Six Nations of the Grand River has new CEO
Long-time community member and senior leader brings over 20 years of experience in health and operations to guide SNGR priorities
Debra Jonathan, a lifelong member of Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the community's central administration.
The announcement was released March 16, 2026, in an official press release posted on the Six Nations website (sixnations.ca).
Jonathan assumes the CEO position effective March 23, 2026.
She transitions from Chief Operating Officer, a role she held since June 2025. Previously, as Director of Well-Being at Six Nations Health Services, she played a key part in
enhancing departmental operations and advancing community wellness programs.
With more than 20 years in senior management, Jonathan's experience includes work at Six Nations of the Grand River, the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, and Indigenous Services Canada. Her expertise focuses on effective
health service delivery, operational excellence, and governance that respects Haudenosaunee values while addressing modern community needs.
As CEO, Jonathan will lead central administration, support the 59th Elected Council in delivering its priorities, and drive progress in health, education, infrastructure, economic development, cultural preservation, transparency, and overall resident well-being.
The release underscores her strong community connections and demonstrated success in turning council directives into actionable outcomes.
The appointment follows recent council engagements, such as the live-broadcast General Council session on March
10, 2026, and regular updates via official radio, social media, and website channels. Council continues tackling land rights documentation, emergency preparedness, health improvements, and other pressing matters for community members.
Six Nations of the Grand River stands as Canada's largest First Nation by membership. Its governance blends traditional Haudenosaunee principles with contemporary administrative responsibilities to deliver essential programs and services.
Additional details are available at sixnations.ca. Community members are encouraged to monitor official sources for ongoing leadership updates and council developments.
Settlement compensation: your money, your plan
Your compensation is yours. Planning ahead can help you use it in ways that honour your goals, values, family and community.
Receiving compensation can bring many emotions. You may have ideas about how you want to use this money, and you may also feel unsure. Your compensation belongs to you, and you have the choice to decide what feels right for your life, your family and your future.
Be aware of people or organizations offering advice that does not respect your wishes or boundaries.
Some people find it helpful to take time before making big financial decisions.
It is okay to pause, ask questions and seek guidance from a trusted financial professional, community organization or person in your circle.
Understanding your short-, mediumand long-term goals may help you plan. Consider if arranging to receive your compensation through monthly payments may help you meet those goals.
Planning with care can help your compensation continue to support your wellbeing over time.
Six Nations of the Grand River is also known as the Elected Council. FILE
A Six Nations celebration of music
The Junos, Canada’s premier music awards show, will take place in nearby Hamilton the following weekend, on Mar. 29.
Get ready for a great lineup of Indigenous talent this weekend because Indigenous artists, old and new, are coming together for what promises to be a fantastic treat for the ears at The Gathering Place Saturday night.
In partnership with the Woodland Cultural Centre, Seeing Red Media is presenting “Dwade’nyota’ Sheh Nigaeno’des – We Celebrate Our Music,” an Indigenous music celebration this Saturday, Mar. 21 at the Gathering Place by the Grand.
The creme de la creme of established Six Nations artists will be performing as well as new and emerging artists.
The evening will bring together Indigenous artists and community members for a night of live music and cultural celebration as part of the broader energy surrounding Juno week.
The show is a hype-up to celebrating Indigenous talent and showcasing Indigenous artists before the awards, as well as a donation-entry event with proceeds going to support the Woodland Cultural Centre.
The event will be hosted by Seeing Red Media founder Bryan Porter and will feature performances from SHUB, Derek Miller, Lacey Hill, Semiah, Logan Staats, Jace Martin, Murray Porter, The Healers, and more.
The event runs 7:00 PM – 11:30 PM, with doors opening at 6:30 PM, and is open to the public by donation.
All contributions support the Woodland Cultural Centre’s “We Celebrate Our Stories” capital campaign.
Ryann LaForme, social media and community outreach coordinator at Seeing Red Media, said Bryan Porter organized the event
as a lifelong music lover.
“He loves bringing emerging artists and giving them a platform.”
She said the event will create “a meaningful kick off to the Junos” by celebrating music “on our own territory.”
“It’s more than a concert,” said LaForme. “It’s a community-driven event.”
The event also helps give exposure to emerging Indigenous artists.
“They all have a story and they have somewhere to go. It’s about creating space for indigenous voices. We’ll keep it grounded in community.”
It’s the first time such a large-scale musical event has brought together both established and emerging talent.
The event is also meant to inspire more Indigenous involvement in the Juno Awards.
A variety of genres will be featured, including pop, rock, blues, jazz and country, to name a few.
March 21
2-6. Free lunch at the Youth Center, 1547 4th line. Lasagna, salad, garlic bread, dessert, strawberry juice FREE FOR SENIORS 55+
Join the Norfolk General Hospital Board of Directors
Norfolk General Hospital is seeking community members to serve on its Board of Directors
Board members help guide the hospital’s strategic direction and support strong health care for our community.
Board members attend approximately nine meetings each year.
We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. Experience in finance, clinical or legal fields is helpful but not required.
Our Board values diverse perspectives and skills to guide healthcare decisions effectively. We also encourage applications from Indigenous community members and newcomers to Norfolk. Apply by April 15, 2026
For more information, contact Charlene Charles Coordinator of Board Affairs Norfolk General Hospital ccharles@ngh.on.ca
Scan the QR code to learn more and apply, or visit our website: www.ngh.on.ca
DONNA DURIC donna@tworowtimes.com TWO ROW TIMES
Polly Doxtador was really looking forward to attending the Lil NHL this week to watch her grandson play goalie.
