A Voice from the Eastern Door
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 841
By Andy Gardner AKWESASNE – Democratic congressional candidate Paula Collins says she wants to improve federal government support for Native communities, especially in the areas of healthcare and providing educational opportunities for Native youth. Collins, who lives in nearby Dekalb Junction, is running against incumbent Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville. Stefanik has represented the 21st Congressional District since 2014, which includes Akwesasne and the neighboring counties. Originally fr...
By Andy Gardner. UTICA - The Haudenosaunee Nationals men's and women's teams competed at the World Lacrosse Box Championships held in Utica in late September, each taking home bronze medals. The women's team won the bronze medal by beating Australia 21-4. Leading up to that, they had played Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Hong Kong, England and USA. Locals on the women's roster included Jillian Benedict, Jadie Burns, Trysten Burns, Bineh Garrow and Tallis Tarbell. The men's team played USA,...
By Andy Gardner. MASSENA – An Akwesasne woman who was arrested at a protest in May told a judge that she has no intention of participating in the proceedings against her. Kimberly A. Terrance, 41, appeared in Massena Town Court on Tuesday afternoon in front of Town Justice Joseph Brown on charges of misdemeanor sixth-degree conspiracy and trespass, which is a violation. She was arrested with seven other people May 21 on Barnhart Island. The group was opposing a proposed Mohawk land claim settlement. State troopers made arrests after one of t...
By Andy Gardner. MASSENA – Prosecutors will offer to dismiss charges against the Akwesasne demonstrators who were arrested during a May demonstration opposing a proposed Mohawk land claim settlement. Meanwhile, two of them had their cases adjourned on Tuesday following an objection from the prosecutor as they were about to undergo a hearing to determine their competency to represent themselves. A third had his case adjourned, pending his ability to review videos that are part of the discovery materials. The three who appeared Tuesday in M...
By Andy Gardner. MASSENA – An Akwesasne man arrested during a demonstration opposing a proposed Mohawk land claim settlement had his court case adjourned while the presiding town justice was in the middle of questioning him to determine his capability to represent himself. Gabriel J. Oakes, 58, appeared in Massena Town Court on Tuesday afternoon on charges of sixth-degree conspiracy and trespass. He and seven others were arrested May 21 during the protest on Barnhart Island that was interrupted by state police when one of them started d...
By Andy Gardner. MASSENA – Two of the eight people from Akwesasne arrested during a demonstration opposing a proposed Mohawk land claim settlement have been offered conditional discharges for trespass and conspiracy charges filed against them when they were arrested on Barnhart Island on May 21. The two offered deals during their appearances on Tuesday afternoon are 48-year-old Brent Maracle and 26-year-old Marina Johnson Zafaris. They were among eight people arrested at the demonstration w...
By Andy Gardner. U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Steve Daines (R-MT) are sponsoring the bipartisan Tribal Border Crossing Parity Act, legislation that would eliminate the 50% blood quantum requirement for members of federally recognized tribes in order to move freely between the U.S. and Canada. For over 70 years, federally recognized tribes near the Canadian border have been required to carry proof, obtained through the Department of the Interior (DOI), that they are at least 50% Native American when exercising their right to...
By Andy Gardner. MASSENA – Two more of the demonstrators arrested during a peaceful land claim protest in May were arraigned on trespass and conspiracy charges and said they want to represent themselves in their respective criminal cases. Brent Maracle, 48, and Gabriel J. Oakes, 58, appeared Tuesday afternoon, July 9, in Massena Town Court in front of Town Justice Joe Brown, who entered not guilty pleas on their behalf. They're each charged with a misdemeanor count of fifth-degree conspiracy a...
By Andy Gardner. AKWESASNE – The Akwesasne Thunder won three consecutive wins against Gloucester, Kahnawake, and Nepean, wrapping up the 2024 regular season with a 12-8 record. Two of those bouts were decided in overtime. Their regular season closer was at Earl Armstrong Arena against the Gloucester Griffins, who the Thunder beat 8-7. The opening 20 minutes saw the teams trade two goals apiece, off the sticks of Takaronhiotakie Thompson and Mason Cree for Akwesasne, and Elliot Malcolm and Dylan Steinwald for Gloucester. In the second period, M...
