Missing woman, Juanita Migwans, tipline established
Juanita Migwans, 30, was last seen on October 2 in M’Chigeeng First Nation. (Supplied photos) By Jacqueline St. Pierre, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, MANITOULIN—The search for 30-year-old Juanita “Winnie” Migwans has entered a critical phase as police launch a dedicated tip line to gather new information. Ms. Migwans, a resident of M’Chigeeng First Nation, was last seen on October 2 walking near Highway 551 and Oakhill Drive around 10:30 am. She was wearing a light-colored jacket and dark pants. Her disappearance, reported on October 7, has sparked widespread concern, with the United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin (UCCM) Anishnaabe Police and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) leading an extensive search operation. Despite thorough efforts, including community searches and investigative...
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Manitoba school division to bring ‘God Save the King’ back to classrooms
By Brittany Hobson MANITOBA-(CP)-A school division in western Manitoba has decided to once again include “God Save the King” in its schools’ morning announcements, a move that has some questioning whether it promotes reconciliation efforts with Indigenous staff and students. The Mountain View School Division, which oversees 16 schools near Dauphin, Man., recently put forward a directive that the royal anthem must be included in announcements, along with O Canada and land acknowledgments. Board chair Jason Gryba, in an email, said the inclusion of “God Save the King” aligns with existing provincial legislation. “Good governance is about adhering to laws and regulations that are in place, regardless of how often they may have been previously observed,” Gryba said Thursday. “While some legislation may become less prominent over time, it remains...
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Pierre Poilievre promises patriotism but stays vague about U.S. tariff threat
By Rochelle Baker, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter On the eve of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s meeting with premiers to tackle the threat of looming U.S. tariffs, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre was on the West Coast hosting a packed “axe the tax” rally. Poilievre’s speech Tuesday night to the large crowd at Dwight Hall in Powell River was heavy with patriotism but didn’t address how he’d tackle incoming U.S. president Donald Trump’s promise to impose a 25-per-cent tariff on Canadian goods. Poilievre did reassure his audience there was no chance Canada would become a 51st state, despite Trump’s repeated suggestions. “My message to our American neighbours is we love you as neighbours and as friends, but do not allow our polite demeanour and our humble tone to confuse you,” Poilievre said....
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Chiefs of Ontario and Nishnawbe Aski Nation concerned over Caring Society Motion
January 16, 2025 – Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict and Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler have issued the following statement following interference by the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society at the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal on the long-term reform of the First Nations Child and Family Services Program in Ontario. “We as Chiefs of Ontario and Nishnawbe Aski Nation are engaging in productive and positive discussions with Canada on moving towards a reformed system for our children and families. We have been mandated by our Chiefs, who have the right to make their own informed decisions about their children, and child and family services, without being required to consult with other parties on these decisions. This agreement seeks to shift control and authority over child and...
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Ontario planning for a 21st century nuclear megaproject
By Matteo Cimellaro, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Canada’s National Observer Ontario is planning to cement itself as the nuclear powerhouse of North America with what could become Canada’s first 21st-century megaproject. Ontario announced its preliminary plan on Wednesday for the large-scale nuclear power plant near Port Hope, about 100 kilometres east of Toronto. Energy Minister Stephen Lecce described the project as “one of the largest nuclear energy plants in the world.” Once completed, it is expected to generate up to 10,000 megawatts of electricity — enough to power 10 million homes. Speaking at a press conference, Lecce said Ontario Power Generation has been instructed to begin planning for the new facility at Wesleyville, a site originally designated in the 1970s for an oil-fired power station. “This expansion of non-emitting nuclear...
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As Biden warns of an ‘oligarchy,’ Trump will be flanked by tech billionaires at his inauguration
(AP)-President Joe Biden’s pointed warning about the U.S. becoming an “ oligarchy ” of tech billionaires will be illustrated at Donald Trump’s inauguration, when the world’s three richest men will sit on the dais as Trump is sworn in for a second term. Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest person, took an unprecedented, hands-on role in the final stretch of Trump’s campaign, spending some $200 million through a super PAC. Musk has a new role reshaping government in the upcoming administration and will be joined on the dais by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Both men’s companies have enormous contracts with the federal government. Rounding out the trio is Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who recently changed his company’s priorities to align with Trump’s and has cozied up to the president-elect less than...
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AFN chief says First Nations should be at the centre of Canada-U.S. tariffs talks
By Alessia Passafiume (CP)-The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations says First Nations should be at the centre of any discussions on how the country should respond to threats of tariffs by incoming president Donald Trump on territorial sovereignty. She’s one of three national Indigenous leaders who made a similar pitch during a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday morning, along with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami President Natan Obed and Métis National Council President Victoria Pruden. Trump has threatened 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian goods on the first day he’s in office next week and has quipped Canada should become the 51st state. Woodhouse Nepinak called Trump’s rhetoric “outlandish” and “disrespectful” considering territorial rights of Indigenous Peoples on both sides of the border are recognized...
