First Nations ‘systematically ignored’ by Quebec government on nation-to-nation relationships
By Marc Lalonde, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador (AFNQL) Grand Chief Ghislain Picard took the provincial government to task over its lack of respect for First Nations’ autonomy last week in Quebec City. Picard, who is taking part in the public consultations for Bill 69, said Thursday that the energy development bill is an ideal opportunity for the Legault government to demonstrate that it truly understands the concept of nation-to-nation relationships. Picard said First Nations governments have the jurisdiction to determine energy development on their territories and asks that the bill, called ‘An act to ensure the responsible management of energy resources,’ reflect the inherent place of First Nations in energy governance in Quebec. “The provincial government must respect the rights of...
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New channel aims to revitalize endangered Indigenous languages
By John Chilibeck, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Lisa Perley-Dutcher isn’t big on TV and doesn’t normally turn on the set. But she says it was nice to come home recently after a long workday and see some faces on the screen that looked like her own. “I’m getting supper ready, and watching TV, you know, and I’m thinking, ‘wow, they’re really showing a lot of Native people on TV these days,” said the teacher at Kehkimin Wolastoqey language immersion school in Fredericton. “More than ever before. I’m thinking this, right? And I mentioned it to my husband, and he says, ‘Dear, we’re watching APTN’.” APTN, or the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, celebrated its 25th anniversary on cable at the start of this month. As part of the celebrations, the network...
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Local organizations team up to spread awareness of 9-8-8 helpline
Warning: this story contains discussion of suicide By Ken Kellar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter There’s a number to call if you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, and two local organizations joined forces last week to spread the word. Northwestern Ontario Métis Child and Family Services (NWOMFCS) and the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Fort Frances Branch were at Walmart in Fort Frances yesterday to recognize World Suicide Prevention Day and spread awareness both of suicide prevention as well as the national 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline number to those who might otherwise have never heard of it. CMHA peer support worker Andrea Bouvier, along with NWOMCFS’ Rhonda Howells were on location on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, to help spread awareness around both topics. Bouvier noted that the helpline has been...
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Manitoba cabinet minister ‘inadvertently’ violated rules: ethics commissioner
Manitoba’s ethics commissioner has found an NDP cabinet minister was in the wrong when he failed to disclose he had a business contract with the government, but he is not recommending a penalty. Commissioner Jeffrey Schnoor says Ian Bushie, the minister of municipal and northern relations, previously had a contract with the government through a gas bar and convenience store he runs on the Hollow Water First Nation. When Bushie took office after last year’s provincial election, the contract was already in place and had been permitted. But Schnoor says when the contract was renewed earlier this year, Bushie contravened the Conflict of Interest Act. The commissioner found Bushie’s contraventions were inadvertent, and says the minister has accepted responsibility. The Opposition Progressive Conservatives filed the original complaint in June alleging...
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Robinson Huron Treaty Gathering marks historic settlement
By Jacqueline St. Pierre, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The Manitoulin Expositor EDITOR’s NOTE: PT 2 Robinson-Huron Treaty celebrated the 174th anniversary of its signing recently at an event hosted by the Sudbury-area First Nations. This series will examine and present the highlights of the large gathering. ROBINSON HURON TREATY TERRITORY—On September 9, the Robinson Huron Treaty Gathering held at the Anderson Farm Museum in Lively was an historic occasion that not only commemorated the signing of the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850 but also celebrated the recent resolution of a long-standing legal battle. The event saw hundreds of community members come together to mark the distribution of a $10 billion settlement to the 21 Robinson Huron Treaty (RHT) First Nations. The Robinson Huron Treaty, signed over 170 years ago, was...
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Quebec won’t fund graphite mine project tied to Pentagon; locals claim ‘victory’
The Canadian Press After years fighting against the opening of a mining project with ties to the Pentagon, Louis Saint-Hilaire is breathing a sigh of relief. That’s because this week, the Quebec government rejected the mining company’s application for public funding, a decision Saint-Hilaire says reflects the will of many of the people who live near the proposed site in the Laurentians region. “It’s a big victory for us, but it’s not a total victory,” he said in an interview Wednesday. Lomiko Metals Inc., a mining company based in Surrey, B.C., wants to mine graphite — one of the world’s most sought-after minerals — at a site near Duhamel, Que. Initially, residents’ main fear was about the potential harm to the environment. But in May, the company announced it received...
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Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam mayors back expansion of involuntary mental health and addiction treatment; experts question policy
By Patrick Penner Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart and Port Coquitlam Brad West were among a coalition of B.C. civic leaders demanding federal funding to support expansion of involuntary care for those suffering from severe mental health and addiction issues. The coalition was headed by Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, and included 10 mayors, three First Nation chiefs, Vancouver’s chiefs of police and fire rescue services, the president of the Canadian Police Association, and a former drug advisor to the U.S. White House. The group spoke on the steps of Vancouver City Hall on Sept. 16, pleading for immediate action from the federal government on involuntary care, bail reform for repeat offenders, and halting the illegal flow of drugs through Vancouver’s port. “This is about doing what is...
