A four-month investigation into sexual abuse allegations against an employee at Kateri School has led to the former educator’s termination, The Eastern Door has learned. The names of all of the people involved are being kept private for fear of identifying the victim, who was a minor when the alleged abuse
Author: 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.
Investigating child abuse at school
Looking deeper at land claims
Land claims and land grievances are no stranger to Onkwehón:we, and the convoluted history of Indigenous rights and lands has been prevalent since settlers arrived hundreds of years ago. In this series, we will be breaking down the significance of land claims and land grievances while spotlighting notable voices that
New chief comes clean
The life of a residential school survivor
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
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
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
(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
(PHOTOS COURTESY SUZANNE JACOBS) [apss_share] 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
(Courtesy Dana Marquis) [apss_share] 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