Blueberry River First Nation Elder calls for governance reform
By Ed Hitchins Local Journalism Initiative FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Members of Blueberry River First Nation (BRFN)’s elders council have announced the removal of councillor Shelley Gauthier during a press conference in Fort St. John on Friday afternoon. Under band custom, Gauthier represented the family of Edward Apsassin, and family members did not agree that their best interests were being represented. Family members expressed serious concerns, including an overall lack of transparency and undermining the family’s trust. BRFN Elder Clarence Apsassin expressed his concern about the First Nation’s governing structure at a conference room in the Holiday Inn Express off Alaska Highway. According to Apsassin, the decision to remove has been posted in BRFN offices for at least two weeks, and the motion to remove Gauthier will be presented...
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Iqaluit man imprisoned 12 years following sexual assault of a minor convictions
By Kira Wronska Dorward Local Journalism Initiative Editor’s note: This story contains details that some readers may find disturbing. The Nunavut Court of Justice has handed down a 12-year sentence in a sexual abuse case involving a minor. Robert Sheaves will serve 4,308 days in prison after his 48 days in custody was accounted for, justice Paul Bychok decided in Iqaluit on Nov. 12. “Old habits, they say, die hard,” wrote Bychok in the opening of his sentencing judgment. “So too, evidently, do old habits of thought. In 2020, the Supreme Court of Canada… issued a landmark unanimous decision directing courts to modernize its approach to sentencing offenders who sexually abuse children. Despite the Supreme Court’s declared ‘determination’ to see jail sentences increase in appropriate cases for these heinous crimes,...
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City supports budget increase for physician recruitment
By Kimberly De Jong Local Journalism Initiative Reorter City of Brantford Council received the Community Physician Recruitment Program 2024 and 2025 Action Plan during its Committee of the Whole, Planning and Administration meeting on Tuesday, November 12, 2024. At the recommendation of the Community Health Care Task Force, the Physician Recruitment Committee, which was first created in 2001 after the catchment area known as “Brant,” which includes Brantford, County of Brant and Six Nations of the Grand River, was designated as an “underserviced area” by the provincial government. Since 2002, the City of Brantford has supported Community Physician Recruitment with an annual financial allocation and each year, an agreement is executed between the parties outlining the amount of funding and its intended purpose. The Physician Recruitment Committee has received an...
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More logging is proposed to help curb wildfires in the US Pacific Northwest
The Associated Press-U.S. officials would allow increased logging on federal lands across the Pacific Northwest in the name of fighting wildfires and boosting rural economies under proposed changes to a sweeping forest management plan that’s been in place for three decades. The U.S. Forest Service proposal, released Friday, would overhaul the Northwest Forest Plan that governs about 38,000 square miles (99,000 square kilometers) in Oregon, Washington and California. The plan was adopted in 1994 under President Bill Clinton amid pressure to curb destructive logging practices that resulted in widespread clearcuts and destroyed habitat used by spotted owls. Timber harvests dropped dramatically in subsequent years, spurring political backlash. But federal officials now say worsening wildfires due to climate change mean forests must be more actively managed to increase their resiliency. Increased...
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Australian senate censures Indigenous lawmaker who yelled at King Charles III
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian senators on Monday voted to censure an Indigenous colleague who yelled at King Charles III during a reception in Parliament House last month. The censure of independent Sen. Lidia Thorpe is a symbolic gesture that records her colleagues’ disapproval of her conduct during the first visit to Australia by a British monarch in 13 years. The motion was carried 46 votes to 12. Government leader in the Senate Penny Wong said Thorpe’s outburst sought to “incite outrage and grievance.” “This is part of a trend that we do see internationally which, quite frankly, we do not need here in Australia,” Wong told the Senate. Thorpe launched an expletive-laden rant at Charles following his speech during his visit to Canberra and Sydney. “You are not our...
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Cabinet minister Randy Boissonnault apologizes over Indigenous identity claims
The Canadian Press-Canada’s Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault is apologizing after shifting claims of his Indigenous identity came under scrutiny. The Edmonton Liberal member of Parliament says he’s sorry he hasn’t been clear about who he is and his family’s history and that he’s still learning about his heritage. Boissonnault has previously referred to himself as “non-status adopted Cree from Alberta” and said his great-grandmother was a “full-blooded Cree woman.” The apology comes after reports that a company co-owned by Boissonnault unsuccessfully bid on two federal contracts while identifying itself as Indigenous and Aboriginal owned. Boissonnault says he never claimed Indigenous status to his business partner, and he corrected the Liberal party as soon as he became aware of its public claim that he’s Indigenous. The Conservative party has called for...
