A Voice from the Eastern Door
A Voice from the Eastern Door
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 829
Dear Editor, The Ontario Conservative government has announced this past January the expansion of private for-profit clinics to perform publicly funded surgical and diagnostic procedures, privatizing and dismantling our public hospitals. This privatization takes away desperately needed staff and funding from our public hospitals and has left our hospitals with operating rooms and emergency departments closed at various times and long wait times for surgeries and other procedures. The private, for-profit clinics take the easy surgeries, extra...
Letter to the Editor "Should the Akwesasne Election Law be Contentious And/Or Weaponized? PS...MCA, via Grand Chief Abram Benedict, still has an existing challenge in Akwesasne Court that has been in abeyance since 2019 (Dennis Chaussi)." Larry King...
Letter to the Editor When I was a Tribal Chief in 2004-2005, the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe along with MCA and the Nation were on the brink of a settlement of our Land Claim with New York State. It was a good settlement giving us more land, NYPA power and free tuition. The people overwhelmingly approved that settlement by referendum and it was signed by the 3 Chiefs, MCA Council and the Nation. However because of a terrible decision in the US Supreme Court (the Sherrill case) that settlement was taken away from us in 2005. Without a settlement...
Dear Akwesasne, A Soldier's Letter Home She:kon, sewakwekon Akwesasronon, I thought of writing this letter because it has proven difficult to remain in contact with everyone over the years. As I think about it, I have been gone for over 20 years and many of my elders including my father, Lester Cook, have moved on from this world. I wish I would have been able to come home more and regret the time I have missed with everyone over the years. I have served in the U.S. Navy as an Engineman and the...
By Diane L. Lauzon On the 20th of this month, via email, I had notified your Tribal Court; on the 21st, your Tribal Clerk; and on the 22nd, all your Chiefs and sub-Chiefs. I had even offered up my own blood. I heard nothing. My great-grandfather had been someone your forefathers had revered so much, that he had been offered land and upon which, he had then resided. I had been told that he had helped your ancestors out a lot. However, that did NOT make him Native American. Consequently, that makes me non-Native, though I am enrolled with your Tr...
On Saturday morning we planned on going swimming after house chores were done. The children worked hard to get their chores done, then we headed out right in time to get to the Aquatic Center in time for public swimming. Unfortunately, they were to max capacity when we got there, then the second swim was also maxed capacity. I felt hmm, no problem we’ll find someplace else, WRONG! Nav Can hasn’t had an operating pool since 2020, unless you want to drive to Point Claire there is no other public swimming pool close by. There’s no arcade close by...
I would first like to explain who “we” are. Pyke Phish Pharm is made up of and consists of family members who are educated in numerous areas pertinent to and conducive to the project outlined below. Our family of siblings and volunteers consist of myself, a NYS Licensed pharmacist (retired), my sister Margaret Pyke-Thompson, Wetlands Biologist (retired), my brothers Robert Pyke, (retired) machinist/building system manager, and Vaughn Aldrich, Attorney. (semi-retired) Stanley M.P. Francis, EMT, volunteer nephew, David Francis, skilled car...
Dear Editor, The Ford Government’s Bill 23 More Homes Build Faster Act is a disaster. Bill 23 opens Ontario’s Greenbelt land to urban development. This is ecologically sensitive, protected land around the Greater Toronto Area impacting ten municipalities. It changes the mandates of conservation authorities and cuts municipal provisions for heritage protection and rental replacement standards. The controversial Bill 23 will cut development fees for new home-building projects which will have to be picked up by municipalities resulting in hig...
On September 29th, Carol Smoke was the first Progressive winner of Tota Bingo, winning $7000. When playing Tota Bingo, if you buy an American package, you win an American payout. If you buy a Canadian package, you win a Canadian payout. This pertains to our specials and progressive payouts. Tota Bingo appreciates the support from the following sponsors: Good Leaf, #9 Truck Stop/Propane, Best Budz and the St. Regis Community and Governance Committee. Tota Bingo also appreciates our bingo players...
I am writing this letter to bring awareness to my community of Akwesasne of the event that occurred in May on Point Road, Kawehno:ke . Thursday, May 05, 2022, the day before Jake Fire Day, the Canadian government entity that is the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, commenced the construction of a housing complex project on Lot 147A-3-6 on Point Road, Kawehno:ke . The project was initiated with no official Mohawk Council of Akwesasne “Notice of Construction” to the residents and families of Point Road. The negligence in communication and org...
Letter to the Editor Orange Shirt Day – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation September 30th is National Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The Akwesasne Representative & Advocacy Program, Akwesasne Child & Family Services, the Children’s Aid Society of the United Counties of Stormont Dundas & Glengarry, and the City of Cornwall have come together to invite you to join us in recognition of this very important day at Lamoureux Park in Cornwall, ON at 4pm. On this day, we will wear orange and gather as uni...
Powwow Committee extends their sincere appreciation After a two-year hiatus, because of the circumstances beyond our control, the Akwesasne Powwow Committee was proud to host our Annual Cultural Celebration, the 20th Annual Akwesasne Powwow. The Powwow Committee was diligent in our attempts to continue to bring together the finest Dancers, Drummers, Artisans and Cooks from across Turtle Island. This prestigious event brings together our brother and sister communities, as well as our invited guests regardless of race, creed, or color, and has...
Hello, Since 2002, the best Indigenous bantam and midget hockey players* in Canada have been gathering every year to participate in the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships. The next edition of the championships will be held from May 7 to 13, 2023, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission (FNQLHSSC) is responsible for coordinating the women’s and men’s teams of Eastern Door and the North (EDN), both of which will be representing Quebec at the championships. The FNQLHSSC is current...
