‘The next generation is here’: Indigenous youth claim their vote
By Sonal Gupta, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Canada’s National Observer In 2015, 12-year-old Theland Kicknosway stood at Rideau Hall, drumming and singing as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his newly elected cabinet took their oath of office. The performance by the Cree and Potawatomi boy was a symbol of a new era in Canadian politics centered on reconciliation. Now, almost a decade later, Kicknosway, 21, is preparing to cast his vote in a federal election for the first time. People under 25 represent nearly a quarter of the Indigenous population, and the proportion is growing four times faster than non-Indigenous youth. By 2030, they’ll comprise 45 per cent of Indigenous communities. For Canada’s fastest-growing demographic, voter turnout remains disproportionately low — but to Kicknosway, this is their time to step...
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‘Hey cancer, your tactics don’t work on warriors’
By Chantel Downes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Originally from Elizabeth Métis Settlement and a long-time Cold Lake resident, Houle has worn many hats – public works director, fire chief, and director of emergency management. But none of those roles prepared him for the fight of his life. “I was on a motorcycle trip one summer . . . and I had some complications, so I went to the hospital in Revelstoke and they didn’t really find anything,” Houle recalled. “When I came home, I didn’t do a follow-up or anything with it, but I ended up having renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in my left kidney – stage four.” The diagnosis didn’t come until months later. “It wasn’t until February of 2021. When I was diagnosed with that.” Houle was connected...
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How Fort Simpson voters assess which party to support
By Claire McFarlane, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cabin Radio Martina Norwegian, a resident of Fort Simpson, is concerned that leaders have strayed away from the seven generations principle. She says she heard that principle spoken about most by former Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ First Nation chief Rita Cli. “She always talked about the seven generations, where we have to think that far ahead of the decisions we make today,” said Norwegian. “If we had been diligent and followed in the footsteps of others – of our people – we wouldn’t have these crises,” said Norwegian. “We wouldn’t have these if we had just paid attention to where we’re going.” She said she has heard from community members – and seen for herself – that some of the biggest issues facing Fort Simpson...
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CANADA ELECTION 2025: Indigenous rights advocate questions reconciliation talk, says politicians better ‘hold true’ to their promises
By Megan Hederson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Joyce Jonathan Crone, founder of the newly registered charity Hope Arises Project in Huntsville, is calling for true leadership and accountability in the next government. “In Muskoka, we call ourselves inclusive,” she said. “Well then, we need to walk the talk.” As a leading voice for Indigenous rights, reconciliation, and representation — and ahead of the April 28 federal election, Crone is speaking out about the kind of leadership she believes Canada needs, both as a non-profit leader and as an Indigenous woman. She said meaningful change begins with equal representation, sustained effort, and education that reflects the diversity of Indigenous communities across Canada. More than anything, she said, what’s needed is government action — not just empty words. “Our government is a...
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Canadian delegation among thousands of mourners at Pope Francis’s funeral
By Nicole Thompson Canadians in the crowds that descended on St. Peter’s Square for Pope Francis’s funeral said the relatively simple ceremony seemed a fitting farewell for the famously humble pontiff. While those who made it into St. Peter’s Square described a solemn, reverent audience, complete with dignitaries such as Gov.-Gen. Mary Simon, crowds outside Vatican City’s walls were abuzz. But in both cases, Francis’s vision for the Catholic Church shone through. “As a Catholic I found it very powerful that the service is so reminiscent of the services that we are familiar with right in Toronto,” said Falguni Debnath, who was with the general public near the back of the square. She said the late pope’s humility was evident in the funeral rites, which he simplified last year to...
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Second annual Indigenous language revitalization event took over Pomeroy Sports Centre
By Ed Hitchins, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The topic of Indigenous language revitalization was at the forefront of an event held in Fort St. John during April’s last full week. Doig River First Nation (DRFN) is hosting its second Reawakening of Our Language Gathering at the Pomeroy Sport Centre on April 24th and 25th. The event is put together in partnership with Northern Lights College (NLC) and the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC). Although 350 spots were available for registration, the event quickly sold out. Additionally, cultural departments from both Halfway River First Nation (HRFN) and West Moberly First Nations (WMFN) had representatives on hand. The event began with a brief history of the Beaver language in the DRFN community, beginning with Roz Smith....
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Yukon politicians threaten contempt over mine manager’s refusal to answer questions
By Ashley Joannou Yukon politicians could hold an official with the company managing the cleanup of a disaster at the Eagle Gold mine in contempt of Parliament after she refused to answer questions in front of the legislature. Debate on a contempt motion in the Yukon legislature was adjourned until Monday after days of duelling letters over whether the court-ordered receiver, PricewaterhouseCoopers, can be forced by elected officials to publicly answer questions. On the same day politicians debate the official scolding, PricewaterhouseCoopers says it will go to court to hear from a judge whether its officials have to appear before members in the legislature. On April 16, Yukon members of the legislature unanimously passed a motion calling for PricewaterhouseCoopers senior vice-president Michelle Grant, as well as another senior official, to...
