How to improve climate predictions? McGill researchers turn to 19th century letters
(CP)A team led by McGill University researchers came up with a method they hope could improve climate models over Africa by combining them with 19th century missionary records, refashioning dubious documents in a bid to better inform projections of global warming’s impact. Models are an important way for scientists and decision-makers to understand how human influence is changing the climate. To come up with those projections, climate models depend on historical baselines – temperature and precipitation, for example – to validate and refine their results. But a lack of historical region-specific data across parts of Africa, plus a major deficit in weather stations compared to North America and Europe, has contributed to model uncertainty. “Africa’s absence from the underlying data makes deploying these projections uncomfortable, as it partly represents the...
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‘Heck of a guy’: Tributes pour in for police chief believed to have died in fire
MANITOBA-(CP)-A Manitoba police chief believed to have died in a house fire is being remembered as a dedicated leader and an advocate for the safety and well-being of First Nations communities. The Manitoba First Nations Police Service said in a statement Wednesday evening it is believed Chief Doug Palson died in a fire at his home earlier that day. RCMP were called to the home west of Winnipeg in the Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie, which they confirmed belonged to Palson. They say they found remains inside, but have not confirmed the identity of the deceased. Mounties said they had no new information to release on Thursday, adding they will confirm the identity once it has been determined through an autopsy. At an unrelated event Thursday, Premier Wab Kinew...
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Hajdu says failing to pass First Nations water bill would be ‘deep disappointment’
OTTAWA-(CP)Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu says it will be a “deep disappointment” if a First Nations drinking water bill dies completely before the next election. The bill is a landmark change for First Nations which would ensure First Nations communities have reliable access to clean drinking water and protect source water on their territories. The bill was waiting for third reading in the House of Commons when parliament was prorogued until March 24. It and all other legislation that had not yet passed will now die unless the government can get agreement from other parties to pick debate on bills up where they left off. Hajdu says the government is prepared to bring the bill back and is asking opposition parties to help move it forward. But the Conservatives, NDP...
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Brant OPP investigate series of vehicle break-ins and frauds
BRANT, ON – Brant County Ontario Provincial Police, (OPP), are seeking the public’s help after a series of vehicle break-ins and fraudulent transactions involving stolen credit cards occurred on January 6, 2025. Brant County OPP were called after multiple vehicles parked at a Worthington Drive business in Brant County were targeted. Windows were smashed, and items, including wallets, were stolen between 10 and 11 a.m. OPP said investigation revealed that a number of fraudulent transactions were made across Brant County and the City of Brantford using stolen credit cards. Consistent suspect descriptions were provided at each location that included: A male suspect wearing a surgical mask, green/grey cap, a white sweatshirt with a hood, and red running shoes. At another location, the same individual was seen wearing a Gucci cap,...
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Mask Rules Are Back in BC Hospitals
By Michelle Gamage Local Jouranlism Intitaitve Reporter The Tyee Masks are back for British Columbia’s health-care sector. On Wednesday the province said it had reintroduced masking requirements for all health-care workers, volunteers, contractors, patients and visitors. The masking requirements kicked off on Monday and will last for the duration of respiratory season, which usually ends once the weather improves in the spring. Masks will be required “in areas where patients are actively receiving care, except when eating and/or drinking,” the Health Ministry said in a statement Wednesday. This will apply to health authority-operated facilities, including emergency departments, waiting rooms, hospitals, long-term care and assisted living, outpatient clinics and ambulatory care settings. Residents in long-term care and assisted living must wear a mask over their nose and mouth. Patients and visitors...
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Canada investing $2.5 million towards proposed biofuel refinery in town
By Ken Kellar Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The federal government is investing more than $2 million in a project that could see a revolutionary new industry take root in Fort Frances. In a media event held yesterday, Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at Seven Generations Education Institute’s Rainy Lake campus, Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Marcus Powlowski made an announcement of $2.5 million that will be going to Wanagekong-Biiwega’iganan Clean Energy Corporation (WBCEC). The investment from the federal government will help fund the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) phase of a project that is working to establish an industrial plant that will turn local wood waste into low-carbon fuels. WBCEC is an entity made up of the ten local First Nation communities in the southern end of Treaty #3 working in partnership with...
