Road, rail and mine blockades could be on horizon over Ontario mining bill: chiefs
By Liam Casey Road, rail and mine blockades could be on the horizon as First Nations ratchet up pressure on the Ontario government to kill a proposed bill that seeks to speed up large mining projects in the north. Provincial ministers say they have heard the outcry and will make improvements to Bill 5, but are stopping short of saying they would eliminate it outright. The proposed law has sparked anger among First Nations, environmentalists and civil liberty groups who say the bill tramples rights and guts protections for endangered species. The province is set to create so-called special economic zones that would suspend provincial and municipal laws for certain projects. Premier Doug Ford has said the province intends to declare the critical mineral-rich Ring of Fire in northern Ontario...
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Vancouver Island land returned to Lyackson First Nation and Cowichan Tribes
A stretch of culturally significant land in the Cowichan Valley has been returned to the Lyackson First Nation and Cowichan Tribes communities. The British Columbia government says the return of the Vancouver Island lands historically used by First Nations for gathering and harvesting represents a reconciliation landmark. The Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation says in a news release the 312-hectare land parcel is worth about $8.6 million. Lyackson Hereditary Chief Shana Thomas says in the release that the land will be used for the re-establishment of a village site that four generations of the community have fought for. The government had purchased the land from Mosaic Forest Management, and Thomas says the return would not have been possible without the company being a “willing seller.” The incremental treaty agreement...
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Chiefs tell King Charles to remember his treaty obligations as he visits Ottawa
By Alessia Passafiume Dozens of First Nations leaders from across the country gathered in front of Parliament Hill Monday with a message for the King as he arrived in the city — respect your treaty partners. Treaties were “meant to be a respectful relationship where we could continue to live our lives, practise our inherent rights of hunting, trapping, fishing and trade amongst one another,” said Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Vice Chief David Pratt in front of a teepee erected on the lawn. “It was not meant to be what it is today, which is the oppression of our people. We want to remind the King our chiefs want to see him. Our chiefs want to see the King to remind him of his obligations under treaty.” King Charles...
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MLA says marriage can weather Bill 15. What of Eby’s relationship with First Nations?
By Wolfgang Depner Grand Chief Stewart Phillip is among the fiercest critics of the British Columbia government’s planned legislation to fast track infrastructure projects, saying their development “flouted First Nations’ basic human rights.” His wife, Joan Phillip, says she’ll be voting for the bills on Wednesday as a member of Premier David Eby’s government. She said Monday that she doesn’t talk too much “shop” with her husband. “We have been married for 40 years, going on 41 years, and we have known each other longer,” she said. “So I think we will weather this.” The bigger question is if the government’s relationship with First Nations is just as sturdy, amid condemnation of bills 14 and 15, which the government says are needed to respond to the threat of United States...
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Nova Scotia chiefs say province needs to improve consultation on natural resources
A representative for the Nova Scotia Assembly of Mi’kmaw Chiefs says the provincial government needs to do a better job of consultation as it seeks to develop the province’s natural resources. Chief Tamara Young, of Pictou Landing First Nation, told a legislature committee today that the province’s duty to consult with the Mi’kmaq needs to be more than an afterthought or a “box to be checked.” Patrick Butler, the senior Mi’kmaq energy and mines adviser, confirmed during the hearing that chiefs were not consulted before legislation that was passed in March lifted a ban on uranium and a moratorium on fracking for natural gas. Butler says they also weren’t consulted when the Natural Resources Department said it was issuing a request for proposals for uranium exploration at three sites in...
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Former Yukon First Nation chief in the running to become premier
A former chief of Yukon’s largest First Nation is in the running to become the leader of the territory’s Liberal Party and its next premier. The Yukon Liberal Party says Doris Bill has been confirmed as the first official candidate in its race to replace Premier Ranj Pillai who announced earlier this month that he would step down once a new leader was chosen. Bill was chief of the Kwanlin Dun First Nation from 2014 to 2023 and is a former CBC journalist. If she wins, Bill would become both the territory’s first Indigenous premier and its first premier to have been born there. Businessman Mike Pemberton, board chair of the Yukon branch of the federal Liberal Party, has issued a statement saying he also plans to seek the Yukon...
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In throne speech, King Charles celebrates a Canada still ‘strong and free’
By Craig Lord King Charles departed Canada Tuesday afternoon after a whirlwind royal tour that saw him deliver a throne speech aimed at unifying the country and reasserting its sovereignty. Seated in a brand-new throne and surrounded by dignitaries, the King opened Parliament with a show of royal tradition — the first throne speech delivered by a reigning monarch in Canada in nearly half a century. King Charles said that every time he visits, “a little more of Canada seeps into my bloodstream — and from there straight to my heart.” The speech from the throne begins a new session of Parliament and is usually read by the governor general as the King’s representative in Canada. The speech is typically drafted by the federal government to set out its priorities...
