Two Row Times, March 27, 2024

Egg hunts are a traditional component of many people's Easter celebrations. Children often delight in searching for eggs around the house or in the backyard. Egg hunts are so popular that they have become a component of many town-sponsored festivities. In fact, the White House hosts its annual Easter Egg Roll each year.

There are many ways

to make Easter egg hunts more enjoyable and productive for participants of all ages. Try these "eggcellent" ideas.

¥ Designate a clear hunting area. Young children can grow frustrated searching for eggs in large areas. Set parameters for the search area that are manageable depending on the ages of the children participating. If youÕll be in a large yard or field, tape off the search area perimeter.

¥ Vary the prizes. Candy, candy and more candy seems to be the name

of the game on Easter. But too many sweets can lead to stomach aches for young Easter celebrants. Instead, mix and match the prizes contained in the eggs. Candy can be in some, money in others, and perhaps small toys in a few eggs. Another clever idea is to mix the egg hunt with charades. Put charade prompts in some eggs so that kids have to act out what they read inside for added fun.

¥ Special privilege egg. Hide one egg that gives the finder the opportunity for a special honor. It

may include getting the first slice of the holiday ham or being able to choose a movie that the entire family watches together after dinner.

¥ Label eggs for equity. When there are children across a wide range of ages, label the eggs with the childrenÕs names or utilize a color-coded system to ensure that everyone has an equal shot at finding eggs. .

¥ Keep a master list. It can be hard to remember where each egg is hidden, so keep a running list of where they are or take

¥ Make custom baskets. Children will need something to carry their eggs. Prior to the egg hunt, let them decorate bags or baskets with Easter trinkets for custom creations.

Easter egg hunts are a time-honored tradition. The opportunities for fun are endless when families plan accordingly.

photos with a phone of the hiding spots. This way youÕre not left to discover a chocolate-filled egg teeming with ants come summertime.

LOCAL

Increase in violence, guns seized as hard drugs proliferate on Six Nations

DONNA DURIC donna@tworowtimes.com TWO ROW TIMES

Six Nations is seeing an increase in violent crime as the influx of hard drugs continues to proliferate on the reserve, said Six Nations Police Chief Darren Montour.

A drug enforcement unit has specifically been created to crack down on the issue and police are seeing an increase in drug raids due to the rampant increase of illicit drugs circulating around the reserve such as crack/cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and even its extremely potent cousin, Carfentanil (a large animal tranquilizer 100 times more potent than fentanyl).

Montour, who was at the community meeting on gangs, guns and violence at the Six Nations Community Hall on Monday, said while there is no official gang affiliation on Six Nations, there are some “groups” that consist of relatively young people that “do go around committing violent crimes. It depends on how we define ‘gang.’”

Montour views gangs more in terms of street gangs, like the infamous Crips or Bloods, from California, as opposed to

organized crime groups like the Hell’s Angels.

There are some Indigenous street gangs that are more prevalent in the prairie provinces, such as the Indian Posse or Manitoba Warriors, but no similar street gangs exist on Six Nations or nearby cities.

He said it’s possible Six Nations members have connections with those street gangs out west, but as of now, there are no named street gangs on Six Nations.

“As far as anyone blatantly wearing colours, we have’t seen them.”

Montour said people get to know gang members when they’re incarcerated.

When it comes to guns, almost everyone has a gun on Six Nations, said Montour.

Most of that gun ownership is related to hunting, he said.

“Handguns, not so much. But in any of the drug enforcement that we do, there’s always a firearm. They use that for protection (to prevent other dealers from robbing them). We’re always seizing those.”

Six Nations Police mostly find sawed off shotguns during drug raids, said Montour.

Normally, a shotgun is not a prohibited weapon,

but when it’s sawed off, to conceal it, that’s when it becomes prohibited, he said.

“We get a lot of those. Not too many handguns… that’s the big weapon of choice off the reserve among gangs in the big city centres. At times, yes, we do find those.”

In decades past, most of the drug enforcement was tied to marijuana, he said.

“Our focus now is on hard drugs. That’s killing people. That’s our focus.”

That is, he said, going after the drug traffickers, and the suppliers.

Montour does’t see a solution soon unless there is a serious deterrent to keeping people off drugs.

“We can arrest them all we want - they’re still going to be addicted (after leaving jail),” he said. “We’re not counsellors.”

The police are the enforcers, he said.

That’s where preventative measures come in and community leaders and social and healthcare workers are focusing on the youth.

Debra Jonathan, a registered nurse from Six Nations, said they’re excited to be opening a youth hub on Six Nations in May to help deter young people from gangs.

It will be a drop-in space for youth that will be open and operational

by May 1.

Both Montour and Jonathan say youth violence, gang affiliation, and drug activity all boils down to intergenerational trauma.

“Today’s youth face things we, ourselves, have never had to face…the drugs in our community, the lack of self-identity,” said Jonathan. "A lot of our youth are craving to know who they are.”

She said they’re craving to go to the longhouse but they don’t know who to turn to or where to go.

They know the longhouse is there but they don’t know how to access it, she said.

The youth hub will be a safe space for young people to come in and meet with their peers, to do activities and have conversations, yet also have outreach workers on site they can talk to, said Jonathan.

“Sometimes youth done’t have the ability to talk openly at home. We want to give them that space to feel comfortable in having those conversations.”

They’re still looking for more input from the youth on what the youth hub should offer.

“We as adults have ideas but..we need to hear from our youth.”

Facts about autism

Autism affects families in myriad ways. Though its name suggests it's a singular condition, the term "autism" refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication.