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Anishinaabemowin language carrier embarks on groundbreaking animation series
By Jacqueline St. Pierre, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The Manitoulin Expositor WIIKWEMKOONG—Barbara Nolan, a cherished Anishinaabemowin language carrier and linguist originally from South Bay, Wiikwemkoong and who now lives in Garden River, is deeply committed to preserving her language and passing it on to the next generation. She recently embarked on a groundbreaking digital journey to teach Anishinaabemowin through animated videos. For Ms. Nolan, the videos aren’t just about the language; they’re about the joy of learning. She believes that people of all ages will find them enjoyable, although they are primarily tailored for early learners and daycares. Ms. Nolan had contemplated creating animated videos for some time, but it wasn’t until she crossed paths with Esbikenh, a teacher from a language immersion school in Bkejwanong (Walpole Island First Nation),...
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Robinson Huron Treaty after 174 years
By Jacqueline St. Pierre, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter EDITOR’s NOTE: Robinson-Huron Treaty celebrated the 174th anniversary of its signing last weekend at an event hosted by the Sudbury-area First Nations. This series will examine and present the highlights of the large gathering. LIVELY—In a momentous event held at the Anderson Farm Museum, the 174th anniversary of the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850 was commemorated with a significant gathering that brought together members of the 21 treaty territory communities. Co-hosted by Atikameksheng Anishinawbek and Wahnapitae First Nation, this year’s gathering served as a vital platform for asserting Indigenous sovereignty, reflecting on ancestral wisdom and addressing critical issues related to land rights, economic development and cultural preservation. The Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850, a crucial agreement between the British Crown and several...
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Canada’s physicians formally apologize for harm to Indigenous communities
The Canadian Press In a haunting message from beyond the grave, Métis Elder Sonny James MacDonald recounted being incarcerated for more than two years at an Indian Hospital in Edmonton in the 1940s for tuberculosis treatment, suffering abuse and isolation as a child. “After the surgery … they took it upon themselves … that they should take my pajama bottoms off to prevent me from walking around,” MacDonald, a renowned carver who died in 2021, said in a video clip taken from a documentary release that same year. “I was put in this little room … there was no window, it was the end of the hallway. I was just like a prisoner,” he said. MacDonald said an orderly would trap him in a hospital washroom and sexual assault...
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Conservatives deny link to protesters that harassed Singh after Liberals blame them
The Canadian Press Conservatives are denying any association with protesters who harassed Jagmeet Singh, among others, outside of Parliament Hill this week after Liberal ministers accused them of lending their support. A video circulated online Tuesday showing two men following the NDP leader, as one of them appears to call him a “corrupted bastard.” Singh turned around and confronted the two men, asking who had hurled the insult. The two men denied making the remark and appeared to back off, which prompted Singh to call one of them a “coward” for not saying it to his face. Immigration Minister Marc Miller and Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault applauded Singh on Wednesday for defending himself and decried the harassment purported by the protesters. “As much as I was proud of Jagmeet for...
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New Brunswick Indigenous group says Tory position on treaty rights ‘troublesome’
The Canadian Press The six chiefs of the Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick have released results from a pre-election questionnaire sent to the province’s political parties, saying they are “particularly disappointed” with responses from the governing Progressive Conservatives. The Indigenous group, which represents six communities, says that in August the parties were sent questions on Indigenous treaty rights, titles, policing and systemic racism. “We find the Progressive Conservative party position on Wolastoqey treaty rights deeply troublesome and offensive,” the chiefs said in a statement released Monday. “The Progressive Conservative party response notes that they ‘respectfully disagree … that land title has been unceded’ and repeats their disinformation narrative about private landholders.” The reference to unceded territory refers to the fact that these First Nations never relinquished or legally signed away...
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Radioactive material already moves through Northwest: group
By Sandi Krasowski, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) has recognized the growing discussions from communities in Northwestern Ontario with concerns about the safe transportation and long-term storage of spent nuclear waste. In August, a deputation made to Thunder Bay city council by members of Ontario Nuclear Free Thunder Bay and Environment North resulted in council agreeing to review current transportation standards for the movement of hazardous goods within city boundaries. In response, the NWMO reiterated its commitment to safety and the importance of ensuring the process for selecting a repository site is based on partnership and consent, through its own deputation to council. Joanne Jacyk, the NWMO’s Ignace site director, and Caitlin Burley, director of strategic programs and transportation, made the presentation on Sept. 9,...
