Igniting Awareness, Extinguishing Risk: Enhancing Fire Safety in Indigenous Communities Across Canada to Help Save More Lives
The National Indigenous Fire Safety Council, Firefighters Without Borders, and Kidde partner to provide smoke alarms and education, addressing critical home fire safety gaps. The following joint news release has been issued on behalf of the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council, Firefighters Without Borders and Kidde. TORONTO, June 04, 2025– In Canada, Indigenous people experience higher rates of fire-related deaths often due to insufficient access to fire safety resources and working smoke alarms 1, especially at home. To address these factors, a new initiative was developed in collaboration with the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council (NIFSC), Firefighters Without Borders (FWB), and Kidde , North America’s #1 home fire safety brand2. Through these important partnerships, Kidde will contribute nearly $400,000 CAD worth of smoke alarms to 16 First Nations communities, marking...
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There is no time to slow-walk reconciliation, says author of guidebook for next steps
By Sam Laskaris, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Windspeaker.com As wildfires force First Nations communities to evacuate in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, the easiest way for allies to step up is to donate to the Canadian Red Cross, says Rose LeMay, author of Ally is a Verb: A Guide to Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. But allies can do even more. As accommodations in hotels become increasingly strained, LeMay says allies can call for universities and colleges to open up their student housing. And allies can lobby politicians for stronger, faster responses. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong at all with lobbying for effective government services. I’m guessing governments from provincial, territorial to federal governments, are overwhelmed. It seems that they are doing as best as they can,” said LeMay. “Governments...
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Carney says he’ll ‘take note’ of opposition motion to table a spring economic update
By David Baxter Prime Minister Mark Carney said he will “take note” of the successful opposition motion to add language calling for a spring economic update to the throne speech, but did not say when or how that will happen. “We take note of last night’s motion. But what Canadians deserve … what Canadian provinces deserve is a health care transfer, a transfer for child care, a transfer for dental care, a transfer for support affordability. That’s what’s in the main estimates and we expect the support of members opposite,” Carney said during question period Tuesday. The government last week tabled main spending estimates worth nearly $487 billion. MPs will be required to vote on the estimates to keep government operations running into the summer. Conservative and Bloc MPs used...
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‘Out from under the Indian Act’: Heiltsuk Nation, B.C., signs official constitution
By Andie Mollins, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Williams Lake Tribune The Haíłzaqv (Heiltsuk) Nation has signed into effect its written constitution, passed through generations, during a ratification feast on Friday, May 30, in Bella Bella. “This is a monumental day,” said Marilyn Slett, Chief of the Haíłzaqv Nation, located on the Central Coast of B.C. “It’s been there, it’s been part of our DNA for as long as we’ve been Haíłzaqv people,” Slett said of the constitution. Putting the nation’s constitution into writing and having it ratified by the people affirms the nation’s decision to be governed by joint leadership. This includes the elected chief and council, the Yímás Council (hereditary council) and the W̓úm̓aqs du M̓ṇúyaqs Council. “That’s a good feeling to get out from under the Indian...
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Hagersville buzzing as Ag Day revival nears
By J.P. Antonacci, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Hamilton Spectator Organizers opted for a throwback to celebrate Hagersville’s 150th birthday. Ag Day — a beloved agriculture-themed festival held annually in the rural Haldimand County town in the 1980s and ’90s — returns on June 6 as the centrepiece of Hagersville’s sesquicentennial celebration. In its heyday, Ag Day attracted thousands looking to learn about farming in a fun way. Last year, with residents anticipating the milestone anniversary and pining for Ag Day’s return, chamber of commerce members Nancy Snyder and Lisa Mattice volunteered to lead the charge. “Our vision from the start was this was a community-based, free, interactive event, with agriculture and history,” Snyder said. The duo were “astounded” when more than 100 townsfolk stepped forward to help. “And we...
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G7 protests to be livestreamed to leaders in Kananaskis to give protesters a voice
By Bill Graveland Law enforcement officials overseeing security at the upcoming G7 leaders summit in Alberta are expecting large protests but plan to make sure they stay peaceful. That includes livestreaming some of the sites to Kananaskis, where leaders from Canada, the United States, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, Italy and the European Union will meet from June 15 to 17. “These three designated G7 demonstration zones will have live audio and video feeds, which will be broadcast to G7 leaders and delegations at the site of the summit in Kananaskis,” said RCMP Chief Supt. David Hall at a media briefing Monday. “People who want to express themselves, as is their right, can’t get close to the leaders, so the leaders won’t see and hear the protests. So by...
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Premiers emerge united from meeting with Carney, no specific projects identified
By Kyle Duggan and Jeremy Simes Ontario Premier Doug Ford says today’s ( Monday June 2 2025) discussion about nation-building projects with Prime Minister Mark Carney was the best meeting of Canada’s premiers in 10 years. The provincial and territorial leaders sat down with Carney in Saskatoon today, bringing with them wish lists of projects they hope the federal government will deem to be in the national interest. Carney says a number of projects were discussed around the table but there was no final list of projects announced as the meeting concluded. He says the projects under consideration include critical minerals pathways, nuclear power, and decarbonizing Canadian oil and gas production. He also says upcoming federal legislation will mandate meaningful consultation with Indigenous Peoples including in what projects get picked...