Then she found out she had cancer in December.
It’s aggressive and she’s now in hospice, accepting that she is nearing the end of her life.
But despite her illness, she still had her heart set on watching her 7-yearold great-grandnephew Lucas (who she refers to as her grandson) in the Lil NHL as one of her last wishes before leaving this world.
Thanks to Six Nations Paramedics, that final wish is coming true. They’ll be transporting her from the Stedman Hospice in Brantford to the Lil NHL in Markham today (Wednesday) and she couldn’t be more thankful.
“I just want people to see how caring our paramedics are,” said Polly in an interview with the Two Row Times. “They offered. They knew I wanted to go. They’re going to take me there and bring me back.”
Polly’s niece Cheyanne Doxtador wanted the sto-
ry of her aunt being told to spread some good news about the community so she contacted the Two Row Times
“The world needs more uplifting and positive articles to read, especially if it is about our community and our community helpers.”
Polly said she was so sad when she learned her health condition meant she wouldn’t be able to take non-medical transportation to the games and back.
"They would’n’t let me go unless I had trained personnel,” said Polly. "Because I have a pain pump and some tubes. They wouldn’t let me go unless I had someone to help with that.”
She needed a safe ride there and back.
“They (Six Nations Paramedics) just jumped right on it right away,” said Polly. “I just thought people should know they care a lot. They are very supportive.”
Now with the help of two Six Nations paramedics, and all their medical expertise, she can safely attend the games to watch her precious grandson one last time.
Polly, the second oldest of 11 siblings, was a nurse who spent her life taking
care of others.
One of her specialties was IV care.
She taught countless health professionals on IV insertion, care and maintenance.
Polly said she is so excited to watch Lucas play today.
“He’s the goalie,” she said with pride. “This is the first year he’s played goalie. I’m not going to miss it. I’m feeling really well these past few days.”
Polly’s sister Virginia said all her sister wanted for her last wish was to watch Lucas play.
“We learned that she had gotten very sick just before Christmas,” said Virginia. “When she was diagnosed with cancer, it was diagnosed very late. We’re talking end of life here.”
She started planning her care at that point, said Virginia.
"She knew she was coming to hospice. She figured she still had time and would be going to Lil NHL.”
Virginia said her sister started improving at home and everything was going well but she got sick again.
Then she ended up in hospice care.
“All she could think about was, ‘I’m not making it to see little Lucas
play.’ The paramedics stepped up and said ‘we’ll take you. We’ll carry you in on a stretcher if we have to.’”
Virginia sang the praises of her sister and the life she’s lived.
Polly was a palliative caregiver herself for Six Nations people.
“She doesn’t think about her own past,” said Virginia. “But this woman has done all of that. She’s facing her end of life. She knows she doesn’t have a lot of time. They told her she only had weeks left in December. She’s beating the odds because it’s now three months.”
Polly wanted to spend her remaining time here as meaningfully as possible.
Seeing little Lucas play was part of that.
She’s really close to him and his older sister, said Virginia.
This is the first time Six Nations Paramedics are doing this for a Six Nations person, she said.
“This is their first run at making wishes come true.”
Virginia wants others to know what a noble profession being a paramedic is and to encourage youth considering their career options to look into being a paramedic.
Six Nations paramedics help local woman with one last wish March
High waters from snowmelt and rain dominate the Grand River landscape in Brantford following the early March thaw. Viewed from the riverbank, the Lorne Bridge arches over the muddy, fast-flowing current, with the red-brick Brantford Armoury visible in the background amid bare trees and construction activity along the shore. BEN DOOLITTLE
Little NHL Tournament Shatters Records in Markham
271 teams and more than 4,500 Indigenous youth players compete this week
The 52nd annual Little Native Hockey League tournament is underway this week, bringing together a record 271 teams and more than 4,500 First Nations youth players from communities across Ontario.
The event officially kicked off with opening ceremonies on March 15 and continues through March 19 at multiple arenas in Markham and surrounding areas. Hosted this year by Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, the Little NHL has become Ontario’s largest Indigenous youth hockey tournament.
Around 20 squads from Six Nations of the Grand River are competing, including the Grand River Spirits and Six Nations Blackhawks. They are joined by clubs from Moose Cree, Nipissing, Dokis, Walpole Island and many other Nations.
The Little NHL, which began in 1971 on Manitoulin Island, has grown into a major celebration of culture, community and hockey. More than just
scores and standings, the event emphasizes cultural pride, friendship and the positive role hockey plays in First Nations communities.
This year’s record
participation shows the continued strength and popularity of the tournament. Families, fans and entire communities have travelled to the Greater Toronto Area to support their young players.
Schedules and live updates are available on the official LNHL website. The tournament runs through Thursday with championship games expected to draw large crowds. For many young athletes, the Little NHL is more than hockey. It’s a celebration of who they are and where they come from.
Was your First Nations Child or Grandchild removed from
As part of the First Nations Child and Family Services and Jordan’s Principle Settlement, Caregiving Parents and Caregiving Grandparents of Removed Children are now able to submit a Claim for compensation. This includes the biological and adoptive parents, biological and adoptive grandparents and First Nations Stepparents of a First Nations Child who was removed from their home between April 1, 1991, and March 31, 2022, by Child Welfare Authorities.
