Leaders vow for bold Indigenous-led action as the world’s largest Indigenous education forum comes to an end
NEW ZEALAND-“The answers are within us.” Dr Verna Kirkness, the founder of the World Indigenous Peoples’ Conference on Education (WIPCE), delivered this powerful message onstage in New Zealand this week. WIPCE 2025 saw 3,800 of the world’s foremost Indigenous educators, knowledge-holders and leaders call for a new era of transformative action at the triennial conference held in Aotearoa – the Māori name for New Zealand – from 16–20 November. Indigenous leaders vowed to continue driving Indigenous-led solutions to the world’s problems, rising above political edicts and governments of the day. WIPCE 2025 Co-Chair, Professor Meihana Durie says yesterday’s close of the conference signals the beginning of a powerful new chapter for Indigenous people. “As we bring WIPCE 2025 to a close, we usher in a new era of Indigenous endeavour...
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Speaker’s vote gets northern power line through B.C. legislature by slimmest margin
By Wolfgang Depner Legislation to fast-track construction of a northern power line has squeaked through the British Columbia legislature thanks to a deciding vote by the Speaker for the bill that Premier David Eby said would force an election if it failed. The confidence vote on the North Coast Transmission Line passed third reading on Wednesday by a count of 47 to 46 with Speaker Raj Chouhan breaking the tie and it now awaits final approval by the lieutenant-governor. All New Democrats voted for the project, which the federal government is also considering fast-tracking as a project of national significance. Ottawa is also providing the project a credit of just under $140 million, but B.C. is hoping for additional financial support. Eby said last month that he would call an...
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Alberta tables bill to limit oversight power of regulatory bodies on member behaviour
By Lisa Johnson Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s government plans to limit what behaviour professional regulators can police in the interest of strengthening freedom of expression. A bill introduced in the house Thursday aims to narrow what kind of behaviour regulated professionals — from architects to welders — can be disciplined for by their regulators. Smith is calling it Alberta’s “Peterson law,” after Ontario psychologist and social media personality Jordan Peterson, who was sanctioned by his province’s professional regulator for controversial public statements. “When regulators begin disciplining people for simply speaking their mind on their own time, that’s overreach and, at its worst, it becomes an outright threat to free expression,” Smith told reporters before the bill was introduced. She added her United Conservative Party government wants regulators focused on the...
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Near-sinking barge off BC coast stokes fears over oil tanker threats
By Rochelle Baker, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Canada’s National Observer An American-owned cargo barge sitting dangerously low in the water near Bella Bella has reignited coastal First Nations’ fears about the dangers that oil tankers pose for the BC coast. The Haíɫzaqv Nation’s marine emergency response team received reports early on Monday that heavily loaded Alaska Marine Lines barge being towed by the tug Malolo was taking on water in Fischer Channel near Bella Bella, said William Housty, director of the Heiltsuk Integrated Resource Management Department. The tug and barge, which were transiting from Alaska to Washington, have taken shelter in a safer area near Matthew Island. While there are no immediate concerns about pollution and the barge hasn’t taken on more water, the marine response team is standing by,...
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Pupils flee as grizzly attacks elementary class in B.C., injuring 11, some critically
By Nono Shen A grizzly bear has attacked a group of elementary school students and teachers in the B.C. central coast community of Bella Coola, leaving two people critically injured and two others seriously hurt. B.C. Emergency Health Services said seven more people were treated at the scene of the attack in the community about 700 kilometres northwest of Vancouver, which was called in just before 2 p.m. on Thursday. Veronica Schooner said her 10-year-old son Alvarez was in the Year 4-5 class that was attacked while on a walk and was so close to the animal “he even felt its fur.” “He was running for his life,” she said. Schooner said a lot of people tried to halt the attack but one male teacher “got the whole brunt of...
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Peacekeepers expand presence in Tioweró:ton with proposed substation
By Lucas-Matthew Marsh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Iori:wase The Kahnawake Peacekeepers are planning on expanding their presence in Tioweró:ton with a new substation to match the need. Kahnawake Peacekeepers Public Relations Officer Kyle Zachary told Iorì:wase the project will be the first major expansion beyond its main station in Kahnawake. “Having a satellite station up there is a necessity at this point,” Zachary stressed. Up until now, Peacekeepers in the territory have been residing in the caretaker’s cabin while stationed on patrol. The new facility will not only provide a secure location to secure police equipment but is also expected to dramatically reduce the Peacekeepers’ response time in the hunting territory, which can take up to two hours to reach from Kahnawake, according to Zachary. Zachary called this response time...