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Québec solidaire member faces rebuke for saying fellow politicians target minorities
Canadian Press-Amid heavy criticism across party lines, an opposition member of the provincial legislature is not backing down from comments that his fellow lawmakers say painted them as racist. Haroun Bouazzi of Québec solidaire has been criticized this week for a speech delivered recently before a community group that works with immigrants. He told the audience that every day in the national assembly he witnesses “the construction of the other” — which he described as a perception that the cultures of people who are North African, Muslim, Black or Indigenous are dangerous and inferior. Other political parties said Bouazzi’s remarks equated to labelling members of the national assembly as racist, and there have been calls for him to be sanctioned. The co-leaders of Bouazzi’s left-leaning Québec solidaire rebuked him on...
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Do you live in a floodplain? How the City of Courtenay is managing flood risk
By Madeline Dunnett Local Journalism Initiative Reporter There’s no silver bullet when it comes to managing flood risk and damage, but using a variety of tactics over time could help. That’s what the City of Courtenay is doing as part of its flood management plan to protect infrastructure and homes as climate change-related flood events become more frequent and severe. The City of Courtenay was built alongside the Courtenay River, with many low-lying sections of the city situated within the river’s floodplain. Floodplains are areas adjacent to a river or moving water, and their geography places them at high risk for flooding and erosion. Floodplains provide rich soil that supports agriculture, but building so close to (and within) one also puts areas of the city at risk when flood events...
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Ojibway National Urban Park Push Gains Momentum as Bill C-248 Passes First Hurdle
By Aaron Mahoney Local Journalism Initiative Reporter PROTECT MY OJIBWAY National Urban Park FOREVER … Pass BILL C-248. Is what’s was stated on lawn signs created by the Friends of Ojibway Prairie and the Wildlands League. And they were distributed by the office of Brian Masse, NDP MP for Windsor-West, who co-hosted a launch event with the help of Unifor and an elementary-school teacher’s union at Mic Mac Park. Supporters of the proposed Ojibway National Urban Park picked up their signs, posters and free bbq during the rainy afternoon. Bill C-248 which Masse introduced in 2022 on the floor of the House of Commons has finally passed. Now, it must be approved in the Senate to receive a national urban park designation. And the Friends of Ojibway Prairie, the Wildlands...
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Nunavut Tunngavik announces $100 vouchers for voters
By Kira Wronska Dorward Local Journalism Initiative Reporter In order to encourage voter participation in the Dec. 9 presidential election, land claims organization Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI) is running multiple incentive programs, which include providing $100 vouchers to all participating eligible voters, hosting an all-candidates debate and providing a $5,000 Canadian North credit to each candidate to support their travel to communities for campaigning purposes. All eligible voters who cast ballots at polling stations during advance polls on Dec. 2, mobile polls between Dec. 3–6, or on election day on Dec. 9 will receive a voucher worth $100, which may be redeemed for a gift card or charge on account at voters’ local Co-op store by Dec. 31, 2024. Eligible voters in two Nunavut communities without a Co-op — Arviat...
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‘Industry doesn’t understand what our people know’: WSÁNEĆ chiefs call for halt to commercial herring fisheries
By Spencer Sacht-Lund Local Journalism Initiative Reporter WSÁNEĆ hereditary chiefs are calling for an immediate moratorium on all commercial herring fisheries in the Salish Sea prior to the season’s expected start later this month. Surrounded by relatives and members of the community at Tulista Park in “Sidney,” overlooking the ocean, four hereditary chiefs read aloud a joint declaration Wednesday morning — coming together for a public, unified call to action for the first time in 40 years, the leaders said. W̱IĆKINEM (Eric Pelkey) from Tsawout Nation was flanked by TELAXTEN (Paul Sam Sr.) of Tsartlip Nation, XÁLÁȾE (Vern Jacks) of Tseycum Nation and LESĆIM (Simon Smith Sr.) of Tsartlip Nation. “This declaration is put forth to stop the erosion of our culture, our land, and our rights,” W̱IĆKINEM told the...
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Chair of Liberal Indigenous caucus says identity ‘complicated’ as members questioned
The Canadian Press-The chair of the Liberal party’s Indigenous caucus says Indigenous identity is “complicated” after questions have been raised about the claims of two Liberal MPs who currently sit with the group and one cabinet minister who is no longer a member. “It’s a very complicated issue, and there’s no right answer,” said Jaime Battiste, who is Mi’kmaq from Eskasoni First Nation. “It’s not biological or mathematical. It’s a social construct, and that’s why there are challenges.” Others say it’s not so complicated, and want answers as to why Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault, who has claimed to be Cree, sat on the party’s Indigenous caucus and was touted as an Indigenous member of the party for years, and is now changing his tune. In 2018 at a Canadian heritage...
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More critical highway improvements are coming: Ford
GREENSTONE — Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government is following up on commitments made to Greenstone, the premier said Wednesday in a media event along Highway 584. As an example, he cited work done to upgrade the highway in anticipation of a mining boom. Critical highway infrastructure improvements have been made, and more are to come, Ford told reporters. The upgrades south of the Ring of Fire region will benefit area First Nations as well as the resource sector, he said. “Along with the upgrades being made to infrastructure, we’re also investing in skills development programs for Indigenous community members in the mining and construction sectors as part of our ongoing efforts to advance meaningful and lasting economic reconciliation with First Nations,” he stated in a news release. First Nations leaders and...
