Revive and promote the seal hunt, federal report recommends
By Matteo Cimellaro Local Journalism Initiative When Paul McCartney campaigned against the seal hunt in 2006, it was unclear how reliant the Inuit and some coastal community economies were on the trade. “We are concerned about the economics for the people, but we think there are other ways to do it,” McCartney said at the time. Three years later, the European Union banned all seal products. The market for seal products was decimated, and with it came the rise of poverty and suicide within Inuit communities despite exemptions for their products, Steven Lonsdale of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association told the Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans late last year. Now, a new report from that committee acknowledges the harm done by the ban and recommends Ottawa must do more to...
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Tribes say their future is at stake as they push for Congress to consider Colorado River settlement
The Associated Press Within the heart of the Navajo Nation and in the shadow of the sandstone arch that is the namesake of the tribal capitol, a simple greeting and big smiles were shared over and over again Friday as tribal officials gathered: “Yá‘át’ééh abíní!” It was a good morning indeed for Navajo President Buu Nygren as he signed legislation in Window Rock, Arizona, outlining a proposed water rights settlement that will ensure supplies from the Colorado River and other sources for three Native American tribes — as well as more security for drought-stricken Arizona. The signature came a day after the tribal council voted unanimously in favor of the measure. It also was approved this week by the San Juan Southern Paiute and Hopi tribes. Now, the three tribes...
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Batchewana implementing four-day work week for staff
By The Canadian Press/Kyle Darbyson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Batchewana First Nation (BFN) is adopting a four-day work week with the hope of creating a “healthier work environment” for its employees. After a successful trial run that began last May and ended in October, BFN officials announced on Thursday that they will use this modified Monday to Thursday work schedule “for the foreseeable future” to allow staff to work “smarter rather than longer.” Thursday’s news release announcing this change also clarified that BFN employees will not receive a reduction in pay as a result of the modified schedule. “Our staff are hardworking, dedicated individuals who often are responsible for much larger workloads than their counterparts in other organizations,” BFN Chief Mark McCoy said in Thursday’s release. “The intent of the four-day...
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Ottawa puts up more money to transform historic Bay building into Indigenous hub
By Canadian Press The federal government is putting up another $31 million for the transformation of a former Hudson’s Bay Company flagship store in Winnipeg. The project, announced two years ago, is to see the six-storey, 60,000-square-metre downtown building turned into an Indigenous hub of housing, social services, government offices and cultural space. Hudson’s Bay Company transferred the historic building in 2022 to the Southern Chiefs’ Organization, which represents 34 First Nation groups in southern Manitoba. Ottawa earlier put up $65 million in a combination of forgivable and low-interest loans, while the Manitoba government offered $35 million in support. The project has been running over its original $130-million budget, and the new federal money is earmarked for repairs and upgrades. The store opened in 1926 and closed in 2020, and...
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Search for truth goes on, regardless of killer Pickton’s fate, say victims’ advocates
The Canadian Press Staff 24/05/2024 04:00 Advocates for alleged victims of B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton say they remain focused on getting justice for the women, as Pickton lies in a Quebec hospital in a coma after being attacked in prison. Angela Marie MacDougall, executive director of Vancouver-based Battered Women’s Support Services, reflected on the weekend assault that left Pickton with what police called life-threatening injuries, saying “There’s something to be said about jailhouse justice.” But regardless of his fate, she said the fight on behalf of the women Pickton was accused of killing continues. She said that includes a legal application opposing an RCMP bid to destroy about 14,000 pieces of evidence collected in the Pickton investigation. There are also multiple ongoing lawsuits by family members of victims against...
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Îyârhe Nakoda Nation members to have day in court in Mînî Thnî
By Jessica Lee Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Provincial court is in session in Mînî Thnî. Twice a month, council chambers at the Stoney Tribal Administration building will host virtual provincial court proceedings that would have otherwise required Îyârhe Nakoda First Nation members to travel to Cochrane. “We reached out to Cochrane RCMP inspector Dave Brunner and together we worked hand-in-hand to develop – along with Crown prosecutor Vince Pingatore – a virtual court to benefit Îyârhe Nakoda Nation members, who, for whatever reason, needed to be in provincial court and who may not have the transportation resources to get to court,” said Reg Fountain, Nakoda Emergency Services director. The first session was held in April and proceedings will occur on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, where necessary....
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Waste from mill worsening mercury contamination in river near Grassy Narrows: study
The Canadian Press Industrial discharge from a paper mill in northern Ontario is exacerbating mercury contamination in a river system near a First Nation that has been plagued with mercury poisoning for decades, a new study suggests. While the wastewater from the Dryden, Ont., mill doesn’t contain mercury, the sulphate and organic matter in it contribute to the elevated production of methylmercury in the Wabigoon River, researchers from Western University said Thursday. The levels of methylmercury — the most toxic form of mercury — in the river’s fish may be twice as high as they would be without the mill discharge, they said. “The mill operations today are making the methylmercury contamination problem worse in the Wabigoon River and delaying the recovery of mercury contamination and fish in that system,”...