You do not need to provide child welfare records or share your story to submit a Claim. And you do not have to work through the Claim Process alone. Free support is available.
Across the country, Claims Helpers are available to help at no cost. They are ready to support you in person, by phone or video call – in both English and French, and also in some Indigenous languages.
Most Claims Helpers are Indigenous and are connected to their communities. They are trained in cultural safety and can help you through your Claim at a pace that works for you.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford was spotted at Lil' NHL on Monday. "It was great to join the opening ceremonies of the Little NHL tournament in Markham. This incredible event brings together thousands of young athletes from First Nations communities across Ontario to celebrate sport and community," Ford said on his social media page. FORDNATION FACEBOOK
When Title Returns: Governance, jurisdiction, and the quiet building of Mohawk institutions along the Grand River Territory
become once underlying Indigenous interests are treated seriously.
Across North America, Indigenous self-determination is no longer confined to court filings or archival debates. It is re-entering public life in practical form — through land-use decisions, housing priorities, registry systems, negotiations over overlapping interests, and the gradual construction of institutions capable of governing if older constitutional obligations are finally taken seriously.
Recent developments in British Columbia have made that shift visible. In early March 2026, K’ómoks First Nation announced the closure of the Queneesh Mobile Home Park on reserve lands, effective January 31, 2028. Residents received roughly two years’ notice to relocate so the Nation could address housing shortages for its own members. While much of the public attention centered on tenant distress and relocation pressures, the Nation presented the decision as an exercise of responsible governance rooted in its underlying land interests.
The 2025 British Columbia Supreme Court ruling in Cowichan Tribes v. Canada raised similar tensions in a different form. There, Aboriginal title was recognized over portions of Richmond, forcing renewed attention on the overlap between Indigenous interests and lands long treated as securely embedded within external systems of administration and title. By early 2026, Musqueam-Crown developments further highlighted how fragile assumptions about certainty can
Across the border, the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s April 2025 land return through United States legislation championed by Congresswoman Elise Stefanik offered another example of historic obligations resurfacing in modern administrative form. What had long been treated as settled became active again through governance, land recovery, and community-directed development. These examples are not identical to the situation in Mohawk Nation of Grand River Country. But they expose a broader truth: unresolved Indigenous land interests do not disappear simply because outside governments built administrative systems on top of them. They can re-emerge decades later, not first as theory, but as governance.
The Foundation: A Prior Constitutional Burden At the centre of the Grand River position is the Haldimand Proclamation of October 25, 1784. For Mohawk advocates the familiar language of lands set apart for the Mohawk Nation and their posterity “to enjoy for ever” is not ornamental. It signifies an acquired territorial interest, one held for posterity, one tied to Crown honour, and one that later systems were bound to respect rather than erase.
The argument is not that outside governments lack existence. It is that any administration established within the acquired territory entered subject to this prior constitutional burden. Those obligations did not dissolve with time, nor were they displaced simply because administrative
systems expanded across the territory and eventually came to appear normal.
Section 109 of the Constitution Act, 1867 is often invoked in that regard because it confirms that ownership of lands remains subject to existing interests. From this perspective, external systems did not acquire unencumbered title. They assumed administration subject to the prior dedication of acquired territory and the obligations attached to it.
Exclusive Use and the Question of Priority
The phrase “exclusive use and enjoyment” carries legal weight. It speaks to the beneficial interest in land — the right to occupy, control, direct use, and derive benefit. Mohawk advocates interpret the Haldimand dedication as preserving that underlying interest within the acquired territory.
If so, then later systems — roads, municipalities, registries, licensing schemes, insurance frameworks, and public administration — are not foundational. They are overlays.
When competing interests occupy the same land, law usually turns to priority. The earlier interest is senior. Later systems must operate around it. From this perspective, Mohawk rights are not one interest among many. They are the prior interest.
That does not erase the modern world. It does not mean roads vanish overnight or municipalities simply disappear. But it does reframe those structures. They may continue to exist in practice, but they do so subject to the prior dedication of acquired territory.
This is one reason the Grand River question is so
difficult for outside systems to confront. It is easier to assume that long administration settled the matter than to ask whether long administration merely obscured an older burden.
Movement, Safety, and the Limits of Assumed Authority
Transportation reveals the tension immediately. Roads, licences, plates, insurance, and roadside enforcement all depend on a foundational assumption: that the authority regulating movement has clear jurisdiction over the territory in question. External transportation frameworks proceed on precisely that assumption. If a vehicle is not registered and insured under recognized external systems, the driver is typically treated as personally exposed to liability.
But from a Mohawk perspective, that operational answer does not resolve the prior constitutional question.
If the acquired territory remains subject to Mohawk exclusive use and enjoyment, then movement within it is not merely an external privilege. It is tied to a prior right. That is why roadside interactions can become constitutional flashpoints. What appears, on the surface, to be a simple enforcement question — “Are you properly insured?” — may actually conceal a deeper one: who has authority to define what lawful registration, lawful insurance, and lawful movement mean in the first place?
The Mohawk National Vehicle Registry Initiative (NVR), formally notified on October 31, 2024 to Ministers Prabmeet Sarkaria, Peter Bethlenfalvy, and Michael Kerzner, arises
directly out of that problem. The initiative asserts authority over vehicle registration, driver training, and safety within the acquired territory. It includes distinctive plates referencing the Haldimand Proclamation of 1784 and integration with the Grand River Nationalized Driver Insurance Policy (GRNDIP). The point is not symbolic novelty. The point is to show that movement, liability, and safety can be administered under Mohawk governance.