By Andy Gardner. MASSENA – Over 150 students, including two dozen from Akwesasne, graduated from Massena High School in a ceremony held at Mike Nichols Field on Friday night, June 28. The bleachers, plus more chairs set up on the football field, held an audience of hundreds. The ceremony started shortly before sunset and was dark by the time the graduates lined up to receive their diplomas. Joanne Jocko presented each of the Akwesasne classmates with a feather in recognition of making it to a s...
By Andy Gardner. AKWESASNE – Ninety-five students graduated from Salmon River High School on Wednesday, June 26 in a ceremony held on the school campus before an audience of several hundred. Stormy weather appeared ready to drench the event, but ended up passing overhead without leaving any precipitation and giving way to fair weather. However, the program was moved along somewhat quickly as more storm clouds were on their way. The program opened with pre-recorded renditions of the Canadian a...
By Andy Gardner. AKWESASNE – The eight people arrested during a May 21 land claim demonstration on Barnhart Island believed they were appearing in court to be arraigned on charges leveled against them that day, but instead had their individual cases adjourned until various dates in June, July and August. They were all arrested that day after the New York Power Authority made a complaint to New York State Police. They were all charged with trespass, which is a violation and not a crime, and f...
By Andy Gardner. AKWESASNE – Indian Time reporter Isaac White was among those arrested on Barnhart Island on May 21, despite being there while performing his First Amendment-protected job as a member of the press. White showed up at the demonstration after getting a tip that something was happening on the island, but he didn’t know what until he arrived. He got there and found a peaceful demonstration in opposition to a proposed land claims settlement. The people were gathered and talking and walking up and down the grass. There was not muc...
By Andy Gardner. The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Customs and Immigration Union (CIU) have reached a tentative agreement, averting a potential strike at Canada’s borders. Last week, both the alliance and union, representing over 9,000 Canada Border Services Agency workers, threatened to initiate “job action” on June 7 if an agreement wasn't reached. However, the union extended the deadline to this week, and a tentative deal has been struck. The workers had gone without a contract for over two years, the union said. Detai...
By Andy Gardner. POTSDAM - Salmon River and Massena’s seasons drew to a close in Section 10 girls lacrosse finals on a rain-soaked night at Clarkson University’s Hantz Field on Tuesday, May 28. In both championship games, the top-seeded teams succumbed to surprising reversals in the postseason. Potsdam Central, after suffering two losses to top-seeded Massena Central in the Northern Athletic Conference, orchestrated a quick start and a powerful finish to secure an 11-7 victory in the Class C matchup. Similarly, Canton Central mirrored this fea...
By Andy Gardner. AKWESASNE – The Akwesasne Thunder Junior B lacrosse team added three wins and two losses to their 2024 record in recent games against Brampton, Kahnawake, New Market, West Durham and Mississauga. In back-to-back games, the Thunder defeated the West Durham Ironheads on the evening of Sunday, June 2, and the New Market Saints 10-8 on Saturday, June 1, both taking place on their home court at A'nowara'ko:wa Arena. Meanwhile, a nailbiter of a game the weekend prior unfortunately w...
By Andy Gardner. AKWESASNE – The Akwesasne Bucks are taking a one-year hiatus from the Three Nations Senior B Lacrosse League. The Snake Island Muskies and Cornwall Island Redmen will play the season as expected alongside leaguemates Capital Region Axemen. The teams will play each other four times and also play a quartet of games against the Kahnawake Mohawks to form a 12-game regular season. Snake Island aims to defend their championship title this year, hosting all their home games at the C...