The organization

Autism Speaks is devoted to supporting and advocating for individuals with autism and their families. Learning about autism is one of the ways people from all walks of life, including those not affected by autism, can help organizations like Autism Speaks meet their missions. Though autism is a complicated subject, the following facts and figures can serve as a solid foundation for people who want to learn more about it.

¥ A 2021 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicated that approximately one in 44 children in the United States is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

¥ A 2018 report from Canada's National Autism Spectrum Disorder Surveillance System estimated that one in 66 children and youth in Canada are diagnosed with ASD.

¥ Autism Speaks re-

ports that boys are four times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls. In fact, CDC data from 2018 indicates that one in 27 boys in the U.S. was identified with autism.

¥ Parents who have a child with autism have a 2 to 18 percent chance of having a second child who also is affected.

¥ Parents of twins should know that an autism diagnosis in one twin does not necessarily mean the other child also will be diagnosed with autism. Among non-identical twins, if one child has autism, the other will be affected about 31 percent of the time.

¥ Vaccines do not cause autism. Autism Speaks notes that extensive research conducted over several decades has concluded that there is no link between childhood vaccinations and autism.

¥ Nearly one-third of children with ASD (31 percent) have an intellectual disability.

¥ Nearly half of children with autism wander or bolt from safety.

¥ Bullying is a significant problem for children with autism. Roughly two-third of children with autism between the ages of six and 15 have been bullied.

Autism affect millions of families across the globe. More information is available at autismspeaks.org.

Elected Council seeking community input on Additions to Reserve redesign

reserve of a First Nation or creates a new reserve for First Nations.

The federal government is revamping the Additions to Reserve process and community members are being asked to provide their input.

Six Nations has around 1,000 acres of land waiting to be added to the reserve under the ATR process.

Six Nations of the Grand River Lands and Resources held a community meeting last week seeking feedback on the current process and how to improve it in the future.

An addition to reserve adds land to an existing

A reserve is a parcel of land where legal title is held by the Crown (Government of Canada), for the use and benefit of a particular First Nation.

Under the ATR process, land can be added adjacent to the existing reserve land (contiguous) or separated from the existing reserve land (non-contiguous).

The federal government says the addition to reserve process contributes to “advancing reconciliation and improving the treaty relationships” with First Nations and can improve community access to land and resources, as

well as increase economic development opportunities for First Nations.

Under the current system, in order for an addition to reserve proposal to move forward, the following criteria must be met:

-significant environmental concerns, if any, have been addressed to an acceptable level for proposed land use

-a land survey has been conducted identifying the land to be set apart as reserve

-the Government of Canada’s duty to consult process has been completed

-best efforts have been made to address any concerns of municipal and

provincial or territorial governments

-third party interests, such as leases, permits and licenses requiring a replacement instrument have been identified and addressed

-public access concerns have been addressed

There are 4 phases to the addition to reserve process.

The first it is the initiation, where the First Nation submits a band council resolution and an addition to reserve proposal is sent to the Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) regional office.

Then there is an assessment and review process.

After ISC reviews the ATR proposal, they issue

a letter of support to the First Nation for successful proposals.

ISC and the First Nation then create and execute a work plan to complete all technical components of the transfer, such as surveys, addressing third party interests, duty to consult, municipal service agreements, environmental Site Assessments, etc.

Finally, the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs approves proposals by a Ministerial Order to make the transfer officially reserve land.

The Government of Canada created the Addition to Reserve Policy in 1972.

The policy was updated

in 2001.

In 2013, a draft revised policy was released to seek feedback from First Nations and the broader public on how to further improve the policy and ATR process in general. In response to this feedback, the federal government issued an updated policy directive in 2016.

In the 2021 federal budget, $43 million was approved to ISC and CIRNAC to redesign the ATR policy.

SNGR has an online survey for community members to fill out on the additions to reserve process re-design.

Canadian National Railway Co. released a new Indigenous relations policy for the railway.

The policy includes principles on cultural awareness and employee engagement, people and employment, community engagement and relationships, economic reconciliation and environmental stewardship and safety. CN’s advisory council of prominent Indigenous leaders resigned several months ago.

CN releases new Indigenous relations policy

New policy acknowledges company’s role in colonial policies

“CN is deeply committed to reconciliation and continuing to work collaboratively alongside Indigenous communities across our network,” said Olivier Chouc, CN chief legal officer in a news release. “By acknowledging our past and embracing our responsibilities, we are laying a stronger foundation to continue to develop respectful, sustainable, and mutually beneficial relationships with Indigenous peoples.” The council resigned at the end of last year after its co-chairs said the company failed to acknowledge past wrongs

and follow its recommendations for reconciliation.

The new policy follows CN’s acknowledgment of the historical role railways have played as part of colonial policies. That acknowledgment was published in December on the heels of the council’s mass resignation.

The railway is one of a number of major Canadian corporations that have appointed Indigenous advisory councils in the last few years in response to a call to action by the federal Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

The commission called on the corporate sector

to commit to meaningful consultation and respectful relationships with Indigenous people, and to ensure they have equitable access to jobs, training, and education opportunities as well as long-term sustainable benefits from economic development projects. Indigenous business experts have said these goals remain far off, as evidenced by the resignation of CN’s Indigenous advisory council.

Some have urged corporate Canada to move beyond window dressing to real action, including by setting targets for Indigenous representation at

the board level and hiring targets across the organization.

Such measures could also include procurement agreements to ensure Indigenous-owned businesses are being granted fair access to corporate contracts.

