Six Nations community ‘devastated’ by sudden closure of only library

Article content

The only library on Six Nations of the Grand River territory was shut down without warning last week, leaving staff bewildered and throwing plans for an upcoming 60th anniversary celebration in flux. 

Article content

“We are devastated,” Six Nations Public Library CEO Feather Maracle said in a Facebook post on Feb. 13, a few hours after caution tape was strung across the entrance to the library on Chiefswood Road in Ohsweken. 

Article content

Recommended Videos

Article content

Maracle said she and the library board were informed the previous afternoon that operations inside the 141-year-old building — a converted historic house built in 1885 — would be suspended as of 5 p.m. the next day. 

The closure comes more than five months after band councillors voted behind closed doors to approve a motion recommending “the immediate vacating of the Six Nations Public Library to support a comprehensive structural assessment to determine potential hazards.” 

At that September in camera meeting, Six Nations of the Grand River (SNGR) staff were directed to “establish what immediate and long-term measures are required to ensure safety.” 

Article content

What the potential hazards are, and why it took band council five months to act on the recommendation to immediately close the library, remain unclear. 

A community notice issued by Six Nations public relations coordinator Darrien Bomberry on Tuesday said “Six Nations of the Grand River staff and Six Nations Public Library (SNPL) leadership have been in ongoing discussions for more than a year regarding concerns about the structural condition of the library building.” 

Following a flood in June 2025, the Emergency Control Group recommended that the building be vacated until a structural assessment was done, said the notice. 

“The Six Nations of the Grand River Elected Council (SNGREC) made this decision to ensure the safety of SNPL staff and community members, reflecting concerns that SNPL leadership had raised over several years,” said the notice. “The CEO communicated this decision to SNPL leadership in November 2025 and again by the COO in February 2026.” 

Article content

The notice said elected council is looking for another space in the community to relocate the library while a structural assessment is being done. 

“The safety of community members, staff and visitors remains a priority,” said the notice. “The Six Nations Public Library is also recognized as a priority for the community. SNGREC offers its sincere apologies to the community for the disruption to library services and acknowledges the challenges this temporary closure may cause for families, learners and community members who rely on this valued space.”  

Maracle was unavailable for comment before press time on Thursday. In her Facebook message, she told library patrons she is still gathering information about what happened and “working in the background on our next steps.” 

Article content

“I am very, very sorry,” Maracle wrote. “I know what the library means to the community.” 

Six Nations Public Library is not a department under the purview of Six Nations band council, but SNGR owns the roughly 2,000-square-foot building and ordered the closure. 

The lack of information left some band members venting their frustration on social media. 

“This is unacceptable,” Celeste Tookoome-Hill said on Facebook. 

“The library offers so much to the community at large. Books and knowledge and programs and events at Six Nations Library are vital and important for everyone. We need the library.” 

Along with a collection of books, movies and other materials, the library offers photocopy and fax services, research help, and programs for kids and teens. The library’s online resources are still accessible during the closure. 

Article content

Band member Laurie A. Hill called the library “a central part of our community” and a “meeting place” for Six Nations youth. 

“Not everyone can afford personal computers or even laptops, not to mention copiers and Wi-Fi,” Hill said on Facebook. 

“Not every child’s family can afford to put them in sports and drive them to practices and games. For some kids, the library is all they have, because it’s free and a safe place to hang out.” 

Band members were left wondering what happened to plans to build a new library and records centre on the reserve, a project that dates back to a community needs assessment in 2009. 

Design plans for the new library were unveiled in 2013 but fundraising seems to have stalled. 

In her letter to the community, Maracle said Six Nations Public Library is “the oldest and largest First Nation public library in the world.” 

Established in 1966, the library was set to celebrate its 60th anniversary on March 3. Maracle vowed the commemoration, called “Chapter 60,” will still take place. 

“Not sure how, or where we’ll be, but we will celebrate our community library,” she said. 

J.P. Antonacci is is a Local Journalism Initiative Reporter based at the Hamilton Spectator. The initiative is funded by the Government of Canada. 

Article content