That matters because a right that cannot be administered is vulnerable to being dismissed as theoretical.
Housing, Land Records, and Administrative Continuity
The same logic applies to land and housing.
The Mohawk Nation Housing Initiative (MNHI), notified on November 3, 2024 to Ministers Paul Calandra and Doug Downey, sets out a parallel framework for reclaiming unused properties, supporting community development, preserving heritage, and establishing a Mohawk Lands Registry to document hereditary and treaty interests. The initiative invokes the principle of status quo ante bellum flowing from the 1779 Haldimand Pledge and seeks to restore prewar conditions consistent with Mohawk sovereignty over acquired territory.
This is an important shift in emphasis. Too often, Indigenous rights are discussed only in terms of grievance, protest, or historical wrong. But the practical exercise of jurisdiction requires more than memory. It requires records, procedures, notices, registries, standards, and a system capable of function-
ing before full recognition arrives.
In that sense, housing and land-record initiatives are not secondary to the constitutional argument. They are among its most important expressions.
The Latent Defect in Title
Another way to understand the Grand River situation is through the concept of a latent defect.
In ordinary property law, a latent defect in title is a hidden problem in the chain of ownership — something not obvious on the surface of the registry, but still real in law. A land system can function for decades before such a defect becomes visible.
Mohawk advocates argue that the Grand River issue involves something even deeper: not only a latent title defect, but a latent constitutional burden.
On this view, the Haldimand dedication never disappeared. It remained embedded beneath external systems of title, taxation, infrastructure, insurance, and development. Administrative certainty grew up around it, but certainty of administration is not the same thing as certainty of constitutional right.
That distinction becomes especially important when people invoke the language of innocent third-party purchasers. Many residents purchased homes, farms, or businesses in good faith. They relied on registries, approvals, lenders, insurers, and the assumption that what was being conveyed was secure. Their good faith is real.
But good faith cannot create a title that never existed free and clear in the first place. No one can transfer what they
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Derek Miller and many other artists performed at the Lil NHL Concert. "So much great music tonight at Little NHL," said January Rogers from the Lil' NHL Concert on social media on Tuesday night. JANUARY ROGERS
The Deciding Factor: Attend FanshawE'S Open House
If you’re struggling to decide what to study and where to go to college, many students find an Open House experience has been their deciding factor. Attending Open House has been the make or break experience for many that ultimately leads them to their decision.
This spring, Fanshawe will host an Open House on Saturday, March 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. We hope you’ll visit us to explore our campuses, meet faculty and current students and ask your questions about starting college.
To learn more and pre-register, please visit: openhouse.fanshawec.ca
There will be a lot to see and do during Open House; here are five tips to making the most of your Open House experience at Fanshawe.
1. Come meet our staff in the Institute of Indigenous Learning!
Whether you’re Status or Non-Status First Nations, Métis or Inuit, the Institute of Indigenous Learning is waiting to welcome you.
Our friendly and knowledgeable staff can help support you in exploring program options and offer career guidance.
2. Get questions answered about funding your education
Whether you’re receiving sponsorship from your community or paying for college through bursaries, scholarships or the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), we can help you find the best way to finance your education.
The Financial Aid and Student Awards office provides financial support and advice to help students fund their college education. We are here to assist with OSAP, scholarships, grants, and bursaries as well as the Work Study program. Financial planning, including budget advising, is also available.
Learn more about paying for college: fanshawec.ca/fnmi-applicants
3. Explore the campus
This is your chance to see your campus! Explore state-of-the art labs and learning spaces, modern wellness facilities and
do not own. If the underlying constitutional burden remained, then later transactions may still be subject to it, even where the purchasers themselves acted honestly.
That does not make ordinary residents the enemy. It means the risk cannot simply be placed on the people to whom the original constitutional obligation was owed.
Licensing, Infrastructure, and Revenue
on-campus residences. It’s time to find out how large and varied the campus is and see the different spaces you’ll have available to you to study, relax or hang out with friends. Take this opportunity to envision yourself in the gardens in spring between classes or grabbing a bite to eat at the Out Back Shack, Fanshawe’s on-campus restaurant.
4. Visit our Indigenous student spaces
Visit the Institute of Indigenous Learning (IIL)! Here you will find culturally supportive services and programs. In addition to providing academic support, referrals and student activities, the IIL is also a meeting place for FNMI students.
The IIL includes a computer lab and laptop area, places to study, a student lounge, meeting rooms and kitchen facilities.
Be sure to check out the Kalihwíyo Circle, a gathering place nestled inside Innovation Village. The circle is a tribute to Indigenous stories, ways of being and beliefs. As a result, much thought was given to the architectural integration of these Indigenous beliefs.
The circle provides a welcoming place for workshops, summer camps, exhibitions, gatherings, smudging, pipe ceremonies, land-based learning and other events.
5. It comes down to a feeling
For a lot of students, it comes down to the feeling. Does the campus have the right energy for you? Are people happy and excited to be here? Does being here feel right to you, or could it?
Choosing which college to attend and which program to take can be a hard decision, but attending Open House events for the schools you are considering can make it a lot easier. Fanshawe’s Open House is Saturday, March 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and not to brag, but we’re known to offer one of the best Open House experiences around!
For more information and to register, please visit openhouse.fanshawec.ca
nications systems, and other infrastructural uses that have long been treated as though they existed independently of the acquired territory beneath them.
