‘If more women are part of the decision-making, I think we would all live in a better world’
By Kira Wronska Dorward, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunavut News Recently-appointed Nunavut Senator Nancy Karetak-Lindell was born in what was then called Eskimo Point, Northwest Territories, in 1967. “I had a wonderful childhood,” she says. “My world was my community, my family. We had not very much contact with the outside world in those days.” Karetak-Lindell was fortunate to be able to stay in the local community, now called Arviat, up until Grade 8, after which she attended residential school in Yellowknife. “Those days, they did not send students [from Kivalliq] home for Christmas, so we stayed in Yellowknife… [I spent] a lot of time away from home. That was the most difficult time.” From a small and close-knit community, the drastic change to a very regimented life “was absolutely...
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What the N.W.T. can learn from Lytton about climate resilience
By Claire McFarlane, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cabin Radio In June of 2021, the village of Lytton, British Columbia, burned down in less than an hour. Lytton is known as “Canada’s hotspot” due to its geography and location, within a canyon that make it one of the hottest places in the country during a heat wave. Patrick Michell said he received a text message from his wife at 4:58 p.m. on the day of the fire, asking him to come home to help with a grandchild’s diaper change. At 5 p.m., she texted to say she had just received a call that there was a fire in town. By 5:02 p.m. their house was on fire. Michell, a former chief of the Kanaka Bar Indian Band just south of Lytton...
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Freeland ‘uniquely qualified’ to lead Canada through ‘greatest threat’ since WWII
By David Baxter When former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland enters her campaign rallies in her bid to become the next Liberal leader, speakers always blare Nelly Furtado’s 2006 hit “Maneater.” It is a nod to the central theme of her pitch to the country: she will not shy away from taking on powerful men. With just one week left before the race concludes, that message is front and centre as she declares that her political experience makes her “uniquely qualified” for the challenges facing Canada today. Those challenges have increased since she launched her leadership bid in mid-January, and she now calls the battle ahead the “greatest threat since the Second World War.” With polls and fundraising pointing to former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney as the front-runner,...
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Squamish Nation carver restores historical totem pole now at Seaspan in North Vancouver
By Abby Luciano, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, North Shore News An 18-foot, colourful totem pole resembling a bear, frog and thunderbird now stands in front of Seaspan’s main office in North Vancouver. Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) artist Darren Yelton was given the task of restoring the decades-old totem pole after facing natural damage over the years. An “Opening of the Eyes” ceremony – a traditional celebration by the Squamish Nation – was held last month in front of Seaspan’s Pemberton location to share the newly finished totem pole, but also celebrate Yelton’s hard work. “As a totem pole carver, I enjoy what I do. It’s in my culture. I’m keeping my history alive,” Yelton said. The animals on the totem pole represent the Coast Salish people, and the pole’s roots...
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Area residents to be made aware of fraudulent status cards
By Carl Clutchey, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Chronicle-Journal THUNDER BAY,ONT-A scheme involving fake Indigenous status cards near Sault Ste. Marie doesn’t appear to have shown up in the Thunder Bay area as yet, but officials said they will make locals aware of the scam. On Thursday, Batchewana First Nation issued an alert bulletin about fake cards being used in that community during attempts to fraudulently access band services. “Police have confiscated two of these cards and advise anyone who encounters a suspicious card to notify police immediately,” a Batchewana First Nation news release said. “Using and manufacturing a fake status card is a criminal offence and individuals using these cards can be charged with fraud and forgery,” the release added. The fakes “are flimsy, are not signed by an...
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Híɫzaqv leaders take RCMP to court, say police discriminate against the nation’s laws
By David P. Ball, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, IndigiNews Hereditary and elected leaders of Híɫzaqv Nation are taking the RCMP to court, saying the police force refuses to enforce the nation’s bylaws — including a law expelling drug dealers and sexual offenders from the community. The lawsuit says this had led to “an atmosphere of fear and lawlessness” on reserve that put members’ safety at risk. It further states that the case has broader implications around whether “Canada” respects Híɫzaqv jurisdiction on their own territories. K̓áwáziɫ Marilyn Slett, elected chief councillor of the Heiltsuk Tribal Council, said at a press conference Tuesday that the RCMP’s lack of action means “drug dealers and sexual offenders can act freely without fear of enforcement.” “We’re facing a critical problem,” she said. “The only...
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Man who killed Indigenous woman in northern Alberta released from prison
By Fakiha Baig -CP-Nicole Gladue-Weesemat wailed after learning the man who stabbed her mother in northern Alberta a decade ago, then moved her dead body to Manitoba, is out of prison. She says she has been overwhelmed with emotions since Corrections officials told her that Grant Sneesby was freed earlier this month after being granted statutory release. “I haven’t cried like this since (police) told us they found her,” she said Friday from her home in Edson, west of Edmonton. She said she misses her mother, Gloria Gladue, and has a hard time forgetting Sneesby’s trial. “I’m shaking because it’s never easy talking about.” Gladue, a member of Bigstone Cree Nation, was last seen in Wabasca, Alta., in October 2015. The remains of the 44-year-old were found in rural Manitoba...
