent months to try to counter the international isolation he faces over the invasion of Ukraine. He visited China in May, made a trip to North Korea and Vietnam in June and went to Kazhakstan in July for a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. But last year, the South African government lobbied against Putin showing up in Johannesburg for the BRICS summit, which he ended up joining by video link. South Africa, an ICC member, was condemned by activists and its main opposition party in 2015 when it didn't arrest then-Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir during a visit for an African Union summit.
Enkhgerel Seded, who studies at a university in Moscow, said that historically, countries with friendly relations don't arrest heads-of-state on official visits.
“Our country has obligations toward the international community," she said. "But ... I think in this case as well, it would not be appropriate to conduct an arrest.”
Transport minister asks for report after Via Rail passengers stranded
By Mickey Djuric
A tourist visiting Canada is questioning the safety of Via Rail after he says his phone was snatched from him by an employee when he was documenting a train delay that left passengers stranded as they ran out of food, water and working toilets.
Canada's transport minister has now asked Via Rail to provide an independent report, improve training and review procedures following the train delay over the weekend.
Chip Malt was in Quebec over the long weekend to celebrate his father's 70th birthday in the province's
capital, and said he boarded a Via Rail train from Montreal to Quebec City on Saturday.
But the expected threehour ride ended up being a nearly 14-hour journey after passengers were stranded for 10 hours in the "middle of nowhere" following two train breakdowns, said Malt. He said people were trying to find train exits and were calling Ubers, taxis and car services to get them out but they were so secluded they "were without options."
"It's my first experience on Via Rail, and will probably be my last experience on Via Rail," he said Monday in an interview from his home
in Austin, Texas.
"It was like being in prison."
Canada's Transport Minister spoke with Via Rail executives on Tuesday "to tell them the way passengers were treated on Saturday was unacceptable," said Laurent de Casanove, spokesperson to the minister.
"To make sure this doesn’t happen again, VIA Rail has been asked to provide an independent report on what happened, improve training for their employees, and review their breakdown procedures," he said. That includes keeping passengers "better informed" and making sure they have access to basic services
and other options to reach their destination quickly if there’s a long delay.
"Canadians deserve to have reliable passenger rail that meets their needs," Rodriguez's office said.
On Sunday Via Rail issued a statement apologizing for the "inconvenience" to passengers. It confirmed they were stuck for 10 hours on Saturday when a train broke down between Montreal and Quebec City after experiencing two consecutive mechanical issues. The company said no buses were available in the region to offer alternative transportation. Electricity, air conditioning and washrooms were shut down at
times to allow for repairs and coupling with another train, the company said.
"We are committed to providing exceptional customer service and ensuring that all passengers are treated with respect and dignity," the company said.
Malt said snacks were delivered one hour and three hours into the train delay, but they eventually ran out of food and water.
"They came around with a jug of water and they're like 'Is anyone dehydrated? This is the last of our water.'"
At that point the washroom also broke, he said.
Around the eight-hour mark people were stand-
ing to stretch their legs, including Malt, who said he was giving his wife space because she was forced to do a scheduled job interview on the train.
Malt said that's when an employee "barged in" and "pushed a woman into the wall" as he went by demanding people to take their seats.
"He started screaming at this lady and that's when people started to film, including myself, and I was standing right next to him," he said. "As soon as he saw that I was filming he leaned over and snatched my phone."
Support Services for Six Nations
Support services are available to community members of all ages who may need support. Due to community needs, certain services have extended their hours, noted in blue.
To access support via phone, call:
Six Nations Mental Health & Addictions (519) 445-2143, Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm
Extended: Weekdays till 9pm and Weekends 9am-9pm
Ganohkwasra Family Assault Support Services (519) 445-4324
Ohsweken Public Health (519) 445-2672, Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm
First Nations & Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line 1 (855) 242-3310, 24/7
Talk Suicide Canada 1-833-456-4566, 24/7
National Indian Residential School Crisis Line 1-866-925-4419, 24/7
To access support via Text/Chat:
Kids Help Line
Text ‘CONNECT’, to 686868, or online chat kidshelpphone.ca, 24/7
Talk 4 Healing for Indigenous Women Text: 1-855-554-4315, 24/7 or online chat www.beendigen.com, 24/7
Online fundraiser for Matthew Gaudreau's widow raises more than $560K as the sports world mourns
By Stephen Whyno
More tributes are pouring in from around the hockey community after the deaths of NHL player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, who were killed last week by a suspected drunken driver while riding their bikes in their home state of New Jersey.
