Chief reflects on years of work to rebuild
By Darlene Wroe Local Journalism Initiative Reporter TEMAGAMI – Chief Michael Paul has been serving on either the Teme-Augama Anishnabai council or the Temagami First Nation council for the past nine years. Paul, 64, is currently serving his second year as TAA Chief and is finishing his first year as TFN Second Chief. Recovering status designation for descendants of original families is one of the main tasks Paul and others are focused upon. At the same time, defending TFN and TAA rights to hunt and fish is another main occupation. Paul explained that during the 1940s and 1950s, “Indian agents” approached First Nation people in the Temagami area and required them to prove who they were. If they could not successfully do so, or were not present, they were removed...
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‘Who profits on hunger?’ Inuit send pleading emails to minister about food costs
NUNAVUT-(CP)-People in Nunavut and northern Labrador have been writing to Canadian government officials this year to say grocers were charging exorbitant prices despite receiving a federal subsidy. The emails about the Nutrition North subsidy program ranged from desperate pleas to do something to lower food costs, to angry demands that retailers receiving subsidies be investigated. In April, Minister of Northern Affairs Dan Vandal acknowledged there was a problem. “I agree more work is needed to optimize the subsidy for Northerners to ensure 100 per cent of the subsidy is passed on directly to consumers,” Vandal said in a note to Nunavut Family Services Minister Margaret Nakashuk obtained through an access to information request. Some of the 17 emails from members of the public accused retailers of hiking food prices in...
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Closing First Nations infrastructure gap could generate $635B: report
OTTAWA-(CP)-Closing the First Nations infrastructure gap could generate $635-billion in economic output over the next seven years, a new report commissioned by the Assembly of First Nations says. The AFN and Indigenous Services Canada estimate there is a $349-billion infrastructure gap plaguing First Nations communities that they’re calling to be closed by 2030. The gap is the result of decades of underfunding and failed fiduciary duties affecting housing, roads, internet connectivity, water treatment plants, ports and schools that the AFN and Indigenous Services Canada say will become more costly to remedy without immediate investments. The report by the Conference Board of Canada released today says every dollar spent to close that gap will contribute $1.82 in economic output to Canada. AFN national chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak says the report shows...
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Boissonnault’s former company suspended from federal procurement
OTTAWA-(CP)-The federal government is barring a company previously co-owned by a Liberal MP and former minister from bidding on contracts with the federal government. Global Health Imports, which was co-owned by former employment minister Randy Boissonnault, is suspended for at least 90 days as the government makes a decision about their status under its policies. The company has one active contract with the federal government through Elections Canada, but Elections Canada says no deliverables have been received, and no payments have been made. Boissonnault’s former company has been at the centre of criticism for weeks, with reports it applied for federal contracts while falsely claiming to be Indigenous-owned. Boissonnault has insisted he has not participated in the company since he was re-elected in 2021 but resigned as employment minister last...
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Search for Anishinabek ancestral remains continues
By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter THUNDER BAY — A large volume of earth remains unaccounted for at the National Marine Conservation Area where Parks Canada halted excavation in May after finding centuries-old human remains, Red Rock Indian Band’s chief says. Chief Allan Odawa Jr. shared a recent photo of the site after earth had been returned to it, with a large gap in the ground. The gap is where more than 60 missing loads of earth from excavation should be, he said. “We started bringing the material back (recently),” Odawa said last week while at the Chiefs of Ontario fall assembly in Thunder Bay. “We only filled probably two-thirds of the hole.” Odawa allegdes that Parks Canada and its contractor don’t know where the missing 60-plus loads went....
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‘People got to be safe:’ Manitoba premier responds to fatal police shooting
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew offered condolences Monday to the families affected by two fatal police shootings in the province and spoke to the challenge faced by officers on the front lines. “I want to take the opportunity to thank police officers across this province who go to work and keep us safe each and every day,” Kinew said while at the convention for the Association of Manitoba Municipalities. The night before, a street standoff involving police left one man dead and an officer recovering from a stab wound to the throat. Kinew told reporters no one wants to see a person die after an altercation with police but officers are often tasked with responding to high-risk situations. “Police officers have a difficult job to do, that’s at the best of...
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B.C. opens disaster aid to atmospheric river flood victims
(CP)-British Columbia is making disaster financial assistance available to victims of floodwaters that gushed through several communities when an atmospheric river dumped hundreds of millimetres of rain on parts of the province last month. The province says flood-affected residents of Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, the Squamish First Nation and North and West Vancouver are eligible. The financial aid of up to $400,000 per claim is aimed at compensating for “sudden, unexpected and uninsurable losses,” such as damage to a principal residence and debris removal. The deadline for applications is Feb. 23 next year. The atmospheric river that hit B.C.’s south coast from Oct. 18 to Oct. 20 brought almost 350 millimetres of rain to some areas, sending torrents down streets in places such as North Vancouver’s Deep Cove. The flooding and...
