Neglected North Shore Plantation Waterways Fueled Damaging Hawaii Floods
By Thomas Heaton, Blaze Lovell And Caitlin Thompson/Honolulu Civil Beat Sarah Ghio leans on the rear bumper of her dead silver SUV, taking a sip of juice to wet her chapped lips. It’s her sole alternative since she returned to her flood-stricken North Shore Oʻahu farm, where tap water remained unsafe to drink. You can see the exhaustion in her face, hear it in her voice. Ghio lives off the grid on leased land once owned by Dole Food’s sister company Castle and Cooke, a small piece of more than 300 acres still framed by the pineapple plantation’s century-plus-old irrigation ditches. Invasive weeds have, over time, strangled that ditch system, which merges with natural streams to carry water through farm fields and out to the ocean. If the Kona low...
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Mark Taylor’s Flutes: Connecting Audiences to Indigenous Sound and Culture
By Chevi Rabbit, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Alberta Native News (ANNews) – The flute, one of the oldest instruments known to humankind, has long carried stories through generations. The Indigenous flute held particular importance in courtship, ceremony, and storytelling. Today, Cree flutist Mark Taylor continues that legacy, mastering both the craft and the music, and sharing it with audiences across Edmonton. “I grew up in Treaty 5, just outside of Winnipeg, in a small town called Selkirk, Manitoba. I did not grow up on a reserve,” Taylor recalled. “When my father and his siblings were being taken to residential school, my grandmother – who had attended residential school herself – told them to go hide. They ran into the bush and hid. A lot of my family didn’t go back...
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‘Full of gratitude’: First Nations child welfare deal approved
By Matt Prokopchuk, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, NWOnewswatch.com TORONTO — First Nations leaders in Ontario are celebrating a decision by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal over the future of child welfare. On Monday, the tribunal approved the Ontario Final Agreement — the nine-year, $8.5-billion deal that the Chiefs of Ontario and Nishnawbe Aski Nation reached with the federal government in 2025 that will give communities control over things like foster care, child protective services and adoption in their First Nations. “The chiefs have the authority to decide how to look after their own children and what is in the best interests of their children,” Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler told a press conference in Toronto Monday afternoon after the tribunal issued its decision. “I’m so full of gratitude...
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Human rights tribunal approves massive child welfare deal for Ontario FirstNations
By Alessia Passafiume The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal has approved a landmark First Nations child welfare deal between the federal government and First Nations in Ontario, partially ending a decades-long discrimination case. Monday’s decision comes after chiefs twice voted down a national $47.8 billion deal proposed by the federal government to reform the child welfare system, and a tumultuous two years of political infighting in the country’s most prominent First Nations organization on the way forward. The tribunal said it chose to issue a “letter decision” ahead of a formal decision to come later, so First Nations in Ontario do not lose a full year of funding under the agreement. It said it reserves the right to make changes to the letter decision after its release. “In choosing to work...
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Federal government rejects Inuit association requests on assault-style weapons ban
By William Koblensky Varela, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunavut News The federal government has declined to extend the amnesty period for assault-style firearm owners to turn their guns in to police by Oct. 30. Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) asked the federal government on March 26 to delay the ban on rapid reloading guns by five years. “The amnesty period will expire on Oct. 30, 2026. After this date, owners of prohibited firearms who do not come into compliance with the law risk losing their possession and acquisition licence and [would be] facing criminal liability,” said Simon Lafortune, press secretary for the Minister of Public Safety. In addition, NTI also asked the Government of Canada to allow Inuit to use the soon-to-be banned weapons during an extended amnesty period. The federal...
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B.C. Conservative leadership hopeful Fulmer enters ‘unite the right’ deal with Brodie
By Wolfgang Depner B.C. Conservative leadership candidate Yuri Fulmer and breakaway MLA Dallas Brodie have announced a “unite the right accord” to avoid vote-splitting if Fulmer becomes Opposition leader. “British Columbians are desperate for real change, but they are concerned that a split vote will hand the NDP another majority,” Brodie, the leader and sole legislator for the OneBC party, said in a joint statement with Fulmer. “Today, we have resolved those concerns.” Brodie has drawn accusations of bigotry for campaigning against what her party calls the “reconciliation industry,” while entrepreneur Fulmer is one of six remaining candidates to succeed former leader John Rustad. Fulmer said in an interview that he made the deal with Brodie because he is a “pragmatist” and a business person, who sees OneBC polling around...
