Latest news with #Chippewas
CTV News
04-07-2025
- CTV News
Woman charged with murder found guilty of manslaughter in stabbing death of friend
Even though she was found guilty in the stabbing death of her friend, Koree Dockstater, 34, left the London Courthouse and remains free on bail. She and her family were escorted out of the building by London police officers after an angry outburst in Courtroom 20 from the family of the stabbing victim once the verdict was handed down. Initially charged with second degree murder in the death Shaniqua Henry, Justice Marc Garson found Dockstater guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter saying, 'Koree stabbed Shaniqua intentionally and unlawfully. However, I have a reasonable doubt that she did so with the required mental element for murder.' During her trial in March, the court heard that Dockstater and the 27-year-old Henry had been hanging out, driving around on the Chippewas of the Thames territory in July of 2022. They had been consuming alcohol and drugs. The court heard they weren't getting along due to an argument over money. A short while later, Henry's body would be found with a fatal stab wound to the chest along a laneway off of Jubilee Road, south of London. Her blood would be found in Dockstater's car. Henry's grandmother, Shirley, who now takes care of Shaniqua's 8-year-old daughter was emotional in and outside the courthouse. 'I feel awful, I've been crying for 365 days for the last four years and I miss her,' she said. Shirley Henry added, 'All her family misses her and it's just terrible that she (Dockstater) don't show any remorse.' The matter has now been put over to Assignment Court on October 21st when a sentencing hearing date is expected to be selected.
CBC
04-07-2025
- CBC
The sign says Saugeen Beach but a Supreme Court of Canada challenge looms in land dispute
Social Sharing The day lawyers submitted paperwork to the Supreme Court of Canada, another group quietly set up ladders in the dead of night to change a sign symbolic in a decades-long legal dispute in an Ontario beach town. The red retro-lettered sign at the end of Main Street in the town of South Bruce Peninsula read "Welcome to Saugeen Beach" when sun seekers woke up on Canada Day this week to look out at Lake Huron. The sign had previously ushered people to "Sauble Beach," a tourist hotspot since the 1920s. Sporting restaurants and cottages, and town and private land are squeezed between two sections of reserve territory belonging to Chippewas of Saugeen First Nation. Where one starts and the other ends is at the heart of what could be a precedent-setting case in Canada. The band declared victory at the end of 2024 when the Ontario Court of Appeal sided with Saugeen First Nation, saying the federal government had breached the treaty it signed in 1854. It ruled that roughly 2.2 kilometres of shoreline land incorrectly surveyed in 1855 should be returned to the First Nation. The federal government recognized the mistake in the 1970s and had supported the First Nation in its claim. But lawyers working for the Town of South Bruce Peninsula and two families who bought lots in the 1940s and '50s are trying via legal avenues, one final time, to keep hold of the land they say they rightfully acquired under the rules and geography of the time. On Monday, they filed an appeal they hope will be heard by the Supreme Court of Canada, in an effort to challenge the Appeal Court's decision. "The effect of the rulings at trial and on appeal is to dispossess the town and families of their title, which they acquired lawfully and in good faith," the appeal filing reads. "While none of them were found to have committed any legal wrong against Saugeen, the trial judge found that they must 'bear the brunt' of misconduct committed by the Crown alone." The lawyers argue that the judge's decision may have been well-intentioned, but it sows uncertainty and unpredictability at the core of Canada's system of private landholding. Environmental changes to shoreline Another reason the case may wind its way to Canada's top court has to do with what the land looked like when it was surveyed in 1856, one year after the treaty was signed, compared to what it looks like today. Experts who testified in the lower court agreed that the shoreline of the disputed section is far wider now, as result of receding water levels and the accumulation of sand. It means that the man tasked with drawing the original lines for the treaty 170 years ago that gave the First Nation "about nine miles and a half of Lake Huron coastline" was making his mark on wet sand, and not dry land. Because of how the map was drawn, and how the shoreline has changed, Saugeen argues that what is now dry land is rightfully theirs and that property owners are encroaching on it. The trial and appeal judges both agreed that while the "disputed beach could not be given to Saugeen at the time of the survey because it was submerged in water, it could be declared part of the reserve today." CBC News has reached out to all of the lawyers and the town for comment, but had not received a reply by publication time. The chief of Saugeen First Nation declined to comment on the case. A spokesperson with the Supreme Court of Canada said there is no timeline on when a decision will be made about whether the case will be heard or dismissed.
