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Steve Bonspiel

Eastern Door Editor/Publisher Steve Bonspiel started his journalism career in January 2003 with The Nation magazine, a newspaper serving the Cree of northern Quebec. Since that time, he has won numerous regional and national awards for his in-depth, impassioned writing on a wide variety of subjects, including investigative pieces, features, editorials, columns, sports, human interest and hard news. He has freelanced for the Montreal Gazette, Toronto Star, Windspeaker, Nunatsiaq News, Calgary Herald, Native Peoples Magazine, and other publications. Among Steve's many awards is the Paul Dumont-Frenette Award for journalist of the year with the Quebec Community Newspapers Association in 2015, and a back-to-back win in 2010/11 in the Canadian Association of Journalists' community category - one of which also garnered TED a short-list selection of the prestigious Michener award. He was also Quebec Community Newspapers Association president from 2012 to 2019, and continues to strive to build bridges between Native and non-Native communities for a better understanding of each other.

New chief comes clean

by Steve Bonspiel -

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

The life of a residential school survivor

by Steve Bonspiel -

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. He can laugh about anything. He’s used it to survive over his 72 years, first in a tough upbringing in

Grand Debate unveils key platforms

by Steve Bonspiel -

STEVE BONSPIEL THE EASTERN DOOR This article was written in collaboration with Greg Horn, Iorì:wase.  The five candidates for grand chief squared off in the second-ever Grand Debate, hosted by the community’s media outlets. This was the first opportunity for the community to hear directly from each candidate. The Eastern Door and Iorì:wase

Fighting for Onkwehón:we women’s rights

by Steve Bonspiel -

COURTESY COURTNEY MONTOUR Mary Two-Axe Earley was a powerful woman who affected change, yet far too many people don’t know who she is. That’s about to change. Kahnawa’kehró:non Courtney Montour’s latest film, Mary Two-Axe Earley: I am Indian Again, is equally as powerful. Created with archival footage cultivated from Two-Axe Earley’s incredible fight

Wahonwatiianerenhserahskéhnha’se’ ne konnonkwehón:we

by Steve Bonspiel -

(Courtesy Esmond Choueke) (Courtesy of Rosemary Two Rivers) Onwá:ri Two-Axe Earley ie’nikonhra’shátstehkwe’ taierihón:ni’ taontté:ni’, ok ki’ shé:kon só:tsi é:so iá:kon iah tekonwaienté:ri ónhka ne nakáonha. Nè:’e tewatteniónhe’. Kahnwa’kehró:non Courtney Montour naonhà:’a tiakokarasé’stsi teióia’ks, Mary TwoAxe Early: I am Indian Again, sha’teka’shátste tsi ní:ioht. Wa t e r i h w a t e w

A beautiful soul gone too soon

by Steve Bonspiel -

(PHOTOS COURTESY SUZANNE JACOBS) Dear Readers: As an essential service that is still open during the COVID-19 pandemic, The Eastern Door is fighting hard to keep news like this flowing, in our print product, though an online subscription at www.eastermdoor.com and here, for free, on our website and Facebook. But when a large

Wendy and her crazy antics return

by Steve Bonspiel -

(Courtesy Dana Marquis)   Wendy, that hard-drinking, over-thinking, introverted slacker who is perpetually hung-over is baaaaaaack! All 273 pages of her; 275 if you count the last two totally dark ones, which you probably should, since, you know, she’s pretty dark. Reviewing books in a community newspaper can be serious work, but when Kahnawa’kehró:non

Kahnawake couple battle COVID-19 

by Steve Bonspiel -

    Peter and Randi (Diabo) Jaramillo will be fully recovered from COVID-19 by Sunday, but having their three-year-old daughter Sofia during the recovery process, and trying to keep her safe, free of the sickness, has been stressful. “She still hasn’t shown any symptoms, we check her temperature daily and keep a close

Faith and ceremony during a pandemic

by Steve Bonspiel -

  For those who attend the longhouse or church, the calls for social distancing may be hard on their spirituality.  “We’ve been participating in giving thanks as a family in our own ways and each time it’s been a boost for our morale,” said Raven Swamp.  “We eliminate all the distractions of the

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Dear Readers:

As an essential service that is still open during the COVID-19 pandemic, The Eastern Door is fighting hard to keep news like this flowing, in our print product, though an online subscription at www.eastermdoor.com and here, for free, on our website and Facebook.

But when a large portion of our regular revenue has disappeared due to so many other businesses being closed, our circulation being affected by the same issue, and all of our specials canceled until the end of the year, we are looking for alternative ways to keep operations going, staff paid, and the paper out every Friday for you to enjoy.

Please consider a financial contribution to help us keep doing what we do best; telling the stories of our people in a contemporary medium – a solid, continuing archive that documents our cherished, shared history. Your kind donation will go to a newspaper that stands as the historical record, in-depth, informative and award-winning news; colourful stories, and a big boost to the local economy by employing 95 percent local workers.

Also, please consider subscribing to our e-edition, which comes out Thursday night, at www.easterndoor.com today, or pick up your copy Friday morning in Kahnawake, Kanesatake or Chateauguay. Akwesasne delivery has been suspended due to the pandemic and border issues.

We exercise real freedom of the press every single day. Without our reporters fighting for the truth our community would be missing a whole lot of facts, separated from gossip and rumors.

E-transfers are accepted and very much appreciated at: [email protected]

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