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Judge dismisses Vanderhoof woman’s lawsuit against two health authorities
By Bob Mackin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter A B.C. Supreme Court judge threw out a lawsuit filed against the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) and Northern Health Authority (NHA) because it was deemed too long, unclear and unlikely to succeed. In a Tuesday, Jan. 14 written ruling, Justice Kenneth Ball agreed with an application by the two health authorities to strike out and dismiss the entirety of Tanya Akonwie’s statement of claim. The decision came after an Oct. 8 hearing in Prince George. The Vanderhoof Metis woman sued for negligence, breach of privacy and intentional infliction of mental suffering. Ball wrote that Akonwie “used an unusual format” to outline a series of events that occurred over a one-year period. The allegations related to failure of three doctors and a nurse to...
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Mississaugas of Credit First Nation community members protesting after employee conflict
By Lynda Powless Editor MISSISSAUGAS OF CREDIT FIRST NATION- About a dozen community members are protesting outside the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation council house today (Thursday, Jan. 1, 2025) after an employee conflict led to a female band staff person being “verbally assaulted” at the administration building Wednesday, Jan. 15. OPP were on the scene today along with about a dozen community members who are protesting outside the council house where a fire has been lit and they are expecting more to join them. Community member Jai King-Green, a former band employee, said they were there to support staff members after word of the altercation seeped into the community Wednesday. “We want our band members to feel safe at work, especially our women. If the employee doesn’t get...
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Picard to step down as AFNQL Chief
By Marc Lalonde, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Regional Chief Ghislain Picard will ride off into the sunset after more than 30 years of service to Indigenous people in Quebec and Labrador. Picard announced his intention not to seek re-election to the AFNQL’s top post in an internal letter to the 43 chiefs whose communities make up the AFQNL in December. Picard was first elected AFNQL Chief in 1992. In his letter, he wrote that he had mixed emotions about stepping down. “There are no words to express how grateful I am to have benefited from your support and that of the leaders who preceded you,” he wrote. “I firmly believe that the AFNQL has succeeded in meeting the challenge of making our...
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Provincial cultural-safety bill misses mark: Montour
By Marc Lalonde, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The provincial cultural-safety bill designed to help First Nations and Inuit healthcare system users feel more comfortable fails miserably because it has yet to acknowledge the systemic racism that permeates it, the president of the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission said. “Bill 32 is the government trying to make First Nations and Inuit users more at ease and to reassure us, but when you take the consultation out of the hands of First Nations and ignore the recommendations we have made, it doesn’t reassure us,” Derek Montour said. “Taking it from a First Nations perspective, we see that the government will still not acknowledge that discrimination is still a part of the heathcare system.” The law is a...
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Bridge owners provide grim update at RRDMA
By Ken Kellar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Fort Frances Times It’s a lose-lose situation as the owners of the Fort Frances-International Falls bridge struggle to keep up with aging infrastructure, federally-mandated costs, and low traffic numbers. During Saturday, January 11, 2024’s annual general meeting of the Rainy River District Municipal Association (RRDMA) held at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #29 in Fort Frances, new Aazhogan Limited Partnership (LP) president and Rainy River First Nationscouncillor Cassandra Kaysaywaysemat provided an update to the assembled mayors, councillors and administrators on the status of the Fort Frances-International Falls bridge, which was purchased in sections in 2021 and 2022 in conjunction with the BMI Group, becoming the first Indigenous-led acquisition of an international bridge in North America. The purchase was commemorated at the time with...
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Potential changes to Legal Aid Alberta fundg source raises alarm among non-profits
By Matthew Scace (CP)-A non-profit that helps fund Legal Aid Alberta is raising concern over potential funding changes by the provincial government that it says would limit access to justice for vulnerable and low-income Albertans. The Alberta Law Foundation said Wednesday that the provincial government is proposing to double the foundation’s mandatory contribution rate to Legal Aid Alberta to 50 per cent from 25 per cent. The foundation generates revenue from interest earned on a lawyers’ pooled trust accounts. It then distributes that revenue to non-profits, including Legal Aid Alberta and smaller clinics like the Indigenous Justice Centre and Community Legal Clinic. Boosting the contribution to Legal Aid Alberta will make less funding available to those smaller outfits, many of which rely fully on the foundation, said executive director Byron...