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Chorus of critics grows for B.C. fast-track bill as minister fails to soothe concerns
By Wolfgang Depner The chorus of voices against contentious British Columbia legislation to speed up infrastructure projects continues to swell, with the province’s civil liberties association calling it a betrayal of the rights of Indigenous Peoples. The association’s call to immediately withdraw Bill 15 comes after a government amendment to improve consultation with First Nations failed, putting the bill on track to pass unchanged on Wednesday. The B.C. Civil Liberties Association says the bill was drafted in violation of the government’s own Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, and without input from First Nations. It says in a letter to the government that it’s also worried the bill could fast-track “politically unpopular” infrastructure projects at the expense of democratic processes. The association calls the bill a “triple threat,”...
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Amid a climate crisis, ‘Vital Signs’ documents the ‘relentless force’ of changing landscapes
By Amy Romer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, IndigiNews Tucked into a quiet corner of the Bill Reid Gallery is a nine-minute film by Nlaka’pamux artist Jade Baxter about the wildfire that devastated her homelands. Through a series of raw, handheld clips, Why Would I Leave? documents the months leading up to the June 2021 blaze that tore through “Lytton.” Baxter’s footage captures not only the fire itself, but the simmering tension of a community living under intensifying climate pressure. After weeks of record-breaking temperatures during the western “North America” Heat Dome, the fast-moving flames caused two fatalities and destroyed most of the Nlaka’pamux village. The piece is part of the new exhibition Vital Signs, which features work by six First Nations artists who explore the personal and collective impacts of...
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Alberta, Ottawa spending $7 million to fund six new urban wildfire teams
Nearly $7 million in provincial and federal spending will create six teams of urban wildfire crews, Alberta’s public safety minister announced Friday. Speaking in Strathmore, Alta., Mike Ellis told a news conference that having six more teams means Alberta will have up to eight specialized crews that can respond to fires threatening communities. “We’ve witnessed the immense destruction wildfires can cause at home and in other parts of the world,” Ellis said. “That’s why we’re focused on building more skilled, specialized and ready to deploy teams that can work to ensure communities, businesses and critical infrastructure are protected in the event of a wildfire.” He said the teams will be based in municipal fire departments and include firefighters with both structural and wildland fire training. Teams are to be stationed...
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Hoarding covering Sir John A. Macdonald statue at Queen’s Park to be removed
By Allison Jones and Liam Casey Hoarding that has covered a statue of Sir John A. Macdonald at the Ontario legislature for the past five years will soon be taken down, a move that will cause pain and anger for Indigenous communities, the lone First Nation representative at Queen’s Park predicted. The statue of Canada’s first prime minister has been boxed up since 2020, when it was vandalized amid a wave of protests across the country that took aim at Macdonald as Canadians grappled with the history of residential schools. Childrens’ shoes were placed at the site after the discovery of possible unmarked graves on the grounds of former residential schools. Macdonald is considered an architect of the country’s notorious residential school system that took Indigenous children from their families...
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Road, rail and mine blockades could be on horizon over Ontario mining bill: chiefs
By Liam Casey Road, rail and mine blockades could be on the horizon, First Nations leaders said Monday, as they ratchet up pressure on the Ontario government to kill a proposed bill that seeks to speed up large mining projects in the north. Provincial ministers, meanwhile, said they heard the outcry and will make improvements to Bill 5, but stopped short of suggesting they would eliminate it outright. “We heard loud and clear that there’s some things that they would like to see changed about this bill,” said Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford. “We’ve put some amendments forward and I know we’ll be meeting with First Nations leadership as early as today to give effect to those and go from there. I’ll say to sum up that the number of...
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King Charles, Queen Camilla delight Ottawa crowds with ‘momentous’ royal visit
By Craig Lord Thousands of royal watchers gathered on a sunny Monday afternoon in Ottawa to give King Charles and Queen Camilla a taste of Canadian hospitality during their short but highly symbolic trip. The King landed a day before he is set to deliver the speech from the throne to open Parliament — a rare event that comes as Canada copes with U.S. President Donald Trump’s attempts to upend global trade through tariffs and his repeated calls for Canada’s annexation. The Canadian Armed Forces plane carrying the King and Queen landed in Ottawa shortly after 1 p.m. King Charles, in a taupe suit and dark red tie, and Queen Camilla, in a pastel pink coat dress, were greeted on the runway by Canadian officials, including Prime Minster Mark Carney...