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‘I learned my language to be a teacher’
By Luke Faulks, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Pique Newsmagazine Capilano University (CapU) is set to honour Lil’wat Elder Saw̓t Martina Pierre with an honorary doctorate in recognition of her contributions to reconciliation, empowerment and cultural preservation. Pierre is a residential school survivor and lifelong educator whose work revolves around revitalizing the Nation’s traditional language—for others as much as herself. “I had always wanted to be a teacher, and I had always wanted to revive my culture and language and my spirituality, [my] rights as a legal person,” she told Pique. “After I had my family, I learned my language to be a teacher.” Starting a community school Pierre was instrumental in starting up Lil’wat’s first-ever community school in the 1970s. The Nation had a day school run by nuns as...
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Hotel spaces freed up in Winnipeg for wildfire evacuees, Alberta dealing with winds
By Brittany Hobson Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said Monday hotels in Winnipeg are opening up to thousands of evacuees who have fled their homes due to raging wildfires. Speaking ahead of the premiers’ conference in Saskatoon, Kinew said some 1,000 hotel rooms are being made available for evacuees in the province’s capital city. “Nobody wants to sleep on a cot for more than a day or two, even in an emergency,” Kinew said. “We’re connecting folks who need those enhanced accessibility supports first and then broadening it out to everybody else who needs help, too.” More than 17,000 people have been displaced since last week, including all 5,000 residents of Flin Flon. Emergency centres were set up as available hotel rooms in cities have been scarce. Some residents from Pimicikamak...
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Peru reduces Nazca Lines park by 42%, raising concerns over environmental and heritage risks
By Steven Grattan BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Peru’s decision to shrink its archeological park home to the famous Nazca Lines by around 42% — an area roughly the size of 1,400 soccer fields — has sparked alarm among conservationists, archaeologists and environmental advocates. Critics say the rollback paves the way for informal mining and weakens decades of cultural and ecological protection, while the government says the adjustment reflects updated scientific studies and does not compromise the UNESCO World Heritage status or the site’s core protections. “The reduction not only removes protections — it does so precisely where extractive activity is expanding,” said Mariano Castro, Peru’s former vice minister of the environment, adding that the decision could cause “very serious risks and cumulative damage,” as it excludes zones with active or...
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Former national chief calls for list of demands as PM, premiers talk infrastructure
By Alessia Passafiume The former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations is calling for an emergency meeting of chiefs to come up with demands for governments as they seek to fast-track projects they deem to be in the “national interest.” Phil Fontaine says the federal, provincial and territorial governments are trying to demolish First Nations rights and interests as they move to accelerate project approvals in a way that does not “honour the first peoples.” He is urging current National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak to convene an emergency meeting of chiefs from across the country to bring forward a list of demands for the governments. Fontaine’s call came as Prime Minister Mark Carney met with premiers in Saskatoon Monday to discuss a draft list of “national interest” projects...
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Hundreds of First Nations members protest Ontario mining bill at Queen’s Park
By Allison Jones and Liam Casey Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government is pushing through a controversial mining bill despite the protests of several hundred First Nations members who came from the far north to the front lawn of Queen’s Park on Monday. The province has moved to shut down debate on a mining law known as Bill 5 that would give the government power to suspend provincial and municipal laws for chosen projects in areas they deem to have economic importance – and remove some endangered species protections. The proposed legislation has sparked an angry backlash from First Nations who say the bill tramples their rights and ignores their concerns. The government is speeding up the passage of a plethora of bills before the legislature rises later this week for...
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Bill 5 amendments don’t address ‘true issue’, says grand chief
By Marissa Lentz-McGrath, Local Journalism Initiative, TimminsToday.com Mushkegowuk Council’s grand chief is calling on the Ontario government to withdraw its controversial Bill 5. Grand Chief Leo Friday said recent amendments don’t address the fundamental issue: the province’s failure to recognize the right of First Nations to free, prior and informed consent. “Adding clarification regarding ‘consultation’ does nothing to address the true issue,” said Friday in a statement on May 29. “We have seen the Crown dishonour the concept of consultation so that it has become essentially meaningless.” Bill 5, also known as the Protecting Ontario by Enabling Economic Growth Act, would allow the province to fast-track development by creating “special economic zones” and exempting select projects from environmental laws, municipal bylaws, and consultation requirements with Indigenous communities. On Thursday the...