Enforcement, Oath, and Process
The problem, however, is not solved simply by asserting jurisdiction. It must be understood and operationalized by those who currently act on the land.
If acquired territory is to be understood as subject to Mohawk exclusive use and enjoyment, then the question is not only who holds rights, but how those rights are expressed in practice.
One of the clearest expressions of jurisdiction is licensing.
Modern governments operationalize authority through licensing, permitting, registration, insurance standards, utility agreements, rights-of-way, and access conditions. If Mohawk jurisdiction is real, then it cannot remain frozen at the level of abstract declaration. It must extend into the practical governance of participation within the territory.
That includes vehicles, development, communications infrastructure, energy corridors, telephony, land access, and other systems that profit from or depend upon the land.
From a Mohawk perspective, if outside persons, corporations, or public bodies wish to operate within the acquired territory, then their presence is not automatically self-authorizing. It may properly require Mohawk licensing, Mohawk insurance recognition, Mohawk-issued permissions, or Mohawk infrastructure agreements. This is not unusual in principle. It is how jurisdiction is ordinarily expressed elsewhere.
It also has economic consequences.
Licensing and permitting are not just regulatory tools. They are revenue tools. They allow governments to set terms, manage risk, and generate income tied to the use of land and infrastructure. If Mohawk institutions are to exercise jurisdiction meaningfully, they must be able not only to assert control, but to derive the practical and economic benefits that follow from control.
That includes the underlying rights associated with roads, utilities, telecommu-
Times edition of October 18, 2023 reported Lewis’s interest and noted positive dialogue involving OPP, CN Police, federal authorities, and the military.
Police and municipal officers generally proceed on the assumption that external law applies uniformly. Their training, mandates, and enforcement patterns reflect that assumption. But if the legal landscape includes prior constitutional obligations tied to Mohawk exclusive use and enjoyment, then those assumptions are incomplete.
This does not require confrontation. It requires process.
If officers have sworn oaths to uphold the constitutional order, then the obligations embedded in that order cannot be treated as irrelevant merely because they are inconvenient or unfamiliar. The goal is not court. The goal is to create a framework in which officers, municipalities, and administrators understand that they operate subject to a deeper constitutional landscape than ordinary administrative habit acknowledges.
That means developing protocols.
It means recognizing Mohawk-issued documentation where appropriate. It means creating administrative pathways for resolving jurisdictional questions. It means ensuring that police and municipal bodies cannot simply say they lacked notice or lacked understanding of the constitutional issue once that notice has repeatedly been given.
Without such process, every interaction risks becoming a conflict. With it, overlapping jurisdictions can at least begin to be managed.
Sustained Dialogue and Notice
These initiatives did not emerge in isolation. They have been accompanied by years of sustained engagement.
On October 17, 2023, MP Leslyn Lewis met with Mohawk University representatives at HM Royal Chapel of the Mohawks to discuss the Drivers Program and Housing Initiative. The Two Row
On September 5, 2023, letters were sent to MP Leslyn Lewis and then-Minister Caroline Mulroney outlining the aspirations behind the transportation and housing initiatives. Mulroney’s office responded on January 11, 2024 through Donna Bigelow, acknowledging the initiatives and directing transportation-related matters toward the Indigenous Transportation Initiatives Fund while redirecting housing issues elsewhere.
Airspace assertions in February 2021 challenged RCAF 431 Squadron flights under the exclusive terms of the Proclamation. Responses from RCAF and DND noted compliance with existing procedures while declining to resolve the broader constitutional issue.
Land-registry efforts, building on earlier exchanges from 2014 to 2022 with former Director of Titles Jeffrey Lem, advanced again in December 2025 through correspondence with Director Dan Petoran and Minister Stephen Crawford seeking acknowledgment of the Mohawk Land Registry and possible mechanisms under the Land Titles Act. Petoran’s response of December 23, 2025 confirmed receipt, referenced prior engagement, and committed the matter for ministerial review.
The pattern is clear. The Crown has been placed on repeated and sustained notice.
Acknowledgment of a proposal is not acknowledgment of jurisdiction. Administrative reply is not constitutional resolution. But governments, ministries, agencies, and public actors can no longer credibly say the issue was hidden from them. The record exists. The notice has been given. The institutions are being built.
In Grand River Territory, the remaining question is whether police, policymakers, and public officials will treat observance of the Haldimand Proclamation— and the Mohawk right of exclusive use and enjoyment—not as an optional political question, but as a legal duty already imposed upon them.
Community Engagement:
Heather Winterstein Coroner’s Inquest
The Heather Winterstein Coroner’s Inquest team will be holding a community engagement meeting to provide community members an opportunity to learn more about the coroner ’ s inquest.
Location:
Date: 5-7pm Time:
Monday, March 23
GREAT Theatre (16 Sunrise Court)
All community members are welcome to attend to meet the inquest team and ask questions. Food and refreshments will be available.
Who is Heather Winterstein?
Heather Winterstein is a Six Nations of the Grand River Band member who unfortunately lost her life due to the inadequate care provided to her at St. Catharine’s General Hospital on December 9, 2021.
An inquest has been opened to explore the circumstances surrounding her death and the injustice she faced from the hospital.
Brantford Transit service and fare changes coming in April
BRANTFORD, ON – Brantford Transit will introduce schedule and route changes on Monday, April 6, to improve reliability and make travel easier across the city.