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Fort Frances has new councillor
FORT FRANCIS-After almost two months of uncertainty, the town of Fort Frances has a new sitting councillor. Following a special meeting of town council held on December 17, 2024, William Morrison Jr. was appointed to fill the council vacancy that was created in October 2024 when then-councillor Mandi Olson announced her resignation. Morrison was appointed following several rounds of voting, and sworn in immediately following the voting period. Morrison joins council for the remainder of this municipal term, which comes to an end in 2026 with the next Ontario municipal elections. According to the personal statement prepared by Morrison for his application, and which was subsequently presented to council verbally during last night’s meeting, the newest councillor brings with him a wealth of municipal experience. Morrison had previously served as...
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Chief of Manitoba First Nations Police Service believed dead after house fire
-Canadian Press-The chief of the Manitoba First Nations Police Service is believed to have died after an early morning house fire. RCMP say they were called early Wednesday to a residence in the Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie that was confirmed as belonging to Chief Doug Palson. They say investigators found human remains in the home and that the identity of the deceased has yet to be confirmed. A statement on the police service’s website says that although the investigation is ongoing, it’s believed Palson was the one who died. The Manitoba First Nations Police Service serves 10 communities and is governed by the Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council Police Commission. Commission chair Sherri Thomas says in the statement that Palson was a “passionate leader” who loved the police service....
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New Lil’wat ski and snowboard team hits the slopes
By Luke Faulks, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Pique Newsmagazine Sandy Ward had only been snowboarding for a year or two when Aaron Marchant, founder of the First Nations Snowboard Team, invited her to join a small group of other Indigenous youth to train for the 2010 Olympics. That was in 2005. Now, Ward is leading her own winter sports youth team, the Lil’wat Nation Qwíxwla7 (sliding) ski and snowboard team. Over the next nine weeks, she and two other coaches will take more than 70 skiers and snowboarders between the ages of eight and 22 up to Whistler Blackcomb for lessons and a whole lot of winter fun. “I started in that program, and it got me to where I am today,” said Ward. “So I see how important it...
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Wrecking ball comes for 111-year-old Winnipeg school
By Maggie Macintosh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Winnipeg Free Press Chapman School is being torn down once and for all, following an 111-year-old lifespan often marked by misfortune and mishap. Construction crews were on site at 3707 Roblin Blvd. on Wednesday to tear down the third and final version of the school. The original building, established in 1913, was set ablaze three years after it welcomed its inaugural cohort. A replacement was destroyed in a second fire that broke out during the Second World War and it was hastily resurrected. “It’s always unfortunate when we see historic property come down, particularly in Charleswood; they have such limited historical buildings there,” said Cindy Tugwell, executive director of Heritage Winnipeg. The campus was named after George Chapman, the first reeve of the...
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Bill C-92 legislation hits five-year anniversary
Local Journalism Initiative The landmark legislation that gave Indigenous communities the power to enact and fund their own child-protection laws hit its fifth anniversary as Kahnawake makes its way toward having its own such law. Bill C-92, or the Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families came into existence January 1st, 2020. Kahnawake Shakotiia’takehnhas Community Services (KSCS) Executive Director Derek Montour lauded the five-year anniversary of Bill C-92, which gives Indigenous communities power over how kids in the child-protection system are looked after and allows them to stay in their communities. “I hope it keeps going, and by that, I hope we continue to see First Nations communities creating their own laws,” he said. “Kahnawake is slowly making its way toward its own such law. We...
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Grassy Narrows establishes checkpoint against human trafficking
By Mike Stimpson Local Journalism Initiative GRASSY NARROWS — A community checkpoint has been set up at the Asubpeeschoseewagong (Grassy Narows) First Nation reserve due to concerns about human trafficking. The Treaty 3 community’s emergency response coordinator said in a notice posted last week on social media that there have been “recent incidents involving attempted abductions of our band members.” The Treaty Three Police Service (T3PS) issued a statement acknowledging the concerns in Grassy Narrows and saying “we fully support the proactive measures taken by the Chief and Council to ensure the safety of their members.” The Kenora-based police service “is dedicated to addressing human trafficking, drug trafficking and organized crime in our communities,” the statement declared. A “community sergeant” assigned to Grassy Narrows “has been dedicated to serving the...
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Critical incident review launched into death of man who waited in Winnipeg ER
Canadian Press-The Manitoba government says a review is being launched into the death of a man who waited eight hours in a Winnipeg emergency department, but it’s not clear how much of the review will be made public. Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara says a critical incident review will look at what happened after the man was brought by ambulance to the Health Sciences Centre early Tuesday morning. Hospital officials have said the middle-aged man was triaged as low-acuity, was checked on again, and his condition later deteriorated to the point where he could not be revived. A critical incident review — a type of investigation that includes some confidentiality and that does not result in a full public report — is being launched. Asagwara says the review’s findings will be...
