Researchers adding pieces to salmon puzzle through research of non-native Rainbow Trout
By Noah Korver, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Yukon News By now most Yukoners are probably at least somewhat aware that Yukon River Chinook salmon are in trouble. In recent years, the population has suffered from an unheard of population collapse driven by stressors such as historical over harvest, habitat destruction, and the impacts of an ever warming planet. All this has led conservation officials in both the Yukon and Alaska to declare a seven year moratorium on harvesting Chinook Salmon as conservation organizations on both sides of the border have raced to understand why the fish are disappearing in a bid to return the once mighty summer salmon runs to the Yukon River. While much of this work has focused on obvious factors such as those described above, the cause...
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Canadian wins honour bestowed on only seven people in history
By John Chilibeck, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Daily Gleaner Graydon Nicholas, New Brunswick’s first Indigenous person to serve as lieutenant governor, has been awarded one of the highest honours bestowed by the Knights of Columbus, the world’s largest Catholic fraternal organization. Earlier this month, in Denver, Colorado, Nicholas was presented with the Caritas Award, a rare international honour that the group bestows for what it considers extraordinary acts of charity, service and sacrifice for the good of others. A large part of Nicholas’s service was trying to bridge the gap between some of the misdeeds of the Catholic Church in the past and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly told the crowd at the 144th annual convention on Aug. 5 that Nicholas, who was the first Indigenous...
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Peru steps up fight against illegal gold mining as activity enters protected Amazon reserve
By Steven Grattan PUERTO MALDONADO, Peru (AP) — Eight Peruvian navy personnel jumped from a helicopter into a clearing carved out of the Amazon rainforest by illegal gold miners along the Malinowski River in Peru’s Madre de Dios region, sending sand and dust swirling as they ran toward the mining site. The forest gave way to giant holes gouged into the earth and filled with opaque, muddy water, gasoline and other chemicals glistening on the surface. Makeshift wooden mining platforms straddled the pools, surrounded by pumps and thick plastic tubes used to suck up and sift through sediment for tiny particles of gold. As the troops closed in, several miners stood watching from a distance. The officer leading the patrol fired a warning shot into the air. Within seconds, they...
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Green Party calls for province-wide halt on AI data centres until safeguards are in place
By Anushka Yadav, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Pointer A week after Mississauga became the first Ontario municipality to pause new data centre developments for one year, Green Party leader Mike Schreiner called for a province-wide moratorium until proper studies could be completed on the technology’s impact on the environment, energy and human health. AI data centres sprouting across Canada may have ignited a fear of an increasingly unpredictable future, but they have also exposed a deep crevasse in the provincial and municipal planning frameworks established long before artificial intelligence and its unprecedented demands on water, energy and public infrastructure due to hyperscale computing. “Right now, municipalities are on their own, trying to protect their communities,” Schreiner said at a press conference on August 6 at Queen’s Park. “The Ford...
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Wilbert Marshall re-elected as chief of Potlotek
By Rosemary Godin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cape Breton Post Potlotek’s Wilbert Marshall has once again been elected chief of the band council of the Cape Breton First Nation. This will be the seventh straight election he has won as chief. Marshall was re-elected as chief of Potlotek First Nation in Tuesday’s community vote. He was first elected in 2002, removed in 2008 following a criminal conviction, and was able to run again in 2010. He has been re-elected every time since then. With 438 people casting votes, Marshall won about 46 per cent of the total when 198 people voted for him. The rest of the votes were split among four other candidates, with Wayne Johnson coming in second with 99 votes. The three other people running for top...
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What to know about the Bald Range fire and B.C.’s wildfire emergency
By Canadian Press Staff Premier David Eby has said British Columbia’s wildfire season turned “brutal,” with a ferocious blaze that led to the death of an 80-year-old woman and forced some 20,000 people out of their homes in the south Okanagan last weekend. Here are key facts about B.C.’s ongoing wildfire situation, which prompted officials to declare a provincial state of emergency on Aug. 8. The Bald Range fire — The stretch of Highway 97 through the evacuated community of Summerland, B.C., has been reopened between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. after the wildfire forced its closure overnight on Aug. 7. — The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen said there was no stopping and no access to side roads leading to areas still subject to evacuation orders without a temporary pass....
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Ancient Forest interpretive centre prepares for soft opening
By Kevin Gibson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Rocky Mountain Goat Those hoping to catch a glimpse of the new interpretive centre celebrating the natural and cultural history of the Ancient Forest will get a sneak preview on August 27th. The Lheidli T’enneh First Nation and BC Parks will host the opening celebration at Ancient Forest/Chun T’oh Whudujut Provincial Park, located approximately 103 kilometres west of McBride on Highway 16. Doors will open at 11 a.m. The celebration is expected to include opening remarks, a cultural blessing and a performance by the Khast’an Drummers, a cultural group of Lheidli T’enneh members, relatives and friends who promote the Nation’s language, history and culture through song and dance. Visitors will have an opportunity to explore the new centre, meet community members, and...
