‘Hurry please’: Details of stabbing rampage heard on Day 2 of Saskatchewan inquest
This combination of photos shows stabbing victims, from top left, Bonnie Burns, Carol Burns, Christian Head, Lydia Gloria Burns, and Lana Head. From bottom left, Wesley Petterson, Thomas Burns, Gregory Burns, Robert Sanderson, and Earl Burns. ( RCMP photos) By Kelly Geraldine Malone THE CANADIAN PRESS MELFORT, Sask.- The first 911 calls as a mass stabbing unfolded on a Saskatchewan First Nation have been played on the second day of a coroner’s inquest. “Hurry please. I’m bleeding,” Brandon Genereaux said in a call to a 911 operator after he was attacked by Myles Sanderson. Genereaux would survive the violent rampage on the James Smith Cree Nation on Sept. 4, 2022. But his father, Robert Sanderson, was among the 11 people killed during the attacks on the First Nation...
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New Indigenous Justice Centres will empower First Nations, says Squamish Nation’s Wilson Williams
By Mina Kerr-Lazenby Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Five new centres offering First Nations communities culturally safe, Indigenous-led legal support will soon open in Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, Surrey and Kelowna. The new centres will join the four existing Indigenous Justice Centres in Chilliwack, Prince Rupert, Prince George and Merritt, alongside a virtual centre that serves the entire province. In an announcement held at the new Vancouver Justice Centre Thursday morning, S?wx?wu7mesh ?xwumixw (Squamish Nation) elected council member Sxwixwtn (Wilson Williams) acknowledged the effects the colonial justice system had on Indigenous communities, adding how the new centres offer “promise” and “hope” for the future. “We stand here as a witness to a heartfelt story, a journey, an integration story, a challenge our indigenous people faced when faced with the justice system of...
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Longtime Liberal cabinet minister Carolyn Bennett to become envoy to Denmark
OTTAWA- Longtime Liberal member of Parliament and former cabinet minister Carolyn Bennett is set to become the next ambassador to Denmark. A senior government source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss matters not yet public, says the announcement is expected this week. Bennett was most recently the mental health and addictions minister, but left cabinet last July shortly after announcing she would not seek re-election. She is still the MP for Toronto-St. Paul’s, but announced Dec. 12 she would step down early and gave her farewell speech in the House of Commons. Other Liberal ministers that Trudeau has named to diplomatic postings include Ralph Goodale, who is Canada’s high commissioner in the United Kingdom, and Stephane Dion who is now the ambassador to France. Canada’s current ambassador...
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Eby drops children’s minister Mitzi Dean from job; Grace Lore appointed replacement
By Dirk Meissner THE CANADIAN PRESS VICTORIA-A British Columbia cabinet minister who faced calls to resign has been pulled from her post as minister of children and family development. Premier David Eby announced Monday that Mitzi Dean was removed as children’s minister and will be replaced by Victoria member of the legislature Grace Lore. Dean’s tenure at the ministry was rocky, with several horrifying cases of abuse of children in government care arising during her watch, leading to calls for her resignation by the Green Party and First Nations Leadership Council. She was appointed to the job in 2020, and is a social worker with a broad background working with children, youth and families. Her volunteer work included running children’s programs in a women’s transition house and working in a...
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Six Nations Police follow footprints in snow in arresting man breaking into homes
OHSWEKEN, SIX NATIONS-A 26-year-old Six Nations man is facing breaking and entering and tresspassing charges after residents complained of a person looking in windows, breaking into residences and damaging property. Six Nations Polcie said they received multiple complaints Jan., 12, 2024 at about 10:15 p.m. from both Fourth Line Road and Bicentennial Trail residents about a man seen peering into windows. Police contacted witnesses who described the man and his behaviour. Police were patrolling the area for the suspect, when they located a male matching the description and began following his footprints in the fresh snow from the residences where the complaints were made to that location. Police said the male suspect displayed signs of impairment and was taken into custody without incident. As a result of the investigation, Jared Martin,...
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2023 was not a good year for Reconciliation: Indigenous Watchdog
HAMILTON, Ontario, Jan. 15, 2024 –Indigenous Watchdog says in statement: 2023 started off bad and ended up worse. On January 23 federal, provincial and territory ministers refused to invite any of the leaders of the Assembly of First Nations, the Metis National Council or the Inuit Tapariit Kanatami to participate in the national health funding meetings being held in Ottawa beginning Feb. 7. Just 18 months earlier, after the last of the Three National Dialogues on Indigenous Health convened after the death of Joyce Echaquan, government leaders committed to engage with Indigenous groups on any issues relating to their health. So much for government commitments. One result: The recently announced National Dental Care Plan (December 13) will have limited impact on Indigenous people in remote communities. “If there are no...