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Les Couchi’s new book traces the history of NFN, from its beginnings to today
By David Briggs, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, BayToday.ca Les Couchi’s new book, Our Warrior Spirit, presents a history of Nipissing First Nation, from the early days to the present. He covers a lot of territory within the pages, as the community “has seen an enormous change in my lifetime.” The book, which is lavishly illustrated with photographs and maps, contains four main parts, with each discussing different eras of the community’s history. Much of Our Warrior Spirit draws on Couchi’s own experiences. He has lived in Nipissing First Nation his whole life, and the book’s style is often very conversational. He also conducted interviews with many elders to provide more colour to the history. As he wrote in the book’s dedication, “Nipissing First Nation is thankful for our ancestors who...
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Amid a climate crisis, ‘Vital Signs’ documents the ‘relentless force’ of changing landscapes
By Amy Romer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, IndigiNews Tucked into a quiet corner of the Bill Reid Gallery is a nine-minute film by Nlaka’pamux artist Jade Baxter about the wildfire that devastated her homelands. Through a series of raw, handheld clips, Why Would I Leave? documents the months leading up to the June 2021 blaze that tore through “Lytton.” Baxter’s footage captures not only the fire itself, but the simmering tension of a community living under intensifying climate pressure. After weeks of record-breaking temperatures during the western “North America” Heat Dome, the fast-moving flames caused two fatalities and destroyed most of the Nlaka’pamux village. The piece is part of the new exhibition Vital Signs, which features work by six First Nations artists who explore the personal and collective impacts of...
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The Women’s Warrior Song has become a cultural touchstone
By Eva Takakenew, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Megaphone Magazine What does it sound like when women rise? When their voices unite in a single, powerful, anthem? The answer can be heard on the streets of the Downtown Eastside each year at events like the annual Women’s Memorial March on Feb 14. The Women’s Warrior Song — a stirring chant that echoes through the streets at Indigenous-led events like the march — was written more than 30 years ago by Martina Pierre (Saw̓t), an Elder in the Lil’wat Nation. It has since become a powerful song of resilience for the missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people (MMIWG2S) movement across Canada. Pierre wrote the song after praying in a sweat lodge for her daughter who had recently become a...
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First Nations slam Bill 5 at committee hearing
By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Thunder Bay Source TORONTO – First Nations leaders made a strong case against Bill 5 at committee hearings this week, Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa said Friday. “They made it very clear – this is a very wrong move on the part of the government,” Mamakwa told Newswatch. “The government talks about its duty to consult, but they don’t understand it. They don’t understand the treaty part of it. There’s no respect for the treaty.” Leaders from Treaty 9 First Nations spoke at a hearing of the Standing Committee on the Interior on Thursday against legislation the province’s Progressive Conservative government says is necessary to streamline resource development and make Ontario more competitive. An “overflow crowd” for the hearing underscored the depth of opposition...
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King’s throne speech marks ‘pivotal moment’ in Canada’s history, royal watchers say
By Sarah Ritchie Crews were at work in downtown Ottawa on Friday morning, touching up the protective coating on bronze statues around the National War Memorial before a whirlwind royal visit gets underway on Monday. King Charles and Queen Camilla will touch down in Canada for their first visit since the coronation more than two years ago. Royal watchers say the trip is a significant one on a number of levels. “If you would have told me six months, even three months ago, that the King would be opening Canada’s Parliament, delivering the throne speech, I wouldn’t have believed you,” said Robert Finch, chairman of the Monarchist League of Canada. “But the events of the world and the circumstances sort of made the stars align.” Prime Minister Mark Carney and...
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Dene Nation rallies against Alberta separatism
By Eric Bowling, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, NWT News/North Dene National Chief George Mackenzie has a blunt message for Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and all politicians in Canada. “Whatever party they belong to, they have to honour and respect the treaty rights that was sacredly signed,” he said. “They cannot challenge the treaty. Us treaty people were here long, long before them. “The treaty was signed in friendship. It was signed for the opportunities for business people to do what they have to do. We’re not against development, but you must respect the treaties.” To drive that message home, the Dene Nation organized a rally in solidarity with the peoples living under treaties 6, 7 and 8 in Alberta. The Yellowknife rally was intended to make a statement to the...
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Why Canada hosts more old passenger jets than any other country — by far
By Christopher Reynolds Each morning, travellers and cargo take off from Montreal’s Trudeau airport for a 1,600-kilometre flight to Puvirnituq in northern Quebec aboard a nearly 50-year-old Air Inuit plane. This seasoned Boeing 737 previously cruised the skies above Europe and Central Africa for now-defunct carriers in France, Gabon and the Congo. But now its trips are all-Canadian, shuttling people, food and building materials between the country’s second-biggest city and a village of 2,100. The aging aircraft is no outlier in Canada, which plays host to more old jets deployed for passenger service than any other country. Their age can pose challenges for maintenance and fuel efficiency, while others question the safety of second-hand haulers, but operators say they are ideally suited for commercial flights to remote destinations. Thirteen of...
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