Most routes will see small timing adjustments to improve reliability. Routes 7 and 9 will begin operating earlier in the morning to help reduce delays during busy periods. Routes 1, 5, 8, and 9 will include minor routing changes in select areas to better support passenger needs. Updated route
maps and descriptions are available at Brantford.ca/ TransitRouteChanges.
Updated 2026 Transit Fares
In addition to service changes, a small fare increase will take effect on Monday, April 6, 2026. Updated fares reflect rising operational costs while maintaining access
to affordable transit options for riders of all ages. Children 12 and under and veterans will continue to ride free of charge.
Cash Fare
• Adult: $3.25
• Senior: $3.25
• Student: $3.25
• CNIB: $1.90
BT Connect Cards
• 2 Rides: $6.50
• 10 Rides: $26.00
• 20 Rides: $52.00
31-Day Pass
• Adult: $80.00
• Senior: $60.00
• Student: $60.00
• Affordability Program: $60.00
• Summer High School Pass (July and August):
$70.00
• CNIB: $42.50
Day Pass
• $10.25
Full fare details are available at Brantford.ca/ TransitRates.
Brantford Transit appreciates your understanding as we work to enhance transit services. For help planning your ride, please call 519-7533847 or email Transit@ Brantford.ca.
Tomasetti arrested in Mexico
After almost ten years on the run, Daniel Tomassetti, who was wanted in connection with the mob shootings of Mila Barberi in Vaughan and Angelo Musitano in Waterdown, has been caught in Mexico. Hamilton police Staff Sgt. Jason Cattle mentioned that Tomassetti was arrested in August, and they're now waiting for him to be sent back to Canada. Tomassetti, once on Canada's most wanted list, is fighting his extradition, claiming he's not safe if he returns to Canada. He's facing charges for two counts of first-degree murder and attempted murder.
This past Saturday was the ninth anniversary of Mila Barberi's death, whose family has been seeking justice.
know the score.
By Jazz Fuller
Welcome back to another week of sports! We’ve had the privilege to watch the World Baseball Classic these past two weeks. If you had the chance to follow along, Italy was a monster cinderella team, and the only team in the tournament that handed powerhouse Team USA a loss. Team Italy took down the Americans 8-6 in round robin play with a massive 8-6 win, easily the biggest upset of the tournament thus far. Team Canada also did great, ending their round robin play with an outstanding 3-1 record before being taken down by Team USA in the quarterfinals. In the tournament, lost to Panama and USA, but had three great wins over Panama, Puerto Rico & Cuba. It’s safe to safe to stay Canada baseball is in good hands
Scoreboard Watchin' with Jazz Week 10
with the summer olympics in LA right around the corner! In the game of the tournament, USA took on the Dominican Republic in a power vs power matchup full of MLB Allstars on both rosters from top to bottom. Dominicana took an early 1-0 lead but couldn’t score again the remainder of the game. The Dominicans left 5+ runners on base through out the game after Junior Camineros home run in the second inning that gave them a 1-0 lead. American Gunner Henderson tied the game 1-1 after a solo blast in the top of the 4th inning followed by another solo blast hr by American Roman Anthony. American starting pitcher and MLB Allstar sensation Paul Skenes pitched 4.1 innings with 2 strikeouts, 6 hits and only one run given up. The American bullpen shut the Dominicans down the rest of the way with a team effort of 6 total strikeouts from David Bednar, Garrett Whitlock and closer Mason Miller. Team USA moves on to the final which is being played Tuesday night. Team Italy went into the semifinals with a perfect 4-0 record but was taken down 4-2 by Team Venezuela. Team
Italy took an early 2-0 lead in the game by scoring a bases loaded walk and a force out, but couldn’t score any runs the remainder of the game. Down 2-0, Venezuela went on to score runs in the top of the 4th inning with a solo blast hr from Eugenio Suarez followed by 3 singles in the top of the 7th inning by Ronald Acuna, Maikel Garcia and Luis Arraez. Venezuela will face the Americans in the WBC championship game Tuesday night! It should be a great game, as the tournament has been nothing short of refreshing competition with every team playing as hard as they can. It was definitely a joy to watch the best of the best playing each other in baseball where every pitch, hit, run and inning counted! Just like Olympic Hockey, seeing these players play their hearts out for their countries in this tournament has definitely brought joy and excitement to the baseball community, with the MLB regular season starting back up in two weeks!