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Native American tribes give unanimous approval to proposal securing Colorado River water
The Associated Press The Navajo Nation Council has signed off on a proposed settlement that would ensure water rights for its tribe and two others in the drought-stricken Southwest — a deal that could become the most expensive enacted by Congress. The Navajo Nation has one of the largest single outstanding claims in the Colorado River basin. Delegates acknowledged the gravity of their vote Thursday and stood to applause after casting a unanimous vote. Many noted that the effort to secure water deliveries for tribal communities has spanned generations. Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley and other officials stood outside the chamber in Window Rock, Arizona, under a clear blue sky as the wind whipped. She recalled learning about the fight over water rights in school when she was a girl. Momentous...
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Allan Hawco, Snotty Nose Rez Kids among familiar names behind upcoming CBC lineup
The Canadian Press 23/05/2024 18:19 CBCs upcoming scripted lineup showcases diversity and familiar faces, with Indigenous hip-hop duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids, writer-actor Allan Hawco and comedy collaborators Jennifer Whalen and Meredith MacNeill debuting new series. The public broadcaster announced a fall and winter slate Thursday that includes the half-hour scripted show “Snotty Nose Rez Kids,” bound for early 2025. It tells the “not even true, real life story” of the Haisla Nation artists’ rise to fame with show creators Quinton (Yung Trybez) Nyce and Darren (Young D) Metz putting their story on TV after earning accolades in the music scene. “For us, as native kids trying to pursue something, there weren’t a lot of people who stood behind us. It was two steps forward and 10 steps back, and...
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New bill would let Canadians pass citizenship rights down to children born abroad
By Canadian Press Staff A new government bill tabled in the House of Commons on Thursday would allow Canadians to pass citizenship rights down to their children born outside the country — a move that would add an unknown number of new citizens. In 2009, former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper’s government changed the law so that Canadian parents who were born abroad could not pass down their citizenship, unless their child was born in Canada. Those who have not had access to citizenship rights as a result of the amendments are known as “Lost Canadians.” The new bill looks to undo that change, which was struck down by a recent court challenge, and extend citizenship by descent beyond the first generation born outside of Canada. The legislation would automatically...
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Sex assault charge stayed against former MP Saganash‘
A sexual assault charge against former Member of Parliament, Romeo Saganash, was stayed earlier this week. The charge against the Cree lawyer, who had represented the Abitibi-Baie-James-Nunavik-Eeyou riding in northern Quebec from 2011 to 2019, was stayed in by a Manitoba court judge Tuesday. Saganash had been arrested June 7, 2023 by Winnipeg police when allegations the former NDP MP sexually touched a woman at a meeting on May 1, 2023 surfaced.The sex assault charge was referred to the provincial justice department’s restorative justice programming last October. On Tuesday, May 23rd, Crown prosecutor Bruce Sychuk asked provincial court Judge Rob Finlayson to stay the charge. He asked the judge to order a one-year peace bond barring contact and communication with the complainant, Carmen Roy. The request came as a result...
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Waste from mill worsening mercury contamination in river near Grassy Narrows: study
The Canadian Press 23/05/2024 14:40 Industrial discharge from a paper mill in northern Ontario is exacerbating mercury contamination in a river system near a First Nation that has been plagued with mercury poisoning for decades, a new study suggests. While the wastewater from the Dryden, Ont., mill doesn’t contain mercury, the sulphate and organic matter in it contribute to the elevated production of methylmercury in the Wabigoon River, researchers from the University of Western Ontario said Thursday. The levels of methylmercury — the most toxic form of mercury — in the river’s fish may be twice as high as they would be without the mill discharge, they said. “The mill operations today are making the methylmercury contamination problem worse in the Wabigoon River and delaying the recovery of mercury contamination...
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Métis National Council president not seeking re-election, citing growing family
The Canadian Press 23/05/2024 13:58 The president of the Métis National Council is not seeking re-election, saying she is instead going to focus on her growing family. Cassidy Caron was elected in 2021 as the youngest person ever to lead the organization, which represents Métis groups in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario. She says she is proud of her work and she is leaving behind a “strong, functioning and ethical organization,” despite recent infighting. The council was most recently thrust into the spotlight over a federal bill that seeks to recognize the self-government of Métis groups in Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan. Caron maintained support for member groups’ self-government efforts, but First Nations and Manitoba Métis stand opposed to the bill and its progress in Parliament has stalled. The outgoing...