CBC
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- CBC
Indigenous man's 'jaw nearly hit the counter' when told he could write driver's test in Ojibwe
The former chief of Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation got an early birthday surprise when he was able to write part of his driving test in Ojibwe. Jason Henry, who holds a commercial (Class A) driver's license, said he went for the 5-year renewal last week at the Ontario Drive Test centre in Sarnia. When asked what language he preferred, he said he gave his usual answer. "English, unless you can offer me Ojibwe," Henry said. The clerk's response was a total shock. "My jaw nearly hit the counter. Out of principle, my entire life, I've always asked for Ojibwe. I've never gotten that offer anywhere until Monday." Ojibwe, or Anishinaabemowin, is an Algonquin language with a variety of dialects spoken across Canada and the northern United States. It's considered an endangered language, with 14,535 Indigenous people in Ontario self-reporting in 2021 that they spoke Ojibwe. That same year, the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) added Ojibwe, Oji-Cree and Cree as language options for driving tests. In total, there are 27 languages available. As an Indigenous language learner who started studying Ojibwe as an adult, Henry was thrilled to not only write but to pass the knowlege of signs test in his language. The road knowledge and air brake endorsement tests were only available in English "We will continue our work to eliminate barriers and improve access to driver licensing services for Indigenous communities across Ontario," MTO spokesperson Julia Caslin wrote in an email Wednesday. Henry was told that if he failed the test in Ojibwe he would have to pay a fee to retake it, but he said it was worth the risk. Ojibwe leans on imagery The grammar of Ojibwe makes a multiple-choice test tricky for a second language learner, he explained, as it is incredibly precise. Harder still, in the absence of direct translations, the language leans heavily on description. If a sign indicates a divided highway merging into a single-lane highway, it could be described something like 'ahead the road will come together.' Henry gave another example of a stop sign question. "It's 'you definitely must stop now and not move further,'" he said. "It's very explicit in the language, not just 'stop,' which was pretty cool for me to see." Henry has since shared his discovery on social media, in the hopes that others in his community will follow suit. The Drive Centre clerk told him he was the first to ever ask for an Ojibwe test at that location. "For the young Indigenous boy who always asked for Ojibwe first and was always got told 'no', it's unbelievable how happy I was to actually have somebody say, 'that's an option today'," Henry said. "Anytime there's an option to have good representation with our language, our images, our people and institutions, it makes it a little easier for us to succeed."
