Help to combat drug-addiction community emergency funded
Local Journalism Initiative 19/07/2024 12:50 Fort William First Nation has received federal funding to hire a public safety and emergency co-ordinator to help it deal with an ongoing drug-addiction emergency. “This will help address the state of emergency, and relieve some of the pressure off Chief (Michele Solomon), council and community as they co-ordinate a path forward,” a spokesman for Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) said on Thursday. The decision to create the position was made following a meeting this week between FWFN band leadership and Indigenous Services Canada Minister Patty Hajdu (Thunder Bay-Superior North). Last week Fort William First Nation declared a state of emergency over an “escalating situation” related to opioid drugs. Solomon said that in addition to reaching out to community, police and treaty partners, the community would...
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Liberal House leader Steven MacKinnon sworn in as labour minister, replacing O’Regan
The Canadian Press 19/07/2024 09:05 Government House leader Steven MacKinnon has been sworn in as the federal Liberals’ new minister for labour and seniors. He participated in a ceremony at Rideau Hall this morning alongside Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Gov. Gen. Mary Simon. MacKinnon joined cabinet as the House leader in January to replace Karina Gould while she is on maternity leave. He previously served as the Liberals’ chief whip in the House of Commons. Outgoing labour minister Seamus O’Regan announced Thursday he was resigning from cabinet for family reasons, though he is staying on as a Newfoundland MP until the next federal election. The full cabinet is expected to meet virtually today for the first time since the Liberals’ surprising loss in a Toronto byelection last month. This...
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Kids Club Off to Nice Start
By Carol Baldwin Local Journalism Initiative Reporter 18/07/2024 The first cultural learning afternoon for attendees of the 2024 Kids Club in Wakaw was held on Wednesday, July 10. Forty-three young people learned about bannock making and the ribbon skirt from Val Gaudet, a citizen of Batoche Homeland of the MetisLocal #51. Val shares her knowledge and skills regularly at special events designed to acquaint people with Metis history and culture. Dwane Burke, Recreation & Community Development Manager, with the Town of Wakaw, asked the children, “How many of you have had Bannock?” Roughly half raised their hands, and nearly half of those again asserted they had made it. Although the Metisculture is one of the historic cultures of the area, with intra- and interprovincial migration and international immigration, significant numbers...
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‘Like lava’: Evacuee tells of frightening fire escape, as blazes spike across B.C.
The Canadian Press 18/07/2024 Nandini Villeneuve and other residents of the Saranagati Hare Krishna village were in a meeting with emergency staff from the Thompson-Nicola Regional District late Wednesday when it was announced that a wildfire bearing down on the religious community had worsened. “It kind of just took off and then we were told that the meeting is done, and you guys are getting out of here,” said Villeneuve. She said that when she and the 25 families living in Sarangati left for Cache Creek around 7 p.m. the Shetland Creek wildfire was descending the mountain “like lava coming down,” shocking evacuees with its speed. The rapid growth of the out-of-control Shetland Creek fire in the B.C. Interior came ahead of a major spike in the number of fires...
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Yukon government ready to step in after mine disaster, firm’s silence ‘unhelpful’
The Canadian Press 18/07/2024 Yukon’s deputy mining minister says it’s “unfortunate and frankly unhelpful” that the owners of the Eagle Gold mine have been “silent in general” about action to remedy a disastrous ore slide that spilled hundreds of millions of litres of cyanide solution. Lauren Haney said Victoria Gold had been “doing a lot of work” to treat and divert contaminated water, but it may not be enough, and the Yukon government was contemplating stepping in to “complement and supplement” the company’s work. She told a briefing on Thursday that officials were “relying heavily” on the advice from technical experts to keep them apprised of the situation at the disaster site, and the territorial government hasn’t ruled out taking on a greater role. “We are looking at all the...
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Mount Currie cold case reignited after new tip
By Roisin Cullen Local Journalism Initiative Reporter 18/07/2024 Sea to Sky RCMP’s General Investigation Section executed a search warrant at a property in Mount Currie on Wednesday, July 17 in cooperation with the Stl’atl’imx Tribal Police Service, and with the assistance of the RCMP Integrated Forensic Investigation Services and RCMP Tac Troop. The warrant is in connection to the historical disappearance of Stanley Peters Jr., who was reported missing from D’Arcy in 1987. According to a release, Pemberton RCMP received information related to the cold case on May 17. Since that time, the investigation has remained open and active, “with the goal of bringing Mr. Peters Jr. home to his family,” the release said. Police would not say what the warrant covered, or if anything was recovered during the search...
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How bootcamps are helping to address the historic gap in internet access on US tribal lands
The Associated Press 19/07/2024 There’s a home movie theater with orange walls and plush recliners at the top of a steep hill on Matthew Rantanen’s ranch in Southern California. But on a recent afternoon, people weren’t flocking to the room to watch a movie or to escape the scorching heat, they were shining a beam of light through more than 55,000 feet (17 kilometers) of fiber optic cable coiled up in the corner. The demonstration took place during a hands-on broadband training for tribal nations near rural Aguanga, about 53 miles (85 kilometers) north of San Diego. Participants handled fiber made up of strands of glass as thin as human hair that transmit energy through pulses of light. The session was part of an initiative founded in 2021 by Rantanen...