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B.C. mayor hopes wildfire evacuees can return to Fort Nelson early next week
The Canadian Press 23/05/2024 13:56 The mayor of the regional municipality that includes Fort Nelson, B.C., that was evacuated due to a threatening wildfire says local officials are pushing for a Monday or Tuesday deadline to start allowing about 4,700 residents home after nearly two weeks. Rob Fraser says the “imminent risk” posed by the Parker Lake fire has been reduced, and officials are focused on rolling out a phased approach to residents’ return. He says in a video posted late Wednesday that some doctors had returned to the community along with grocery staff who were restocking shelves. Fraser says water, hydro and hydroelectric services were operational, and crews with FortisBC were in town examining the natural gas company’s infrastructure. The mayor of the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality says officials...
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Navajo Nation approves proposed settlement to secure Colorado River water
The Associated Press 23/05/2024 13:48 WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation Council has signed off on a proposed water rights settlement that carries a price tag larger than any such agreement enacted by Congress would ensure water for two other Native American tribes in a state that has been forced to cut back on water use. The Navajo Nation has one of the largest single outstanding claims in the Colorado River basin. Delegates acknowledged the gravity of their vote Thursday, with many noting that securing water deliveries to tribal communities has been an effort that has spanned generations. “Thank you for helping make history today,” Navajo Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley told her fellow delegates as they stood and clapped after casting a unanimous vote. The Hopi tribe approved...
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Waste from mill worsening mercury contamination in river near Grassy Narrows: study
The Canadian Press 23/05/2024 12:37 A new study suggests industrial discharge from a paper mill in northern Ontario is exacerbating mercury contamination in a nearby river system and its fish. Researchers from the University of Western Ontario say that while the wastewater from the Dryden, Ont., mill doesn’t contain mercury, the sulphate and organic matter in it contribute to the elevated production of methylmercury in the Wabigoon River. They say the levels of methylmercury — the most toxic form of mercury — in the river’s fish may be twice as high as they would be without the mill discharge. The Wabigoon River is upstream from the Grassy Narrows First Nation, which has been plagued with mercury poisoning for more than 50 years. Brian Branfireun, who led the research team, says...
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RCMP adds ribbon skirt to uniform in effort to build bridges with Indigenous people
The Canadian Press 23/05/2024 12:19 The RCMP has added a traditional Indigenous ribbon skirt to its uniform. Commissioner Mike Duheme has announced on social media that officers can now wear the ribbon skirts when donning the red serge. He says the addition demonstrates the RCMP’s commitment to reconciliation, equity, diversity and inclusion. The RCMP did not immediately provide more details. Officers have also been allowed to incorporate eagle feathers and the Métis sash into their uniforms. The national force has aimed to build bridges with Indigenous communities for the role it played in colonialism. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 23, 2024. ...
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Plan to wake serial killer Robert Pickton from coma: Quebec police
The Canadian Press 23/05/2024 11:31 A spokesman for Quebec’s provincial police says British Columbia serial killer Robert Pickton is in a medically induced coma after a prison attack and doctors planned to try to wake him soon. Sgt. Hugues Beaulieu says the plan to wake Pickton in the next few days and see if he can survive on his own was current as of Wednesday, but he wasn’t sure if it has since changed. Police previously said Pickton was in a life-threatening condition after Sunday’s attack at the maximum-security Port-Cartier Institution, about 480 kilometres northeast of Quebec City. Correctional Service Canada said Pickton was the victim of a “major assault” and prison officers had not been involved. Pickton was convicted of six counts of second-degree murder and sentenced to life...
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Special Chiefs Council confers over landmark agreement
Local Journalism Initiative The fight continues in earnest for First Nations children and families. The Special Chiefs Council of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) is meeting in Thunder Bay for two days, May 22 and 23, to discuss social services in NAN communities and the terms of a 20-billion-dollar long-term reform agreement for First Nations child welfare — one of two final settlement agreements. The meeting, which features presentations from community-led social services organizations and leaders, brings together Chiefs and representatives from across NAN’s traditional territories. Addressing those in attendance, Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler paid his respects to community members who have recently lost family members and brought the matter at hand into focus. “This is about our children. It’s about our kids and our communities – and it’s to...
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First Nations Health Authority in B.C. investigating cybersecurity incident
The Canadian Press 22/05/2024 21:47 The First Nations Health Authority in B.C. is investigating after being hit by a cybersecurity attack. The health authority, which bills itself as the first and only provincial one of its kind in Canada, says it became aware on May 13 of “unusual activity” on its corporate network. It says an “unauthorize entity” was intercepted after gaining access to the network. The health authority says there’s evidence that certain employee information and limited personal information of others was affected. However, it says there’s no evidence the attack affected any clinical information systems it uses. The cyberattack is the latest in a series of recent incidents in B.C., though the health authority says there’s no indication of any connection. It says law enforcement and the Office...
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