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Kahnawake moves forward with community appointed judges
By Lucas-Matthew Marsh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Iori:wase The Kahnawake Justice Commission (KJC) is issuing a callout for applications for three judges to serve on the Court of Kahnawake. Kevin Fleischer, Commissioner of Justice with Kahnawake Justice Services, described the initiative as “groundbreaking,” noting it is a first not only for Kahnawake, but potentially for Canada. “To have unilaterally appointed judges by a First Nations community hearing things like criminal law, I believe, may be unprecedented throughout all of Turtle Island,” Fleischer said. The callout marks a shift away from Kahnawake’s previous judicial system, which relied on Justices of the Peace (JP) appointed federally under Section 107 of the Indian Act, toward a fully community-run judiciary. “They will be true, homegrown Kahnawake-appointed judges,” Fleischer said. While Kahnawake had already been...
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Liberal MPs express surprise and opposition to reports of pipeline deal
By Natasha Bulowski, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Canada’s National Observer BC and First Nations must be consulted on possible changes to the federal ban on oil tankers off the province’s northwest coast, Liberal MPs say, as Alberta and Ottawa work towards an agreement that could reportedly involve a new bitumen pipeline. Reporting by The Globe and Mail suggests Ottawa and Alberta are close to signing a memorandum of understanding involving a pipeline to BC’s northwest coast that could include an exemption from a federal law banning oil tanker traffic in that region. “I have heard from my constituents on this today and for several months,” Liberal MP for Victoria Will Greaves told Canada’s National Observer in a text message. “They, like me, are decisively not in support.” “My only comment...
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Loaded barge bound for Seattle sinking off central B.C. coast
By Chuck Chiang A barge carrying numerous cargo containers is sinking in the waters off British Columbia’s central coast, and the local First Nation says there is concern about possible pollution because it’s unclear what’s on board. The Canadian Coast Guard said in a statement Wednesday that the tug boat Malolo was en route from Alaska to Seattle when it reported Monday that the barge it was towing was taking on water. The coast guard said divers hired by the tug’s owner are at the scene and trying to assess why the barge is taking on water, and the Heiltsuk Nation’s marine emergency response team has also been deployed. “There is currently no report of pollution,” the Coast Guard statement said. “The Canadian Coast Guard is collaborating with the Heiltsuk...
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Ottawa won’t back down on Ring of Fire environmental assessment
By Jon Thompson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Ricochet Canada will continue its environmental assessment process in the proposed Ring of Fire mining development, despite Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s request for the federal government to stand down over what he perceives as policy duplication. When Ontario unveiled its “One Project, One Process” policy in October, Ford publicly called for Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney to stand aside on environmental assessment in Canada’s largest-ever mining area, which would grant the province the sole authority to define and approve environmental conditions. “We have to move, and move quick. Let’s get the federal government out of the way. The prime minister assured me that it’s going to be ‘one project, one process’ and we can move forward on that,” Ford said. “I trust the...
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Nunavut mayor calls for more security at Yellowknife airport
By William Koblensky Varela, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunavut News Smuggling drugs and alcohol into Gjoa Haven through the Yellowknife Airport should warrant improvements in security, Mayor Raymond Quqshuun told a panel at the Nunavut Association of Municipalities’ annual general meeting on Nov. 12. Yellowknife is accessible by road through Alberta, and there’s no airport security on flights from Yellowknife to Nunavut communities. Quqshuun, whose community prohibits alcohol and cannabis, said bootlegging is rife. “I think we’re lacking searches and airport checks and stuff like that, either out of Yellowknife or in our communities. And I think that’s going to be important in the future, that airports should have those services,” he said. The mayor noted that many flights to and from Gjoa Haven are routed through Yellowknife. He said...
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Ending tanker ban risks billions, B.C. minister says; Liberal MPs say consent needed
By Wolfgang Depner and David Baxter British Columbia’s jobs minister says ending a tanker ban to service a pipeline from Alberta to B.C.’s northern coast would put billions of dollars’ worth of other projects at risk by defying the wishes of First Nations. Ravi Kahlon says the province’s NDP government also remains opposed to the pipeline project, while B.C. Liberal MPs said Wednesday the tanker ban on the northern B.C. coast can’t change without provincial and First Nations consent. The Globe and Mail reported Wednesday that the federal government, which is in talks with Alberta on the prospect of building a new pipeline, is considering allowing some tanker traffic on the northern B.C. coast. But Kahlon said the B.C. government’s position was unchanged. “(First Nations) don’t believe it’s in the...
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‘Devil in the details’ on Alberta-Ottawa energy accord: former pipeline executive
By Lauren Krugel Alberta and Ottawa are said to be closing in on a “grand bargain” that could see a new West Coast oilsands pipeline built in tandem with emissions-offsetting measures, but it’s unclear it would be enough to incent private industry to invest in such a project. Federal insiders have told The Globe and Mail that the easing of a B.C. north coast tanker ban, strengthened industrial carbon pricing to bolster carbon capture economics and forgoing a planned emissions cap are on the table. They and provincial officials told the newspaper they’re hoping to announce a memorandum of understanding before the end of the month. “The MOU will go a long way to demonstrating that the federal government and the prime minister are serious about being an energy superpower...
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Woman serving life sentenced to additional year for confining prison guards in N.S.
