Latest news with #Mohawk
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Justice Cree inspires community
Lysane Cree was appointed as a Superior Court of Quebec judge in September, but a ceremonial sitting last month gave community members a chance to reflect on their pride in a fellow Kanehsata'kehró:non reaching this milestone. Long before becoming a judge, Cree's success in the legal field already served as an inspiration for the community, with some members following in her footsteps. 'For me, being a lawyer was only a thing people did in movies or in the big cities. Not in Kanesatake out of all places! But boy was I wrong,' said McGill law school graduate Brandon Bonspiel, who has just a few months left of bar school ahead of being sworn in as a lawyer. 'When I started speaking up about my ambitions, I was often told that being a lawyer would not be easy as a Mohawk, but it was not impossible. That's when I first heard of Lysane Cree.' It was more than just an encouraging sign for the aspiring legal professional, who has been dreaming of entering the profession since his high school days. 'I am a direct result of Lysane's impact on our community. She paved the way for myself and many other Kanien'kehá:ka youth wishing to practice law,' he said. 'As for Lysane's appointment as a judge to the province's Superior Court, it furthers her legacy as a role model and a leader in our community. Today, young Kanien'kehá:ka know that being a judge is possible because, once again, Lysane Cree did it!' It's not only law students who appreciate Cree's impact on the community, however. 'I've always known she was a go-getter, determined and tenacious,' said community member Karonhienhawe Nicholas. 'I am so proud of her and proud to say that we have a judge in the community and that there is proof our community is not all bad apples or delinquents like it's so often portrayed as being. There are so many good things about our community, so many good people, but it's overshadowed by the bad.' The event was attended by friends and family from Kanesatake and officials such as Lieutenant Governor of Quebec Manon Jeannotte - the first ever First Nations person to hold that office. 'It was a profound honour to witness the ceremonial sitting of the Honourable Justice Lysanne Cree at the Superior Court of Quebec,' said Jeannotte, who is Mi'kmaq. 'Her appointment marks not only an important moment for Quebec's justice system, but also a meaningful step on our shared path of reconciliation,' Jeannotte said. Cree is one of only a handful of judges at the St. Jerome courthouse, which tends to the Terrebonne judicial district, so she is overseeing cases in the region that includes Kanesatake. 'Her voice, integrity, and deep sense of service will undoubtedly enrich the judiciary and inspire future generations,' said Jeannotte. According to the Department of Justice, Cree was first called to the Bar of Quebec in 2003 following her graduation from the McGill University Law Faculty in 2000. She started her career at Hutchins Legal Inc., where she worked on Indigenous law and worked with First Nations governments across the country for 16 years. Prior to being appointed as a Superior Court judge, Cree was an administrative judge at Montreal's Administrative Tribunal for Police Ethics. She declined to participate in this article. marcus@ Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Cision Canada
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Cision Canada
Skawennati: Welcome to the Dreamhouse Français
Presented in conjunction with the Gallery's new Nadia Myre solo exhibition OTTAWA, ON, May 28, 2025 /CNW/ - From May 30 to September 1, 2025, the National Gallery of Canada (NGC) presents Skawennati: Welcome to the Dreamhouse, a solo exhibition that tells the story of Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) artist Skawennati's dynamic artistic trajectory over 25 years, as she envisions Indigenous people in the future through avatars, costumes, textiles, prints, sculpture, time-based productions as well as machinimas and machinimagraphs—films and still images made in virtual environments. "Skawennati fearlessly explores themes of Indigenous futurism. She has imagined avatars, dolls, goddesses, historical figures and everyday people who meaningfully and playfully intersect across time and space in a dreamhouse of her creation," said Jean-François Bélisle, Director and CEO, of the National Gallery of Canada. "We are proud to share her work with the public. The works in Skawennati's dreamhouse create a place where humanity can reach a world that has changed for the better, where the future becomes real and where dreams can be manifested in the here and now." "Skawennati unearths often repressed histories and melds them with speculative conceptions of the future by creating worlds of discovery and wonder. In these worlds, she explores notions of time, place, memory, dreams and aspirations, particularly from her perspective as a Kanien'kehá:ka artist, activist, mother and advocate for Indigenous-centred learning and being," wrote