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Nunavut Inuit association giving $163.8 million to regional Inuit associations for housing construction
By William Koblensky Varela, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunavut News Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) concluded its board meetings in Nuuk, Greenland, on March 30 by approving the disbursal of $163.8 million for housing construction during the 2026-27 period. Homes built using those funds will be transferred to NTI’s Igluvut Corporation, an affordable housing non-profit organization for Inuit in the territory. In addition, NTI will spend $28 million on food security, Inuit self-determination in health, and community health workers through local organizations providing wellness programs. Those plans are part of NTI’s $30.2-million operating budget for this year. This year, $2.85 million will be spent on accompanying patients of medical travel through the bereavement and compassionate travel program, an increase of nearly 30 per cent per cent from last year. NTI is...
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B.C. introducing legislative amendments to increase wood fibre supply
The B.C. government says it’s making legislative changes to bolster access to wood fibre, including timber damaged by wildfires, insects and windstorms. The forests ministry says the changes will potentially increase the supply of fibre by as much as 17,700 truckloads, and the changes will allow BC Timber Sales to auction off contracts for forestry thinning, wildfire risk reduction and damaged timber salvage. A statement from the ministry says these “fibre-generating activities” will be available to forestry contractors and value-added mills. It says the new amendments to the Forest Act and Forest and Range Practices Act will create more opportunities for loggers and contractors while strengthening partnerships with First Nations. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar says the changes will matter for mill workers who will see a “steady stream of timber,”...
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Job seekers pack Ramara job fair amid cost-of-living squeeze
By Danielle Pitman, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, OrilliaMatters.com With last year’s talk of tariffs and trade wars still swirling, the current state of the economy is overshadowed by the rising costs of living. A job fair organized by the Ramara Chamber of Commerce and Chippewas of Rama First Nations economic development department provided a window into the local job market. There was a lot of engagement from the community. Within the first couple of hours of Thursday’s event, more than 75 people had signed the registration form. This year there were also more employers who responded quickly, said Carol Benedetti, office administrator with the Ramara Chamber of Commerce. The OPP had a table with details about two jobs: civilian data entry clerks and provincial communications operators. Both positions begin on...
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Human rights tribunal approves massive child welfare deal for Ontario FirstNations
By The Canadian Press The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal has approved a landmark First Nations child welfare deal between the federal government and First Nations in Ontario, partially ending a decades-long discrimination case. Monday’s decision comes after chiefs across the country twice voted down a national $47.8 billion deal proposed by the federal government to reform the child welfare system. The tribunal said it chose to issue a “letter decision” ahead of a formal decision to come later, so that First Nations in Ontario do not lose a full year of funding under the agreement. It said it reserves the right to make changes to the letter decision after its release. “In choosing to work with the (Chiefs of Ontario) and the (Nishnawbe Aski Nation), and in recognizing their rightful...
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‘Carney is at a crossroads’ with First Nations, says AFN national chief
By David P. Ball, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, IndigiNews Prime Minister Mark Carney has earned a “mixed” report card over his first year in office, according to the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN). Asked to grade the Liberal leader’s performance, Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak told IndigiNews he “is at a crossroads” if he wants to earn Indigenous people’s trust while also achieving his economic ambitions. She gave the former central banker positive grades for his willingness to meet with and hear from chiefs, Woodhouse Nepinak noted. Carney marked one year since being sworn into office on March 14. He raised hopes for many Indigenous leaders with his subsequent election platform. “At the core of a Mark Carney-led government will be a fundamental commitment to advance the process...
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Human rights tribunal approves massive child welfare deal for Ontario FirstNations
By The Canadian Press The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal has approved a landmark First Nations child welfare deal between the federal government and First Nations in Ontario, partially ending a decades-long discrimination case. Monday’s decision comes after chiefs across the country twice voted down a national $47.8 billion deal proposed by the federal government to reform the child welfare system in 2024. The decision marks a step toward resolving a dispute that began in 2007 when the Assembly of First Nations and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society filed a joint human rights complaint about federal child welfare funding. In a ruling on that complaint in 2016, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal concluded the federal government had discriminated against First Nations children by underfunding the on-reserve child welfare...
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Vancouver Island First Nations gain control of three Clayoquot Sound forestry areas
By Brenna Owen Tyson Atleo, a hereditary leader of the Ahousaht First Nation, says the creation of three new forestry areas to be managed by his community and two others on the west coast of Vancouver Island marks the realization of a long-standing promise. Atleo recalls assuring the community more than 15 years ago that “we would find a pathway forward to regaining control over some of our forest resources.” The vision is to manage the forests of Clayoquot Sound, a globally recognized biosphere that includes Tofino, B.C., in a way that reflects the nation’s interest in ecological integrity and balance it with access to economic opportunity, he said. The total combined area of the three new tree farm licenses is about 52,000 hectares, with Ahousaht set to manage about...