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U of W working group endorses ‘flexible’ approach to verifying Indigeneity for hiring, awards
University of Winnipeg leaders are reviewing new recommendations to create formal protocols to verify the First Nations, Métis and Inuit ancestry of job-seekers and award applicants. Post-secondary institutions have historically relied on self-identification when assessing candidates to fill positions intended for Indigenous scholars. For more than a year, U of W has been collecting feedback on identity, citizenship and “safeguarding opportunities” to thwart fraudulent claims and ensure rewards are gifted to the intended recipients. An internal working group has endorsed a flexible and multifaceted approach to assessing claims that allows Indigenous groups to determine their own memberships, accepts various forms of documentation and ensures privacy for people involved in the process. Members have called on administration to develop clear criteria for Indigenous identity that does not solely rely on genetic...
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Alberta seeks to ‘de-risk’ oil, gas pipeline investments in wake of Trump victory
Alberta’s government is looking for ways to encourage pipeline companies to boost capacity and increase the province’s oil and gas export volumes to the United States. But Premier Danielle Smith said her government is not interested in directly subsidizing a cross-border pipeline project, preferring instead to find ways to “de-risk” a potential private sector investment. “We’re looking to make connections with the United States, to see their appetite for assisting in helping to get more product going into the United States,” Smith told reporters Monday at an event in Leduc County, Alta. “Maybe de-risking the project involves having an American partner, an American pipeline company, partner with our companies here,” she added. “We just don’t think the best way of doing it is putting government dollars into it, but we...
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Trudeau directs key adviser to deliver renewed national security strategy
OTTAWA(CP)-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has directed a top adviser to deliver a renewed national security strategy setting out a framework for Canada’s security, defence and diplomatic posture. In a newly issued mandate letter, Trudeau said he expects national security and intelligence adviser Nathalie Drouin to consult Canadians and work through the national security council to develop the strategy. He said the new strategy, to be ready next year, should be reviewed every four years to ensure it remains current and responsive. The mandate for Drouin, made public Monday, said discussions on foreign interference reaffirm the need for a stronger, more clearly articulated role for the national security adviser. “It is a dynamic, ever-changing, and evolving role depending on current affairs and priorities. Enhancing your role will help ensure the right...
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Freeland says the two-month GST holiday is meant to tackle the ‘vibecession’
The federal government is hoping a temporary break on GST will address a “vibecession” that has gripped Canadians, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said Monday. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced last week that starting Dec. 14 the goods and services tax will be taken off a slew of items for two months to help with the affordability crunch. In a news conference on Monday, Freeland said there’s a disconnect between recent good news on inflation and interest rates and how Canadians are feeling about the economy, something she said is being referred to as a “vibecession.” The tax cut is meant to help bridge that gap and stimulate consumer spending, she said. “One of the positive impacts of this measure is to help Canadians get past that vibecession because how Canadians...
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Tofino region struggles with high rates of sexual assault, data shows
By Nora O’Malley Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Tofino, BC – Under a canopy of warm holiday lights from within Tofino’s community hall, dozens of West Coast residents gathered for a day-long workshop to take meaningful steps towards ending sexual violence. Hosted by the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust in partnership with the Westcoast Community Resources Society (WCRS), the urgency of the November 18 gathering was tied to an alarming crime statistic – in Tofino and the neighbouring Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations communities of Ty-Histanis, Esowista and Ahousaht, the rate of sexual assault is vastly higher than other municipalities. According to crime statistics gathered by police, the Tofino region saw a rate of level 1 sexual assault that was three times greater than reported in Whistler over the past four years, and much higher...
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First Nation goes to court, accusing B.C. of not consulting over major gold mine
Canadian Press-A First Nation says it wasn’t meaningfully consulted before the British Columbia government “effectively greenlit” what has been called the world’s largest undeveloped gold mining project. But Seabridge Gold, the company behind the KSM Mine Project in Northwestern B.C., says the Tsetsaut Skii km Lax Ha Nation declined repeated invitations to participate in the review process. The Tsetsaut Skii km Lax Ha Nation has applied to the B.C. Supreme Court for a judicial review of the province’s decision to issue a “substantial start determination” for the KSM mine part of the final stage of the environmental assessment process. A statement from the nation said KSM will be the world’s largest gold, copper and silver mine, and will use similar technology “as mines whose toxic waste facilities have breeched and...
