Women leadership trending in First Nations across Westman and Canada
By Connor McDowell, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Brandon Sun One month after Birdtail Sioux First Nation member Tréchelle Bunn was elected chief of her community, she was described on a podcast called Matriarch Movement as a woman “who truly embodies what this movement is all about.” “At just 25 years old, Tréchelle is making history while balancing law school, community leadership and national advocacy,” the podcast said. “Her journey reminds us that the next generation isn’t just preparing to lead — they are leading.” Bunn was the first woman and youngest person ever to be elected chief of the First Nation in Westman. It was a historic moment in her community, but also part of a larger story of the changing role of women in First Nations today. Assembly of...
Register
Some evacuees allowed to go home as crews continue fighting fire near Lytton, B.C.
Fire crews are working on two barriers to slow the spread of a wildfire near Lytton, B.C., as many residents in the area are allowed to return home after being forced out last week. The provincial wildfire service says some of the 150 firefighters working on the Saw Creek wildfire are establishing a 15-metre control line along the north flank on the fire, while a barrier twice that size is being built between the Trans-Canada Highway to the Fraser River. The seven-square-kilometre fire is classified as out of control and set off multiple evacuation orders after it was discovered on Friday. By late Sunday the Thompson-Nicola Regional District and Village of Lytton had lifted evacuation orders for 47 properties but left the order in place for about a dozen others...
Register
Wiikwemkoong woman’s story of human trafficking brings home reality of MMIWG2S+
By Jacqueline St.Pierre, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Manitoulin Expositor EDITOR’S WARNING: This story contains descriptions of human trafficking, gendered violence, coercive control, and the exploitation of Indigenous people, particularly women. Readers may wish to approach this material with care. MANITOULIN—Somewhere between the language of policy and the lived geometry of fear, journalism becomes less about extraction and more about witness. The facts do not always sit neatly in court records or neatly indexed databases. It is often these accounts that create the record. Sometimes they surface as pattern, as repetition, as the echo of similar accounts told by people who have never met but recognize each other’s terrain. For the purposes of this report, a 29-year-old Anishinaabek woman from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory will be identified only as “Faith.” What...
Register
Canada looks to build up to 10 new nuclear reactors, sell more Candu reactors abroad
By Nick Murray Canada is looking to build up to 10 new nuclear reactors over the next 15 years, sell Candu reactors to more countries and double uranium exports, Energy Minister Tim Hodgson said Monday as he released a new national strategy for nuclear power. Hodgson called it a plan for a “new civilian nuclear renaissance” as the federal government looks to double the capacity of the electrical grid by 2050. “If our goal is to double our grid and build a low-carbon economy in less than 25 years, there is no credible plan to do that without nuclear energy and the clean, reliable baseload power it provides,” Hodgson told a news conference in Newmarket, Ont. “There is no credible plan for Canada to become an energy superpower if we...
Register
Embassy West does not have a monopoly on Elder care contracts in Nunavut: Territorial government
By William Koblensky Varela, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunavut News Questions over Elder care management raised by the non-profit Iqaluit Elders Society are being answered by the Government of Nunavut. On May 14, Premier John Main said he wanted to expand at-home Elder care in the territory, an issue the non-profit has campaigned for. Currently, 87 per cent of the GN’s Elder care budget goes to long-term care homes, while only two per cent of Nunavummiut Elders use the facilities, the Iqaluit Elders Society argues. Embassy West operates a long-term care facility in Ottawa for Nunavummiut and the Rankin Inlet long-term care facility with Sakku Investments Corporation. The Iqaluit Elders Society asked Nunavut News to find out if Embassy West had a monopoly over Elder care services in Nunavut, or...
Register
Nunavut Inuit association spending $6.8 million on Inuit youth support; distributes $18.7 million in housing funds
By William Koblensky Varela, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunavut News Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) has approved $6.8 million to strengthen Inuit youth programs and services and to establish a Nunavut Youth Council over the next three years, the organization announced on June 10. The money comes from the federal government’s Youth Mental Health Fund. “Our young people have told us they want to be heard, involved and supported,” said NTI President Gloria Uluqsi. Buildings for youth services, wellness programs, mental health services and leadership opportunities will all receive funding. Additionally, $18.7 million federal housing dollars will be distributed from the 2022 Housing Funds. The Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) will receive $6.6 million to build homes, NTI will receive $5.7 million, the Kivalliq Inuit Association will receive $3.6 million and the...
Register
Cold Lake First Nations acts on stray dog concerns under animal control bylaw
By Chantel Downes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeland This Week In a May 26 notice to members, Cold Lake First Nations said enforcement of the Cold Lake First Nations Animal Control Bylaw would begin June 1 in response to public safety concerns involving uncontrolled dogs throughout the community. The bylaw permits a maximum of four domestic animals per dwelling and requires dogs to remain under the owner’s control at all times. “The issue of stray dogs has been a concern for Cold Lake First Nations for some time. More recently, a small number of dogs were the subject of repeated complaints from community members and guests due to aggressive behaviour and concerns for public safety. These incidents, combined with ongoing concerns regarding dogs running at large, prompted an immediate response,”...