Mélanie Allaire, CN’s head of Indigenous relations, said the company is developing its first Reconciliation Action Plan, which is meant to outline specific and measurable initiatives for CN to track its progress. The plan will be announced later this

year.

“This new policy is just one piece of the comprehensive work being undertaken at CN to build strong and meaningful relationships with Indigenous peoples,” Allaire said in a statement.

CN says its network operates within or adjacent to nearly 230 reserve lands of more than 120 First Nations and Métis communities in Canada and seven Tribal reservations in the United States.

The railway is one of a number of major Canadian corporations that have appointed Indigenous advisory councils in the last few years in response to a call to action by the federal Truth and Reconciliation Commission. BARON ALLOWAY ON UNSPLASH

Indigenous Women Entrepreneurship Fund empowering Indigenous businesswomen

Funds available through CCAB initiative

For the fifth year, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) opens the Indigenous Women Entrepreneurship Fund (IWEF) to all Indigenous women business owners who need access to capital.

The fund, which LNG Canada presents with contributions from Atkins Réalis, Paper Excellence, and Visa, helps Indigenous women across the country

invest in their businesses and achieve success.

“Gaining access to capital is a continued and disproportionate challenge faced by Indigenous women entrepreneurs. Despite the challenges, the Indigenous women-owned business ecosystem continues to grow,” said CCAB President and CEO Tabatha Bull. “We’re thrilled to offer the Indigenous Women Entrepreneurship Fund once again, with a special thank you to LNG Canada and our contributors for making this fund possible and

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GLADUE AFTERCARE WILL PROVIDE ADVOCACY IN A CLIENT-LEAD TRAUMA INFORMED APPROACH YOUR RIGHT TO SELF-ATONOMY (MAKING YOUR OWN DECISIONS) WILL BE RESPECTED IN A JUDGEMENT FREE ENVIROMENT

supporting the Indigenous economy.”

Indigenous women entrepreneurs are making significant strides establishing themselves within the Canadian small-tomedium-sized enterprise (SME) landscape. A recent CCAB research report published in 2023, Adawé Export experiences of Indigenous entrepreneurs, noted that 39 per cent of Indigenous SMEs are owned by women and export at double the rate of Canadian SMEs (14 per cent) overall.

“LNG Canada recogniz-

es the invaluable contributions Indigenous women continue to make to Canada’s business landscape,” said Hope Regimbald, Indigenous and stakeholder relations lead at LNG Canada. “We are honoured to partner with CCAB, providing ongoing support to Indigenous women and promoting their entrepreneurial endeavours.”

The grant is offered to Indigenous women entrepreneurs at any stage of their business lifecycle. Recipients will receive a $2,500 grant along with a one-year CCAB mem-

WE WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ON CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE PROGRAMMING TO MEET YOUR NEEDS

WE WILL ASSIST YOU IN FINDING COUNSELLING AND THERAPIES TO HELP RE-INTEGRATION AND RECONNECTING TO YOUR COMMUNITY POST INCARCERATION

AS PER THE R V. PITAWANAKWAT (2013) DECISION. GLADUE

PRINCIPLES APPLY TO BAIL

YOU ARE ENTITLED TO A GLADUE AFTERCARE WORKER TO ASSIST YOU IN NAVIGATING THE JUSTICE SYSTEM

GLADUE AFTERCARE WORKS AS YOUR SUPPORT TO ASSIST IN MEETING YOUR NEEDS PRIOR TO CONVICTION AND AFTER A GUILTY VERDICT

ALL ACCUSED PERSONS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY. WE ARE HERE TO ENSURE YOUR RIGHTS ARE RESPECTED

bership. The recipients of previous years come from various fields across Canada, ranging from corporations to sole proprietorships. These Indigenous women are leading by example as entrepreneurs who are thriving in all sorts of industries and sectors, from retail and food and beverage to accounting services, consultancy services, and more. A total of $173,000 has been given to more than 70 Indigenous women-owned businesses through these grants to

date. Additionally, more than $25,000 worth of CCAB memberships have been provided in total to grant recipients.

The entrepreneurship fund is administered through CCAB’s Tools and Financing for Aboriginal Business (TFAB) program to enhance Indigenous entrepreneurship by providing education and access to resources and networks.

A live draw will be made on May 9, where recipients will receive their grants.

x. PHOTO BY X

OPINION

Two daughters, two parents, and echoes of a murder that rocked Indigenous activism

By Darryl Greer

In Halifax, Denise Pictou Maloney says the trauma and grief from the 1975 murder of her mother, Indigenous activist Anna Mae Aqaush, has never dimmed. Pictou Maloney was nine when she last saw her.

In Vancouver, Naneek Graham vividly remembers American FBI agents visiting her family's home in Yukon in the 1980s to threaten her father, John Graham, with prosecution if he didn't co-operate with the murder investigation.

Thirty-five years after the killing, Graham, a member of the American Indian Movement, was convicted of murdering Aquash by shooting her in the back of the head in South Dakota.

For decades, the two families on opposite sides of Canada have been unwillingly bound by the legacy of the murder that rocked the Indigenous movement 49 years ago, sparking years of legal wrangling and publicity about who ordered the hit, who carried it out, and why.

Now, Graham, 68, is trying to return to Canada to serve out the remainder of his life sentence. He is seeking what's known as a treaty transfer from South Dakota and last month applied to the Federal Court of Canada to try to move the process along.

Graham's daughter said the case has been a defining thread throughout her life, a "horrible nightmare" since her father's incarceration.

"My dad's been in jail for quite some time now and he's ready to come home," Naneek Graham said.