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Iconic castle in Greater Victoria is to be transferred under B.C. treaty
By Wolfgang Depner The minister responsible for treaty negotiations with First Nations in B.C. confirms public access to 30 properties, including a well-known castle, could be limited or lost completely following an agreement. More than 30 years of talks between the government and an association representing five First Nations on Vancouver Island are approaching the final stage under British Columbia’s modern treaty process. The proposed treaty for the Songhees Nation in Greater Victoria calls for the transfer of Hatley Park, which is federal Crown land and includes Royal Roads University and its iconic Hatley Castle, frequently used as a movie backdrop. Spencer Chandra Herbert, the minister of Indigenous relations and reconciliation, says the talks around Hatley Castle also involve the federal government, and couldn’t say when it would be transferred...
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‘Contractor’s error’ caused sewage backup at health centre: chief
By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, SNnewswatch.com NESKANTAGA — There’s no end in sight to Neskantaga First Nation’s latest evacuation, Chief Gary Quisess said Thursday. Neskantaga’s chief and council declared a state of emergency on Aug. 4 after sewage backup contaminated the fly-in community’s nursing station. Additionally, a Neskantaga child and family services official reported four days later on social media that a sewer line was broken in remediation work. Community members were evacuated to Toronto, where a release from Neskantaga First Nation said “they will remain … until there is full remediation of the health care infrastructure.” Quisess told Newswatch it’s unclear when members can return as “we haven’t received any results from the soil testing yet.” The return date will depend largely on soil testing results, he...
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‘Reclaiming Our Waters’: 220 paddlers to arrive in Delta for 25th annual canoe journey
By Radha Agarwal, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Delta Optimist More than 220 paddlers will take to traditional waterways this month as the Pulling Together Canoe Journey celebrates 25 years of building trust and understanding between Indigenous communities and public service agencies. Beginning Aug. 15 in Sts’ailes First Nation near Agassiz, 13 canoes will spend nine days travelling down the Fraser River. The fleet will weave through the territories of the Katzie, Matsqui, and Kwikwetlem and the Musqueam First Nation before arriving on the shores of South Delta and Tsawwassen First Nation. Since launching in 2001, the annual voyage has paired Indigenous youth and leaders with personnel from local police departments, the Royal Canadian Navy, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and emergency services. This year’s public agencies involved include the...
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Brooke Metchewais Uses Miss Indigenous Canada 2026 Platform to Empower Youth
By Chevi Rabbit, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Alberta Native News (ANNews) – For Brooke Metchewais, leadership is not about standing above others. It is about standing with community, listening to the voices of the people, and creating opportunities for future generations. As Miss Indigenous Canada 2026, Metchewais is using her platform to promote youth mentorship, cultural connection, wellness, and community empowerment. The Miss Indigenous Canada program provides a national platform for Indigenous women to develop leadership skills, celebrate culture, participate in community initiatives, and represent their communities through advocacy and service. Metchewais is a member of Cold Lake First Nations in Treaty 6 Territory, Alberta. Her family roots also connect to Big Island Lake Cree Nation in Saskatchewan several generations ago and Saddle Lake Cree Nation through her kokum’s side....
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National Code Talker Day to bring 101-year-old veteran to Phoenix
By Wufei Yu PHOENIX (AP) — Hundreds of Navajos were recruited by the Marine Corps during World War II to create a code based on their native language. Their efforts frustrated the Japanese force and ended up playing a vital role in U.S. victories in the Pacific War. The program remained secret for decades and in 1982, President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation designating Aug. 14 as the official day to honor the Navajo Code Talkers and all Native Americans who served in the war. A crowd is expected to gather in Phoenix to mark the day. Among them will be Thomas H. Begay, 101, who is among the last two remaining Code Talkers. In all, the military recruited and trained more than 400 Navajo men to communicate confidential information...
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Artist commemorates special occasions and the people who serve
By Crystal St.Pierre, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Windspeaker.com Métis artist Bonnie Saunders has contributed to the Royal Canadian Legion’s 100th anniversary with a special piece that reflects the national organization’s dedication to service, sacrifice, advocacy and community. “I was commissioned by the centennial committee to produce something or create something that’s quite unique that would be a keepsake for all the Legion’s members who’ve served and family members as a way to really commemorate this special year, said Saunders, owner of Saskatchewan-based Glass Treasures By Bonnie Saunders. She designed a plate that uses the Legion’s historic and modern badges to form the zeros in 100, with images making up the number one. Integrated into the artwork are representations of wartime service, nursing support, military branches, the policing service, modern members...
