Steve Bonspiel

They will no longer be running on Indian Time. Sadly, Akwesasne will be, by the end of this year, devoid of an independent media free of overt political influence, and whether you live there or not, you should be concerned.

Although we hate to reuse certain phrases, “one of the worst-kept secrets” has popped up too often this year with the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK).

Mohawk Council of Kanesatake grand chief Victor Bonspille did a good job in a so-called press release this week, signed by only him (there’s a pattern here), by making himself look vindictive, taking it to a personal level.

Mohawk Council of Kanesatake grand chief Victor Bonspille did a good job in a so-called press release this week, signed by only him (there’s a pattern here), by making himself look vindictive, taking it to a personal level.

When $47.8 billion isn’t enough and people stand up and say that, it certainly gets people in Canada to take notice. That’s what happened last week as the Assembly of First Nations chiefs voted down the historic long-term child welfare settlement with Ottawa, saying it wasn’t enough. And th

The chess match between the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake and former Mohawk Online Limited (MOL) CEO Dean Montour continued this week, as Montour’s legal team answered the MCK’s countersuit against him that demanded $45,000, in what the Council terms a breach of confidential information.

One of the worst-kept secrets was finally confirmed: Community members will have to go to downtown Montreal to receive new band cards as of 2025, with Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)

The chess match between the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake and former Mohawk Online Limited (MOL) CEO Dean Montour continued this week, as Montour’s legal team answered the MCK’s countersuit against him that demanded $45,000, in what the Council terms a breach of confidential information.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this editorial was published on Facebook on Monday. It has since been updated to reflect subsequent events. The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake is playing a dangerous game using community members as pawns, and in this response from us, we will outline why you shou

Rumours have been circulating for months about the future of Mohawk Online Ltd. (MOL), an online gaming company from Kahnawake that has given millions of dollars to the community since 2015, but it was finally publicly confirmed on K1037 Radio Monday that things are about to get very real.

The evident closure of Magic Palace and the press releases by the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) and Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC)

The Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) building is moving, The Eastern Door has learned, but the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake has not come up with a plan B publicly yet, or even informed the community of the imminent departure of this vital service to Montreal.

When we first started writing about the year that was, 2023, we read over the recaps (see pages 6, 9, 21) of the top stories of the year. Usually around this time, we do two things: we try to sum up the ones that we think are most interesting, and we coin the name for the year. This time around,

November reminds us to take care of ourselves in different ways, and Spirit of Wellness (SOW) and Movember are two fine examples of seasonal reminders. Tis the season for Christmas and holidays and hot beaches, but it’s also the season of depression, sickness, and bad thoughts, so let’s do our pa

To challenge a giant head on is one thing. To do it representing yourselves in a foreign system, with no lawyers and nothing but a hunch, powerful protective instincts and bravery, is quite another.

On a special night put on by the Montreal Canadiens to honour all Indigenous Peoples, Kahnawake took centre stage.

Where have the years gone? It doesn’t seem like 30 years, but at the same time, it seems like a lifetime ago.

Steve Bonspiel The Eastern Door Ryan Montour was on a path of self-destruction when a lifestyle of drinking, drugging and high-risk behaviour finally caught up to him that one fateful night 10 years ago.  On March 2, 2011, Montour’s life changed forever after he left a local bar under the influence of drugs and alcohol and smashed head-on into a car driven by a man from Mercier.  Today, he’s a newly-elected Mohawk Council of Kahnawake chief, but back then, he was an addict of drugs and alcohol.  Montour was in the middle of heavy partying when he slipped behind the wheel of his white 2008 Dodge Charger, bolstered by a cocktail of cocaine, marijuana and alcohol.  He had been contemplating whether or not he should drive down Route 207 to his home in the village area.

Trigger warning: This article contains graphic details and strong reference to sexual abuse. STEVE BONSPIEL THE EASTERN DOOR The first thing you notice about Mi’kmaq elder Nick Huard is his sense of humour.

Kanesatake protesters were blocking Highway 344 in response to the OPP decision to arrest people Monday at a rail blockade in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. (Steve Bonspiel, The Eastern Door)