‘Mobilizing as quickly as we can’
By Anasophie Vallee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Published: 24/06/2024 When you’re rushing out of your community to escape a wildfire, there isn’t a lot of time to pack a bag or figure out where you’ll lay your head. Following the evacuation of Churchill Falls on Wednesday, June 19, many evacuees were stuck trying to find accommodation and supplies in Happy Valley-Goose Bay – and residents of that community were quick to rally together and help. Residents began sharing all available lodgings and resources through social media, with some residents offering up their campers and opening up their homes to displaced Churchill Falls residents. Mobilizing quickly Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation was quick to offer accommodations at a former Christian Youth camp to any evacuees needing a place to stay. The camp...
Register
Concern over Indigenous identity fraud heightened by government definitions: minister
The Canadian Press The Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations says a lot of talk about the issue of so-called Indigenous identity fraud is based around apprehensions people have about the government defining who is — and who isn’t — a rights-holder. “The notion of Indigenous identity is obviously very complicated and layered with many centuries of colonialism,” Gary Anandasangaree said in an interview Thursday. “It really isn’t the role of the federal government to define what an Indigenous person is, and who is not.” But as the recognition of Indigenous rights often comes from the federal government, he and Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu have been increasingly under pressure from all three federally recognized groups of Indigenous Peoples — First Nations, Inuit and Métis — to either butt out of the...
Register
Haldimand council split over giant Nanticoke development
By J.P. Antonacci Local Journalism Initiative Reporter In a narrow vote, a divided Haldimand County council affirmed its willingness to consider building Haldimand’s biggest town in the shadow of the Stelco steelworks in Nanticoke. But the onus is now on the developer to pitch the plan to the province. Empire Communities came to council in February 2022 with a vision to put about 15,000 homes on 4,200 acres of industrial land surrounding Stelco’s Lake Erie Works. The land — near the steelworks and an oil refinery — is inside a “provincially significant employment zone,” an area designated by the province for industrial development and declared unsuitable for housing. That means the county had to apply for a “minister’s zoning order” (MZO) asking the province for permission to rezone the area...
Register
Sandy Lake celebrates the arrival of power and light
SANDY LAKE – Another First Nation celebrated Wataynikaneyap Power “bringing the light” on Friday, National Indigenous Peoples Day. “The Wataynikaneyap Power transmission system means more than reliable electricity for the community,” Sandy Lake Chief Delores Kakegamic said. “It means we can build new homes and buildings, such as our new health centre, and connect them to power. It means we will no longer need to react, almost daily, to power outages.” The fly-in community of more than 3,000 northeast of Red Lake began getting power via the Wataynikaneyap line on April 18, but June 21 was chosen for the celebration. Wataynikaneyap means “line that brings light” in Anishiniiniimowin (Oji-Cree), and the company’s transmission line brings light by connecting remote First Nations to the Ontario power grid. Wataynikaneyap Power’s website describes...
Register
Non-Indigenous woman faces up to two years in custody in Inuit identity fraud case
The Canadian Press A Toronto woman who pleaded guilty to a case of Inuit identity fraud could face up to two years in jail. Karima Manji previously pleaded guilty to one count of fraud over $5,000 after her twin daughters used Inuit status to receive benefits from two organizations. Charges against the daughters, who are not Inuit, were dropped after Manji pleaded guilty. The Crown is asking for a sentence of between 18 months and two years in custody, while the defence is arguing for a shorter sentence of nine to 12 months. During a sentencing hearing in Iqaluit, a judge told the court a period of incarceration is required in this case. The judge is expected to give her decision on Thursday morning. This report by The Canadian Press...
Register
Self-government comes for northwest B.C. First Nation in proposed treaty
The Canadian Press Published: 24/06/2024 17:12 A British Columbia First Nation has agreed to a draft treaty with the federal and provincial governments that would give it more than 38,000 hectares of land in the province’s northwest. The proposed deal with the Kitselas nation is the first treaty with a B.C. First Nation in more than a decade and would give the band self-governing powers, while removing it from under the federal Indian Act. If approved by nation members in a vote next year, the treaty could become law as early as 2028, constitutionally recognizing the nation’s rights to governance, harvesting, land ownership, resource management, and other benefits. The treaty also includes $108.9 million from the federal government. Both the federal and provincial governments would have to pass legislation after...
Register
Indigenous data sovereignty can help save British Columbia’s wild salmon
24/06/2024 12:04 Non-Indigenous scientists increasingly realize that Indigenous data are key to solving today’s environmental challenges. Indigenous Peoples have generated and cared for data for millennia, passing down knowledge through traditions like storytelling, art and language. This knowledge is crucial to Indigenous ways of life, including the sustainable stewardship of ecosystems. With partnerships between non-Indigenous scientists and Indigenous knowledge holders proliferating, incorporating Indigenous data sovereignty (IDS) — the right of Indigenous Peoples to govern the collection, ownership and application of their data — is vital for successful collaborations and conservation. Science and Indigenous data Non-Indigenous scientists have a troubling track record of unethical research practices. Examples of treating Indigenous knowledge holders as research subjects are common and often lead to exploitation, mistrust and ongoing power imbalances that persist today. For...