By Lyndsay Armstrong A Cree woman serving a life sentence in Nova Scotia was given an additional 12 months for unlawfully confining two prison guards, in a decision acknowledging possible mistreatment by the court system. Serena Tobaccojuice, who is one of Canada’s longest serving female inmates, has been incarcerated for over 25 years. She was formerly known as Serena Nicotine. Her lawyer, Jeremiah Raining Bird, asked for a complete discharge on the basis her traumatic history and Indigenous identity have never before been considered by the courts. Tobaccojuice was 15 when she killed a group home operator in North Battleford, Sask., in 1997. Two years later, she was sentenced as an adult to life in prison. Last November, she pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful confinement for an incident...
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Ending tanker ban risks billions, B.C. minister says; Liberal MPs say consent needed
By Wolfgang Depner and David Baxter British Columbia’s jobs minister says ending a tanker ban on the province’s northern coast to service a pipeline from Alberta to B.C. would put billions of dollars’ worth of other projects at risk by defying the wishes of First Nations. Ravi Kahlon says the province’s NDP government also remains opposed to the pipeline proposal, while B.C. Liberal MPs said Wednesday the tanker ban can’t change without provincial and First Nations consent. The Globe and Mail reported Wednesday that the federal government, which is in talks with Alberta on the prospect of building a new pipeline, is considering allowing some tanker traffic on the northern B.C. coast. But Kahlon said the B.C. government’s position was unchanged. “(First Nations) don’t believe it’s in the interest of...
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Fort Simpson to rename streets, citing confusion in emergencies
By Claire McFarlane, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cabin Radio Fort Simpson is starting work to rename village streets and assign addresses after emergency responders reported difficulty figuring out where callers live. Village councillors voted on Monday to work with consultants on a project that will rename streets and assign addresses on the Northwest Territories community’s island. In an update to council earlier this month, Tyler Pilling, director of protective services for the village, described two fires that took place in September. “We were driving all around trying to find it. They told us one address, it was a different address. That was kind-of common with both of those fires,” Pilling told council. “We were told one address and we started going towards it. We got another call saying no, it’s...
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Senators amend legislation to make it easier to pass on First Nations status
By Alessia Passafiume Senators have passed sweeping amendments to a bill that would simplify the transfer of First Nations status between generations, rejecting the federal government’s advice to limit its scope. Bill S-2, introduced in the Senate with support by the Liberal government, was drafted to eliminate some gender inequities in the Indian Act and allow some 6,000 people to become eligible for First Nations status. Some senators and Indigenous community leaders said the bill didn’t go far enough. On Tuesday, senators changed the legislation to eliminate what is known as the “second-generation cutoff,” opting instead for a one-parent rule that would allow First Nations status to be transferred to a child if one of their parents is enrolled. The second-generation cutoff, which came from a 1985 amendment to the...
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Command Unit newest addition to Smoky River emergency fleet
By Emily Plihal, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, South Peace News At its regular meeting on Nov. 12, M.D. of Smoky River No. 130 made a decision to purchase a new Command Unit for its Emergency Services Department. “The command unit was lost when it would not engage after a collision with a hay bale that was burning,” explains Reeve Paula Guindon. “The loss occurred during a field fire where strong winds and smoke contributed to severely reduced visibility.” Guindon explains the old Command Unit was deemed a writeoff by insurance and the replacement value provided was $65,641, including $52,645 for the vehicle replacement and $13,816 for associated emergency accessories including lights, sirens, and equipment. As per the request of council, a variety of vehicles were analyzed to replace the machine...
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Senate passes amendments to First Nations status bill; MPs still need to vote
Senate moves to amendment Second Generation First Nation status cut-off By Alessia Passafiume Senators have passed sweeping amendments to a bill that would simplify the transfer of First Nations status between generations. Bill S-2, introduced in the Senate and supported by the Liberal government, was drafted to eliminate some gender inequities in the Indian Act and allow some 6,000 people to become eligible for First Nations status, but some senators and community leaders said it didn’t go far enough. Senators have changed the legislation to remove what is known as the second-generation cutoff, opting instead for a one-parent rule for the transmission of status. The second-generation cutoff, which came from a 1985 amendment to the Indian Act, prevents individuals from registering for status under the Indian Act if they have...
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Brantford woman facing criminal harassment charges after brief high school lockdown
BRANTFORD,ONT- The Brantford Police Service (BPS) have charged a city woman after an “unwanted person” was reported inside the North Park Collegiate Vocational School and a lockdown was initiated. Brantford Police recieved a report of an unwanted person in the school at about 10:20 a.m. this (Thursday Nov., 19) morning. BPS placed the school in a temporary lockdown and officers cleared the school determining the subject had left the property. The lockdown was lifted at approximately 10:50 a.m. BPS said no weapons were involved and at no time was there a threat to students’ safety. The individual was arrested after being located nearby. As a result, a 26-year-old female from Brantford stands charged with two counts of Criminal Harassment and has been held for a bail hearing. ...
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