Jaromir Jagr posted a video Tuesday on social media of Gaudreau assisting on his 766th and final goal in the league when they were teammates with the Calgary Flames in 2018.
“It was a beautiful pass above all,” Jagr wrote in Czech. "Unfortunately, life can be sometimes unbelievably cruel. Thank you, Johnny Gaudreau, that you were here and you gave hope to all those guys by your unbelievable performances that they can succeed at the world class level in the NHL as you managed to do. My sincerely condolences to your family. R.I.P. to you and your brother.”
Donations also continued to pile up to support Matthew’s widow, Madeline, who is pregnant with the couple’s first child, due in December. A GoFundMe set up by Madeline’s sister, Holland Korbitz, and verified by the online fundraising company had raised more than $560,000 as of 7 p.m. EDT Tuesday.
Dozens of current and former players from around the league, or their significant others, are listed among the more than 7,800 donors, including $3,000 from the family of New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin and $2,013 from Matt Duchene of the Dallas Stars, for a total of $567,127 — well beyond the initial $30,000 goal.
Cliff Rucker, owner of the ECHL's Worcester Railers HC for whom Matthew played two seasons from 2017-19, is listed as the top donor at $10,000.
“Maddy, the entire Railers HC family stands shoulder to shoulder with you during this incomprehensibly difficult time for you and your loved ones,” Rucker commented. “You
and Matty will always be part of our Railer family, and I hope you can feel the love and support we are sending your way.”
The Gaudreau brothers were cycling on a road in Oldmans Township on Thursday night when a man driving an SUV in the same direction attempted to pass two other vehicles and struck them from behind about 8 p.m., according to New Jersey State Police. They were pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said the driver, 43-year-old Sean M. Higgins, was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and charged with two counts of death by auto, along with reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle. On Tuesday, police said nothing more about the case, including Higgin's blood alcohol level, was being released at this time.
No information about a funeral or memorial services, public or private, was immediately available.
“As we embark on the journey of laying John and Matty to rest, we are greatly comforted by all those who have visited these growing memorials and who have left messages of love, prayers, thoughts of kindness as well as jerseys, skates, sticks, pucks, flowers, candles and so many other tokens
strangers.”
Fans in Columbus on Friday made a memorial out of hockey sticks, flowers and other mementos outside the Blue Jackets’ downtown arena. Flames fans in Calgary, Alberta, also paid tribute with messages and Gaudreau’s No. 13 written in chalk on the ground outside the Saddledome.
The Blue Jackets said fans are invited to a candlelight vigil on Wednesday night outside Nationwide Arena, which will include brief remarks from members of the organization as well as 13 minutes, 21 seconds of silent remembrance for the jersey numbers worn by Johnny and Matthew.
of remembrance,” uncle Jim Gaudreau posted on Facebook.
“We are consoled by the memorials on each of your doorsteps, in your yards and on your cars. We have heard and seen the countless moments of silence and heartfelt messages by so many professional athletes, organizations and other athletic leagues, by every single person in private, along with the extremely heartfelt messages from broadcasts, media and each and every single one of you along with the random acts of kindness and compassion by complete
The Blue Jackets said general manager Don Waddell and players will speak to reporters Wednesday afternoon.
Wayne Gretzky over the weekend said he, wife Janet, and their family were devastated by the senseless tragedy.
“We are sending our love, thoughts and prayers to the Gaudreau family,” Gretzky posted on social media. "We lost two great young men who were loved and a huge presence both on and off the ice. Johnny and Matthew, you will always be remembered and missed."
Their deaths on the eve of their sister Katie's wedding scheduled for Friday in Philadelphia transcended hockey. Playby-play broadcaster Bob Wischusen offered somber words about Johnny and Matthew during ESPN's college football broadcast of the game Monday night between Florida State and Boston College, the school the Gaudreau brothers attended and played hockey together at for one season a decade ago.
“The entire National Hockey League, as well as the Boston College community and so many others, were devastated Friday when we learned of the deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau,” Wischusen said. “Our hearts are shattered, and we send every good thought and prayer to their wives, Johnny Gaudreau’s young children, Matthew’s child on the way and all of their family and friends.”