Register
Chiefs frustrated with AFN’s child welfare work, say they’re not being consulted
: The Canadian Press Published: 24/06/2024 12:10 Three regional chiefs representing nearly half of First Nations say a national association is overstepping its mandate by making decisions that will directly affect children and families without consent. The chiefs, representing First Nations in Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Quebec-Labrador, say the Assembly of First Nations is not being transparent in its negotiations for a final settlement agreement with Canada on First Nations child and family services. They also say the AFN’s legal counsel are attempting to exclude the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society from the process altogether. The final agreement is part of a $40-billion settlement with Canada that came after the AFN and the Caring Society jointly launched a human-rights complaint about Ottawa’s chronic underfunding of on-reserve child welfare...
Register
‘We need to find a way to work together in a better way’
By Roisin Cullen Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The new chair of the Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee, MP Patrick Weiler, is ready to hit the ground running. The Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs reviews, examines and reports on issues affecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and northerners. Elected chair on June 4, Weiler served as a member of the committee from 2021 to 2023. The local member of Parliament told Pique he has seen first-hand the injustice Indigenous people in Canada face on a daily basis. “Prior to politics, I used to practise in aboriginal and environmental law. It’s one of the things that made me want to get involved with politics,” he said. “I wanted to improve the relationship with Indigenous Peoples across Canada. I...
Register
Indigenous leader makes plea for unity among B.C. First Nations to save wild salmon
The Canadian Press 21/06/2024 17:04 Indigenous dancers have circled a fire inside Victoria’s Mungo Martin House in a celebration of wild salmon on National Indigenous Peoples Day. Members of the Namgis First Nation from the Alert Bay area of northern Vancouver Island gathered at the traditional long house to honour their deep connections to the fish. Eighty-two-year-old Hereditary Chief Chris Cook says he remembers years ago when local rivers and streams were so full of wild salmon he could almost walk across their backs. He says he and the Namgis hope the days of plentiful wild salmon will return after the federal government this week said it would ban open net-pen fish farms in B.C. waters by 2029. Cook is pleading for unity among B.C. First Nations to rebuild wild...
Register
People rally outside ‘Kamloops’ court as Curtis Sagmoen set to appear: ‘We’re there for all women’
By Aaron Hemens, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter 21/06/2024 14:36 Content warning: This story contains details about Canada’s epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit people. Please be gentle with your spirit and read with care. More than a dozen people rallied outside of a courthouse in Secwepemcúl’ecw on Thursday as Curtis Sagmoen, a notorious Okanagan-based man with a history of violence against women, was set to make an appearance. Sagmoen was scheduled to appear in the Kamloops court on June 20 on two counts of possession of a firearm contrary to order. His lawyer was present online for the hearing, but just like his previous court date on June 6 for the same allegations, Sagmoen was nowhere to be seen. His next appearance is now booked for...
Register
“We’ve been at the table”: Hajdu on Ginoogaming’s state of emergency
By Austin Campbell Local Journalism Initiative Reporter 21/06/2024 13:54 Following a speech made by Chief Sheri Taylor of Ginoogaming First Nation and comments from Greg Rickford, minister of northern affairs and First Nations economic reconciliation, at Premier Doug Ford’s recent announcement in Greenstone, Minister Patty Hajdu has issued a response. Ginoogaming declared a state of emergency in May and, with the support of Matawa First Nations Management and the Chiefs Council, a letter written by Chief Taylor was hand-delivered to Premier Ford’s office. Dougall Media recently caught up with Hajdu at her office in Thunder Bay, where she responded to Rickford’s comments and offered some examples of what she and her staff have been doing not only for Ginoogaming but the province as a whole. “I think we’ve been at...
Register
Winnipeg street named after controversial bishop officially renamed in ceremony
The Canadian Press 21/06/2024 14:03 Winnipeg is holding a ceremony on National Indigenous Peoples Day to rename a major street originally named for a Catholic bishop who championed residential schools. City council voted to rename Bishop Grandin Boulevard in the city’s south end to Abinojii Mikanah last year. The new name translates to “children’s way” in Anishinaabemowin. Bishop Vital-Justin Grandin was identified by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as leading the campaign for residential schools. Mayor Scott Gillingham says renaming the street acknowledges the past injustices and honours the resilience and strength of Indigenous communities. Frank Beaulieu, a knowledge keeper and member of the group who chose the new name, says it unites all Manitobans regardless of race or culture. “I believe our children and grandchildren unborn will walk in...
