Colombia marks 1st anniversary of rescue of 4 children in the Amazon after their plane crashed
The Associated Press 09/06/2024 BOGOTÁ, Colombia (AP) — Colombia marked the first anniversary Sunday of the rescue of four Indigenous children who survived a small plane crash in the Amazon rainforest in an operation that gripped the world’s attention. A small ceremony was held in a Bogota military base that included an emotional reunion between soldiers and Indigenous volunteers. But the four children, who were found in a remote patch of rainforest a year ago after fending for themselves for 40 days, still face an uncertain future as authorities wait for a case worker to decide who should be awarded custody. The siblings from Colombia’s Huitoto tribe were aged 13, 9, 4 and 11 months old when the single-engine plane they were traveling in nosedived into the rainforest’s canopy, killing...
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Conservation group, some fishers question redfish quota in Gulf of St. Lawrence
The Canadian Press Following a decades-long moratorium on redfish, East Coast fishers are expected to begin harvesting the distinctive reddish-orange colored species later this month in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The federal Fisheries Department announced last week that the fishery, which has been closed since 1995, could reopen as early as June 15 with a total allowable catch of 60,000 tonnes for 2024-25. Non-profit conservation group Oceana says while the reopening represents a new and “hopeful chapter” for the Atlantic fishery, it questions the new catch limit. Rebecca Schijns, a fishery scientist with the group, said the new quota is much higher than the minimum allowable catch of 25,000 tonnes that was announced in January. “If we are looking just at the redfish population the quota is relatively suitable...
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Murder charges laid in double homicide that put Manitoba First Nations community in lockdown
By Dave Baxter Local Journalism Initiative 07/06/2024 Murder charges have been laid in what police said was a double homicide earlier this week that left a First Nations community temporarily in lockdown. On Thursday, Manitoba RCMP announced that a 19-year-old man who was arrested on Monday in Minegoziibe Anishinabe, a community also commonly referred to as Pine Creek First Nation, has now been charged with two counts of second-degree murder. The charges come after a violent incident in the community earlier this week. Late Sunday evening around 11:30 p.m., Winnipegosis RCMP received a report of shots fired in the northern community located about 110 kilometres north of Dauphin. Police said officers responded and located an injured 34-year-old man. Life-saving measures were attempted by officers, but the man died from his...
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Reimagining the Indigenous colour wheel
By NC Raine Local Journalism Initiative Reporter 07/06/2024 Fine Art students at First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv) get an infusion of both science and traditional knowledge in an all-new course taking place on the Regina campus. Developed by Audrey Dreaver, program coordinator and assistant professor of Indigenous Fine Arts at FNUniv, with Indigenous knowledge and science lab instructor Jody Bellegarde, the never-before-offered colour theory program examines various colour theories, relationships, and understands of colour, from both Indigenous and scientific perspectives. “I want to show the importance of colour in both Western and Indigenous thought, and how it carries meaning when used in specific ways,” said Dreaver. “Artists should have a good understanding of colour.” It is also a way for students to thinkg ourside the box. “I’d...
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Sports and recreation plan a first for Kahnawake
By Miriam Lafontaine Local Journalism Initiative 07/06/2024 The Kahnawake Youth Center (KYC) and the Sports and Recreation Unit have teamed up to form a new action group that will be tasked with creating a 10-year master plan for sports and recreation in the community. Part of its mandate will also be to lead the design of an expanded or entirely new KYC facility. Roiatate Horn, director of Sports and Recreation, said it comes down to them sharing the same vision for the future of Kahnawake. Sports and Recreation was already getting ready to carry out an assessment of the town’s parks and sport facilities, while the KYC was gearing up to design a plan for a new building, Horn said. “We’re going to work together to make sure that the...
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Sale and use of marijuana permitted under ordinance Cherokees in North Carolina approved
The Associated Press 07/06/2024 CHEROKEE, N.C. (AP) — The recreational sale and use of marijuana for adults on western North Carolina tribal land could begin this summer after the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians governing board voted for an ordinance expanding approved use just weeks after its medical marijuana dispensary opened. Several months earlier, tribe members backed adult recreational use on their reservation. The September referendum, approved by 70% of voters, also required the council to develop legislation to regulate such a market. Tribal leaders spent months crafting the adult-use ordinance approved Thursday by an 8-2 vote. Plans for a medical cannabis system and the cultivation of cannabis plants already were underway before the referendum, and the tribe-owned Great Smoky Cannabis Co. within Eastern Band land known as the Qualla...
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Mi’kmaq First Nation to become majority owner of two shipyards in Nova Scotia
The Canadian Press A First Nation in Nova Scotia is purchasing two shipyards in the province, saying the acquisitions will position the band to compete for federal contracts, including those from the Defence Department. The Glooscap First Nation recently announced it had reached an agreement in principle to acquire a majority stake in the B. Boutilier Group of Companies, which currently owns the historic Lunenburg Shipyard and the nearby East River Shipyard. “This acquisition … underscores the strength and resilience of our Mi’kmaq community and is a step forward in our journey towards economic autonomy and self-determination,” Glooscap First Nation Chief Sidney Peters said in a statement. The Mi’kmaq band says it plans to establish a subsidiary called Glooscap Defence, which will focus on making the band the largest Indigenous...