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Spell of sudden warmth blows through parts of Dehcho
By Claire McFarlane Local Journalism Initiative Temperatures in some Dehcho communities briefly soared as high as 7C between Tuesday and Wednesday, nearly 30C above the average high for this time of year. Nahanni Butte hit 7C late on Tuesday, Sambaa K’e reached 2C at the same time and Fort Liard had a temperature of 5C as of Wednesday afternoon according to data from local weather stations. A normal day might reach -19C. The warmth came with windy conditions – the area is known for brief but warm Chinook winter winds – and the heat disappeared almost as quickly as it arrived. The temperature recorded in Nahanni Butte dropped from 5C to -10C in the space of an hour on Wednesday morning as the miniature heatwave subsided. “Over the western part...
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Mayor continues to press for solutions on intersection
Local Journalism Initiative Eganville — North Algona Wilberforce Mayor James Brose looked back on 2024 as a year where new challenges were faced and council came together to make well-informed decisions, as well as hiring a new CAO. Looking forward to 2025, council is continuing to have monthly meetings instead of two meetings a month, with the ability to call a special meeting of council if needed. This is vastly different than how most municipalities organize their council schedules, but the mayor said it is working well in NAW. “For the time being it is the third Tuesday of the month and we will try it for three months,” he said. “It seems to work well so far.” Council has been having one meeting a month since September and with...
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Lawyer’s outburst and accusations of crimes against humanity does not sway judge to review a case
Pembroke – In one of the most unusual cases ever heard within the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Pembroke, a lawyer representing a client in a Habeas Corpus case demanded Justice Calum MacLeod recuse himself from presiding over the case on the grounds he has a racial bias against all First Nations and accused him of crimes against humanity. It was nothing short of breathtaking when Glenn Bogue aka Spirit Warrior, claiming to represent D.B. in the Habeas Corpus case demanded Justice MacLeod remove himself and his client’s application be heard under the auspices under the terms contained within the Royal Proclamation of 1763. Habeas Corpus translates to “produce the body.” A Habeas Corpus application is used by individuals who feel they are being wrongfully detained. Upon application, the...
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No:ia, No’:yah!
No:ia, No’:yah! Six Nations community members like Colton and Oaklin Martin joined in welcoming 2025 with the traditional New Year welcome visiting family and friends and receiving a donut at the door. (Photo by Jim C. Powless)...
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Six Nations Elected Council extends OPP contract
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) will continue to deliver 9-1-1 services to Six Nations… indefinitely. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) approved a motion to extend its contact for another five years with the Primary Public Safety Answering Point Services (PPSAP) through the OPP for another five years at its General Finance meeting on December 16, but rescinded that motion at the General Finance meeting on Monday January 6, 2025. In place of that motion SNEC approved a motion to extend the contract indefinitely, with the option to give 180 days notice to terminate the contract. PPSAP has provided 9-1-1 services to Six Nations since 2011. SNEC pays 56 cents per person to have the service, which is about $7,000 a year. Many councillors were concerned the cost would increase due...
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National chief reflects on successes and challenges of past year
By Sam Laskaris Local Journalism Initiative Reporter OTTAWA-Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak became the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations just over a year ago. In a phone interview with Windspeaker on Dec. 18, Woodhouse Nepinak spoke about both the successes and challenges she encountered in 2024. “Like anybody else, there’s ups and downs,” said Woodhouse Nepinak, who was elected as the head of the AFN early last December. “There’s good days. There’s bad days.” Woodhouse Nepinak took some time to acknowledge others for the role she has served in during the past 12 months. “It’s been a great honour,” she said. “I continue to be very grateful and humbled by the support of First Nations, from the chiefs and Canadians. It’s something I never want to take for granted.”...
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Six Nations father-son duo wins $900,000 lottery
A Six Nations father and son are smiling big these days after winning a $900,000 lottery. Gilbert and Christopher Seth of Ohsweken took home $900,000 over the holidays after winning the BIGGER SPIN INSTANT game. Gilbert is retired and Chris, a security guard have been playing the lottery together for the past four years. They have played games from CROSSWORD, BINGO AND THE BIGGER SPIN and have been lucky. Christoper won $9,0000 with PROLINE but says he wasn’t expecting to take home $900,000 with this win. He bought the ticket at Route 54 Variety and Gas on Highway 54. “I’d picked up the ticket in the morning, but it was around dinner time when my dad played it and realized we’d won a SPI prize,” he said. He said they...
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