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Indigenous leaders hope Vatican continues reconciliation efforts advanced by Francis
By Nicole Thompson and Cassandra Szklarski Indigenous leaders in Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis say they hope the Vatican continues to promote the reconciliation efforts he championed during his papacy. Gov. Gen. Mary Simon says the pontiff’s apology for widespread abuses in the residential school system was a significant step in addressing historical injustices. Canada’s first Indigenous governor general led the Canadian delegation at the funeral this morning, where she reflected on Francis’s monumental visit in 2022 to reach out to Indigenous Peoples. She and Wilton Littlechild, a residential school survivor who served as a commissioner for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, say they hope Francis’s successor continues those efforts. Simon called the apology “a significant milestone” on the “journey of reconciliation,” while Littlechild said there’s...
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The Latest: FBI arrests a judge accused of helping a man evade immigration agents
The FBI on Friday arrested Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan, saying she “intentionally misdirected” federal immigration agents away from a man they were trying to take into custody at her courthouse. The judge’s arrest escalates a clash between the Trump administration and the judiciary over the Republican president’s sweeping immigration crackdown. The Justice Department has previously signaled it was going to crack down on local officials who thwart federal immigration efforts. Here’s the latest: Similarities to another judge prosecuted during Trump’s first term Judge Hannah Dugan’s arrest is similar to a case during the first Trump administration against a Massachusetts judge accused of helping a man sneak out a back door of a courthouse to evade a waiting immigration enforcement agent. That prosecution sparked outrage from many in the legal community,...
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B.C. Supreme Court upholds first-ever jail sentence for man who killed 2 black bears in his Tofino backyard
By Nora O’Malley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Ha-Shilth-Sa Parental advisory: This story contains graphic content of animal cruelty. Tofino, B.C. – “The bears did not die instantly,” wrote Judge Alexander Wolf, who convicted and sentenced Ryan Owen Millar to 30-days in jail and $11,000 fine for illegally killing a mother bear and her cub in his backyard about four and a half years ago. “They were injured and were in considerable pain before they died. A number of arrows had to be deployed to ‘finish them off’,” wrote Judge Wolf. Under the Wildlife Act, Judge Wolf also imposed a 20-year hunting ban and 20-year weapons/firearms ban. Millar appealed the jail sentence, arguing for a conditional jail sentence to be served in community. According to his defence attorney there are no...
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Nation files an emergency injunction filed over raising B.C. gold mine’s tailings dam
A B.C. First Nation that is going to court to try to stop a mining company from raising its tailings dam is now applying for an emergency injunction to put the construction on hold. The Xatsull nation announced earlier this month that it had filed a legal challenge over the plan to allow the Mount Polley mine to raise its dam, a decade after a similar storage site at the mine collapsed, setting off an environmental disaster in the nation’s territory. The nation says in a statement issued Friday that when it filed the request for the review of the government decision, it also invited Imperial Metals, Mount Polley’s parent company, to suspend its construction until the court decision is made. The statement says Imperial’s president Brian Kynoch responded by...
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Remote Alberta First Nation awaits helicopter delivering its ballots
By Sonal Gupta, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Canada’s National Observer A helicopter carrying ballots is scheduled to land in Fox Lake — a remote community in northern Alberta cut off by melting ice roads and mud-slicked trails — in a last-ditch effort to make sure residents can vote in Monday’s federal election. Hundreds of eligible voters are once again fighting for their right to cast a ballot. In 2021, voters in the northern Alberta First Nation — accessible only by barge in warmer months or by ice road in winter — showed up on election day to vote at the local school gym, the location printed on their official Elections Canada voter cards. But the polling station never arrived. There were no staff, no ballots and no notice. “It was...
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‘Tragedy all around’: Murder charges follow Vancouver festival attack that killed 11
By Chuck Chiang, Nono Shen, Ashley Joannou, Brieanna Charlebois and Darryl Greer Charges have been laid against a man who’s accused of racing a vehicle through a crowded street at a Filipino community festival in Vancouver, killing 11 in an attack the interim police chief called the “darkest day” in the city’s history. Vancouver Police said in a statement Sunday that Adam Kai-Ji Lo faces eight counts of second-degree murder and further charges are anticipated. Const. Tania Visintin said some victims remained unidentified. The victims ranged in age from five to 65, and the death toll from the attack on the Lapu Lapu Day festival could grow, said Interim Vancouver Police Chief Steve Rai. “It’s just a tragedy all around for many families,” Rai said. A Ministry of Health statement...