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Film company blocking Chiefswood Road for action scenes
SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND RIVER-Six Nations of the Grand River community members may find themselves caught in traffic jams starting Monday, June 10 to Tuesday, June 11 when a production company begins blocking a portion of Chiefswood Road for a filming sequence. Saiga Productions will be filming action scenes involving sets and film equipment set up between Chiefswood Road and Fifth Line and 1895 Chiefswood Road beginning at 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. both Monday June 10th and Tuesday June 11. Six Nations band administration said there would be “intermttent traffic delays,” and advises the motoring public to “plan your travel accordingly.” The notice sent out Friday said the company would be notifying local residents and businesses and emergency services are aware of the filming activities. Turtle Island News...
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After 136 years of police violence, Gitxsan leaders want an overhaul of the RCMP
By Amy Romer Local Journalism Initiative 07/06/2024 Content warning: This story details police violence towards Indigenous people. Please look after your spirit and read with care. In 1888, a police constable shot and killed a high-ranking Gitanyow chief during an attempted arrest. The act, which was never resolved through Gitxsan law, or justified in a colonial court, has permanently altered relations between the Gitxsan, the RCMP and the province. More than 130 years later, the same problem continues to leave a stain on First Nations in northwestern “B.C.” and across “Canada,” as the communities of Dale Culver, Jared Lowdnes and others demand justice for the police involvement in their loved one’s deaths. The Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs have released a list of calls to action, including demanding a full public inquiry...
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Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs accuse Chiefs Of Ontario of “disrespect” says process rooted in “assimiliation”
By Lynda Powless Editor SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND RIVER- The Chiefs of Ontario (COO) may be descending on Six Nations of the Grand River today ( Monday, June 9, 2023) but it will be without the support or approval of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chief’s Council (HCCC), the traditional governing body of Six Nations. The Chiefs of Ontario, (COO), with the support of the Six Nations Elected Band Council, plans to open its annual general meeting at the Six Nations arena Tuesday, but the HCCC didn’t learn of the move until receiving a letter, dated May 31st, last week accusing the COO of “disrespecting” the Confederacy. The HCCC sent out a notice Friday ( June 7) warning the COO they will neither support or endorse their event telling the COO...
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Anishinabek Nation elects first female grand chief
By Kyle Darbyson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter 07/06/2024 Linda Debassige made history Wednesday by becoming the Anishinabek Nation’s first female Grand Council Chief. Debassige was named chief during a stand-up election that took place at the Anishinabek Nation’s Grand Council Assembly in Sudbury. The only other candidate in the race was former Mississauga First Nation chief Reg Niganobe, who was running to retain his seat as Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief (a position he’s held since 2021). Niganobe received nine votes in this election to Debassige’s 28. “I look forward to following in the footsteps of all the great leaders who have served the Anishinabek Nation before me, and letting the experience of our ancestors continue to guide me in my work every day,” Debassige said in a Wednesday news...
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Mi’kmaq First Nation to become majority owner of two shipyards in Nova Scotia
ByThe Canadian Press 07/06/2024 A First Nation in Nova Scotia is purchasing two shipyards in the province, saying the acquisitions will position the band to compete for defence contracts. The Glooscap First Nation says it has reached an agreement in principle to acquire a majority stake in the B. Boutilier Group of Companies, which currently owns the historic Lunenburg Shipyard and the nearby East River Shipyard. The Mi’kmaq band says it plans to establish a subsidiary called Glooscap Defence, which will focus on making the band the largest Indigenous defence contractor in Canada. Glooscap Ventures, the investment arm of Glooscap First Nation, says the new enterprise will support Canada’s defence procurement strategy, which requires that at least five per cent of all procurement is handled by an Indigenous partner. Both...
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New Ontario rules give chemical plant a long leash
By Matteo Cimellaro Local Journalism Initiative Ontario’s new benzene regulations — created for a specific Sarnia, Ont., plastics plant currently under suspension for emitting high levels of the toxin – are 10 times higher than the provincial standard. The plastics plant, Ineos Styrolution, was the cause of a new federal interim order on benzene pollution located in Sarnia that will last for two years. Last Friday, Ontario released new regulations specifically for Ineos. Ontario’s air pollution regulations under Reg. 419/05 cap benzene emissions in most plants in the province, including Sarnia, at 0.45 micrograms per cubic metre annually. Meanwhile, Ontario’s newest regulations crafted for Ineos Styrolution, a plant that sits across the street from Aamjiwnaang First Nation’s education centre, cap the plant at 4.5 micrograms per cubic metre of benzene...