Toronto Sun
02-07-2025
- General
- Toronto Sun
Iconic Sauble Beach sign changed overnight ahead of Canada Day
The iconic 'Welcome to Sauble Beach' sign was replaced by a new 'Welcome to Saugeen Beach' sign overnight heading into Canada Day. An iconic sign that for decades has greeted beachgoers upon arrival to a popular beach on the Lake Huron shoreline was switched up on Canada Day. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Following a court decision that solidified ownership of a roughly two-kilometre stretch of land to the Chippewas of Saugeen First Nation, the recognizable, red-lettered Sauble Beach changed overnight, catching elected officials and visitors by complete surprise. The sign now reads 'Welcome to Saugeen Beach' where the pavement meets the sand at the end of Main St. in this popular beach town about 30 minutes from Owen Sound and three hours northwest of Toronto. 'This change marks an important and long-overdue act of reclamation,' Saugeen First Nation Beach Advisory Committee co-chair Cheree Urscheler said, per the Owen Sound Sun Times . 'What some see as just a sign change is, for us, a symbol of truth, resilience and the reclamation of what has always been ours,' the Saugeen First Nation Councillor added on social media on Tuesday. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The iconic 'Welcome to Sauble Beach' sign was replaced by a new 'Welcome to Saugeen Beach' sign overnight heading into Canada Day. 'Welcome to Saugeen Beach — where the land remembers, and so do we.' The sign change follows a yearslong legal battle in a fight between the First Nation, the Municipality of South Bruce Peninsula, the Ontario government and several local families for ownership of the beach. Last December, the Ontario Court of Appeal sided with the First Nation, saying the federal governnment had breached the treaty it signed in 1854. Elected officials, meanwhile, expressed shock by the overnight sign change and said they didn't learn of the change until the morning on July 1. The municipality said it was not notified and while it respects that the land now belongs to Saugeen First Nation, a heads-up would have been appreciated. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'The Sauble Beach sign is a well-known landmark with deep meaning for many people,' Mayor Jay Kirkland said. 'While we respect Saugeen First Nation's right to make changes on their land, we believe open communication is important — especially when it involves something so symbolic to the broader community. We remain committed to respectful dialogue and working together in the spirit of mutual understanding,' Kirkland added. Urscheler said the original plan was to change the sign ahead of the Victoria Day weekend in May, which marks the unofficial start of the summer beach season, but the various meetings held up that plan. The new sign is temporary, and more drastic changes to the design appear likely. The Saugeen First Nation Beach Advisory Committee said it plans to engage the community and local artists to devise an entirely new sign. On Canada Day, Urscheler said reaction was mostly positive among visitors. RECOMMENDED VIDEO Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs Relationships Weird Sunshine Girls
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Utah's relationship with Ute Indian Tribe shows a different approach to Trump-New York mascot debate
The Trump administration stepped into a fight between New York's Education Department and a Long Island high school that didn't want to change the name of its mascot, the 'Chiefs,' after the state said it would withhold money from schools that didn't shed Native American monikers. The debate over whether sports teams should continue using Indigenous imagery has led to a variety of different outcomes. For some teams and schools, the dispute has triggered change. The former Cleveland Indians, Washington Redskins and St. John's University Redmen, for example, are now the Guardians, Commanders and Red Storm, respectively. But for other teams in the midst of the Native American mascot debate, there's been cooperation and agreement. Locally, a mutually-beneficial agreement between the Ute Indian Tribe and the University of Utah has proven elemental in the state's flagship university retaining its official nickname: 'The Utes.' Central Michigan University — home of the Chippewas — has a similar, longstanding partnership with the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. This approach may show another way forward as the fight between Trump administration and the state of New York heats up. During a recent visit to New York's Massapequa High School, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said the state is discriminating against the school district that refuses to jettison its Native American 'Chief' mascot — and threatened it could risk losing federal funding. McMahon said an investigation by her agency has determined that New York officials violated Title VI of the federal civil rights law by banning the use of Native American mascots and logos statewide, The Associated Press reported. Title VI prohibits discrimination based on race, color and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal funds. The Education Department's civil rights office argues the New York state ban is discriminatory because names and mascots derived from other racial or ethnic groups — such as the 'Dutchmen' and the 'Huguenots' — are still permitted. In front of an audience of students and local officials at the Massapequa High School gymnasium, McMahon said the school's 'Chiefs' mascot was an 'incredible' representation of Native American leadership, according to the AP. 