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Bekevar Wind project comes online
After years of planning and construction, the Bekevar Wind and Power Line Project southeast of Kipling is at the energize stage, officially going online Nov. 14. “There are 36 turbines up, and they should all be fully operational shortly after the event,” said Rebecca Acikahte, Business Development Manager for Cowessess Ventures. The Cowessess First Nation (through their Awasis Nehiyawewini Energy Development Limited Partnership) partnered with Innagreen Investments back in 2019 to develop a facility in the RMs of Hazelwood and Kingsley, just north of Moose Mountain Provincial Park. Five years later, the 202 MW project will be adding enough electricity to the SaskPower grid to power an average of 100,000 Saskatchewan homes. In order to make the connection from those three dozen turbines to the grid, a new 230kV single...
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Ottawa delivers apology, $45M in compensation for Nunavik Inuit dog slaughter
Nunavik (CP-)The federal government has apologized for its role in the killing of sled dogs in Nunavik between the mid-1950s and the late 1960s. In Kangiqsujuaq, a Nunavik village in Northern Quebec, Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree also announced $45 million in compensation for Inuit in the region. “The dog slaughter occurred across Nunavik, spreading grief and devastation from the brutality. For this, words are not enough to express the sorrow and regret we feel,” Anandasangaree said at a ceremony Saturday afternoon. “The federal government takes responsibility for its role in the dog slaughter. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, federal officials knew that the dog slaughter was occurring and allowed it to continue, aware that Inuit way of life, health, and wellbeing depended on the dogs. “On behalf of the...
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How public funds are being used to lure private dollars in race for climate financing
Canadian Press-The trillion-dollar question these days is where the huge sums of money needed to address climate change are going to come from, especially for developing countries. Getting governments to put up more was the big focus at the UN climate conference that wrapped this week, but as seen by a wave of criticism about weak funding commitments, alternatives are needed too. “There’s just not enough money from government sources,” Catherine McKenna, chief executive of Climate and Nature Solutions and former federal environment minister, said in an interview. To help narrow the substantial gap, there’s an increasing push to use something called blended finance, which uses scarce public dollars to sweeten the financials of a project enough that it makes sense for the private sector to invest. “We need to...
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Indigenous writers get chance to win publishing contract
Indigenous writers have the chance to win a publishing contract in the Second Story Press’ ongoing writing contest. Second Story Press has begun accepting submissions for its fourth Indigenous Writing Contest, in partnership with GoodMinds.com. Indigenous writers ages 18 and up are invited to submit their manuscripts by January 31, 2025 through Second Story Press’ Submittable link: https://secondstorypress.submittable.com/submit The jury will announce a winning manuscript in spring 2025, offering the author a publishing contract with Second Story Press. The jury will be announced before the contest deadline, and will be particularly interested in contemporary stories with an urban setting. All entrants must be citizens or permanent residents of Canada. The contest is open to manuscripts written for young children, middle grade, young adult or adult audiences. The contest is open...
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Statement by the Prime Minister on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
November 25, 2024 Ottawa, Ontario The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the start of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence: “On this International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, we renew our shared commitment to ending gender-based violence. “Every day, people around the world are victims of violence simply because of their sex, gender, or perceived gender. Women and girls from certain groups – such as Indigenous, Black, and racialized communities, immigrant and refugee populations, those living in Northern and remote communities, people in 2SLGBTQI+ communities, and those with disabilities – are at an even greater risk of experiencing violence. This is unacceptable. Together, we have the power to change it....
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Federal minister to apologize for Nunavik sled dog slaughter
Gary Anandasangaree, the federal minister of Crown-Indigenous relations, plans to apologize to Nunavik Inuit for the killing of their qimmit, or sled dogs, during the 1950s and 1960s, in a visit to Kangiqsujuaq on Saturday. The apology is scheduled to take place at the Kangiqsujuaq Community Centre at 4:45 p.m. There are plans to broadcast the event in Inuktitut on the Taqramiut Nipingat Inc. regional radio station. The event is open to the public and will be followed by a feast, Anandasangaree’s office confirmed. Anandasangaree announced his intention to deliver an apology in person on behalf of the federal government earlier this month during the Inuit-Crown partnership committee meeting in Ottawa. In 2010, retired Superior Court Judge Jean-Jacques Croteau wrote a report following an inquiry that looked into allegations concerning...
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Blueberry River Resources shuts down amid financial struggles and governance issues
BUICK, B.C. — Blueberry River First Nation’s (BRFN) economic arm, Blueberry River Resources (BRR), has announced it will cease operations effective immediately. A press release by the company says an in-depth financial analysis presented to BRR’s board of directors rendered BRR unable to maintain an income stream or assets. BRFN family councillors instructed BRR leadership to cut ties with the organization in October. “Governance challenges, negative actions and a lack of income stream has rendered BRR to cease operations,” reads the statement, dated Tuesday, November 12th. “Without a supportive governance framework from BRFN Council, BRR cannot execute its strategic plan and maintain a sustainable path forward.” BRR was formed in late 2022, with former Fort St. John mayor Lori Ackerman as its Chief Executive Officer and former Chief Judy Desjarlais...
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