Sioux Valley chief stands ground
By Connor McDowell, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Brandon Sun SIOUX VALLEY DAKOTA NATION — Chief Vince Tacan appeared before a crowd of protesters Friday afternoon and told them that he would not comply with their demand that he resign. “I’m going to say right now that I’m not stepping down,” Tacan told the crowd of about two dozen people. “We had a meeting yesterday the council decided they are not stepping down — they said they are not going to be bullied into stepping down.” Prior to the chief’s appearance, an RCMP vehicle and a First Nation Safety Officer vehicle patrolled outside the Oyate’ Omnic’iya Tipi building for about an hour as a group that calls itself the Concerned Members of Sioux Valley waited for the chief. The group had...
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Eby’s bill to speed up B.C. projects risks alienating NDP supporters, expert says
By Wolfgang Depner A political scientist says B.C. Premier David Eby is “marching the province toward a confrontation” in which Speaker Raj Chouhan will have to cast a deciding vote to push through a bill to speed up certain infrastructure projects. Bill 15 proposes to accelerate some projects to counter U.S. tariffs, but has drawn opposition from First Nations, environmentalists and opposition parties, including the B.C. Greens, who said last week they won’t support it. UBC political science lecturer Stewart Prest says it likely means Chouhan will have to break a tied vote on the bill, which doesn’t fall under an agreement the New Democrats signed with the Greens in March to protect the government’s slim government. While Eby faces an “outside chance” his government will fall, Prest says he...
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Indigenous fashion week in Santa Fe, New Mexico, explores heritage in silk and hides
By Morgan Lee SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Fashion designers from across North America are bringing inspiration from their Indigenous heritage, culture and everyday lives to three days of runway modeling starting Friday in a leading creative hub and marketplace for Indigenous art. A fashion show affiliated with the century-old Santa Fe Indian Market is collaborating this year with a counterpart from Vancouver, Canada, in a spirit of Indigenous solidarity and artistic freedom. A second, independent runway show at a rail yard district in the city has nearly doubled the bustle of models, makeup and final fittings. Three days of runway shows set to music will have models that include professionals and family, dancers and Indigenous celebrities from TV and the political sphere. Clothing and accessories rely on materials ranging...
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‘A spirit-led life journey’: Huntsville’s Hope Arises founder featured in Hot Docs documentary ‘Red Girl Rising’
By Megan Hederson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, muskokaregion.com Joyce Jonathan Crone nearly wept as she stood centre stage in front of the packed audience at Toronto’s Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema. This was her “Oscar moment,” she said – proud of the powerful film she helped shape, one that shines a light on Indigenous strength, culture, and community in Huntsville. Crone is the subject of “Red Girl Rising,” a 12-minute documentary that had its world premiere April 30 at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival in Toronto. What is the documentary about? The documentary unveils the everyday life of Crone, an Indigenous woman and founder of Hope Arises Project Inc., which she said works to dismantle “cultural misconceptions, barriers, racism, and stereotypes.” Hope Arises has led walks through downtown...
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Quebec sovereigntists watch Alberta referendum talk with optimism, disdain
By Maura Forrest As Alberta flirts with the possibility of a referendum on separation, Quebec sovereigntists are watching with interest — and a healthy dose of skepticism. Some are hoping a wave of separatist sentiment in Alberta will put wind in the sails of Quebec’s own independence movement, which took a blow in the recent federal election when the Liberals made big gains in the province at the expense of the sovereigntist Bloc Québécois. But others see Alberta’s brand of separatism, grown out of frustration with federal Liberal policies, as so fundamentally different from Quebec sovereignty that it’s hard not to be dismissive. “In Quebec, we have a nation, a language, a culture, a distinct history,” said Marie-Anne Alepin, president of the Société St-Jean-Baptiste de Montréal, a prominent Quebec nationalist...
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Indigenous talent to be celebrated at Stars of Tomorrow
By Kimberly De Jong, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Brant Beacon Indigenous talent will be on full display during the 50th annual Stars of Tomorrow Showcase, which will be held at the Sanderson Centre for Performing Arts, on Saturday, May 17, 2025. The free event is being held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Michelle Farmer’s Studio of Dance and Modelling, the longest running Indigenous-owned talent studio in North America. For five decades now, Farmer has empowered over 5000 Indigenous youth through the art of dance, modeling and performing. The showcase will be hosted by Gary Farmer, an Indigenous actor and musician, and will feature a line-up of performances from comedian, Janelle Niles; Derek Miller, a two-time JUNO Award winning singer-songwriter and guitarist; and Six Nations musicians Lacey Hill and James...