'The Trump Administration will not stand idly by as state leaders attempt to eliminate the history and culture of Native American tribes,' she said. McMahon reportedly added that her department is putting the state on notice to sign an agreement rescinding its Native American mascot ban — and apologizing to Native Americans for having discriminated against them and attempting to 'erase' their history. JP O'Hare, a spokesperson for the New York education department, dismissed McMahon's visit as 'political theater' — saying the school district failed to get even 'basic facts' about the area's Native American population right, according to The New York Times. The National Congress of American Indians, considered the country's oldest and largest Native American advocacy group, reaffirmed its long-standing opposition to the use of unsanctioned Native American imagery. Such depictions are not tributes — but, instead, are rooted in racism, cultural appropriation, and intentional ignorance, the organization said in a statement. 'Native people are not mascots,' said NCAI President Mark Macarro. 'We have our own languages, cultures, and governments — our identities are not anyone's mascot or costume. No political endorsement or misguided notion of 'honoring' us will change the fact that these mascots demean our people, diminish the enduring vibrancy of our unique cultures, and have no place in our society.' Trump ordered McMahon's agency to launch an inquiry into the Massapequa mascot dispute last month, making the coastal suburb 'an unlikely flashpoint in the enduring debate over the place of Indigenous imagery in American sports,' The Associated Press reported. The Long Island, New York, village — which is roughly 90% white — is named after the Massapequa, who were part of the broader Lenape, or Delaware, people who inhabited the woodlands of the Northeastern U.S. and Canada for thousands of years before Europeans arrived. Notable Massapequa High School alums include comedian Jerry Seinfeld and Hollywood's Baldwin brothers. Native American mascots and imagery are, of course, also part of Utah's historical sports landscape. Most prominently, the University of Utah changed its nickname from 'Redskins' to 'Utes' in 1972 after receiving approval from the Ute Indian Tribe. A 'Memorandum of Understanding' between the Ute Indian Tribe and the University of Utah was updated and signed in 2020. 'The Ute Indian Tribe encourages the University of Utah to use the Ute name for the University's sports programs with its full support. The University recognizes that the Ute name is at the core of the cultural identity of the Tribe and its members, and that it constitutes an inseparable element of their rich cultural traditions. 'The University is honored to be allowed to continue to use the Ute name with due respect and integrity.' The memorandum added that the relationship between the Ute Indian Tribe and the University of Utah is twofold: 'First, to build genuine respect and understanding of the tribe's history, culture and contributions to the state (past, current and future); and second, to have the university assist tribal members in helping their children lead healthy lives and be prepared to pursue a college education.' The University of Utah also committed to use the Ute name 'in a considered and respectful manner — reflecting the pride and dignity of indigenous people and their traditions.' Additionally, the University of Utah pledged to support Ute Indian and other Native American students through scholarships to the school — along with financial support to enhance Ute Indian Tribe educational programs and opportunities. The school has also agreed to provide 'enrichment and educational opportunities' for Ute Indian Tribal Member youth on both the Ute reservation and the university campus — including summer youth programs for students. Cultural programs on the University of Utah campus included the Ute Proud campaign. Each football season, the school designates a Ute Proud game to honor the Ute Indian Tribe culture. Players wear a specially designed Ute Proud helmet for the game — and members of the Northern Ute Tribe perform a traditional dance at halftime. The issue of Native American mascots and imagery at Utah high schools has also grabbed headlines. In 2020, Bountiful High School's Braves mascot was retired after months of study, public meetings and private meetings that included seeking the input of representatives of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation, Bountiful High School students, faculty, staff and community members. Bountiful's mascot is now 'The Redhawks.' And last April, the Iron County School District Board of Education, in a split vote, opted to maintain Cedar High School's current wolf mascot and 'Reds' moniker, setting aside a proposal to restore the school's historical 'Redmen' name. Five years earlier, the 'Redmen' name was retired by a 3-2 vote of the then-school board, but the change was divisive and members of the community often raised the issue during the public comment portion of the school board's meetings. The Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah asked the Iron County board not to reinstate the 'Redmen' name. At least two Utah high schools use Native American mascots. North Summit High School in Coalville uses 'The Braves' — while Escalante High School goes by 'The Moquis.'