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‘Challenging’ wildfire conditions in B.C. as hot and dry weather persists
The Canadian Press 19/07/2024 Over 250 wildfires are burning in British Columbia as much of the province continues to bake under a heat wave that is expected to last into next week. Cliff Chapman with the BC Wildfire Service said Thursday that the province appeared to be “on the precipice of a very challenging 72 hours” with hot and dry weather, dry lightning and strong winds in the forecast. Parts of B.C. are expected to see temperatures in the mid- to high 30s over the coming days, along with overnight lows in the mid-teens. The out-of-control Shetland Creek fire in the Interior has grown to about 50 square kilometres in size and has led to some evacuation orders and alerts. An evacuation order issued by the Thompson-Nicola Regional District covers...
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Federal government announces $89 million for conservation projects across Canada
The Canadian Press 18/07/2024 The federal government is spending $89 million to fund 10 greenhouse gas emission reduction projects as the government works toward the goal of conserving 30 per cent of the country’s land and water by 2030. Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault made the announcement in British Columbia on Thursday, where he said the “evidence of climate change is striking,” referencing extreme weather events including flooding, drought and “devastating” wildfire seasons. “With the goal of reversing biodiversity loss across the country, bit by bit, we’re getting there, protecting prime lands and waters that serve up some of the most important habitats for imperilled species.” He added that the projects are also aiding in the fight against climate change. Guilbeault told the conference in West Vancouver that about $50 million...
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OPP raid two Haldimand County cannabis shops, seize $200,000 in products and currency
HALDIMAND COUNTY, ON – Haldimand-Norfolk Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Community Street Crime Unit (CSCU), and the Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team (PJFCET), raided two Haldimad County cannabis shops seizing products and Canadian currency valued at $200,000. OPP executed Cannabis Act search warrants at an address on Main Street in Dunnville and a Cayuga Street address in Cayuga Wednesday July 17,2024 seizing a quantity of illegal cannabis, cannabis products, and Canadian currency. The estimated value of the seized property is approximately $200,000. As a result of the investigation, a 55-year-old from Hamilton has been charged with the following offences: Obtain or Offer to Obtain Cannabis by Any Method or Process Possessing Cannabis for the Purpose of Selling Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000 Further, a 32-year-old and...
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Group says photos of reclusive tribe on Peru beach show logging concessions are ‘dangerously close’
This June 2024 photo provided by Survival International shows members of the Mashco Piro along the Las Piedras River in the Peruvian Amazon near the community of Monte Salvado, in Madre de Dios province, Peru. (Survival International via AP) BY STEVEN GRATTAN The Associated Press 18/07/2024 15:50 An advocacy group for Indigenous peoples has released photographs of a reclusive tribe’s members searching for food on a beach in the Peruvian Amazon, calling it evidence that logging concessions are “dangerously close” to the tribe’s territory. Survival International said the photos and video it posted this week show members of the Mashco Piro looking for plantains and cassava near the community of Monte Salvado, on the Las Piedras River in Madre de Dios province. Several logging companies hold timber concessions inside territory inhabited by...
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Métis Federation adds office space, touts revitalization of downtown Winnipeg
The Canadian Press 18/07/2024 13:58 The Manitoba Métis Federation is finalizing the purchase of two more office buildings and a parking lot in the heart of downtown Winnipeg. The buildings are near the major intersection of Portage Avenue and Main Street, where the federation bought a former Bank of Montreal building in 2020. Federation president David Chartrand says it’s part of a plan to revitalize downtown Winnipeg, which has seen office vacancy rates rise since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Chartrand would not reveal how much the federation is paying but says it’s less than the estimated $140 million it would cost to construct new buildings. He says the federation plans to bring 160 employees downtown from other areas, in addition to staff already downtown. Chartrand, who has been...
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RCMP to heighten presence in N.S. town after patrol car set alight late at night
The Canadian Press /07/2024 14:38 The Mounties say they are bringing in more officers to a southwestern Nova Scotia community where a patrol car was set on fire in a service station lot earlier this week. Investigators say police responded to the blaze in Meteghan, N.S., after receiving a call around 1:45 a.m. on Wednesday. Officers say that when they arrived, they found that the police car had been destroyed and two other non-police vehicles that were parked nearby were damaged by the fire. Sgt. Jeff LeBlanc, the detachment commander, said in an interview that RCMP think the fire was set intentionally and that it is linked to other recent violent incidents in the area. He said that over the past six months the RCMP have investigated shots fired at...