She:kon, We are the Akwesasne Youth Athletics team working with the committee CSSSPNQL EDN-Eastern Door and the North on Akwesasne hosting the female 19 under Volleyball Selection Camp Saturday, August 20th, 2022 10:00 am - 3:00 pm, at Heart to Heart and Snye Recreation. This female 19 under Volleyball Selection Camp requires the participant to be 18, 17 & 16 of this year to attend at least once to any camp, from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm. Akwesasne is the first out of three camps this year 2022, Akwesasne Heart to Heart August 20, 1-613-575-1594, /...
Monday, August 1, 2022, To: Local Akwesasne Business She:kon, We are the Akwesasne Youth Athletics team working with the committee CSSSPNQL EDN-Eastern Door and the North on Akwesasne hosting the female 19 under Volleyball Selection Camp Saturday, August 20th, 2022, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm, at Heart to Heart and Snye Recreation. This female 19 under Volleyball Selection Camp requires the participant to be 18, 17 & 16 of this year to attend at least once to any camp, from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm. Akwesasne is the first out of three camps this year 2022,...
How wonderful that approximately 100 skateboarders from all 3 districts (according to MCA’s Ec. Dev. Dept.) get a new Skateboarding Park at the A’nowara’ko:wa Arena. How about the other 14,900 other community members that don’t get to use the half-done 5/8 mile walking/bike path at the Arena. The uncompleted walking path should have been the priority to finish before any skateboarding park. It was almost completed in 2018 according to MCA’s Ec. Dev. Dept, but the Arena had a fire and the money set aside to complete (or almost complete)...
By Dale White My wife Marilyn and I lost our son of 42 years last weekend. It is a parent’s worst nightmare. The loss of a child to suicide. We hear about it, read about it but never in a million years imagine it would happen to us. But it did. We sit shocked and stunned days later wracked in pain, huddling with our daughter, Rowen—Ryan’s twin sister--and grandson, Oren. We find comfort in the tremendous outpouring of sympathy, condolences, support from everyone in our community and communities where we have lived. Many messages have a simil...
I am voting for Beverly Cook. Here’s why: Beverly is my cousin. Her special talent is her deep capacity to care for the people, to truly love and engage in clear thinking for our Mohawk people and beloved community. Beverly is a long-time fighter for our people’s rights and is a mountain of knowledge. Beverly’s leadership power comes from within: strong heart, strong mind, strong experience. We need her ability to clearly see right from wrong, and her capacity to treat all people respectfully, graciously, and compassionately. I love our ancient...
KAHNAWAKE – The Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) Youth of Kahnawà:ke are issuing a formal declaration to the Quebec Government that they strongly oppose Bill 96, An Act Respecting French, the Official and Common Language of Quebec, which is being proposed by the Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) aimed at strengthening the Charter of the French Language (Bill 101). Firstly, the Kanien’kehá:ka are, and always have been, a sovereign nation within this Territory. We are the original people of this land and have always maintained our assertion that we are the...
April 11, 2022 Letter to the Editor, At the time of the April monthly meeting, I attended via zoom at a relatives and an inciden occurred. I would like to clarify facts as I know them: First, during a program presentation something was said about their contract regarding State funding that caught my attention, at this time I made a personal comment. It was to mine and the other individuals’ surprise that the microphone on our end was not muted, as commonly, the host mutes the gallery when not speaking. I believed I was sharing an opinion on a...
How many times have you heard “Learn your language”? “Learn your culture”? But you are not told exactly how to do that. Yes, you can research online about our culture by yourself, but that is not the same as being immersed in it. Many of us do not know exactly what that first step should be. Maybe you did not grow up in a Traditional family. Maybe you know the basics of Mohawk Language from classes in elementary, but you are not able to carry on a conversation. I was lucky enough to attend a few language classes in person after seeing the inf...
Shekon Akwesasronon, I am writing this letter to set the record straight regarding a debate I had at this past Saturday’s Tribal zoom meeting. My issue was regarding last fall’s $400 fuel distribution where there was a discrepancy to a community member. The discrepancy came about as a result, that the Head of household passed now the spouse is head of household, that spouse provided all necessary information to comply with the time process requirement as was necessary; however, this individual did not receive that allotment. The individual inq...
December 3, 2021 Submitted by: Joseph D Bowen Brewer COVID HELP - Is it really helping? I write in regards to the recent help that has been offered to Business Owners and the Residents of New York State. COVID, as many know, has hit us hard. With the promise of help surfacing, a light should be formed at the end of the tunnel, but is it? SBA has the promise of issuing grants for hurting businesses, but the Target Advance Grants have taken over 5 months to distribute funds, and some are still waiting. New York State has offered Rental...
By Mark Trahant. The other day I listened to a fundraiser for a local public radio station. It was the usual pitch, something that occurs every few months. So ordinary. I have been thinking about our November fundraising month and how extraordinary that is. The very idea of Indian Country Today as a public medium is only a couple of years old. A few days ago, I heard from a foundation that asked questions about our funding sources. They wanted specific information about all our revenue. I was able to tell them about the breadth of ICT’s a...
4 November 2021 Nathan Cullen, MLS Minister of State for Lands and Natural Resource Options 1175 Main Street Smithers, BC V0J 2N0 Mme Claude DeBellefeuille MP Salaberry-Suroit Dear Mr. Cullen and Mme Claude DeBellefeuillle, As British Columbia faces yet another weather-related disaster the land protectors of the Wet’suwet’en are fighting to keep an LNG pipeline off their land and protect their only remaining fresh water source. The RCMP are doing the bidding of the corporation and ignoring Indigenous law. We are at a breaking point in history,...