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Nunavik MP Sylvie Berube talks climate change during 1st visit to Kuujjuaq
By Cedric Gallant Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Climate change, Inuit governance and the size of the Abitibi_Baie-James_Nunavik_Eeyou constituency were hot topics for Bloc Quebecois MP Sylvie Berube during a trip to Nunavik earlier this month. The three-day visit was Berube’s first to Kuujjuaq since she was elected in 2019. Her first visit to Nunavik was a one-day trip to Aupaluk in October 2022. She began her tour of the community on Jan. 9 with a visit to the Qarjuit Youth Council, where she met with president Janice Parsons. She then met with Kativik Regional Government leaders, Makivvik leaders and representatives with the Nunavik Housing Bureau. A visit with Kuujjuaq Mayor Mary Johannes was also on the itinerary. “I found it important to have multiple meetings to better understand the Inuit...
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Coast Salish knowledge helps researchers deepen study of 160 year old pelt from now extinct woolly dog
By Crystal St.Pierre Local Journalism Initiative Reporter “One of our Elders wrote, if there was an emergency, a woman would grab her woolly dog and her child and that’s the only two things,” said Squamish Nation member Senaqwila Wyss, demonstrating the cultural significance of the now extinct woolly dog to the Coast Salish Indigenous communities of the Pacific Northwest. Wyss was one of several Coast Salish people who worked with researchers from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, anthropologist Logan Kistler and evolutionary molecular biologist Audrey Lin, to conduct a years-long study of a 160-year-old woolly dog pelt called Mutton, which was found within the museum’s vast collection. It’s the only known woolly dog fleece in the world and the researchers sought to pinpoint a genetic understanding of...
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‘Ready to die’: Inquest into Saskatchewan stabbings sees texts from killer’s brother
By Kelly Geraldine Malone THE CANADIAN PRESS MELFORT, Sask-_ Myles Sanderson and his brother were driving around a Saskatchewan First Nation causing havoc, assaulting people and selling drugs in the days and hours before a mass killing in the community. The first day of a coroner’s inquest into the stabbing rampage saw text messages that Damien Sanderson sent his wife, Skye Sanderson, as the brothers caused chaos in the community. “I’m done ready to die,” Damien Sanderson said in one message on the afternoon before the attacks. RCMP have said Damien Sanderson was the first to be killed by his brother. Myles Sanderson then went on to kill 10 more people and injure 17 others on James Smith Cree Nation and in the nearby village of Weldon on Sept. 4,...
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Northern B.C. First Nation looking to create culturally informed emergency documents
By Tom Summer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Saulteau First Nations is applying for the Wawanesa Community Wildfire Prevention Grant, to create culturally informed emergency documents, to be used in combination with their cultural burning project, which aims to revitalize community knowledge around wildfire management. The First Nation has requested a letter of support from the Peace River Regional District to aid their grant application, which the PRRD board voted in favour of issuing at their Jan. 11 meeting. “The objective of this project is to help educate the SFN community about relative emergency threats and steps to prepare for, mitigate, and as necessary respond to those events,” wrote Saulteau First Nations to the PRRD. The project will focus on FireSmart principles, and the Sendai Framework principle that aims for an...
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Commission decision a `gut punch’, so years long battle over radioactive waste mound will continue
By Shari Narine Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Kebaowek First Nation is considering legal action now that the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission has given the go ahead to Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) to construct a Near Surface Disposal Facility (NSDF) for solid low-level radioactive waste at its Chalk River Laboratories site on traditional unceded Algonquin territory. “The big thing being discussed right now is pushing for a judicial review of the project. Just based on all of our environmental findings and the impacts that could be shown, we strongly believe we’d have a good case for this,” said Kebaowek First Nation Councillor Justin Roy. Next steps will be decided once the legal team has fully reviewed the 169-page decision from the commission, which was released Jan. 9, he says. The commission...
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Caring society tells tribunal failing on Jordan’s Principle
By Alessia Passafiume THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA- The First Nations Child and Family Caring Society says Canada is systematically failing to respond to Jordan’s Principle requests to fund services for children first and figure out who should be paying later. The allegations are made in two affidavits sent to the Human Rights Tribunal as part of a non-compliance motion the society launched against the federal government for its handling of Jordan’s Principle. That legal rule is supposed to ensure that First Nations kids are able to access health care, social and educational supports when they need them, with questions about which jurisdiction pays for them to be worked out afterward. Funding battles between the federal and provincial governments are still leaving children waiting and Caring society executive director Cindy Blackstock...
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‘Dealing with a lot’: Coroner’s inquest into Saskatchewan mass killing begins
By Kelly Geraldine Malone THE CANADIAN PRESS MELFORT, Sask.- RCMP officers who responded to a stabbing rampage on a Saskatchewan First Nation were to present evidence on the first day of a coroner’s inquest into the mass killing. 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. Sanderson, 32, died in police custody a few days later. “The objective is to have the story told, honour those victims that died on that day and try to come up with some recommendations that will help prevent this from happening again in the future,” Clive Weighill, Saskatchewan’s chief coroner, said Monday in Melfort, Sask., where the inquest is being held. A jury can also make recommendations...