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Eskasoni lawyer wins big in QEII Home Lottery
By Rosemary Godin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cape Breton Post A familiar Cape Breton name scrolled across Nova Scotian televisions this week when the winners of the latest QEII Home Lottery were announced. Tuma Young, a philanthropist, lawyer, social justice activist and recent recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal, won the 50/50 jackpot of $889,725. It’s the second time in the last four years that a Cape Breton resident has won the major 50/50 cash prize that usually hovers around $1 million. Dozens of congratulatory messages filled Young’s Facebook page with all saying the Mi’kmaq lawyer was “well-deserving” of the windfall. “This is amazing,” said one, while another friend commented that her friend has been encouraging others to buy the tickets for a very long time. And this...
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B.C., federal government support dredging Vancouver’s Burrard Inlet, others opposed
By Wolfgang Depner British Columbia’s energy minister is backing plans to dredge and deepen Vancouver’s Burrard Inlet to accommodate fully loaded oil tankers, despite concerns from environmentalists, experts and First Nations. The plan, floated recently by Prime Minister Mark Carney, could result in fewer tankers carrying more oil from the Trans Mountain pipeline to markets abroad. The expanded TMX pipeline has been operating since May 2024 and there have been calls to expand it again to help diversify energy exports away from the United States. “We certainly have said we are supportive, given that it would meet the environmental requirements and consultation requirements (with First Nations) that you have,” Energy Minister Adrian Dix said in a recent interview. Dix added that it would be a federal project that “would allow...
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Amidst a First Nations suicide crisis, political leaders only see gold
By Jon Thompson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Ricochet The ice is breaking up slowly on the lakes that surround Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation, 110 kilometres south of Kenora, Ontario. The snow’s receding, and mining prospectors are eager to get back into the field. Meanwhile, a trade war with the U.S. is threatening to ramp up critical minerals at volumes and speeds that would transform the entire national economy. But if a gold rush is coming like the one that took place in the 1880s and 1890s on Treaty #3 lands here in northwestern Ontario, the vote-rich cities where Canada’s political titans vie for power won’t bear a fraction of its impact compared to the First Nations people and fishing camp outfitters who live along this remote, secondary highway. Onigaming...
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Manitoba RCMP say one man is dead, another missing after boat malfunction
By Steve Lambert A man has died and another is missing after a boating malfunction on Lake Manitoba. RCMP say a boat stopped working yesterday with two men on board from Sandy Bay First Nation. Due to strong winds, the area fire department could not launch its boat to help. Police say a bystander on the beach saw both men in the water trying to swim to shore, and neither man was wearing a life-jacket. RCMP says the body of a 22-year-old man was located on shore this morning, while the search continues for the other boater, a 41 year-old. RCMP underwater recovery teams from both Manitoba and Saskatchewan are involved. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 9, 2025 ...
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Ontario First Nation seeks emergency relief in Federal Court over water crisis
A First Nation in northwestern Ontario is seeking emergency relief from the federal government to address the “critical” state of its water and sewage system as part of legal action launched in Federal Court. Pikangikum First Nation submitted a motion Thursday asking the court to compel the government to provide emergency funds to deliver adequate water and sanitation services to the community of more than 4,000 people. The First Nation has declared a state of emergency and filed a lawsuit against the federal government, arguing that Canada has failed to fix the water issue and has caused irreparable harm to the community. A statement of claim initially filed last year says the First Nation has suffered from deficient water and sewage infrastructure for decades, and most households have no running...
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Oakville man faces obstruct police charge after vehicle blocks crime scene investigation
OHSWEKEN, ON- A 47-year-old Oakville man is facing obstruction charges after attempting to block the entrance to a Chiefswood Road residence involved in a Six Nations Police raid of an alleged” tobacco manufacturing facility believed to be operated by a non-Indigenous criminal network who do not reside on the territory.” Six Nations Police officers were maintaining the security of the police investigation scene at a Chiefswood Road residence May 7th at about 2:45 p.m. when they saw a vehicle in the driveway with tires deflated. Police said they were advised the driver of the vehicle used a sharp-edged knife to deflate the tires on the vehicle intentionally blocking the entrance way. Police arrested the driver at the scene . As a result Francois Cadieux, 47, from Oakville, Ontario was charged...
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Grey whale washes ashore near Tofino, B.C. Cause of death unknown
A grey whale among a population that is listed as a special concern in Canada has washed ashore on a Vancouver Island beach. Parks Canada says the whale was spotted floating offshore on May 6, then it landed the next day on Long Beach in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve near Tofino. The federal agency is warning visitors to the popular beach not to touch the whale and to keep dogs on leash. The Fisheries Department says in a statement its marine mammal response team is working with Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation and Parks Canada to secure the animal and perform a necropsy. It says the cause of death won’t be confirmed until after the necropsy reports are complete, which usually takes two to three months. The department says the whale...