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”Tactical evacuations’ as B.C. Interior wildfire grows: minister
The Canadian Press 18/07/2024 12:51 British Columbia’s minister for emergency management says “tactical evacuations” have been carried out in the Thompson-Nicola area of the province’s Interior, where an out-of-control wildfire is threatening communities. Bowinn Ma told a news briefing in Kamloops that the Shetland Creek fire grew “quickly and considerably last night.” The Thompson-Nicola Regional District issued an evacuation order for 76 properties in the Venables Valley area north of Spences Bridge due to the fire. The order issued at 10 p.m. last night says residents are to report to the emergency services reception centre at the community hall in nearby Cache Creek. Cook’s Ferry Indian Band has also expanded an evacuation order related to the same fire to include additional reserves along the Thompson River south of Ashcroft. The...
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Tipi Village at Ponoka Stampede promotes Indigenous culture and unity
By Chevi Rabbit, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The Tipi Village at Ponoka marked its third annual event with speeches from distinguished figures such as Premier Danielle Smith, Indigenous Relations Minister Rick Wilson, Ponoka Mayor Kevin Ferguson, and local leaders like Taylor Bull. Situated in Maskwacis traditional territory, the event aimed to spotlight the profound historical connections shared between Indigenous communities and Ponoka. Despite holding an MBA and a wealth of educational credentials, Suzanne Life-Yeomans attributes her community work more to traditional teachings than formal education. “It hasn’t influenced my community work as it was the traditional teachings that lead me to my community work,” she emphasizes. Although not Plains Cree and not native to the local community, Suzanne remains dedicated to honouring and advancing Indigenous history and understanding. “I like...
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Brant OPP warning public of romance scams, victim loses over $34,000
BRANT, ON -The Brant County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is urging the public to be cautious and vigilant after a victim suffered a signficiant financial loss in a romance scam. OPP said the victim met an individual online in April 2024 through a popular dating application. Police said after a few weeks of conversation, the individual gained the victim’s trust and convinced them to switch communication to a different platform, where they introduced the idea of investing in cryptocurrency. Trusting the individual, police said the victim made several transfers into a cryptocurrency account but has been unable to retrieve any of the funds. The scammer used multiple tactics to maintain the victim’s trust, including changing phone numbers, deactivating and reactivating social media profiles under different names, and requesting the victim...
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Kahnawake Grand Chief lauds council presence at AFN
By Marc Lalonde, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Newly elected Mohawk Council of Kahnawake Grand Chief Cody Diabo lauded his council’s presence at last week’s Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Annual General Assembly in downtown Montreal. “We definitely made our presence felt,” Diabo said. “We got a lot of good feedback from some of the community members who were there in other capacities. We really left our mark.” Over the two-day general assembly at Palais des Congres, Diabo got the opportunity to press federal leaders’ feet to the flames on different topics – not the least of which was the anniversary of July 11, 1990, which marked the day Kahnawake community members blocked access to Mercier Bridge in support of Kanehsatake, after the SQ raided that community over a golf course...
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Woman tied to two drug-related deaths granted bail
Pembroke – A woman with direct ties to two separate drug related deaths has been granted bail following a hearing last week and was ordered to reside with her surety until her next court appearance. However, a few days later, Kachina Sackaney was back in court when the person providing her surety revoked it. Ms. Sackaney, who was residing at 217 Vimy Boulevard in Renfrew, attended a bail hearing last Thursday, July 11 with Justice of the Peace Anne Colterman presiding. The hearing involved drug trafficking charges. Pembroke lawyer Tim McCann represented the federal Crown arguing against her release and Ms. Sackaney was represented by Ottawa lawyer Rob McGowan. Her hearing dealt with two charges including theft under $5,000 and a failure to comply with a probation order requiring her...
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Trudeau outlines details of $30B, 10-year fund for public transit
The Canadian Press Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says applications are now open for a national transit fund that will include money for existing transit systems so they can expand, improve and modernize. The $30-billion, 10-year Canada Public Transit Fund has been in the works for months and was in the recent federal budget. That money will be divided into three categories: baseline funding for existing systems, metro-region agreements for Canada’s biggest cities, and funding for specific things like rural communities, Indigenous communities and active transportation. The Liberals say this will complement the Housing Accelerator Fund by tying housing money to projects that are near public transit. The plan includes eliminating mandatory minimum parking requirements for new construction and allowing high-density housing projects near transit. The money isn’t set to flow...
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AFN head meets with Manitoba’s viceregal to seek independent inquiry into killings
The Canadian PressThe national chief of the Assembly of First Nations is urging Manitoba’s lieutenant-governor to establish an independent inquiry into the killings of four Indigenous women in the province. Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said she had a productive meeting with Lt.-Gov. Anita Neville on Wednesday. The meeting came days after the AFN passed a resolution seeking an inquiry to assess the police investigation and provincial response to the killings. Jeremy Skibicki was found guilty of first-degree murder last week in the deaths of Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran, Rebecca Contois and an unidentified woman the Indigenous grassroots community refers to as Buffalo Woman. Woodhouse Nepinak said Wednesday’s meeting was just the beginning of a process that will also include a conversation with Manitoba’s premier, and she expects Neville to respond to...
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