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Strangers drawn to Membertou’s good-natured lifetime achievement award winner
y Rosemary Godin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cape Breton Post For 49 years, Anthony “Ikey” Paul has been driving a school bus in Membertou. What’s most delightful to him these days is when he runs into those then-teenagers from years ago with their grandchildren in tow. He has always driven high school-age students and says they were the “best kids.” “There was no problem with any of the kids when I was driving,” says Paul. And he jokes: “We knew who all their parents were.” Paul is now a supervisor and drives occasionally. Laughing, he says at times he will see a student get on a bus that is a child of someone he drove in the past, “and I’ll go: oh no, there’s gonna be trouble – because they’re...
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Tate McRae continues Junos reign with four big wins, despite not attending ceremony
By Alex Nino Gheciu Tate McRae says she’s “Canada down” — and the country’s evidently pretty down with her too, as she led all winners at the Juno Awards industry gala on Saturday. However, the Calgary-born pop star did not attend the ceremony, nor did she provide a video message or written statement acknowledging the wins. The absenteeism turned out to be a theme of the evening as several winners, as well as top nominees Justin Bieber and The Weeknd, no-showed at the Hamilton ceremony where most of the awards were handed out. McRae took home four of the night’s biggest prizes, including artist of the year, single of the year for “Sports Car” and album of the year for “So Close To What,” along with pop album of the...
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Indigenous stewards on BC’s coast left in the dark as sun sets on federal guardianship program
By Hope Lompe, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Canada’s National Observer The Enhanced Nature Legacy fund is scheduled to sunset on Mar. 31, potentially affecting hundreds of jobs — and for those affected, there’s no word yet on what will happen afterward. Indigenous Nations are bracing for a funding cut to their stewardship offices and guardian programs as the Carney government signals another departure from Trudeau-era environmental policies. The Hill Times reported earlier this month that federal estimates show conservation funding is set to be reduced from $953 million in 2025-26 to $366 million in 2026-27. “Definitely a lot of concern out there, because there’s a lot of implementation dollars on the table [and] we haven’t been told [if] Canada is not renewing some of it,” said Dallas Smith, president of...
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Oka supports Kanesatake security team
By Hadassah Alencar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Eastern Door The Municipality of Oka announced that both the municipalities of Oka and Two Mountains and all the townships within them will adopt a resolution in support for funding for the Kanesatake Perimeter Security (KPS) at their next council meeting. “It is important for our region to support the efforts of the Kanesatake community to provide a safe living environment for its residents. By supporting the request to renew funding for KPS, we are taking a step in the right direction,” said Oka mayor Patrick Hardy in the press release issued on March 25. The decision to jointly support the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake (MCK) caretaker council’s efforts to fund the KPS was made on March 23 by all elected officials...
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HIV education and awareness non-profit to visit Indigenous communities
By Ed Hitchins, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Energeticcity.ca FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A regional non-profit dedicated to promoting awareness of HIV and AIDS will make stops in Treaty 8 communities next month. Positive Living North is scheduled to hold sessions regarding education, testing and awareness of the human immuno virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) at Blueberry River First Nations (BRFN) and West Moberly First Nations (WMFN) in April. The Indigenous-led organization was founded in 1992 and holds workshops throughout the region promoting preventative health and holistic wellbeing to residents throughout northern British Columbia. According to Fort St. John Positive Living North community health educator Jufil Boquecosa, the sessions are part of an initiative funded by the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA). She told Energeticcity.ca the purpose of...
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‘Horrific loss’: Man guilty of killing five gets life sentence
By Carrie Ivardi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, TBnewswatch.com Warning: This story contains details that may be disturbing to read KENORA — Archie McKay has been sentenced to imprisonment for life. The Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug man was convicted last May on five counts of second-degree murder for setting the fire that killed his partner, Geraldine Chapman, their daughter, Shyra Chapman, and three children in Geraldine’s care, Angel McKay, Karl Cutfeet and Hailey Chapman. Justice J.S. Fregeau handed down the sentence in a Kenora courtroom on Monday. Fregeau imposed concurrent sentences for each of the five murders. McKay will serve 25 years of imprisonment before being eligible for parole. “He imposed the highest sentence possible in Canadian law on Archie,” said Assistant Crown Attorney James Cavanagh, who worked on this case with colleagues...
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Inquest to examine death of Ontario Indigenous woman following hospital visit
By Maan Alhmidi An inquest is set to begin next week to investigate the 2021 death of an Indigenous woman in St. Catharines, Ont., shortly after she was discharged from a hospital emergency room visit. Heather Winterstein was a 24-year-old member of the Cayuga Nation with ties to Six Nations of the Grand River. The Chiefs of Ontario organization said Winterstein went to the emergency department Marotta Family Hospital for a severe backache on Dec. 9, 2021, when she was given Tylenol and discharged. It said Winterstein returned the following day, collapsed in the waiting room and later died. The organization, which represents First Nations chiefs in the province, said no answers have been given to her friends or family. “Heather’s death is a tragic reminder of the systemic racism...
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