"He's always maintained his innocence right from Day 1," she said. "He really just wants to come home."

But Pictou Maloney said Graham's bid to return is "highly offensive."

She said she still gets goosebumps thinking about the last time she saw her mother.

"She got down on her knees and looked me straight in the eye and said, 'I want you to please look after your sister,'" she said. "The second thing she said was, 'always speak the truth.'"

Pictou Maloney said the Nova Scotia-born Aquash returned to the U.S. against the wishes of her family, who wanted her to stay in Canada to avoid both U.S. law enforcement and the American Indian Movement, which had suspected Aquash of being an informant.

"That was her goodbye because I think she knew that things were going to go terribly wrong for her," Pictou Maloney said. "She had to go back to prove that she wasn't the person they were accusing her of."

Instead of clearing her name, Aquash's body was discovered on South Dakota's Pine Ridge Reservation in early 1976.

It would take decades before two members of the American Indian Movement, Graham and Arlo Looking Cloud, were tried and convicted of the murder. But Pictou Maloney said those who ordered the hit were never brought to justice.

Graham's case became a cause célèbre, with his proposed extradition opposed by some Canadian politicians, unions and First Nations representatives. Some supporters believed he was innocent and unfairly targeted by American law enforcement. But he was sent to the United States in 2007 and was convicted in late 2010, resulting in a life sentence in prison in South Dakota where he remains.

'OUR CLIENT DESERVES

BETTER'

Controversy over Graham's extradition has continued.

The B.C. Court of Appeal in 2022 found his Charter rights were breached, because, while Graham was extradited to face a federal charge of first-degree murder, he was instead convicted on state charges, and a waiver allowing the switch was improperly granted by Canada's justice minister.

Graham now wants to return to Canada, a bid that has been held up for years. His lawyers say in an application submitted to the Federal Court of Canada last month that the transfer has hit a snag because South Dakota officials "failed to comply" with requests for the paperwork needed to process it.

The court application seeks to compel Canada's public safety minister to request the paperwork.

“The minister has unreasonably delayed in deciding on whether to make a direct request to the State of South Dakota for the required documentation. The minister undoubtedly has the power to make such a direct request of the State of South Dakota," says Graham's Federal Court application.

The delay, Graham claims, has “undermined” his right to request a transfer under the International Transfer of Offenders Act.

South Dakota Assistant Attorney General Paul Swedlund said in an email that the allegations made to the Federal Court "are not accurate," and the state opposes Graham's return to Canada.

"These crimes were committed in the State of South Dakota and, therefore, it is in the State of South Dakota where Graham must serve his sentence," Swedlund said.

Graham's lawyer Marilyn Sandford said in an interview that the waiver issue remains outstanding and is separate from his treaty transfer application.

She said repeated attempts to communicate with U.S. government and prison officials haven't produced results.

"In the meantime, we have a client in the background who is languishing and who is in custody in a foreign country far from his family," Sandford said. "We write and we write and we write and we seem to get nowhere and never get an answer, and I think our client deserves better than that."

Sandford said Graham has been stuck in a "terrible situation" as he awaits word on his transfer bid.

"I've been down to see him and it's not a pleasant thing to see a Canadian stranded in custody so far from home," she said.

The Ministry of Public Safety deferred comment on Graham's case to the Correctional Service of Canada, which said in an emailed statement that it "is aware of John Graham’s application to the Federal Court of Canada."

The statement said, "for privacy reasons, we cannot comment on specific cases."

Naneek Graham said her

father "has a right to his side of his story and his truth, but he's never been able to share that, and he wants to share it."

"He wants people to know what happened in all these lies, and he's never been able to speak for himself, ever," she said.

"He's been sitting in jail for over 16 years now for something that he didn't do, and not being able to tell his truth is really heartbreaking, it's sad."

But for Pictou Maloney, John Graham's bid to get back to Canada represents another thorn of intergenerational trauma 50 years after her mother's murder. She said the killing was emblematic of the perils faced by Indigenous women from within and without, when they raise their voices in opposition to oppression. "There are a lot of people out there that would like to see me silenced, and I would say that just from knowing my risk as an Indigenous woman out here speaking the truth with what happened to my mother," she said.

"He's able to appeal as much as he can," said Pictou Maloney of Graham. "You know, my only wish is that my mother got to come home too."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 24, 2024.

CORRECTION NOTICE: In the March 15th edition of the Two Row Times, the Covid community study article noted eight out of 168 participants reported an adverse reaction to the Covid vaccine. That number should have read eight out of 658 participants. We apologize for the error and strive for accurate reporting at all times

GRAND RIVER POST SECONDARY EDUCATION OFFICE

Grand River Post Secondary Board Members

Dr. Susan Hill (chair) , Carol Jacobs, Bruce Longboat, Rick Monture, Barbara A. Martin, Michelle Bomberry, Lana Martin, Audrey Powless Bomberry – Six Nations Council Rep.

ONKWEHON: WE WITH GRAND RIVER TERRITORY LINEAGE ARE EMPOWERED THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION WITHIN AVAILABLE RESOURCES AND AT REASONABLE COSTS

Haudenosaunee Recognition Award

Deadline: August 1, 2024

Charlene Hemlock-Skye was the recipient of the 2023 Haudenosaunee Recognition Award.

Each week the staff at the GRPSEO Dress Down and each contributes a dollar toward GRPSEO Scholarships. These funds are combined with Grand Renewable Wind LP to make possible the Haudenosaunee Recognition Award.