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Canadian minister warns that Americans will experience economic pain from Trump tariffs
By Fatima Hussein, Josh Boak And Chris Rugaber WASHINGTON (AP) — Canada’s energy minister came to Washington this week to warn U.S. lawmakers about President-elect Donald Trump’s tariffs threat on Canada: They’d inflict economic pain on Americans, with higher prices and job losses. Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s minister of energy and natural resources, said he feels obligated to sound the alarm about the inflationary risks being created by a president who was elected in large part on the promise of bringing down prices. “It will mean higher gas prices, it will mean higher food prices, it will mean higher natural gas prices for heating people’s homes,” he told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “It will mean higher electricity prices. That’s not something Donald Trump campaigned on. He campaigned on actually reducing...
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First Nations group presses Ottawa to come back to the table for child welfare talks
By Alessia Passafiume (CP)-The First Nations Child and Family Caring Society is calling on the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal to force the federal government back to the negotiation table on national reforms to the child welfare system after chiefs voted down proposed changes on two occasions last year. The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations is asking for an update from the Caring Society months after chiefs put it and a newly formed committee in charge of seeking new negotiations with Canada, and after Canada informed the assembly it was only prepared to renegotiate with First Nations in Ontario. “The AFN remains quite concerned with recent developments, particularly if any of the financial commitments under the agreement-in-principle or the draft final agreement will continue to be secured for...
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Judge rules in favour of Frederick Blake Jr. as GTC grand chief
By Tom Taylor, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, NWT Supreme Court Justice Annie Piche has ruled that Frederick Blake Jr. is the “duly-elected grand chief” of the Gwich’in Tribal Council (GTC), and there is no need to hold a new election for the position. “I order the board of the Gwich’in Tribal Council to abstain from holding a new election for the position of grand chief until Frederick Blake Jr.’s term expires or until his position otherwise becomes vacant,” the judge stated in a 34-page ruling released on Jan. 15. Blake was elected grand chief on Aug. 19, 2024, defeating incumbent Ken Kyikavichik 604 votes to 515. The day after the election, Kyikavichik filed a complaint with the GTC Elections Committee calling for a new election based on four alleged violations...
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Forestry ‘transition’ sets off review of BC Timber Sales, province says
(CP)-The “significant pressures” on British Columbia’s forest industry have prompted a review of BC Timber Sales, the organization that manages about 20 per cent of the annual allowable cut. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar says in a statement that the review will ensure the sector can continue to evolve to overcome challenges and create a more resilient industry in the future. Parmar says he has asked Lennard Joe, CEO of the First Nations Forestry Council; George Abbott, a former B.C. government cabinet minister; and Brian Frenkel, a councillor with the District of Vanderhoof, to lead the review. The statement says taking the action recognizes the pressures the forest sector is under from declining allowable annual cuts, difficulty accessing fibre, global economic conditions and heightened environmental and trade protections. Recommendations expected from...
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Victoria police use-of-force data shows Indigenous ‘overrepresentation’
By Darryl Greer (CP)-B.C.’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner says it’s planning to release the results of an inquiry into police use of force in the province later this year, but it’s still crunching numbers in the meantime. The inquiry launched last January is probing police departments for use-of-force data to determine if it shows “disproportionate impacts to racialized persons or persons with mental health issues.” The Victoria Police Department on Wednesday released race-based data showing an “overrepresentation” of Indigenous people in cases involving police use of force over a six-year period from 2018 to 2023. But the police department said the overrepresentation is also reflected in the justice system overall and the data doesn’t mean officers are choosing to use force “on one specific ethnicity over another.” The...
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Two First Nations women from Canada included in newest cohort for filmmaking program
By Crystal St. Pierre, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Six Indigenous filmmakers, including two from Canada, will be the next cohort of the 4th World Media Lab 2025 fellowship program. For 10 years the program has been offering mid-career Indigenous filmmakers the opportunity to develop their filmmaking skills and networks through a comprehensive year of hands-on training and networking. The concept for the program began with a Coast Salish Elder and has been designed to uplift the voices and perspectives of Indigenous artists. “Essentially the fellowship began in 2015 in a response to recognizing that in the film and media industry, there’s a lot of opportunities for first timers or for seasoned folks but there’s not a ton of opportunity for people who are in that in-between space,” said Tracy Rector, founder...
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New financial program for Indigenous women and two-spirit people
By Pearl Lorentzen Local Journalism Initiative Reporter A new program out of Slave Lake focuses on empowering local Indigenous women and two-spirit people with culturally-inspired financial training. Chana Trudel is the coordinator for a new program out of Community Futures Lesser Slave Lake Region. It is called LIFT, which stands for Learning Indigenous Financial Teachings. It is a three-year program paid for by a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) grant. “I’m Indigenous,” says Trudel, “and was born and mostly raised here (Slave Lake).” Community Futures is based in Slave Lake, but serves the whole region from west of High Prairie to Wabasca and north to Red Earth Creek. The LIFT program is for self-identified Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people living in the area. The Canadian Encyclopedia says, “Two-Spirit,...
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