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Supreme Court dismisses appeal from Saskatchewan government involving Métis group
-CP-The Supreme Court of Canada has dismissed an appeal from the Saskatchewan government over a lawsuit alleging a Métis organization wasn’t consulted over uranium exploration permits. The unanimous ruling issued Friday lets Métis Nation Saskatchewan proceed with its legal action against the province, after permits were granted more than three years ago in northwest Saskatchewan near Patterson Lake. The court says it was not an abuse of process for Métis Nation Saskatchewan to sue the province on the issue. “Although abuse of process is possible in proceedings involving Indigenous litigants, the unique context of Aboriginal rights litigation must always be borne in mind,” the decision says. Métis Nation Saskatchewan filed a claim in 2021 against the province, arguing it had Aboriginal title and rights to the land where NexGen Energy...
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Kahnawake sewage discharged into St. Lawrence
By Eve Cable, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter A maintenance operation at Kahnawake’s sewage treatment plant this week saw more sewage than expected discharged into the St. Lawrence River – though the Kahnawake Environment Protection Office (KEPO) maintains that the environmental impact of the discharge remains “low.” “Any amount is never something that we want to do,” said Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) grand chief Cody Diabo. “But we took all the precautions possible, and this is what happens with aging facilities.” Initially, MCK had told the community that the operation could potentially require the dumping of up to 200 cubic metres of untreated sewage into the St. Lawrence River, an operation that needed to take place due to clogging in the town system that had slowed the sewage treatment process...
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Ottawa tells First Nations chiefs committee to sort out child welfare talks with AFN
By Alessia Passafiume -CP-Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu says Ottawa needs the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and a committee trying to renegotiate a child welfare agreement to decide who’s leading the talks before any progress can be made. “There has been confusion regarding the role of the National Children’s Chiefs Committee and whether you and the committee are the body that Canada should be working with,” says a Feb. 25 letter from Hajdu to the chair of the National Children’s Chiefs Commission. “I would encourage the National Children’s Chiefs Commission to work directly with officials from the Assembly of First Nations … to clarify this situation.” After seeing Hajdu’s letter, the Assembly of First Nations said it has made it “consistently clear” to the federal government that it must...
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One dead, two hurt in Sandy Lake First Nation house fire
-CP-Police say one person was found dead and two others were injured after a home caught fire in Sandy Lake First Nation earlier this week. Nishnawbe Aski Police Service says officers responded to a report of a fire in the northern Ontario community Tuesday afternoon and found the home engulfed in flames. Police say community firefighters also rushed to the scene and worked to extinguish the fire. They say two individuals who fled the home were taken to the community nursing station for treatment and their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. Police say a third occupant of the home was unaccounted for and human remains were found at the scene the next day. Police, the fire marshal and the coroner’s office are working to identify the deceased and...
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Zelenskyy leaves White House after Trump cuts short talks following Oval Office blow up
By Will Weissert, Zeke Miller And Justin Spike WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy left the White House without signing a critical minerals deal with the U.S. that President Donald Trump had demanded and suggested was a condition for future support for Ukraine. His departure early Friday afternoon came after Trump cut short talks over the deal and shouted at Zelenskyy in the Oval Office. Trump berated Zelenskyy for being “disrespectful.” The pair had planned to sign an agreement and hold a joint news conference. Untouched salad plates and other lunch items were being packed up outside the Cabinet room where the lunch between Trump and Zelenskyy and their delegations was supposed to have taken place. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. WASHINGTON (AP)...
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Supreme Court dismisses appeal from Saskatchewan government involving Métis group
The Supreme Court of Canada has dismissed an appeal from the Saskatchewan government over a lawsuit alleging a Métis organization wasn’t consulted over uranium exploration permits. The unanimous ruling issued Friday lets Métis Nation Saskatchewan proceed with its legal action against the province, after permits were granted more than three years ago in northwest Saskatchewan near Patterson Lake. The court says it was not an abuse of process for Métis Nation Saskatchewan to sue the province on the issue. “Although abuse of process is possible in proceedings involving Indigenous litigants, the unique context of Aboriginal rights litigation must always be borne in mind,” the decision says. Métis Nation Saskatchewan filed a claim in 2021 against the province arguing it had Aboriginal title and rights to the land where NexGen Energy...