In lacrosse news, The Buffalo Bandits have fired off 3 straight wins to get themselves back into a playoff spot! Bandits players Dhane Smith and Josh Byrne both had huge 9 point nights as the Buffalo Bandits defeated the Colorado Mammoth 13-10 in a home game. Dhane Smith, who also
plays for the Six Nations Chiefs during the summer, became the eighth player in NLL history to reach 1,300 career NLL points. He is also the second faster player to ever reach the feat, with former player and current Bandits head coach John Tavares being the only player to complete the milestone faster. The Bandits now hold a positive record of 7-6 which is good for 7th place in the league. The top 8 spots in the league make the playoffs. Buffalo is back on the road for a big game this Saturday night at 10pm est time in San Diego against the 6-7 seals. Currently in NLL standings, the top 8 teams that hold a playoff spot with just a few regular season games left look like this:
1. Saskatchewan Rush 11 wins 3 losses
2. Vancouver Warriors 10 wins 4 losses
3. Colorado Mammoth 9 wins 5 losses
4. Georgia Swarm 8 wins 5 losses
5. Toronto Rock 8 wins 5 losses
6. Ottawa Black Bears 8 wins 6 losses
7. Buffalo Bandits 7 wins 6 losses
8. San Diego Seals 6 wins 7 losses
In basketball news, The Toronto Raptors have won back to back games to stay in playoff contention. This past weekend they picked up two massive wins
over playoff teams, with a 122-115 win Friday night over the Phoenix Suns and 119-108 win over the Eastern Conference Leading Detroit Pistons where Raptors superstar Brandon Ingram went off for 34 points in the game. The Raptors are currently 6th place in eastern conference standings with their current 38-29 record. They have 4 games this upcoming week all on the road against the Chicago Bulls tonight at 8pm, Friday night vs the Denver Nuggets at 9pm, Sunday Night in Phoenix at 9pm vs the suns, and finally Monday night against the Utah Jazz at 9pm. In NCAA college basketball related news, the March Madness brackets are officially set! Currently their are 68 teams locked into tournament play, with that number being decreased down to the final 64 teams come tonight. March Madness officially kicks off tomorrow at noon where the top teams take on one another in a single elimination tournament where only the strong will survive. The top four #1 teams heading into the tournament are as follows:
Eastern Bracket #1 Duke Blue Devils 32-2 record
Southern Bracket #1 Florida Gators 26-7 record
Western Bracket #1 Arizona Wildcats 32-2 record
Northern Bracket #1 Michigan Wolverines 31-3 record
Good luck to all teams! Every March this is the go-to tournament to watch full of buzzer beating upsets and cinderella teams where any team small or big can win! I’m leaning towards the Duke Blue Devils to take down this year’s tournament, but you never know! Who ya got?!?!?
In Hockey news, The Toronto Maple Leafs are casually tanking, and the Buffalo Sabres are raking! The Leafs currently have just 2 wins in their past 10 games, with news that captain Austin Matthews is out for the remainder of the regular season after taking a knee on knee hit from Anaheim Ducks captain Radio Gudas. The hit landed Matthews with a Grade 3 MCL tear in the collision and he won’t suit up for the rest of the season. Gudas was only given a five-game suspension for the hit in a game that the Leafs went on to win in Toronto 6-4. Toronto has games this week against the New York Islanders, Carolina Hurricanes, Ottawa Senators, and Boston Bruins. Although their playoffs hopes remain high, they aren’t out of it just yet, but without arguably their best player, it will remain to be seen how they want
The picture here in this article I snapped yesterday is from the the U-7 Six Nations Kraken team that my nephew is currently playing on during this LNHL tournament playing against the U-7 team from Thessalon First Nation in the Kitchener area. JAZZ FULLER
to end their season by pushing for wins to grab a playoff spot or by tanking for a high draft pick. On the other hand, the Buffalo Sabres have been taking on and winning against just about everybody. The Sabres have climbed to second place in the eastern conference standings with an amazing 41-20-6 record. They have accumulated 9 wins in their past 10 games with just 15 games left in their regular season. The Sabres have 4 upcoming games this week to try and catch up to the conference leading Carolina Hurricanes who sit just 2 points ahead of Buffalo for first place. The Sabres play against the Vegas Golden Knights Tuesday at 10pm, San Jose Sharks tomorrow night at 10pm, Los Angeles Kings Saturday afternoon at 4pm and finally the Anaheim Ducks sunday night at 8pm to complete their western conference road trip. We are right in the middle of the Little NHL hockey tournament for all of our hockey playing girls and boys here in Six Nations. The Little Native Hockey League is a hockey tournament played by indigenous athletes that is played annually since 1971, making it over 50 years old! The tourney takes over March Break from Sunday through out the week and is full of games being played by both boys and girls aged from kids to teenagers. Good luck to every one of our teams of all ages on their quest to take down hockey championships! The picture here in this article I snapped yesterday is from the the U-7 Six Nations Kraken team that my nephew is currently playing on during this LNHL tournament playing against the U-7 team from Thessalon First Nation in the Kitchener area. Good luck to all teams the remainder of the tournament! As always, thanks for reading, we’ll cya next Wednesday!
31 MARCH, 2026 THE GATHERING PLACE BY THE GRAND
5PM - 7PM 2593 Chiefswood Rd
Six Nations Ironmen are in the play-offs. LAFORCE
WALL play-offs are underway.
LAFORCE
IT’STAX TIME AGAIN
GRAND RIVER POST SECONDARY EDUCATION OFFICE
2026 DEADLINE CALENDAR FOR
STUDENTS MUST APPLY ONLINE BY SPECIFIED DEADLINE
February 1st
May 1st
August 1st
October 1st
Application Deadline for Summer semester.
Fall Marks/Progress Reports due for all continuing students.
Levels 3 & 4 (Master or PhD students) provide Letter of Good Academic Standing.
Winter course registration/timetable and detailed tuition fees due.
Application Deadline for Fall or Fall/Winter semester(s).
Winter Marks/Progress Reports due for all funded students.
Levels 3 & 4 (Master or PhD students) provide Letter of Good Academic Standing.
Summer course registration/timetable and detailed tuition fees due.
Official transcripts are due from students funded for any of the three previous application periods (Summer/Fall/Winter).
Certain documents are due for students approved for Fall semester funding.
Application Deadline for Winter semester.
Summer Marks/Progress Reports due for all continuing students.
Levels 3 & 4 (Master or PhD students) provide Letter of Good Academic Standing.