Steven Loft, Vice-President, and Michelle LaVallee, Director Indigenous Ways and Curatorial Initiatives, Indigenous Ways and Decolonization at the National Gallery of Canada, in their introduction to the exhibition catalogue. "For her, the digital media landscape becomes just that: a landscape replete with life and spirit, inclusive of beings, thought, prophecy and the underlying connectedness of all things." Organized by the National Gallery of Canada and curated by Wahsontiio Cross, Associate Curator, Indigenous Ways and Decolonization at the NGC, Skawennati: Welcome to the Dreamhouse brings together the Montreal-based artist's creative output through more than 100 works of art. As a lifelong science fiction and Star Trek fan, the artist noticed that there were very few Indigenous people in the stories about the future. She set out to change that through her work. Beginning with Imagining Indians in the 25th Century (2000), a groundbreaking web-based work, the survey exhibition continues through her exploration of technology until her most recent works, such as the three-channel music video and fashion collection They Sustain Us (2024). The majority of the art works on display in Welcome to the Dreamhouse are drawn from the artist's personal collection. Other works on view are from the National Gallery of Canada's collection (9), Canada Council for the Arts' Art Bank, Canada Council for the Arts and the Musée Pointe-à-Callière, cité d'archéologie et d'histoire de Montréal. Catalogue A richly illustrated catalogue accompanies the exhibition Skawennati: Welcome to the Dreamhouse. Edited by Wahsontiio Cross, the 136-page softcover book comprises contributions by Mojeanne Sarah Behzadi, Richard William Hill and Cheryl Sim. Available at the Boutique and online. Public programs A shared space, Kahwá:tsire—the Gathering of all Embers, is connecting the exhibitions Skawennati: Welcome to the Dreamhouse and Nadia Myre: Waves of Want, both presented at the same time. This gathering space is for coming together, learning and reflecting on both exhibitions. In Kahwá:tsire, visitors are invited to leave their reflections on the exhibitions as part of the community fire and create their own wallpaper designs and paper dolls inspired by the works of Skawennati and Nadia Myre. Additional learning activities planned include beading workshops with Ojibwe artist Amanda Fox, miniature birch bark canoe workshop with Algonquin artisan Pinock Smith, special meet the artist tours, and ongoing tours with interpreters. Visit for more details. About the National Gallery of Canada Founded in 1880, the National Gallery of Canada is among the world's most respected art institutions. As a national museum, we exist to serve all Canadians, no matter where they live. We do this by sharing our collection, exhibitions and public programming widely. We create dynamic experiences that allow for new ways of seeing ourselves and each other through the visual arts, while centering Indigenous ways of knowing and being. Our mandate is to develop, preserve and present a collection for the learning and enjoyment of all—now and for generations to come. We are home to more than 90,000 works, including one of the finest collections of Indigenous and Canadian art, major works from the 14 th to the 21 st century and extensive library and archival holdings. SOURCE National Gallery of Canada
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Skawennati: Welcome to the Dreamhouse
Presented in conjunction with the Gallery's new Nadia Myre solo exhibition OTTAWA, ON, May 28, 2025 /CNW/ - From May 30 to September 1, 2025, the National Gallery of Canada (NGC) presents Skawennati: Welcome to the Dreamhouse, a solo exhibition that tells the story of Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) artist Skawennati's dynamic artistic trajectory over 25 years, as she envisions Indigenous people in the future through avatars, costumes, textiles, prints, sculpture, time-based productions as well as machinimas and machinimagraphs—films and still images made in virtual environments. "Skawennati fearlessly explores themes of Indigenous futurism. She has imagined avatars, dolls, goddesses, historical figures and everyday people who meaningfully and playfully intersect across time and space in a dreamhouse of her creation," said Jean-François Bélisle, Director and CEO, of the National Gallery of Canada. "We are proud to share her work with the public. The works in Skawennati's dreamhouse create a place where humanity can reach a world that has changed for the better, where the future becomes real and where dreams can be manifested in the here and now." "Skawennati unearths often repressed histories and melds them with speculative conceptions of the future by creating worlds of discovery and wonder. In these worlds, she explores notions of time, place, memory, dreams and aspirations, particularly from her perspective as a Kanien'kehá:ka artist, activist, mother and advocate for Indigenous-centred learning and being," wrote Steven Loft, Vice-President, and Michelle LaVallee, Director