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Fraudulent Status Cards Circulate In Sault Ste. Marie In Attempts To Gain Services
BATCHEWANA FIRST NATION- First Nation communities are being warned to be on the look out for fraudulent status cards that have begun circulating in Ontario. Reports of the fake cards have surfaced at Batchewana First Nation where both leadership and the Batchewana First Nation Police issued warnings to residents, business owners and program managers of reports of fraudulent status cards surfacing and attempts made to use the cards to gain First Nations services. The Batchewana First Nation Police have confiscated two of the fake cards and are advising anyone who encounters a suspicious card to notify the police immediately. Using and manufacturing a fake status card is a criminal offense and individuals using these cards can be charged with fraud and forgery. The cards are described as flimsy, do not...
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The secret lives of polar bear families
By Louise Archer Postdoctoral Fellow, Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Despite being the largest land carnivore and a top Arctic predator that can weigh over 600 kg, polar bears start off surprisingly small. Blind, almost hairless, and weighing just 600g at birth, cubs are born in maternity dens under the snow. These snow caves keep newborns warm and safe for the first few months of their life, when they grow rapidly by nursing on their mother’s rich milk. After three to four months in the den, cubs will have grown to about 20 times their birth weight and will be large enough and furry enough to follow their mothers out into the frigid Arctic spring. In a study published in The Journal of Wildlife Management, we used remote cameras to...
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Hockey gear welcomed in Cat Lake
By Sandi Krasowski, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Chronicle-Journal In a show of support, businesses and organizations from across the province demonstrated how easy a village can raise a child. This month, youths in Cat Lake First Nation received 1,300 pounds of gear that was collected from local hockey communities in the Oakville and Milton areas. The initiative reinforces the commitment to making sports accessible for Indigenous youths. The donated new and gently used hockey equipment was also collected from key sponsors and transported to Cat Lake in a large partnership chain. Stephanie Paxton, executive director at Mikinakoos Children’s Fund, said this is the fourth year they have received the donation, which arrived at a crucial time as Cat Lake prepares for an upcoming hockey tournament at the end of...
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Zelenskyy meets Trump at White House and seeks security assurances against future Russian aggression
By Will Weissert And Justin Spike WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated Volodymyr Zelenskyy as Ukraine’s leader sought security guarantees as the U.S. tries to bring an end to the Russia-Ukraine war. Trump told Zelenskyy that doing so was disrespectful, as Zelenskky was pushing for U.S. security commitments to keep his country safe from further Russian aggression. You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people,” Trump said. “You’re gambling with World War III, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have.” THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Friday with President Donald Trump...
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Progressive Conservative incumbent takes Brantford-Brant
By Celeste Percy-Beauregard, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Hamilton Spectator PC incumbent Will Bouma was criticized for being an “absent” representative during the campaign, but it clearly wasn’t an issue for Brantford-Brant voters. Bouma handily took his third consecutive win in the riding — which includes the City of Brantford, Brant County, Six Nations of the Grand River and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. “It’s gratifying to have the support of the people in the community, because we’ve been working very, very hard for the community,” Bouma told reporters following his victory. The optometrist and volunteer firefighter previously served as a Brant County councillor. During the brief campaign, he received criticism from Green Party candidate Karleigh Csordas, who called Bouma an “absent MPP” in a Facebook post last week...
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Exhibit at McMichael gallery to feature life’s changes in Nunavut village
By Sam Laskaris, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Windspeaker.com A new exhibit at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection will feature works that showcase societal changes in Kinngait, an Inuit hamlet in Nunavut, during the past five decades. The exhibit, titled Worlds on Paper: Drawings from Kinngait, will open on March 8 at the McMichael gallery, located in Kleinburg, Ont., a village just north of Toronto. The McMichael gallery has held in trust more than 90,000 Kinngait drawings in its archives since the 1990s. Many of these drawings have never been shown outside of the Kinngait community, which was known as Cape Dorset until its name change in 2020. Emily Laurent Henderson, McMichael’s associate curator of Indigenous arts and culture, has curated the upcoming exhibit, which will run until Aug. 24. Henderson...
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Indigenous language showcased on new West Coast bus stop signs, a first for BC Transit
By Nora O’Malley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Ha-Shilth-Sa West Coast, BC – BC Transit has incorporated Nuu-chah-nulth language on all the new bus stop signs within the refreshed West Coast Transit System, a historical first for the province’s official transit service provider. Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ (Ucluelet First Nation) language keepers Marge Touchie (ʔaʔasmacy̓ak) and Jeneva Touchie (Čakʷaasiqḥw̓iłim) worked on the translations for stops within Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ traditional territory. “It’s an honour to share language within our community, it connects us and shows that representation matters,” said Jeneva in a written statement. Prior to the bus stop signage, Jeneva and Marge also supported the translation of street names within the municipality of Ucluelet and provided the Ucluelet Co-op with words and phrases for displays. “Bit by bit we are incorporating more language within our...
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