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‘This is an epidemic’: Retired OPP sergeant channels grief into action
By Marissa Lentz-McGrath, Local Journalism Initiative, TimminsToday.com After losing their 15-year-old nephew to a drug-related killing, Randy Cota and Betty Sue Crawford couldn’t stand by any longer. The married couple — he a retired OPP sergeant, she a band representative for Attawapiskat First Nation — channelled their grief into action. In 2022, they launched Creegonquin, an Indigenous-owned K9 security and community wellness business based in Moosonee. Their mission is to stop deadly drugs like fentanyl from reaching remote First Nations communities. “About three years ago, our nephew was murdered in Moosonee. He was stabbed to death over the drugs that were being brought in,” Cota told TimminsToday. That tragedy set the couple on a path that now has their drug-sniffing dogs — each trained and certified in Canada and the...
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First Nations infrastructure critical but not nation-building: minister
By Alessia Passafiume The new federal Crown-Indigenous relations minister says there’s a “critical” need to build up First Nations infrastructure — but that work won’t qualify for the federal government’s push to fast-track what it calls “nation-building” projects. The federal government is developing legislation to speed up work on certain projects with a streamlined regulatory approval process as a substitute for reviews under the Impact Assessment Act. Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty said in an interview with The Canadian Press that while closing the First Nations infrastructure gap is important, it’s not considered nation-building and would be pursued outside the proposed legislation. “It’s about looking to make sure that it’s not just for one community or one region,” Alty said of the legislation. “It’s a separate and really important issue...
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11th Annual Salmon Fest spotlights drumming, dance, and traditional crafts
By Radha Agarwal, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Prince Rupert Northern View Festival goers from across northwest B.C. celebrated cultural expression and community spirit at the vibrant Salmon Festival in Prince Rupert on May 23 and 24. The event, organized by the Gitmaxmak’ay Nisga’a Dancers & Society, featured a range of local artistry, delicious seafood, and traditional performances. “I think it’s important for our community and visitors to come out and just witness the event. It’s a free event, and it’s so full of cultural knowledge and insight,” said Marlena Joseph, a Gitmaxmak’ay Nisga’a Dancers’ dance director. As usual, the event featured plenty of drumming and dancing from numerous local groups. But Joseph noted there were over 30 vendors this year, which was more than ever before. Talented craftspeople lined the...
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Statistics show homelessness on the rise in Cold Lake
By Chantel Downes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeland This Week The Cold Lake John Howard Society delivered an update to City council during the May 13 regular meeting, highlighting an increase in local homelessness, mental health crises, and increased community reliance on the shelter’s services. The society’s Board Chair Candice Sutterfield and Program Manager Leona Heisler presented the 2025 first-quarter report, revealing that 154 individuals, each with unique identifiers, have accessed shelter services so far this year. That marks an increase from the same period in 2024, when 123 unique individuals were served in the first quarter. Of those served in 2025, 74 per cent had been homeless for more than six months, and nearly 90 per cent reported co-occurring mental health and substance use issues—highlighting a growing complexity in...
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Mix of new and returning faces after Métis Nation-Saskatchewan election
By Ryan Kiedrowski, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The World-Spectator Election Day for the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan took place on May 24, and as the unofficial results posted last indicated, three positions were too close to officially call. The tightest race was in Eastern Region 2, where only two votes separated Brent Digness and Nancy Duns, 96 and 94 respectively. The position of vice president also saw a narrow lead by Michelle LeClair with 1,788 votes to Karen Larocque’s 1,706. Jason McKay also ran for the position, garnering 1,483 votes. The treasurer position was another strong race with five candidates running—Jeremy Denomie, Myra Malboeuf, Dale McAuley, Beth Westfall, and Patricia Young. Denomie leads with 1,248 votes, followed closely by McAuley with 1,205. Digness, LeClair, and Denomie have been elected, but subject to...
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Province eyes Meteor Lake Wetland for conservation
By Abigail Popple, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Rocky Mountain Goat The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship is considering giving the Wildlife Management Area designation to the Meteor Lake Wetland, an area in the Robson Valley along the upper Fraser River. The roughly 2,400-hectare area contains at least 15 different wetland ecological communities, including bogs, marshes, and shallow open-water wetlands, according to a letter the Ministry sent to the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George in early May. The designation is a long-term conservation strategy that establishes guidelines for conserving important fish and wildlife habitat, the ministry said in a statement to The Goat. “WMAs [Wildlife Management Areas] often concurrently provide for a range of opportunities for public access, including day hiking, hunting and fishing, wildlife viewing, scientific research...
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Peru reduces Nazca Lines park by 42%, raising concerns over environmental and heritage risks
By Steven Grattan BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Peru’s decision to shrink its archeological park home to the famous Nazca Lines by around 42% — an area roughly the size of 1,400 soccer fields — has sparked alarm among conservationists, archaeologists and environmental advocates. Critics say the rollback paves the way for informal mining and weakens decades of cultural and ecological protection, while the government says the adjustment reflects updated scientific studies and does not compromise the UNESCO World Heritage status or the site’s core protections. “The reduction not only removes protections — it does so precisely where extractive activity is expanding,” said Mariano Castro, Peru’s former vice minister of the environment, adding that the decision could cause “very serious risks and cumulative damage,” as it excludes zones with active or...
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