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N.B. election: Parties’ answers on treaty rights, taxes, Indigenous participation
The Canadian Press The six chiefs of the Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick distributed a survey on Indigenous issues to political parties ahead of the provincial election, which is scheduled to kick off Thursday. Here are some of the answers from the Progressive Conservative, Liberal and Green parties. Q: How does your party plan to demonstrate a renewed commitment to recognizing our joint treaty responsibilities and acknowledging that the lands and waters of this territory remain unceded? Progressive Conservative: The party respectfully disagrees with the assertion that land title has been unceded. This is a legal question that has not been determined by the courts. Liberal: When we form government, the first conversations the premier-designate will have is with First Nations leaders. We will publicly and explicitly acknowledge your treaty...
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Teen draws from her life to pen award-winning story
By Marissa Lentz-McGrath, Local Journalism Initiative TimminsToday.com MATTAGAMI FIRST NATION – A local teen hopes her award-winning story will inspire other people to follow their dreams. Tatum Naveau, a 17-year-old Grade 12 student from Mattagami First Nation, has received the James Bartleman Indigenous Youth Creative Writing Award. Naveau won for her story How Little Moose Grew Out His Antlers, which explores themes of self-acceptance and personal growth. It follows Little Moose, who learns to embrace his differences with the help of a friend, despite being ridiculed for his appearance. “It’s basically to help people that have insecurities and feel like they need to change themselves. So in the story, Little Moose, who is the main character, wants to have antlers like his other moose friends, and he ends up growing trees...
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New Brunswick Indigenous group says Tory position on treaty rights ‘troublesome’
The Canadian Press 18/09/2024 13:46 The six chiefs of the Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick have released results from a pre-election questionnaire sent to the province’s political parties, saying they are “particularly disappointed” with responses from the governing Progressive Conservatives. The Indigenous group, which represents six communities, says that in August the parties were sent questions on Indigenous treaty rights, titles, policing and systemic racism. “We find the Progressive Conservative party position on Wolastoqey treaty rights deeply troublesome and offensive,” the chiefs said in a statement released Monday. “The Progressive Conservative party response notes that they ‘respectfully disagree … that land title has been unceded’ and repeats their disinformation narrative about private landholders.” The reference to unceded territory refers to the fact that these First Nations never relinquished or legally...
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New Brunswick Indigenous group says Tory position on treaty rights ‘troublesome’
The Canadian Press The six chiefs of the Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick have released results from a pre-election questionnaire sent to the province’s political parties, saying they are “particularly disappointed” with responses from the governing Progressive Conservatives. The Indigenous group, which represents six communities, says that in August the parties were sent questions on Indigenous treaty rights, titles, policing and systemic racism. “We find the Progressive Conservative party position on Wolastoqey treaty rights deeply troublesome and offensive,” the chiefs said in a statement released Monday. “The Progressive Conservative party response notes that they ‘respectfully disagree … that land title has been unceded’ and repeats their disinformation narrative about private landholders.” The reference to unceded territory refers to the fact that these First Nations never relinquished or legally signed away...
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Six Nations Royal Chapel of Mohawks will have Coat of Arms
His Majesty’s Royal Chapel of the Mohawks will celebrate a once in a lifetime event and Six Nations will help pull out historical items for the event, but other churches are getting involved and it’s causing problems. Barry Hill, warden of the Mohawk Chapel came to Six Nations Elected Council’s (SNEC) General Council meeting on September 10 looking for a band council resolution to remove the silver bells, communion set and bible from the vault to use during an event to celebrate the chapel’s coat of arms. “This is a once in a lifetime occasion,” Hill said. “The queen approved a royal harold, a coat of arms, for the chapel. It’s the only chapel in Canada, or the world for an Indigenous royal chapel to have their own arms and...
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It was fun, it was colourful … it was for a good cause
A day of colour and smiles at Six Nations annual World Suicide Prevention Day Colour Run Six Nations Health department, now the department of wellbeing held its annual Colour Walk Run in recognition of World Suicide Prevention Day September 10th at the blue track and had a crowd of participants from all ages, don sunglasses and t-shirts in a bid to outrun the clouds of colour. Photos by Jim C. Powless...
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Six Nations Elected Council exploring recovery treatment centre
Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) is working its way towards a mental health and addictions site on reserve. Councillor Greg Frazer told SNEC members met with the Minister of Mental Health and Additions recently to discuss SNEC attempts to secure one of two Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs for Indigenous Communities. Elected Chief Sherri Lyn was absent from the September 10 SNEC meeting, taking “personal leave.” Frazer likened the meeting to a sovereignty exercise saying,” Chief and council work hard to build up our own capacity as an exercise of our sovereignty.” Hill, Frazer, and Councillor Amos Key met with Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Michael A. Tibollo, who, he said, shared an enthusiasm for Six Nations to open a HART Hub. He said Minister Tibollo...
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