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New book on the power of water takes centre stage during political threat
By Shari Narine, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Windspeaker.com Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg writer, scholar and musician Leanne Betasamosake Simpson admits she was worried that when her book Theory of Water: Nishnaabe Maps to the Times Ahead was finally published it would no longer be relevant. “I wrote the book at a different time. Trump wasn’t elected yet,” said Betasamosake Simpson. But with Theory of Water, which hit bookstores April 22, Betasamosake Simpson’s non-fiction is even more relevant as U.S. President Donald Trump insists that Canada should become the 51st state, having his sights set on Canada’s water, minerals and natural resources. At the same time, the federal Liberals and Conservatives are vowing to extract those resources for an economic advantage at home. “I’m always thinking the people that that is going...
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First Nations Leaders Question Conservative Party on Economic Development, Safety at AFN Forum
By Joshua Santos Writer Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre faced questions from First Nations leaders at a national election forum hosted by the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) as part of a virtual series with federal party leaders ahead of the April 28 election. The forum, live streamed by the AFN, provided an opportunity for First Nations leaders to raise key issues, including clean drinking water, child welfare, policing, infrastructure, and reconciliation. Poilievre outlined his party’s platform, emphasizing economic reconciliation and Indigenous-led resource development in partnership with corporations and conglomerates. “There are trillions of dollars in resource wealth we can bring to the surface,” said Poilievre. “I think First Nations can be the richest people in the entire world. It needs to happen in partnership and we need to ensure...
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First Nations Leaders Press Green Party on Policing, Water, and Land Rights at AFN Forum
By Joshua Santos Writer First Nations leaders challenged Green Party co-leaders on policing, clean water, and treaty land claims at a virtual Assembly of First Nations (AFN) election forum. The event, part of a series ahead of the April 28 federal election, enabled Indigenous officials to press federal party leaders on priorities outlined in the AFN’s Prosperity for All: First Nations Priorities for the 2025 Federal Election report. AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak highlighted the critical timing of the forums. “If we ever needed an election forum series exclusively for First Nations, I think 2025 is the year we have to do it,” said Woodhouse Nepinak. “Not only are we moving into a dangerous era of U.S. colonialism, we are also coming up on the 10th anniversary of the...
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NDP Leader Commits to UNDRIP Implementation, Indigenous-Led Services at AFN Forum
By Joshua Santos Writer NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh pledged full implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and greater support for Indigenous-led services during a national election forum hosted by the Assembly of First Nations. The virtual event, part of the AFN’s ongoing federal election series, provided a platform for First Nations leaders to raise pressing concerns and hold party leaders accountable ahead of the April 28 vote. “Please count on me as an ally,” said Singh. “I have shown in the past my commitment to fighting for justice for Indigenous peoples. I will continue to do that. That is my ongoing commitment.” Singh said an NDP government would legislate the full application of UNDRIP across all federal departments and prioritize Indigenous governance in...
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Liberal Party Leader Pledges to Implement UNDRIP, Fund $10B Indigenous Loan Guarantee at AFN Forum
By Joshua Santos Writer Liberal Party leader Mark Carney pledged to fully implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) Act and inject $10 billion into an Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program during a national election forum hosted by the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), ahead of the April 28 vote. The forum, live-streamed by the AFN, offered First Nations leaders the opportunity to raise critical issues such as clean drinking water, child welfare, policing, infrastructure, and reconciliation. Carney outlined his party’s platform by building on what he called the momentum of the previous administration’s reconciliation efforts. He committed to advancing self-determination, supporting land claims, and fulfilling treaty obligations, particularly in the context of what he described as a crisis sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade...
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Brant health unit warns of measles exposure near Six Nations
By Joshua Santos Writer Grand Erie Public Health is warning residents about several new potential measles exposure sites in Simcoe and Langton, including a grocery store, restaurant, school, and school bus route between April 15 and 19. The recent exposures come as the region reports 135 confirmed measles cases, with the majority concentrated in Norfolk County. The confirmed exposure sites include the Real Canadian Superstore and Simcoe Arms Restaurant and Pub on April 19, École St. Marie Elementary School and a school bus route on April 17, and Valley Heights Secondary School in Langton on April 15. Health officials said people who were at any of these locations during the identified times may be at risk, particularly those born in or after 1970 who have not received two doses of...
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Local candidates’ roundtable focused on environment and First Nations’ issues
By David Briggs, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, BayToday.ca Last evening, April 23, candidates in the Nipissing-Timiskaming riding participated in a roundtable discussion focused on environmental and First Nations issues. Specifically, how to mediate climate change and how to remedy PFAS chemicals – also known as forever chemicals – in the region’s drinking water, were two main topics. Further, how to meaningfully consult with First Nations and what to do with nuclear waste rounded out the evening’s themes. The event was organized by Northwatch, an advocate for environmental protection and public participation in environmental decision-making in northeastern Ontario. About 25 people streamed into the basement gym at St. Andrews United Church at 399 Cassells Street to watch the event, which began at 6 p.m. with an opportunity to meet and talk...
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