Fall course registration/timetable and detailed tuition fees due.
OTHER IMPORTANT DATES AND EVENTS 2026
Jan. 2, 2026 Office Reopens
Feb. 16 Office Closed: Family Day
Mar. 6 Winter Semester Contact Required From All Students (Check With Your Post Secondary Funding Advisor)
Apr. 3 Office Closed: Good Friday
Apr. 6 Office Closed: Easter Monday
May 18 Office Closed: Victoria Day
Jun. 1 Summer Office Hours: Open from 8 am to 4 pm
Jun. 22 Office Closed: Observance National Indigenous Peoples Day
Jul. 1 Office Closed: Canada Day
Aug. 3 Office Closed: Civic Holiday
Sept. 1 Back to Regular Office Hours: Open 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Sept. 7 Office Closed: Labour Day
Sept. 17 Office Closed: Staff Planning
Sept. 18 Office Closed: Staff Planning
Sept. 30 Office Closed: National Day of Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day)
Oct. 12 Office Closed: Thanksgiving Day
Oct. 26 Office Closed: Observance of Haldimand Treaty Day
Oct. 31 Deadline to Submit Graduate Promotion Items
Nov. 6 Fall Semester Contact Required From All Students
(Check With Your Post Secondary Funding Advisor)
Nov. 11 Office Closed: Observance of Remembrance Day
Dec. 23 Office Closed: Christmas Closure
Jan. 4, 2027 Office Reopens
For more information, please visit our website at www.grpseo.org, connect with us on Facebook/Instagram, call our office at (519) 445-2219 or see our updates in the local newspapers.
Honour. Educate. Empower.
SIX NATIONS POLICE Clerk/Receptionist Contract Position
–The Six Nations Police is calling for applications for a Clerk/Receptionist on a short term contract position.
Minimum Requirements to be considered for this position are as follows:
Skills and Knowledge Required
• Grade 12 diploma.
• Knowledge of police service structure, functions, and activities.
• Knowledge and experience in the use and operation of personal computers, general office software, and database programs.
• Knowledge of office systems, filing practices, and clerical procedures.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment.
• Good organizational and time-management skills.
• Basic arithmetic skills.
• Typing speed of 40 wpm.
• Three (3) years of experience in a related field.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Must be bondable
• Be able to pass a security clearance as well as background investigation, credit card and reference checks
The Receptionist/Clerk undertakes general administrative and clerical duties to support the day to day operations of the Six Nations Police Service by:
• Handle general incoming calls by obtaining essential information
• Respond to administrative or general inquiries
• Greet visitors to the Six Nations Police Administration Office
• Perform word processing, typing, and document preparation duties including standard lawenforcement forms, memorandums, correspondence, and reports using a personal computer and standard office software.
• Compose and prepare routine correspondence as required.
• Pick up and distribute incoming mail, and prepare outgoing mail as required.
• Maintain filing systems including
• Minimum of 5 years in the office setting
• Knowledge of police service structure, function and activities
• Knowledge of and experience in the use of personal computers and office software programs
• Ability to devise and maintain an effective filing system
• Excellent oral and written communications skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Ability to work independently and exhibit a high degree of initiative and self-direction
• Ability to deal with confidential matters
• Willing to attend training and travel as necessary
Assets
• Six Nations of the Grand River Band Membership/citizenship is considered a preferred asset
Closing Date: Applications must be received by April 2, 2026 at 3:00 p.m.
A complete job description is available at the front desk of the Six Nations Police Station.
Please submit a covering letter and resume inclusive of 3 references and completed Police Information
Police Vulnerable Sector Check Form to: Six Nations Police P.O. Box 758 2112 4th Line Road
Ontario N0A 1M0
Attention: Policing Administrator
SIX NATIONS COUNCIL
SIX NATIONS AND NEW CREDIT
Carpenter: Suzanne Ruth March 28 1961- March 12, 2026
Loving mother of Kenny & Danielle, Matthew & Nicole. Cherished Grammy to Manny, Coby, Evy, Nola, and the late KJ. Daughter of George & Shirley. Sister of Sharon, Cindy, and the late Patty, and Tony. Aunt to many nieces and nephews
The family will honour her life with visitation at Hyde & Mott Chapel 60 Main Street South, Hagersville on Monday 2-8pm. Funeral Service will be held in the chapel on Tuesday March 17, 2026 at 11am. Cremation to follow. As her beloved father would say “See you in the funny pages”
Open Jam At Chiefswood Fellowship
CHAR, You paid your dues long ago! You’ve earned every “ scar you’ve got”! TAKE REFUGE IN ALL YOUR SENSES, OPEN UP TO ALL THE SMALL MIRACLES YOU RUSHED THROUGH, UNFURL YOUR WINGS!!
506 4th Line – 5KM west of Ohsweken, Six Nations March 21st, 1-4 PM Bring a friend and your instrument and enjoy the best in local talent –Nashville North. Potluck Lunch Info…Linda…905-768-5442
In loving memory of our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great grandmother, Eleanor Porter, who left us March 17th, 2020.
Forever remembered by Kathy and Rod; Wally and Mel; Becky and Mike; Katie; Kayla and PStone; Preston, Pierce, Paxton, River, Finley, Milo, Poppy, Leanna, Dawson and Drew.
Date: Monday March 30, 2026
Time: 11am – 4pm
Place: Two Rivers CDC office (16 Sunrise Court-GREAT Building)