Register
Beyond the Land Acknowledgement: Indigenous Access to Local Lands in Halton
By Kezia Royer-Burkett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada, a time to recognize and celebrate the rich histories, cultures, traditions, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples. It is also an opportunity for Canadians to reflect on the relationships Indigenous communities continue to have with the lands they have stewarded for generations. Over the past several years, land acknowledgement statements have become a familiar part of life across Canada. They are spoken before public events, printed in programs, and displayed on municipal websites, including here in Burlington. Many residents have heard the words, but fewer understand what they truly mean for Indigenous communities living and working throughout the Halton Region today. On the City of Burlington website, the city acknowledges that Burlington...
Register
Six Nations man charged in collision
HALDIMAND COUNTY, ON – A man is facing charges after a motor vehicle collision in Cayuga in Haldimand County. The Haldmand County Ontario Provincial Police said a single vehicle collision occured Sunday, June 21, 2026, at about 6:10 a.m., on Dry Lake Road, Cayuga, Ont.,. As a result of the investigation a man was placed under arrest. OPP said Brian Porter, 65 of Six Nations of the Grand River has been charged with: Operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus) The accused is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Cayuga on August 4, 2026....
Register
Building wealth, keeping culture: inside the economic evolution of Tsawwassen’s entrepreneurs
By Radha Agarwal, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Delta Optimist Seventeen years after making history with British Columbia’s first urban treaty, the business landscape of the Tsawwassen First Nation (TFN) is undergoing a profound generational shift. From major regional economic drivers like the Tsawwassen Mills shopping centre to independent small business creators, the community’s economic footprint is expanding. “The focus has shifted from survival-based entrepreneurship toward long-term wealth creation, employment, and Nation-building,” said Jodaye Garner, TFN’s community business development coordinator. There are currently about 30 member-owned businesses ranging from traditional artisans and food caterers to heavy equipment operators, contractors and professional service providers. “More importantly, both the number of businesses and the scale and ambition of their operations continue to grow,” said Garner. She emphasizes that the 2009 treaty fundamentally transformed...
Register
Supreme Court nominee Joyal cites access to justice, outreach as key contributions
By Jim Bronskill Supreme Court of Canada nominee Glenn Joyal describes himself as a “candid and constructive spokesperson” for Manitoba’s highest trial court and the judiciary. Prime Minister Mark Carney has tapped Joyal, chief justice of the Court of King’s Bench of Manitoba since 2011, to fill the vacancy on the country’s top court left by the retiring Sheilah Martin. Before becoming a judge, Joyal practised criminal law, constitutional law and civil litigation in Manitoba. The Prime Minister’s Office praised his work on improving access to justice, modernizing court operations and advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. In his Supreme Court candidacy submission, Joyal says his most significant contributions to the law are his efforts to make justice more accessible and to engage with the public on the role of the...
Register
Innu Nation axes exhibit, says N.L. government believes ‘fringe theory’ about history
By Sarah Smellie The Innu Nation in Labrador has cancelled an important cultural exhibit after it accused the provincial government of disputing the Innu’s account of their own history. Innu Cultural Guardian Jodie Ashini says she got a call from officials with the provincial art gallery days before the Innu Pakassiun exhibit was set to open in Labrador on National Indigenous Peoples Day. Ashini says the art gallery team relayed the wishes of the provincial government that the exhibit not include an Innu timeline, nor make any links between the stone tools on display and the Innu. University student Bailey Andrew is shown in this handout photo holding up an artifact at The Rooms provincial art gallery in St. John’s, N.L., on Jan. 28, 2026, in preparation for the...
Register
‘It makes no sense’: Local MP takes aerodrome fight to House of Commons
By Danielle Pitman, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, OrilliaMatters.com The voices of fustrated residents living along the shore of Lake Couchiching echoed in the halls of the House of Commons in Ottawa this week. Simcoe North MP Adam Chambers brought a petition about the aerodrome on Lake Couchiching to the federal halls of power Thursday. “Petitioners would like to see the aerodrome reviewed for safety regulations and ensure that consultations take place between the many residents, boaters and camps and all recreational users of Lake Couchiching including those of Rama First Nation who call this place home,” he said in a social media post. “They also want future laws and regulations to be changed to require consultations for these types of aerodromes going forward,” he said on social media. The petition...