This award is in recognition of students who utilize indigenous knowledge and languages in their studies. Awarded to a student who has demonstrated the following in their post secondary studies:

Respect - conduct themselves appropriately within cultural protocols

Reciprocity – demonstrated community service/benefits to the community

Integrity – honesty – Community contact with a relationship of respect and reciprocity

Is utilizing Indigenous Knowledge in post secondary studies and integrates language in their studies

Honour. Educate. Empower.

Charlene gya:sǫh. HemlockSkye degesana’se: Gayogo̲ho:no’ niwago̲hwęjo’dę: Ohtayǫ:ni: niwagesyao’dę:’. Nihonǫ̱hwęjage ne:ˀ akwa:ˀji:yaˀ: gyǫgwahdęgyǫ:ˀ. Hello, my name is Charlene and my last name is Hemlock-Såkye. I am Cayuga nation, Wolf clan. My family and I are from Six Nations.

I am currently a student in the Master of Education, Indigenous Language Revitalization program at the University of Victoria. I am also a graduate of the Ǫgwehǫ:weh Language Degree program at Six Nations Polytechnic, Cayuga stream. I believe, as a Gayogo̲ho:nǫˀ mother, the resurgence of our languages is one the most important things I can do to ensure the survival of our ways of knowing and being for my family. I have a deep sense of responsibility to learn Gayogo̲ho:nǫˀ as a mother, a wolf clan person, and a Godino̲hso:ni woman. I have dedicated my academic career towards learning everything I can about how to best help our people in our language revitalization efforts. Our language, land and culture are inextricable from one another. When doing research within western institutions, I keep these intertwining relationships in the forefront of everything I do. Relational accountability is paramount and I strive to be respectful and ensure reciprocity within my community is maintained. I plan to utilize my education to continue working within my community for my people.

As a mother and wife, my most precious accomplishment is raising my children alongside my husband. We strive to instill within our children who they are, where they come from and how we as a family can ensure the continuation of our language and ways. As a new academic, I am thankful to the University of Victoria in their unwavering acknowledgement of Ǫgwehǫ:weh research paradigms and methodologies. I believe my academic accomplishment is that I have integrity within these spaces and maintain my identity and sense of self. I will not compromise who I am and where I come from, and I encourage all new academics to do the same. We are valid and our ways of knowing and being are vital within “Indigenous research processes”. The Master’s work I am pursuing isn’t offered within close proximity of my

home, so I enrolled in the University of Victoria, Master’s of Education in Language Revitalization because of the excellent professors and classes they offered. My program is a hybrid program that is offered online and in person through intensives. I have had to travel often, and the expenses can be great, I have countered this by doing beading raffles every semester to help offset some of the cost of traveling for my educational goals.

I started my language learning journey in 2016 and have come to understand that this is a way of life. I have dedicated myself to continuously learning and empowering our people in the resurgence of our languages, shęh nidwawęnoˀdę: and ways, shęh niyǫgwaihoˀdę:. In the process of my learning, I have come to understand how the principals of gˀanigǫ̲hiyo:, a good mind, gayęnawahsraˀ, helpfulness gahsgyaǫnyǫhk, encouragement, ganǫhǫnyǫhkneˀ thankfulness and gędęǫˀ, compassion are really important as I continue to learn and grow. Learning language isn’t a singular endeavor. I am a part of a community of people who are at varying levels of learning and teaching. Everyone has their part and ensuring we all feel good in this process is so important. Living within these principals extends to my family and daily life as well.

I chose this educational path so that I may assist those who are working towards Ǫgwehǫ:weh language and cultural preservation. We must ensure our future generations have opportunities to speak and practice the language and traditional practices of our people. As well, I am a full time student at Dwadewaęsta Gayogo̲ho:noˀ, Cayuga adult immersion program during the day. Attaining my Master degree in Indigenous Language Revitalization doesn’t seem logical if I wasn’t also learning my language. This will be a life-long process for me as I continue working within my community within the language revitalization sector. I am unsure what the future holds, but I am confident that it will involve me working for our people within language spaces. As I have mentioned, language, land and culture are interconnected. As an Ǫgwehǫ:weh, I feel I have an innate

connection to the land of my ancestors. This is made deeper by language and cultural connection. We are born of the earth and so we are a part of her, our ways, our language and our sustenance are what gives us life and so we carry it all with us. Food and seed sovereignty are inextricable from the process of revitalization of culture. Language shapes our thinking and is the foundation for culture. Thus, food sovereignty is also unextractable from language and cultural reclamation. My Master’s work examines these relationships, and it is something I feel is missing within our broader community; understanding the reciprocal relationship we have with our natural world. A way we can begin to re-claim this connection is through land, food, and water re-matriation. As women we are stewards of these domains, and I would love to see more of us involved in the healing and preservation of these life sustainers. Language and culture are at the core of this resurgence. Everything we do now will affect the next generations. My hope is that we all do what we can to ensure that the coming generations are able to thrive as Ǫgwehǫ:weh speaking our languages, connecting to cultural practices and being strong advocates for our Mother earth. We can begin by learning our languages, practicing our culture, and connecting to the land through environmental work and food sovereignty practices. As we face a new era of climate changes, I think this is important for everyone to consider. I want to extend my encouragement to those wishing to pursue any new goal. You really can accomplish anything you set your mind to. Our people were so brilliant in their understanding of gˀanigǫ̲hiyo:, a good mind. Keeping one’s thoughts in a good way is so important as you journey into new spaces. You come from strong and resilient people. We are here because our ancestors survived everything that was meant to destroy us. Remember to carry that strength with you as you move through western spaces. You do not have to leave who you are behind, be proud and keep your mind strong, you can accomplish anything!