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First Nations schools benefit from literacy funding from Indigo
By Sam Laskaris, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Eleven schools located in First Nations communities in Ontario and Alberta are among the latest recipients from the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation. These schools will collectively receive more than $300,000 in funding to purchase new books and literary resources. This funding is part of the $1 million the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation is donating this year to more than 30 schools across the country. “Libraries play an important role in student engagement,” said Shelby Ch’ng. She is the education partnership liaison for the Matawa First Nations Education Department based in Thunder Bay, Ont, which assists five First Nations schools. “Northern and remote school boards are underfunded and short on space.” “Principals and school boards often have to make tough decisions between...
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Superior Court awards $3.22 million in court costs to Saugeen FirstNation
By Cory Bilyea Local Journalism Initiative Reporter SAUGEEN OJIBWAY NATION – In a significant development, Ontario Superior Court Justice, the Honourable Susan Vella, ruled in favour of the Chippewas of Saugeen, awarding the reserve a substantial sum of $3.22 million for court costs, disbursements and HST in the long, historic court case that disputed the reserve boundary on the north side of Sauble Beach. The costs have been apportioned as follows: – Government of Canada, $322,000; – Province of Ontario, $1.28 million; and – Town of South Bruce Peninsula, $1.67 million. In addition, Justice Vella has mandated that the town pay $467,000 of Canada’s costs. On May 22, Saugeen First Nation Chief Conrad Ritchie commented to the Saugeen community, saying, “Chief and council are grateful that the court has recognized...
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Judge dismisses Native American challenge to $10B SunZia energy transmission project in Arizona
The Associated Press 06/06/2024 A U.S. district judge has dismissed claims by Native American tribes and environmentalists who sought to halt construction along part of a $10 billion energy transmission line that will carry wind-generated electricity from New Mexico to customers as far away as California. Judge Jennifer Zipps said in her ruling issued Thursday that the plaintiffs were years too late in bringing their challenge. It followed an earlier decision in which she dismissed their requests for a preliminary injunction, saying the Bureau of Land Management had fulfilled its obligations to identify historic sites and prepare an inventory of cultural resources. The disputed stretch of the SunZia transmission line is in southern Arizona’s San Pedro Valley and passes through an area that holds historic, cultural and religious significance for...
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Key points from report into RCMP response to Saskatchewan mass killing
By The Canadian Press 06/06/2024 15:24 RCMP released a report Thursday into how Mounties responded to a mass stabbing in Saskatchewan. Myles Sanderson killed 11 people and injured 17 others on the James Smith Cree Nation and in the nearby village of Weldon on Sept. 4, 2022. He died of a cocaine overdose three days later, shortly after he was taken into police custody. Here are some of key points from the report: No fundamental issues On a broad level, the report didn’t identify any “common underlying circumstance” that significantly impeded the RCMP’s ability to manage its response. It did, however, find areas where the RCMP can make improvements. Appropriate response time The report says it took 37 minutes for officers to arrive at the scene after the initial 911...
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Ontario chemical company says federal, provincial governments unfairly targeting it
The Canadian Press 06/06/2024 A Sarnia, Ont., plastics plant says it is being unfairly and “relentlessly targeted” by the federal and provincial governments, which have both recently instituted new rules specifically aimed at benzene emissions from that one facility. Earlier this week, Ontario introduced a new regulation limiting benzene emissions at Ineos Styrolution, with the government saying it is concerned about how the emissions are affecting the neighbouring Aamjiwnaang First Nation. The province has issued four orders to Ineos Styrolution since 2019, recently temporarily shut down the facility and added new conditions to its licence that it must meet before it restarts operations, but the government says benzene levels remain elevated. Ontario’s new regulation came shortly after new air quality standards from Environment Canada that targeted Ineos Styrolution. In a...
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Liberal government launches $1.5B program to build more co-op housing
The Canadian Press 06/06/2024 Housing Minister Sean Fraser announced the launch of a $1.5-billion co-operative housing development program that the federal government promised in its 2022 budget. Fraser was in Winnipeg on Thursday to announce the program, which Liberals touted as the largest federal investment in co-op housing in 30 years. The program is expected to build thousands of new homes by 2028, though the exact number will depend on where those homes are built. “The real reason that we want to invest in co-operative housing is not only so we can create a lower cost of rent today, but that affordability will be preserved for the long-term when profit is not entered into the equation,” Fraser said in an interview with The Canadian Press. Co-op housing is managed by...
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Kenora appoints Indigenous adviser
Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, 06/06/2024 KENORA – A man from a Treaty 3 First Nation has been appointed Indigenous relations adviser to the government of the westernmost city in Ontario. A city news release this week said Ed Mandamin “will be pivotal in fostering collaborative relationships between the city and Indigenous communities in this newly established role.” His appointment reflects Kenora’s “commitment to reconciliation, diversity and inclusion,” the release said. Mandamin is a member of Iskatewizaagegan #39 Independent First Nation, also called Shoal Lake 39, southwest of Kenora on the west shore of Shoal Lake. He was raised on the reserve but spent some of his childhood living in Kenora – at a residential school. “Yeah, I was there from 1973 to 1976,” he said Thursday in...
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