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Elections Canada says 40% of people in Indigenous communities voted federally in 2025
By Alessia Passafiume More than 40 per cent of registered electors living in Indigenous communities voted in the federal election last year, a new Elections Canada report shows. The highest level of voter participation in Indigenous communities was recorded in the Yukon at 61.9 per cent, while the lowest level was recorded in Quebec at 21.1 per cent. Across Canada, nearly 70 per cent of registered electors cast ballots in the 2025 election. Indigenous people in Canada tend to be less likely than others to vote in federal elections — a legacy of decades of mistrust and tensions between their communities and Ottawa. Before 1960, First Nations people generally had to forfeit their Indian status in order to vote in an election. Memories of those days linger, making some Indigenous...
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Alberta to do long-term water security study to support population, industry growth
By Jack Farrell Alberta’s government says it’s looking to do a study on the long-term security of the province’s water supply as it stares down a challenge with a water-rich north and a demand-heavy south. Environment Minister Grant Hunter, in a news release, said Alberta’s population, industry and farming sector are all growing and reliable access to water is needed to sustain the growth. “Water is the foundation of Alberta’s future,” Hunter said in the release on Thursday. “We’re looking 100 years ahead and asking what Alberta needs to build, invest in and do differently today to secure our water supply for generations to come.” The request for proposals says much of the available water supply in Alberta is in the north, while a number of southern river basins, including...
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In Penticton, B.C., an outpouring of support for Summerland fire evacuees
By Darryl Greer Wildfire evacuees in Penticton, B.C., have been receiving an outpouring of support from the community, including at the local Sikh Temple where the president says hundreds have received free food and other items. Ravinder Bains says donations have been flowing in from all over the Okanagan Valley, and tables at the temple are stacked with the fruit the region is famous for, vegetables, clothing and diapers. Jarnail Gill, an organizer at the temple, says they started communicating with aid agencies on the first day of the emergency that forced thousands to flee the community of Summerland and they started feeding people within a few hours. Premier David Eby and local MLA Amelia Boultbee visited the temple on Wednesday evening, and Boultbee says the evacuations have been “incredibly...
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Carrot River grant to make sidewalks safer, more accessible
By Nicole Goldsworthy, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, SaskToday.ca, SASKTODAY.ca CARROT RIVER — The Town of Carrot River will use a $42,603 Provincial Traffic Safety Fund grant to improve pedestrian accessibility and safety through a series of sidewalk upgrades aimed at making travel easier for residents, particularly students and people who use mobility aids. The funding is part of more than $1.6 million distributed to 66 Saskatchewan communities and First Nations through the latest round of the Provincial Traffic Safety Fund, which supports projects focused on improving road and pedestrian safety. Miranda Blaber, community development manager for the Town of Carrot River, told SaskToday the grant will fund the installation of curb cuts, repairs to deteriorated sidewalks and the construction of new sidewalk sections. “The project was prompted by a local...
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Feds issue Line 5 tunnel permit, call it ‘not contrary to the public interest’
By Laura Herberg, Justin A. Hinkley And Kelly House/bridge Michigan The US Army Corps of Engineers has permitted construction of the controversial Line 5 tunnel project in the Straits of Mackinac. The project, which would divert a section of the Line 5 petroleum pipeline from the open waters of the Straits into a concrete tunnel beneath the lakebed, is “not contrary to the public interest” and would not harm tribal treaty rights, the Army Corps said in announcing its permit. Nonetheless, the Corps noted the project would have adverse effects on endangered species and archaeological sites, that it would contribute to “long-term impacts of habitat loss” and have “long-term detrimental impacts on land use.” While the federal approval clears a big hurdle for the nearly decade-old proposal, don’t expect shovels...
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RCMP investigating after two toddlers drown in lake in remote Manitoba community
GARDEN HILL ANISININ EW NATION-Manitoba RCMP say it is believed two toddlers have drowned in a remote northern First Nation after being found in a lake in the community. Police say the two boys, ages one and two, were brought to the nursing station in Garden Hill Anisininew Nation, about 610 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, on Wednesday afternoon. A family member found the two boys in the lake and they were brought to the nursing station by First Nation Safety Officers, where they were pronounced dead. Police say it is believed the boys were able to leave their home and enter the nearby lake. They say foul play is not suspected but continue to investigate. Sgt. Chris Hipolito, with the Island Lake detachment, says the drownings have been devastating for...
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Loss of Cape Breton Mi’kmaw fashion icon felt deeply by community
By Rosemary Godin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cape Breton Post The Mi’kmaw community is remembering an influential knowledge keeper, language warrior and proud great-grandmother from Membertou First Nation. Audrey (Heidi) Marshall, who most recently organized the fourth annual Finding our Identity fashion show at the Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion in May that drew hundreds of people, died on August 5 at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital. As word of the active 65-year-old’s death spread over social media, dozens of people honoured Marshall with words about her support, encouragement and advocacy for Mi’kmaw law and culture. Remarkably, one of her own quotes last year after she was named one of Atlantic Canada’s most successful businesswomen by Atlantic Business Magazine in 2025 sums up what she would have thought of all the...
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