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Supreme Court declines to hear appeal of man convicted in Alberta hunters’ deaths
The Canadian Press-Canada’s top court has declined to hear the appeal of one of two men found guilty in the fatal shooting of two Métis hunters in eastern Alberta. As is usual, the Supreme Court did not give reasons for its dismissal of Anthony Bilodeau’s leave to appeal. Court heard that in March 2020, Bilodeau and his father had been concerned about a truck parked at the end of their rural property, so they chased down the vehicle and there was a confrontation. Bilodeau was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of Maurice Cardinal and of manslaughter in the death of Cardinal’s nephew Jacob Sansom. He was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 13 years. His father, Roger Bilodeau, was convicted of manslaughter in...
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Lawmakers stage Māori protest in New Zealand’s parliament during fraught race relations debate
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A vote in New Zealand’s parliament was suspended and two lawmakers ejected on Thursday when dramatic political theater erupted over a controversial proposed law redefining the country’s founding agreement between Indigenous Māori and the British Crown. Under the principles laid out in the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi, which guide the relationship between the government and Māori, tribes were promised broad rights to retain their lands and protect their interests in return for ceding governance to the British. The bill would specify that those rights should apply to all New Zealanders. The bill has scant support and is unlikely to become law. Detractors say it threatens racial discord and constitutional upheaval, while thousands of New Zealanders are traveling the length of the country this week to...
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Alberta Treaty Chiefs slam feds over Clean Water Act as Ottawa denies legal duty to provide safe drinking water
By Jeremy Appel Local Journalism Initiative Chiefs from Treaty First Nations in Alberta met last month with the minister of Indigenous Services Canada to reiterate their concerns with the First Nations Clean Water Act. The meeting was held one week after government lawyers argued in court that their client has no legal obligation to provide First Nations with drinkable water. The act, known also as Bill C-61, completed its second reading on June 5, and is in the process of being studied by the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs. The legislation, according to Indigenous Services Canada, establishes “minimum national standards for the delivery of drinking water and wastewater services on First Nation lands,” and commits the feds to make “best efforts to provide adequate and sustainable funding...
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Carey Price launches foundation supporting access to recreation
The Anahim Lake hockey legend Carey Price has launched a charitable foundation with his family. The Price Family Foundation is accepting donations which will be used to support organizations such as Special Olympics British Columbia (SOBC) and Elevation Outdoors. Carey Price shared the announcement on Facebook Nov. 13, noting the foundation’s mission is to nurture community and create meaningful change. “The initiative comes from a deeply personal place for us, shaped by our values and experiences over the years…We believe that together, we can foster a sense of belonging and resilience in our communities,” Price wrote in his post. The foundation’s website said the family wanted recreation, athletics and community to be at the core of their work, which led to a partnership with SOBC. The foundation is also in...
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Manitoba government to permanently fund program aimed at curbing retail theft
The Canadian Press-The Manitoba government says it will provide permanent funding for 12 new Winnipeg police officers as part of its public safety strategy. The government previously funded those officers under its temporary Retail Crime Initiative, but it is expected to continue to address a rise in retail theft and violent crime in some parts of the provincial capital. Justice Minister Matt Wiebe told reporters Thursday that the new officers will continue working with community members and businesses. “These folks understand that if you can get in, speak with business owners, with customers, with people, make your presence felt, you’re going to have a better, higher impact,” he said. The province allocated $1.1 million in July to pay for police to work overtime in hot spots in Winnipeg such as...
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Wisconsin agency issues first round of permits for Enbridge Line 5 reroute around reservation
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has issued the first round of permits allowing Enbridge to reroute an aging pipeline around a tribal reservation. DNR officials announced Thursday they have issued the first construction permits for the Line 5 reroute around the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa’s reservation. The energy company still needs discharge permits from the DNR as well as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The DNR issued the construction permits with more than 200 conditions attached. The company must complete the project by Nov. 14, 2027, hire DNR-approved environmental monitors and allow DNR employees to access the site during reasonable hours. The company also must notify the agency within 24 hours of any permit violations or hazardous material spills affecting wetlands...
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Whistleblower sounds alarm about destruction of tribal sites in North Carolina
Associated Press-Spear points, hammer stones and picks lost to history under layers of leaves, roots and rocks — it was the evidence Scott Ashcraft was looking for. The ancient tools were inadvertently unearthed in 2021 by a bulldozer fighting a wildfire along a steep slope in western North Carolina. Ashcraft, a career U.S. Forest Service archaeologist, knew these wooded mountainsides held more clues to early human history in the Appalachian Mountains than anyone had imagined. He tried for years to raise the alarm to forest managers, saying outdated modeling that ignored the artifacts sometimes hidden on steep terrain — especially sites significant to Native American tribes — needed to be reconsidered when planning for prescribed fires, logging projects, new recreational trails and other work on national forest lands. Instead, Ashcraft...
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