Enjoy a no-bake dessert this Easter Sunday

1 medium chocolate Easter egg

35 grams unsalted butter

Easter eggs in all their pastel glory come to mind when pondering an important holy day on the Christian calendar. Easter eggs are great to hide and fun to find, but when they come in the form of a tasty dessert, celebrations become that much more festive.

'No-Bake Cheesecake

Eggs' are a confectionary twist on the chocolate eggs that are popular come Easter. Home chefs can have fun decorating and playing with the flavors of these treats. Try this recipe, courtesy of 'JaneÕs Patisserie Celebrate!' (Sourcebooks) by Jane Dunn.

No-Bake Cheesecake

Eggs

Serves 2

Base

75 grams digestive biscuits

Filling

200 grams full-fat soft cheese (such as cream cheese or neufch‰tel), at room temperature

1Ú2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons icing sugar

100 milliliters double cream

25 grams cocoa powder

Decoration

50 grams milk chocolate, melted Easter chocolates

Base

Sprinkles

Carefully split the Easter egg into two halves. Melt the butter in the microwave in short bursts or in a small pan over a medium heat. In a food processor, blitz the

biscuits to a fine crumb, add the melted butter and pulse a few times until the mixture is well combined.

Divide the mixture equally between the two halves of the Easter egg, and very gently press down, without breaking the shell.

Filling

In a large bowl, whisk the cheese, vanilla extract and icing sugar until smooth. Add the double cream and cocoa powder and whisk again until smooth and thickened. Divide the mixture evenly between the two Easter egg halves and smooth over as carefully as possible. Chill in the fridge for an hour or so until set.

Decoration

Drizzle the melted milk chocolate over the two halves and decorate with some Easter chocolates and sprinkles.

Indigenous Student Award Recipients

“Congratulations to the 2024 Indigenous Student Award recipients. We are so very proud of everything you have accomplished and we can’t wait to see what you will achieve next. Thank you for allowing us to be part of your journey.”

– Ron J. McKerlie, Mohawk College President & CEO

The Indigenous Student Awards celebrate the achievements of our Indigenous students at Mohawk College among staff, peers, family, and community. Students are recognized for their leadership, dedication to and involvement in their communities, and their academic and personal success.

Learn more at mohawknewsdesk.ca

Academic Proficiency Award

Sabrina Miller

Inspiring Youth Award

Clayton Maracle School Spirit Award

Chelsey Norbruis

Sara Smith Award

Maitland Graham

Community Involvement Award

Savannah Skye-Smith

Amber Skye Memorial Award

Lindsay O’Quinn

Keepers of the Four Directions Award – North

Stephen MacIsaac

Keepers of the Four Directions Award – South

Lindsay Miller

Keepers of the Four Directions Award – East

Breanne Froman

Keepers of the Four Directions Award – West

Sierra Karman

Vision Like a Hawk Award

Chaley Boulrice-Hill

Perseverance Award

Ronnie Frankland

Keeper of the Fire Award

Jessicia Bridgman

Chastity Pratt

Amos Key Jr. – Premier’s Scholarship Award

Janice Williams

'We have to try': $40M to search landfill for slain women

By Brittany Hobson and Steve Lambert

Families of two slain First Nations women received word Friday that the federal and Manitoba governments are putting up $20 million each to help search a landfill for the women's remains.

"I'm very grateful for these commitments going forward ... and I pray that one day we will see justice," said Cambria Harris, whose mother Morgan Harris is one of four women allegedly killed by the same man. The total $40 million is to go toward a search of the privately owned Prairie Green landfill north of Winnipeg, where the remains of Harris and Marcedes Myran are believed to have been taken almost two years ago.

Police in 2022 rejected the idea of a search, in part because of the potential danger from toxic substances and the sheer volume of material at the landfill.

The families of Harris and Myran took their fight for

and the steps of Manitoba's legislature.

Manitoba's former Progressive Conservative government agreed a search would be too risky. The Tories also took out advertisements during October's provincial election campaign touting their decision to "stand firm" against calls for a search.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, who led the New Democrats to victory in the election and promised a search of the landfill, previously said he was confident a search could start this year. He has since stepped back from providing a timeline.

"We're glad to be able to move forward with the funds necessary to search every cubic metre of the relevant space," Kinew said in a statement Friday.

"While we don’t know if the search will be successful, we have to try."

"It's about showing our Indigenous women, our Indigenous people, that we're worth it, we're valued, we're loved and we're more

she said.

"I hope and pray it doesn't take long to find our loved ones," said Grand Chief Cathy Merrick.

The area of the landfill believed to contain the women's remains has not been in use since police advised the owners of the homicide investigation.

The first report on the feasibility of a search estimated it would cost between $84 million and $184 million and take up to three years.

The second, more comprehensive report said it could be $90 million if completed within a year. It also said a search could pose a major health hazard because the landfill contains asbestos. Asbestos can cause cancer if ingested, and the report said bags containing the substance could break during an excavation allowing it to become airborne. The report laid out precautions, including having full protective gear with respirators for workers and keeping the area wet to prevent asbestos from

Six Nations Band members enrolled in a high school in Brant County, Norfolk County or Haldimand County* are eligible for Enrollment Allowance.

Enrollment Allowance (formerly Attendance Allowance) is no longer based on attendance. Students are eligible to receive their allowance (via Direct Deposit) as long as they are enrolled in high school and obtain passing grades.