Indigenous Ways and Curatorial Initiatives, Indigenous Ways and Decolonization at the National Gallery of Canada, in their introduction to the exhibition catalogue. "For her, the digital media landscape becomes just that: a landscape replete with life and spirit, inclusive of beings, thought, prophecy and the underlying connectedness of all things." Organized by the National Gallery of Canada and curated by Wahsontiio Cross, Associate Curator, Indigenous Ways and Decolonization at the NGC, Skawennati: Welcome to the Dreamhouse brings together the Montreal-based artist's creative output through more than 100 works of art. As a lifelong science fiction and Star Trek fan, the artist noticed that there were very few Indigenous people in the stories about the future. She set out to change that through her work. Beginning with Imagining Indians in the 25th Century (2000), a groundbreaking web-based work, the survey exhibition continues through her exploration of technology until her most recent works, such as the three-channel music video and fashion collection They Sustain Us (2024). The majority of the art works on display in Welcome to the Dreamhouse are drawn from the artist's personal collection. Other works on view are from the National Gallery of Canada's collection (9), Canada Council for the Arts' Art Bank, Canada Council for the Arts and the Musée Pointe-à-Callière, cité d'archéologie et d'histoire de Montréal. Catalogue A richly illustrated catalogue accompanies the exhibition Skawennati: Welcome to the Dreamhouse. Edited by Wahsontiio Cross, the 136-page softcover book comprises contributions by Mojeanne Sarah Behzadi, Richard William Hill and Cheryl Sim. Available at the Boutique and online. Public programs A shared space, Kahwá:tsire—the Gathering of all Embers, is connecting the exhibitions Skawennati: Welcome to the Dreamhouse and Nadia Myre: Waves of Want, both presented at the same time. This gathering space is for coming together, learning and reflecting on both exhibitions. In Kahwá:tsire, visitors are invited to leave their reflections on the exhibitions as part of the community fire and create their own wallpaper designs and paper dolls inspired by the works of Skawennati and Nadia Myre. Additional learning activities planned include beading workshops with Ojibwe artist Amanda Fox, miniature birch bark canoe workshop with Algonquin artisan Pinock Smith, special meet the artist tours, and ongoing tours with interpreters. Visit for more details. About the National Gallery of Canada Founded in 1880, the National Gallery of Canada is among the world's most respected art institutions. As a national museum, we exist to serve all Canadians, no matter where they live. We do this by sharing our collection, exhibitions and public programming widely. We create dynamic experiences that allow for new ways of seeing ourselves and each other through the visual arts, while centering Indigenous ways of knowing and being. Our mandate is to develop, preserve and present a collection for the learning and enjoyment of all—now and for generations to come. We are home to more than 90,000 works, including one of the finest collections of Indigenous and Canadian art, major works from the 14th to the 21st century and extensive library and archival holdings. Ankosé – Everything is connected – Tout est relié SOURCE National Gallery of Canada View original content to download multimedia:
Hamilton Spectator
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Market Square hunger strike aims to garner Gerretsen's attention on Palestinian plight
A local woman says she is on a hunger strike until Member of Parliament Mark Gerretsen agrees to meet with local pro-Palestinian supporters. In an email to Kingstonist early on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, Lindsey Pilon expressed her intentions to sit in Springer Market Square for the duration of her public hunger strike. During this strike, she will take nothing by mouth, 'no food, no drink, no medicine,' until Gerretsen, the MP for Kingston and the Islands, meets with the local constituents and supports a two-way arms embargo between Canada and Israel. On Thursday, May 22, 2025, Pilon remained in her seat at the square, rain-soaked but smiling and energetic. She explained she has many friends in Palestine, but she also counts herself among many Palestinian supporters in the Kingston area. 'We are a collective; it is a groundswell. And there are many different organizations tethered in,' Pilon said. She feels that Gerretsen doesn't understand or is actively ignoring the large number of his constituents who are Palestinian and Palestinian supporters. 