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Meet Jolene Ashini: Soon to be the first Labrador Innu lawyer in N.L.
By Sanuda Ranawake Local Journalism Initiative Reporter THE TELEGRAM Jolene Ashini will soon be the first Labrador Innu person to be called to the bar in Newfoundland and Labrador. Ashini currently lives in Ontario where she completed her education and will soon be called to the bar in Ontario. Following this, she will begin her application to be called to the bar in Newfoundland and Labrador. Among her many achievements, she was also awarded the Royal Society of Canada’s Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella Prize, which, according to Ashini, “is awarded to graduating law students in each Canadian law school, who are most likely to positively influence equity and social justice, and Canada, or globally upon graduation.” Ashini said being a lawyer was something she always knew was coming. “It...
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New emergency equipment on site at Kanesatake based ambulance service
By Marcus Bankuti Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The first thing anyone should do in case of an emergency is call 911. But what happens in the minutes before emergency services arrive can mean the difference between life and death. That’s why First Nations Paramedics (FNP), which is located steps from Canada Post and Desjardins in the village of Oka at 101 Notre-Dame Street, has installed a suite of emergency equipment at its office. “The fact of the matter is, when an individual has a health emergency, it can happen anyplace, anytime. You’re not always home, and you’re definitely not always at the hospital,” said FNP president Robert Bonspiel. FNP has installed epinephrine, naloxone, an automated external defibrillator (AED), and a first-aid kit at the office to ensure life-saving equipment is...
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Scientists explain why the record-shattering 2023 heat has them on edge. Warming may be worsening
By Seth Borenstein THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The latest calculations from several science agencies showing Earth obliterated global heat records last year may seem scary. But scientists worry that what’s behind those numbers could be even worse. The Associated Press asked more than three dozen scientists in interviews and emails what the smashed records mean. Most said they fear acceleration of climate change that is already right at the edge of the 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) increase since pre-industrial times that nations had hoped to stay within. “The heat over the last calendar year was a dramatic message from Mother Nature,” said University of Arizona climate scientist Katharine Jacobs. Scientists say warming air and water is making deadly and costly heat waves, floods, droughts, storms and wildfires more intense and...
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Israel defends itself at the UN’s top court against allegations of genocide in Gaza
By Mike Corder And Raf Casert THE ASSOCIATED PRESS THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)- Accused of committing genocide against Palestinians, Israel insisted at the United Nations’ highest court Friday that its war in Gaza was a legitimate defense of its people and that it was Hamas militants who were guilty of genocide. Israel described the allegations leveled by South Africa as hypocritical and said one of the biggest cases ever to come before an international court reflected a world turned upside down. Israeli leaders defend their air and ground offensive in Gaza as a legitimate response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, when militants stormed through Israeli communities, killing some 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostage. Israeli legal advisor Tal Becker told a packed auditorium at the ornate Palace of Peace...
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Trustees call on province to boost number of Indigenous teachers
By Maggie Macintosh Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Winnipeg school trustees are calling on the newly-elected NDP government to set aside funding to help local universities graduate more Indigenous teachers. Elected officials from two city school divisions, St. James-Assiniboia and Winnipeg, have co-written a letter to call attention to representation gaps in kindergarten-to-Grade 12 classrooms. “It’s our way of saying to the government that this is still a priority for us and we hope that it can be a priority for them, too,” said Holly Hunter, chairwoman of the SJASD board of trustees. The memo, sent Wednesday to Advanced Education Minister Renee Cable, requests the province make a “significant investment” into training to tackle the workforce shortage. It also calls on the ministry to partner with community organizations to ensure First Nations,...
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Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi planning to declare housing and homelessness emergency
EDMONTON- The mayor of Edmonton says he plans to declare a housing and homelessness emergency because the system has reached what he calls a “breaking point.” Mayor Amarjeet Sohi says in a blog post that he has called a special city council meeting for Monday where he will move to declare the emergency. The announcement comes a day after police dismantled the last of eight homeless encampments deemed by the city to be “high risk.” It also comes as the Coalition for Justice and Human Rights, which has filed a lawsuit over the city’s encampment eviction policy, seeks an injunction putting restrictions on the city and police response to camps in certain situations, such as when temperatures get too low. In his blog post, Sohi says the number of people...
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Trudeau’s uphill battle to save — and sell — carbon pricing
By John Woodside Analysis, Politics January 12th 2024 Since the carbon price carveout for home heating oil was announced in October, political pressure to further unravel the centrepiece of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s climate policy has grown. Now the federal Liberals face tough choices over the future of this signature policy. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is hammering Trudeau’s government day in and day out over the levy, and virtually every region of the country (aside from Quebec and British Columbia, which have their own provincial carbon price policies) is also calling for exemptions. The premiers of Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have written letters to the federal government calling for the carbon price to be removed from all forms of home heating. Most recently, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said his province has a...
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