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Pacific gray whale washes up on Long Beach, DFO to conduct full necropsy
By Nora O’Malley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Ha-Shilth-Sa Long Beach, B.C. – Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks Guardian Gisele Maria Martin spotted the whale floating out in rough seas in front of the Esowista Peninsula on Monday and by Wednesday the magnificent creature had found its final resting place just south of Lovekin Rock on Long Beach in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. “The first thing we did was ceremony. We did a chant for the whale,” said Martin. Then the Guardians secured a rope around the tail of the deceased juvenile gray whale to save him from the rising tide and with the help of Parks Canada, they drew lines in the sand to create a perimeter around the body. “When I first arrived, people were quite close and poking...
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Willowbank honours Canada’s missing and murdered Indigenous women
By Julia Sacco, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Lake Report Residents and visitors gathered at Willowbank on Monday to reflect on stories of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people (MMIWG2S+). The School of Restoration Arts hosted a red dress exhibit and unveiled what organizers say is Canada’s first MMIWG2S+ teardrop cairn during a two-day event held May 4 and 5. The retreat was organized in partnership with Kakekalanicks, De dwa da dehs nye Aboriginal Health Centre, Willowbank and the Love Garden, and aimed to provide space for community gathering, remembrance and cultural truth-telling. The exhibition, titled “If Only These Dresses Could Tell Their Story,” features 13 red dresses and/or installations contributed by Indigenous peoples from Niagara and western New York. Curated by Michele-Elise Burnett, the exhibition made...
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Rural Manitoba school board latest to cut educational assistants funded by Jordan’s Principle
By Maggie Macintosh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Winnipeg Free Press A Manitoba school division in which four in 10 students self-identify as Indigenous is cutting 40 educational assistants in response to sweeping changes to Jordan’s Principle. “We wouldn’t have had those positions in place had we not needed them,” said Gary Wowchuk, chairman of the board of trustees in the Swan Valley School Division. “The impact is going to be felt by students that need those extra resources and by the staff who have to pick up some of the slack there.” The Swan River-based board recently learned $2.2 million in federal funding to support First Nations children during the current academic year wouldn’t be renewed for 2025-26. Superintendent Rob Tomlinson told the Free Press the administration hand-delivered letters to...
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Smith says sovereignty referendum provides ‘outlet’ to avoid creation of new party
By Lisa Johnson Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is fighting criticism she’s being selfish and dangerous by risking a separation referendum in part to avert the emergence of a political rival. Smith says she doesn’t support separating her province from Canada, but says Albertans have genuine grievances with the federal government, and she wants concessions from Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney. On Thursday in question period in the legislature, Opposition NDP Leader Christina Gray said Smith’s own words show she is jeopardizing national unity to bolster her own power. “Why is the premier dividing the country and our province just to avoid dividing her party?” The day before, Smith was asked on CTV News Channel if it wasn’t easier to quell separatism by taking it off the table. Smith responded, “If...
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B.C. Appeals Court finds agency’s decision to remove kids ‘tainted by stereotype’
The B.C. Court of Appeal says an Indigenous mother who had her four kids temporarily removed from her care by a child welfare agency was discriminated against because the agency’s view of the woman was “tainted by stereotype.” The Appeals Court ruled Thursday that a $150,000 human-rights award should be restored after the B.C. Supreme Court overturned a decision of the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal in January. The ruling says the Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society removed the woman’s four children in 2016, and they were returned to her care three years later. The mother, identified only as R.R. in the ruling, filed a complaint with the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal, claiming the decision to remove her kids was based on “protected characteristics” in the province’s human-rights code...
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M’Chigeeng plans ground search for Juanita Migwans
By Jacqueline St. Pierre, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Manitoulin Expositor M’CHIGEENG—On the morning of Saturday, May 10, as spring breathes its thawed sweetness across the Island, a circle of people will gather at the M’Chigeeng fire hall. They will gather with quiet purpose, lacing boots and hearts alike, for a ground search in honour of Juanita “Winnie” Migwans — a woman loved deeply, whose absence has left an ache that winds through families and communities like the Manitou River itself. The search begins at 10 am, open to all who carry a wish to help. Volunteers from across Mnidoo Mnising — Central Manitoulin, NEMI, Sheguiandah, South Baymouth — are stepping forward. Juanita’s aunt MaryDale Ashcroft and her team are driving up from Lion’s Head, six strong. Wiki Surveillance, a...
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Wagmatcook votes status quo on name
By Rosemary Godin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cape Breton Post Wagmatcook First Nation has concluded a 10-day community voting process to decide whether to adopt the traditional Mi’kmaq spelling of the community name, Waqmɨtkuk. The vote followed an in-depth community engagement initiative aimed at ensuring that every member—both on and off-reserve— had the opportunity to participate in this important cultural conversation. The final vote count was: 72 in favor of adopting the traditional spelling: Waqmɨtkuk and 117 in favor of keeping the current spelling of Wagmatcook. The community of just over 600 people is the oldest permanent settlement of the Mi’kmaq Nation in Nova Scotia and nestles between the shores of the Bras d’Or Lakes on one side and the Cape Breton highlands on the other. Tourists drive through the...
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