Register
Learning through art: South Niagara murals showcase Indigenous culture
By Laura Barton, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, NiagaraThisWeek.com ust in time for National Indigenous History Month, three murals bringing awareness to Indigenous culture, history and people have been installed in south Niagara. The murals can be found in Port Colborne, Wainfleet and Fenwick, with a fourth intended to go up in Fort Erie. Greg Higginbotham, tourism officer for Niagara’s South Coast Tourism Association (NSCTA), said the initiative was born from a larger year-long, government-funded project to develop Indigenous tourism experiences in South Niagara. “What kept coming up again and again, a recurring theme of sorts, was art,” he said. He said when it initially applied for funding for that larger project, the NSCTA saw there was an absence of Indigenous tourism experiences for people visiting Niagara. Working alongside Indigenous communities,...
Register
Manitoba police watchdog investigates fatal shooting after domestic call
By Ian Bickis Manitoba’s police watchdog is investigating after an officer fatally shot a man while responding to a domestic problem at a Winnipeg home. The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba says a woman had requested help as her boyfriend had been fighting with her and had an edged weapon. The woman also told police that the man had a history of violence, she had a protection order against him and there were four children in the home. The watchdog says soon after police arrived, the armed man confronted them and an officer fired a gun. Officers provided medical care to the man, who was transported to hospital in critical condition and died. Police Chief Gene Bowers told a press conference that one of the officers was wearing a body...
Register
Inuit could pursue foreign partners if relationship with Ottawa sours: ITK leader
By Nick Murray Canada’s national Inuit organization is calling on the federal government to be better partners, saying Canada must respect Inuit rights to governance and self-determination. Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami wrapped up a two-day Arctic sovereignty conference in Ottawa on Friday. In a statement following the summit, ITK says it firmly rejects what it calls “outdated, colonial approaches to Arctic policy that repeat Canada’s past mistakes of marginalizing” Inuit. “We call on the federal government to partner with Inuit in advancing a more ambitious vision for its Arctic territory by prioritizing improved coordination with Inuit rights holders in decision-making, and the investments in the infrastructure and services needed to create prosperity and bring the entirety of Inuit Nunangat into the rest of the country,” ITK said in a statement. “Canada...
Register
Yellowquill School celebrates end of school year with powwow
By Renee Lilley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Portage Graphic Leader A local elementary school’s annual cultural celebration is drawing greater recognition as it expands into a major division-wide event promoting education and reconciliation in the Portage area. Yellowquill School recently hosted its third annual powwow, an initiative organized by a dedicated committee of school staff. Unlike traditional competitive gatherings, the non-competitive, community-based event is designed to bring people together, celebrate students, and marks the approaching end of the school year. Kelly Gretsinger, a grade one teacher and powwow committee member at Yellowquill, said this year’s celebration marked their largest turnout yet, featuring a record number of registered dancers and drummers. The event drew broad regional participation, attracting students from nearly every school across the Portage la Prairie School Division. It...
Register
Alberta NDP urges Smith to fire senior aide over diatribe against First ations
By Lisa Johnson Alberta’s Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi says Premier Danielle Smith should fire her office’s executive director for posting a social media diatribe criticizing First Nations chiefs. The senior aide, Bruce McAllister, said in his Thursday post that First Nations chiefs should fix their own communities instead of accusing the premier of treason over her fall separation referendum He describes First Nations as entrenched in poverty, drugs and violence. Nenshi, speaking in Calgary on Friday, said McAllister’s commentary echoes bullying behaviour from Smith and a pattern of disrespect from her United Conservatives. Nenshi said when challenged, Smith lashes out at her opponents. He said if the premier wants to send a message that she respects Albertans, she should start by firing McAllister. “These are dog whistles,” says Nenshi....
Register
Ford unsure about jail future after ‘fancy-dancy’ new facility opens
By Carrie Ivardi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, NWOnewswatch.com Content warning: This article addresses suicide and mental health. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or in need of urgent support, call 911. The CMHA also provides crisis response services across the region, including a 24/7 helpline at 807-346-8282 or toll free at 1-866-888-8988, or text 988 for immediate mental health help. THUNDER BAY — Amid calls to permanently shutter the century-old facility, Premier Doug Ford won’t commit to closing the Thunder Bay District Jail. While in Thunder Bay earlier this week, Ford said the Thunder Bay Correctional Complex, currently under construction, looks like “the Four Seasons hotel.” “I’m not sold on that,” he said. “When people commit crimes, they shouldn’t be in this fancy-dancy jail.” The province...
Register
Kingston’s Indian Road to be renamed Aki Road
By Meaghan Beavis and Stefan Strangman, Local Journalism Initiative Reporters, YGK News Kingston City Council voted to rename Indian Road to Aki Road on Tuesday. After an 8-5 vote in favour of the renaming, Aki, the Ojibway name for land, was chosen from several options, including Binesi (large bird) and Nookomis (grandmother). Indian Road Park will also be renamed to Odamino Park, which means ‘to play’. The name change comes after the completed report on the renaming process was read to Council yesterday. The city of Kingston began exploring a change to the road in June 2025, when Council passed a motion to engage with the residents of the approximately 62 addresses on the road, Indigenous organizations, and multiple Indigenous Nations in the region. According to the city of Kingston,...
Register