Enrollment Allowance can be obtained (via Direct Deposit only - cheques will no longer be issued) by submitting a completed EFT form & void cheque. It is given out in December, April & June of each year.

SNMLA opens try-outs and announces new development program

tative teams along with the development program.

SIX NATIONS — On Monday, March 18, the first of the Six Nations Minor Lacrosse Association (SNMLA) try-outs took place at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (ILA).

Following the try outs came a new venture for the association, announced in a statement released on Thursday, March 7, via the SNMLA Facebook page.

“SNMLA will be implementing a development program for box this season. It will consist of skills and game play with other house league centres in [the Six Nations] zone. With the number of registrants this season, it only makes sense to create the development program.”

According to the statement, the divisions will have two travel represen-

“With the development program, our aim will be to encourage growth, player development, social skills, improve lacrosse skills and most importantly, having fun!”

The statement also noted that players from the development program will have the ability to be called up to play for the representative program. The association promised more information in the near future.

RIGHT: On Monday, March 18, the first of the Six Nations Minor Lacrosse Association (SNMLA) try-outs took place at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (ILA). With the number of registrants for this coming season, the SNMLA also announced a new development program to enhance player skills and growth on Thursday, March 7. Photo

Ontario Native Lacrosse Invitational 2024 returning in April

By 2RT Staff with notes from iswo.ca

ONTARIO — The 2024 Ontario Native Lacrosse Invitational (ONLI) is expected to return for Indigenous lacrosse athletes and enthusiasts again this

April, from the 26 to 28.

Last year, the 2023 Ontario Native Lacrosse Invitational (ONLI) brought lacrosse enthusiasts and athletes alike to a friendly, yet competitive 3-day invitational tournament for ages 13-19. The event was

hosted within Hagersville, Ontario on March 31 to April 2, 2023.

The focus of the event devoted time to skill development and a love for the game, with a goal to build confidence and develop an opportunity

for participation in a competitive style tournament.

The ONLI also acted as an identifier for participation in the 2023 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG), as a part of Team Ontario. Players registered

individually, then competed in a skills session and competition to determine team assignment. Once assigned to a team, players would play in a unique game set up and go headto-head with the other teams in their division.

Similar focus can be expected for this year, as the Indigenous Sport and Wellness Ontario (ISWO) will release more information in the near future.

ONTARIO — The 2024 Ontario Native Lacrosse Invitational (ONLI) is expected to return to Ontario again this April 26 to 28. Last year’s Under-19 Girls Division saw the Red Team (pictured left) take home gold medals for their division, while Team White (pictured right) took home silver. Both the Under-16 and Under-19 Boys Divisions saw Team Black and Team Red secure gold medals consecutively.

2023

by TRT Staff.

Baltimore bridge collapses after cargo ship rams column; 6 dead

By Lea Skene

BALTIMORE (AP) — A

cargo ship lost power and rammed into a major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, destroying the span in a matter of seconds and plunging it into the river in a terrifying collapse that could disrupt a vital shipping port for months. Six people were missing and presumed dead, and the search for them was suspended until the next day.

The ship’s crew issued a mayday call moments before the crash took down the Francis Scott Key Bridge, enabling authorities to limit vehicle traffic on the span, Maryland’s governor said.

The ship struck one of the bridge’s supports, causing

the structure to collapse like a toy. A section of the span came to rest on the bow of the vessel, which caught fire.

With the ship barreling toward the bridge at “a very, very rapid speed,” authorities had just enough time to stop cars from coming over the bridge, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said.

“These people are heroes,” Moore said. “They saved lives last night.”

In the evening, Col. Roland L. Butler Jr., superintendent for Maryland State Police, announced that the search and rescue mission was transitioning to one of search and recovery. He also said the search was being put on pause and divers would return to the site at 6 a.m. Wednesday, when challenging overnight

conditions are expected to improve.

The crash happened in the middle of the night, long before the busy morning commute on the bridge that stretches 1.6 miles (2.6 km) and was used by 12 million vehicles last year.

The six people still unaccounted for were part of a construction crew filling potholes on the bridge, said Paul Wiedefeld, the state's transportation secretary. A senior executive at the company that employed the workers said Tuesday

afternoon that they were presumed dead, given the water’s depth and the length of time since the crash.

Jeffrey Pritzker, executive vice president of Brawner Builders, said the crew was working in the middle of the bridge when it came down. No bodies have been recovered, and rescuers continued the search into the late afternoon.

“This was so completely unforeseen,” Pritzker said. “We don’t know what else to say. We take such great

pride in safety, and we have cones and signs and lights and barriers and flaggers."

Jesus Campos, who has worked on the bridge for Brawner Builders and knows members of the crew, said he was told they were on a break and some were sitting in their trucks when the bridge went down.

“I know that a month ago, I was there, and I know what it feels like when the trailers pass,” Campos said. “Imagine knowing that is falling. It is so hard. One

would not know what to do.”

Rescuers pulled two people out of the water. One person was treated at a hospital and discharged hours later. Multiple vehicles also went into the river, although authorities did not believe anyone was inside.

“It looked like something out of an action movie,” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said, calling it “an unthinkable tragedy."

On March 31st 2024 WP Pensions + Benefits is proud to support National Indigenous Languages Day

It’s a time to acknowledge the importance of language and culture to the well-being and resilience of Indigenous communities around the world.

Call for Integrity Commission Members

The Six Nations Election Code Committee is seeking at least (10) qualified members of the community to serve as members for the Integrity Commission.

The Integrity Commission is established to ensure that confidence in the governance of the Six Nations of the Grand River Elected Council is upheld in an ethical and respectful manner. It serves to restore, uphold and maintain a positive political reputati on to promote the general welfare of the Six Nations people.