Matthew Gaudreau. FILE
SIX NATIONS COUNCIL
SIX NATIONS AND NEW CREDIT
SANDY: Joshua Blaine
December 18, 1997 - August 30, 2024
Special friend of Alex-Lynn. Loving father of Mary Grace, and Lexi. Beloved son of Sheila (Rob), and Josh (Lisa). Brother of Jacob, and Jayden. Grandson of Jeff & Velma Thomas, Mary & the late Cleveland (Doe) Sandy. Great grandson of the late Joseph & Hazel Hill, Seymour & Patricia Thomas, and Wilma Johnson. Joshua will also be remembered by many aunts, uncles, great aunts, great uncles, cousins, and friends.
Resting at his grandparents home, 1911 Cayuga Road, Six Nations after 5 pm. Tuesday. Funeral Service and Burial will be held at Onondaga Longhouse on Thursday September 5, 2024 at 11 am. Arrangements by Styres Funeral Home, Ohsweken. www. rhbanderson.com
Learn CAYUGA
CLUES ACROSS
1. Current unit
7. Reciprocal of an ohm
10. God of the sea
12. A way to disfigure
13. Positioned
14. Tall tropical American tree
15. Large deciduous trees
16. __ and ends
17. Part of a machine
18. Brews
19. One who leads prayers in a mosque
21. Indian state
22. Partisans
27. Top lawyer in the land
28. Former Dodgers MVP
33. Title for women
34. Heated and allowed to slowly cool
36. Copycat
37. Sounds
38. One-time Israeli diplomat Abba
39. Part of (abbr.)
40. Hateful
41. Collide
44. European football heavyweight
45. One who works for you
48. Song
49. Ancient marvels
50. Bridge building degree 51. Delivery boys
DOWN
There’s a lot in a bowling alley
4. Sun up in New York
5. Court decision __ v. Wade
6. Finish line
7. Young women
8. Hives of activity
9. Hyman Roth’s right-hand man Johnny
10. Eastern U.S. river
11. Popular cooking ingredient
12. Greek mythological princess
14. Scent for men
17. Cost, insurance and freight (abbr.)
18. Once more
20. Irate
23. Triangular spaces above a door
24. Norwegian playwright and
poet Henrik
25. Atomic #58
26. Patti Hearst’s captors
29. Natural logarithm
30. Talk incessantly
31. Went by
32. Strives
35. Fall back
36. Manila hemp
38. Not easily explained
40. Former “Double Dare” host Summers
41. Mollusk
42. Capital of Togo
43. Letter of Semitic scripts
44. Founder of Babism
45. Indicates near
46. Family of regulator genes
47. Indicates before
ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20
It’s easy to lose perspective when it comes to the important friends and family in your life, Aries. Start rethinking where to devote your attention and energy.
TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21
Taurus, if you feel adventure is calling you, you can always take a break and get out there and answer that call. Take a road trip this week or even explore a new neighborhood nearby.
GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21
Gemini, be sure to get off to an early start regarding plans this week. Let others involved know that you’ll probably be picking them up bright and early.
CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22
Cancer, if you are not up for a night out on the town or much socializing the next few days, it’s perfectly fine to stay close to home. Everyone needs a break from time to time.
LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23
Leo, when you are in a good mood, it’s hard for people around you to keep up with your level of energy. Don’t be surprised if some people in your posse tire out before you.
VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22
Virgo, you’ve never been good about asking for help. This week you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how quickly a family member jumps in to give you the boost you need.
LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23
Typically you are very easy to get along with, Libra. But this week others may describe you as uncompromising and uncooperative. Think about what is prompting this change of tune.
SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22
Scorpio, you aren’t about to settle without getting what you want. When road blocks come up this week, you may be frustrated when things don’t go your way. Stay the course.
SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21
Try to fill your days with the arts and music this week, Sagittarius. They are what you need right now to put you in a positive mood and turn things around.
CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20
Things have been busy in your life, Capricorn. That mile-long list doesn’t seem to be getting any shorter. You might need to call in some help to get through all of the tasks.
AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18
Aquarius, someone has been keeping tabs on what you have been doing from afar. You don’t know whether to be flattered or concerned about this attention. You’ll learn soon enough.
PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20
Pisces, it is time for loved ones to get together and have a serious conversation about something that involves the whole family. You just don’t know if you’re ready to deal with it.