'We've been trying to get his attention and to get him to sign on to the Vote Palestine platform , which is pretty rational. And he has refused meetings consistently,' Pilon asserted. Vote Palestine, a grassroots organization with support from groups and individuals across Canada, contends that '[a]rms dealers in Canada export weapons (including parts and components) as well as military and security technology to Israel, both directly and via the United States. The Canadian military and defence industry also purchase Israeli weapons and parts, which are field-tested on Palestinians, thus directly funding Israel's war efforts and economy. These military imports and exports make Canada complicit in Israel's atrocities carried out in the illegally occupied Palestinian territory.' Their platform states that the Canadian government should impose a full and immediate two-way arms embargo on Israel that includes ending military trade with Israel through the US or any other third-party state. Pilon said there have been many requests for Gerretsen's attention to the matter, some polite and some more assertive, 'but regardless, he'll call the police [on protesters outside his office], has refused to meet with us, and is just giving stock and boilerplate responses.' 'I don't personally want to meet with them,' she shared. 'I am just showing my solidarity with the movement. I'm acting as a symbol for the movement at the moment [to draw his attention]. And this is easy and accessible for me to do.' Being outdoors in the elements helps her endorphin levels, Pilon explained. It's 'like I'm seeing a cousin or a mother,' she explained, looking around at the wind and rain. 'I'm full of fire. My body's made for this. My papa was a Mohawk, my mom's father was a Mohawk, and my mom's mother was Oneida. So we have the rebellious spirit and just [a] love for life.' Market Square is her ideal location, she said, because anyone who cares to look can see her on the City's web cam . Also, the space is potent in an Indigenous historical context, Pilon said: 'This was a meeting place. This was a bloody battleground. The Peacemaker came across Lake Ontario in the stone canoe. This place is profound.' The legend of the Great Peacemaker and Hiawatha in Mohawk tradition centres on a journey of peace and unity, starting from Lake Ontario and extending to the Iroquois Confederacy. The Peacemaker, also known as Deganawidah, travelled across Lake Ontario in a white stone canoe, bringing a message of peace to the warring Haudenosaunee nations. Hiawatha, a Mohawk warrior, was initially seeking revenge, but the Peacemaker convinced him to embrace peace instead. She likened this struggle for peace and resilience in turmoil to the Palestinian people. 'Palestinians have shown us — the journalists and the doctors —time and time again about courage and nobility and the grandfather teachings. I see my grandfather teachings in them,' Pilon expressed. 'I know that the dogma is fraught, the rhetoric is fraught. Still… we have the power as a society, as a humanity, to stop children from dying and starving. We could do that in the snap of a finger, and it needs to be done… let's get that done, and then we can figure out the rest. We'll figure out the partisanship after.' Pilon added, 'Palestinian history is being erased, and entire families [are being removed] from the Civil Registry. They feel like their memories are being trampled and they feel hopeless... There's a pervading hopelessness, a feeling like they have no future. And I very much care for these people.' 'And the bombardments of the so-called Gideon's Chariots are devastating. They are munitions testing, and [the munitions are] being launched with propellant exported from Turtle Island. And that, as an Indigenous mother, a social activist, human being... is unacceptable.' Pilon said the level of access to imagery and stories that Palestinian journalists have provided on social media is an alarming call for urgency: 'What we're seeing is devastating every day, all day.' 'If you're at all able to take some time, following the journalists in Palestine means the world to them. It gives them purpose because they feel it. They feel like they're helping to show injustice. I highly recommend you follow , he is a phenomenal journalist,' she said. 'Tuesday night was the first time that I announced that I was going to stop food and water. Honestly, it's a lot easier than I thought it was, so I feel it's not going to be so dramatic. Still, I won't stay... Mark Gerretsen has to meet with the constituents before Friday. After all, the meeting of the House is on the 26th, so I will give him the benefit of the doubt that he will meet with them before Friday, and if not, I will then retire to prepare for other actions, because there will be no rest,' she asserted. 'Gaza is under the rubble; it's a dire time, and we were socialized out of caring for each other. Our manners hold us to these prescribed postures that are not going to help us. And so I love showing people that a different world is possible.' This is why she sits at a table with two chairs. She says she wants people to engage in conversation with her. 'Come, sit down, let's chat about it all.' Kingstonist reached out to MP Gerretsen for confirmation of the allegations he's refused to meet with the pro-Palestinian constituents, as well as for comment on this situation and whether he might agree to meet with the constituents in the future. No response was received by time of publication.