The Integrity Commission is established to improve, enhance and maintain: pride, trust and confidence in the Six Nations Elected Chief and Councillors, by ensuring that all Six Nations codes, rules and regulations are strictly adhered to. All members of Co uncil must always be accountable and take full responsibility for their deeds and actions. The Integrity Commission, through a fair, unbiased and organized process, will accept, validate and investigate complaints of suspected violations. The Commission sh all also impose penalties for non -compliance and proven violations.

The Commission will therefore advise and educate members of Council, and include the community in this process, to seek, advance and maintain open, honest and accountable governance.

The term of service is to be four (4) years (renewable) with, ideally, no more than onehalf of the qualified Integrity Commission members being replaced on an annual basis, to ensure continuity.

Qualifications for members of the Integrity Commission

1. must be at least 18 years of age

2. must be a resident Band Member of the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory

3. proven community participant with knowledge of community dynamics

4. be honest, honourable, and of good character as demonstrated by providing two letters of reference and a clean CPIC report

5. possess the ability to be impartial and non-judgemental

6. have no employment with Band Administration, or personal financial gain/interest in work undertaken by the Band

7. have no involvement in political campaigning/endorsements

8. must uphold and honour the oath of a member of the Integrity Commission

9. must not hold an elected political position, nor be related to an elected official (Conflict of Interests – Code of Conduct)

“Family Member” – means:

a) Spouse, including but not limited to common -law spouse and same sex partner;

b) Child, mother, father, sister, brother, grandchild, grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece and nephew;

c) Mother-in-law, father-in-law, sister-in-law and brother-in-law; and

d) Step-mother, step-father, step-sister, step-brother and step-child.

10. will be removed for violation of the Integrity Commission Oath (Appendix B)

Those interested, are required to provide a cover letter indicating why you would like to become an Integrity Commissioner and a recent Resume with t wo (2) letters of reference by non family members (work related/volunteer/personal) to:

Six Nations Election Code Committee

“Integrity Commission”

Oneida Business Park, 50 Generations Drive Box 24

Ohsweken, Ontario N0A 1M0

Email: chair.snecc@gmail.com

Deadline Date: Posted until ten (10) Commissioners are in place. Packages can be submitted by email.

Only those selected for interview will be contacted. Please ensure you have accurate contact information as you will be contacted immediately.

Please email for further information or if you have any questions.

SIX NATIONS COUNCIL

Case

Occupational Therapist Assistant Child & Youth, Health Services

SIX NATIONS AND NEW CREDIT

The GREAT Job Board is brought to you by Service Canada. Only local positions are posted in the paper. For more positions in the surrounding area, visit our job board at www.greatsn.com! To apply for funding, book your intake appointment with an ETC by calling 519-445-2222 (Toll-Free long distance at 1-888 218-8230 or email us at info@greatsn.com.

We wish to thank everyone who came out to support Dean Silversmith Breakfast Benefit on March 10, 2024. This includes members of our Snipe Clan who cooked, sold tickets for the 50/50 draw, served up meals and did the clean-up. We thank Jackie House and Dan Hill who were a lot of help. Last but not least, we thank everyone who bought tickets and breakfast and to those who gave monetary donations.

Many Nya: Wehs The Silversmith Family

Answers for March 27th, 2024 Crossword Puzzle

SUDOKU

ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20

Aries, communication with a spouse or a loved one is vital this week; otherwise, you risk arguments for no reason at all. Sit down and have some frank conversations about your needs.

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21

Taurus, when you face adversity you should rest assured that you can handle anything that is thrown at you. Although, you may need a little help from some close friends or family.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21

Gemini, others may not understand who you are and could make assumptions that are inaccurate. They may just need some more information to get a clearer picture.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22

Cancer, many elements of your life are starting to level out this week. That can be a comfort to you because you seemingly have been running around for some time and could use a break.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23

Leo, others have nothing but good things to say to you this week. Bask in their kind words and adoration, and use this as motivation for future endeavors.

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22

With no big events on the horizon, you may want to manufacture one to have a reason to party, Virgo. Start planning your guest list and come up with a fun theme to get behind.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23

Libra, while you should be mindful of your goals, you also can support those around you as they pursue their own. Serve as inspiration to people in your life right now.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22

Scorpio, this is a good time to start tackling some projects around the house that have been put off for some time. Redecorating and remodeling can be an inspiration right now.

SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21

Take a step back and reevaluate your approach to a situation because the way you have been doing it just hasn’t yielded the results you expected, Sagittarius. Take suggestions and tips.

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20

Capricorn, high energy may have you swinging at the fences every time you try to tackle something. You may want to dial things back and take a more measured approach.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18

Various transitions in your life could temporarily disrupt your daily activities, Aquarius. You’ll find a new groove soon enough that will feel comfortable and provide you with what you need.

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20

Don’t take stock of what all the naysayers have been dishing out, Pisces. You know yourself better than others and recognize what you are able to accomplish. Get started on plans.

• Contest is open to all kids ages 5 to 13.

• Kids may colour the picture however they would like. Entries will be judged on neatness and creativity

• Only one entry is allowed per child.

• Must be submitted to the newspaper by 12pm., Tuesday, April 9th. 50 Generations Drive, Suite 124, Box 1, Ohsweken, ON

One winner will be selected in three age categories: 5-7, 8-10, and 11-13.

Winners will be notified by phone and awarded $25 each.

Please contact ashley@tworowtimes.com if you have any questions or concerns.