By Andy Gardner As they 2024 varsity spring sports season gets underway, the Salmon River and Massena boys and girls lacrosse teams each won their season openers. Here are the results of the first games of the season: Thursday, March 29, boys lacrosse, Colton-Pierrepont 14 Salmon River 10 – The Colts defeated the Shamrocks in an upset in Fort Covington. Brogan Lazore scored four goals to pace the Shamrocks. Taylor Mitchell scored three goals and Treven Seymour scored twice. Wednesday, March 28, boys lacrosse, Salmon River 14 Saranac L...
By Andy Gardner. POTSDAM – The Salmon River Shamrocks boys varsity hockey team wrapped up their 2023-24 season playing for the Section 10 Division II championship. They faced the St. Lawrence Central Larries at Cheel Arena on the Clarkson University campus for the title on the evening of Monday, Feb. 26 but fell short with a 6-1 final score. Dylan Johnson scored the lone Salmon River goal unassisted on a breakaway in the first period while down 2-0. Salmon River goalie Ethan Gibson stood tall i...
By Andy Gardner. As the 2023-24 seasons prepare to close, Salmon River played a close game against Ogdensburg Free Academy, an effort to which Taya Ransom added 18 points. Meanwhile, in boys hockey, Canton skated past Massena by a single goal. Wednesday, Feb. 14 • Girls basketball Section 10 Class B Quarterfinal: Ogdensburg 37, Salmon River 35 – Salmon River put Ogdensburg Free Academy to the test in a hard-fought Section 10 Class B quarter-final match, ultimately prevailing 37-35. Despite being the fourth seed and coming off two victories in t...
By Andy Gardner. Here is a summary of recent Salmon River and Massena varsity sports action: Friday, Feb. 9 • Girls basketball: Gouverneur 49, Massena 43 – Massena was determined to prevent Gouverneur from securing a Central Division title on their home court, but despite their efforts, the Wildcats (13-1 Division) ultimately emerged victorious, powered by a 15-10 advantage in the third quarter. Leading the charge for the Raiders were Meghan Firnstein with 16 points, Sophie Greco with 13 points, and Mollee Cameron with 12 points, including a p...
By Andy Gardner. Recent Massena and Salmon River games saw the Raiders beat Malone in boy’s hockey and Chateaugay in girls basketball. Meanwhile, the Shamrocks tied with Ogdensburg in the rink and lost to Hermon-Dekalb on the court. Here is a summary of recent games: Saturday, Jan. 27, girl’s basketball, Gouverneur 56 Massena 30 – Gouverneur controlled the contest with defense to stay on game. Megan Firnstein and Madison LaDuke led Massena with nine and eight points. Other scoring came from Makenna Cameron with three points, Shelby Goeke with...
By Andy Gardner. The Salmon River Shamrocks girls varsity basketball squadron won their first game of the season against Tupper Lake. Meanwhile, the Raiders team beat the Shamrocks in boys hockey. Saturday, Jan. 20, girls basketball, South Jefferson 49 Massena 45 – The Raiders posted a 15-5 through the first quarter and a 29-18 halftime lead before being outscored by South Jeff 31-16 in the second half. Savannah Hodges scored a game-high 28 points to pace the Spartans past Massena to the nonleague win in Adams. Saturday, Jan. 20, wrestling, O...
By Andy Gardner. In recent Salmon River and Massena varsity sports action, the Shamrocks boys hockey squad tied with Thousand Islands and, in their season opener, beat Malone. Meanwhile in girls basketball, Massena came out the victors of a bout with Salmon River. Saturday, Dec. 9, boys hockey, Salmon River 5 Thousand Islands 5 (OT tie) – The Salmon River boys varsity hockey team concluded a thrilling and high-scoring match against Thousand Islands, ultimately securing a well-fought tie as the contest remained undecided even after overtime. T...
By Andy Gardner. The Massena volleyball team took a few moments during their home game against Tupper Lake to applaud four players who will graduate in the spring. The team went on to secure a win over Chateaugay two nights later. Middle hitter Allison Lazore is finishing her second year with the Massena varsity squadron. She's an IB student who off the court is a member of French Club and French National Honors Society. She plays club volleyball in the off season and enjoys reading, cooking,...