Global News
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Global News
Vancouver grad and ‘stay-at-home son' wins Jeopardy!
Answer: Fulfilling a childhood dream. What is: Appearing on Jeopardy! and becoming a champion. Vancouver resident Brendan Liaw has become the newest Jeopardy! champion, winning the game show on Tuesday night. 'I started watching Jeopardy!, gonna be around nine or 10, and realized pretty early on that I knew quite a few answers, and that felt pretty good,' Liaw told Global News. 'So eventually made a goal to get on the show and possibly win some money.' Liaw, who is a recent graduate and describes himself as a 'stay-at-home son,' said it is not easy to make it onto the game show. He said contestants have to do a 50-question online test. If they pass that they do a second 50-question online test, then it moves on to an audition, playing a mock game with other prospective contestants and after that the producers have 18 months to call and invite that person on to the show. Story continues below advertisement If you are not called, you have to go through the whole process again. 'My first audition was 2018 and then I think I did one more in 2021 and then '23 so third time's the charm,' Liaw said. 1:17 'Jeopardy!' contestant from Montreal signs off in English, French and Mohawk He received the call about four weeks before the taping so he spent that time studying as much as he could. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'But I would say, you know, going on Jeopardy!, it's like a lifelong studying thing, like, you know, you're using knowledge that you have accumulated over your entire life, and that comes from reading books and, you know, watching TV and movies, paying attention to the news.' Liaw added. He even spent time practicing with a buzzer so he could get the timing of the questions and answers right. Story continues below advertisement When it was finally time for the taping, Liaw said that the contestants don't find out who is up next until five minutes before the game is played. 'There's not really any time to process being called on stage and having to play,' he said. 'You just kind of have to go and do it. And you walk on stage, you play. It's like 40 minutes, the whole taping, I think. And I honestly don't remember much… it feels like five minutes when you step off and I can maybe remember like a thing or two that I said or did during the game.' Liaw was actually quite behind the other contestants at one point but ended up becoming the champion and will compete again on Wednesday night. 'I was, in fact, hunting for the Daily Doubles,' he said. 'That's where you can sort of change the direction of the game. I did not find any. It didn't pay off. I think I had my daily double repulsor on me that day by accident. So yeah, I mean, it didn't pay off, but that's fine, I still won.' 2:19 Canadian Juveria Zaheer joins Jeopardy! 'Tournament of Champions' The final Jeopardy! category was NFL Geography. Story continues below advertisement The clue was, 'It's the state with the lowest population density that's home to an NFL team.' While none of the contestants got the answer right, Liaw wagered the least amount of money. (Side note, the correct answer is Nevada). 'It was definitely a roller coaster of an episode (and) looked bad for me at some point,' Liaw said. 'And then there was the big rebound.' Liaw said he is not sure of the next steps after Jeopardy!, depending how far he gets. He has a bachelor's degree in chemistry and biology and a master's in political science from the University of British Columbia and he's contemplating law school next. For now, he's just focused on winning more games. 'I think it's every Jeopardy! player's dream to go on a big, long streak and win more money and become famous, but it's a hard thing to do,' Liaw said. 'There are a lot of very smart people out there, as you'll see on the show, but I think overall, yes, just happy no matter what the outcome is. I at least won one. I can call myself a Jeopardy! champion for the rest of time. And so that feels pretty good.'