Register
Demo shows use of drones by RCMP in rural, Indigenous communities
By Jessica Lee Local Journalism Initiative Reporter A five-year-old has taken off from a residence into a wooded area in Îyârhe (Stoney) Nakoda First Nation. This was the mock scenario Cochrane RCMP painted for a drone demonstration on Friday (June 14) during trials it was conducting in the First Nation earlier this month. From a meeting room at the Cochrane detachment, a remote drone pilot reached the site where the child was last seen in about two minutes and honed in on a bushy area where a white sedan and a person imitating the child could be seen on a big television screen. “In this scenario, we would have radioed a local RCMP member on the ground and advised that we have eyes on the individual and they would have...
Register
Trudeau announces two multimillion-dollar agreements with the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia
The Canadian Press 21/06/2024 13:23 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced a proposed $125-million agreement with a First Nation in Cape Breton to settle a dispute over reserve land sold in 1862. The prime minister made the announcement in Whycocomagh, N.S., where members of the We’koqma’q First Nation say an improper sale deprived them of the opportunity to benefit economically from the land. The 1,100 members of the band will be asked to vote on the proposed settlement, which has been many years in the making. As well, Trudeau announced $16 million in annual funding aimed at helping 12 of Nova Scotia’s 13 Mi’kmaq communities repair, replace and maintain education infrastructure. The money will be handed to the Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey, which brings together Indigenous chiefs, staff, parents and educators to...
Register
Statement by the Prime Minister on National Indigenous Peoples Day
June 21, 2024 Ottawa, Ontario The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on National Indigenous Peoples Day: “Today, on National Indigenous Peoples Day, we celebrate the rich histories, heritage, and resilience of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis across Canada. Celebrated on the first day of summer, this day is of great significance for Indigenous Peoples. It’s a day to celebrate the mosaic of traditions, languages, and cultures that have shaped and continue to shape Canada. Many Indigenous communities will hold ceremonies with cultural celebrations, vibrant displays of art, and traditional storytelling. “Despite past attempts by Canada to erase Indigenous cultures, traditions, and languages, Indigenous Peoples persevered. Today, we celebrate their achievements, their courage, and their unwavering resilience. “I spent the day in We’koqma’q, Nova Scotia, where we announced...
Register
How to protect yourself from the health effects of extreme heat
Did you know that when the outside air temperature is 23ºC, the temperature inside a vehicle can reach over 50ºC? Many places in Canada have a high number of extreme heat events or heat waves. Extreme heat can put your health at risk, causing illnesses like heat stroke and even death. It is important to take precautions to protect your health and the health of your family and loved ones. What are the signs and symptoms of heat illness? Heat exhaustion can cause skin rash, muscle cramps, dizziness or fainting, nausea or vomiting, heavy sweating, headaches, extreme thirst, dark urine and decreased urination. If you experience any of these symptoms during extreme heat, immediately move to a cool place and drink water preferably. Heat Stroke is manifested by...
Register
Prison, restitution ordered for ex-tribal leader convicted of defrauding Oglala Sioux Tribe
The Associated Press 21/06/2024 11:23 RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday sentenced a former tribal leader in South Dakota to serve nearly two years in prison and pay tens of thousands in restitution after a jury convicted him earlier this year of defrauding his tribe. Former Oglala Sioux Tribal President Julian Bear Runner, 39, of Batesland, was convicted in April of six counts of wire fraud, and larceny and embezzlement offenses. In 2022, a federal indictment alleged Bear Runner submitted vouchers when he was president in 2019 and 2020 for official trips to other states he didn’t take, and received about $80,000 in checks, which authorities said he cashed for his personal use, including gambling and hotel stays. U.S. District Judge Linda Reade sentenced Bear Runner...
Register
OPP arrest man for impaired driving
HALDIMAND COUNTY, ON – Haldimand Ontario Provinal Police (OPP) have arrested and charged a 29-year-old man with impaired driving after spotting a truck been driven erratically in Hagersville. OPP said on June 19, 2024, at about 10:55 p.m., the Haldimand OPP was on general patrol and a pick-up truck came to the attention of the officer on Main Street in Hagersville. A traffic stop was conducted and upon speaking with the driver, OPP said it became obvious they had consumed alcohol. The driver was placed under arrest, but OPP said immediately became resistant. The accused was subdued by officers and transported to the OPP detachment for testing. As a result of the investigation, Taiotorake King, of Ohsweken was charged with the following Criminal Code offences: Operation While Impaired Assault with Intent...
Register
AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak Celebrates National Indigenous Peoples Day
(June 21, 2024 – Unceded Algonquin Territory, Ottawa) – Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak is celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day today, which has been recognized annually since a 1996. In 1982, the National Indian Brotherhood (now the Assembly of First Nations) first suggested establishing National Aboriginal Solidarity Day as a day of recognition. In 1990, Quebec became the first province or territory to establish June 21 as a day to celebrate Indigenous culture. “National Indigenous Peoples Day is an important part of both National Indigenous History Month and the year as a whole,” said National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak. “It serves as a reminder to uplift our rich First Nations cultures, traditions, languages, and ceremonies. It also provides an opportunity to reflect on...
Register
