Does Jordan’s Principle need reform, or just reliable funding?
By Mikaela Kassar, PhD Student in English, McGill University; and Phoebe Friesen, Assistant Professor, Biomedical Ethics, McGill University The House of Commons of Canada adopted Jordan’s Principle in 2007 to ensure First Nations children have equitable access to government services. In February 2025, Ottawa tightened the rules on what qualifies and the effects were swift. Figures filed at a Canadian Human Rights Tribunal hearing in January 2026 show that in Ontario, funding for educational supports under the principle was drastically cut after the change. In a six-month period, it fell from $122 million in 2024 to $1.2 million in 2025. The number of approved requests dropped precipitously, from 2,608 to 66. Families, service providers and communities across the country have been scrambling to pay for essential services such as educational...
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Yukon government hands new policing priorities to RCMP
By Noah Korver, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Yukon News The Yukon government delivered an updated list of policing priorities to the RCMP’s M Division last week, outlining key focus areas for the territory over the next two years. According to a Sept. 25 Justice Department news release, the government has set three main priorities for police in the territory: Enhancing public safety and community confidence. Targeted policing of organized crime, drug trafficking and serious offenders. Policing in communities through strong relationships. The release says the priority list was developed after a lengthy consultation process between the government, RCMP, communities, First Nations Governments and other stakeholders across the Yukon. Speaking in a phone interview, Yukon minister of justice Laura Lang said that in engaging with communities across the territory, her government...
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Grassy Narrows River Run brings demands for mercury justice to Tkarón:to
By Daniel Opasinis, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, IndigiNews On the front lawn of Queen’s Park in Tkarón:to stands a tall statue of Sir James Pliny Whitney, Ontario premier from 1905 to 1914, whose government promoted mining and forestry development in northern Ontario. Over a century later, Glenn Cameron, councillor for Wabaseemoong First Nation (Whitedog), stood below that same statue. Holding a microphone connected to a portable sound system, he addressed a crowd gathered to demand action on the mercury contamination that continues to affect his community. On Wednesday, Sept. 23, members of Grassy Narrows First Nation, Whitedog, and organizers in Tkarón:to came together for the annual Grassy Narrows River Run. They are calling on Ontario and “Canada” to fairly compensate people in Grassy Narrows for the mercury crisis and stop...
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Don Boddy honours family past through reconciliation
By Renee Lilley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Portage Graphic Leader For Don Boddy, participating in reconciliation events is not just a professional commitment, but a deeply personal duty rooted in his own family history. Boddy, who works with the Manitoba Association of Newcomer Serving Organizations (MANSO), serves as an active ally and supporter across Indigenous, newcomer, and non-profit sectors in Portage and across Manitoba. His personal connection to the legacy of residential schools stems from his late stepfather, a Mohawk man named Carman “Jack” Stock, who survived the Mohawk Institute Residential School in Brantford, Ont., also known as The Mush Hole. Speaking to reporters at the National Indigenous Residential School Museum (NIRSM) on Long Plain First Nation at Keeshkeemaquah, Boddy shared how his stepfather was taken to the institution at...
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‘Silence could be consent’: Alberta First Nations push to get out vote for referendum
By Lisa Johnson Angel Houle says she’s never voted in an Alberta provincial election, but this month’s referendum is different. Not only is she casting a ballot, Houle is helping outfit First Nations’ leaders with everything they need to get out the vote on Oct. 19. That’s when Albertans decide whether the province should stay within Canada, or hold a second, binding referendum on breaking away. Houle, along with other staff at the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations, has been organizing workshops to build teams among member nations. Those teams are boots on the ground, spreading the word on where and how to vote. It’s about fighting for a united Canada and for the treaties and agreements that underpin and secure that unity. “The decisions being made in this...
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Local resident shares personal experiences of infamous Sixties Scoop
By Brenda Sawatzky, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Prairie News Network On the eve of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, students at the Niverville High School learned a little more about one of Canada’s dark historical events: the Sixties Scoop. While some saw the event as a means to assimilate the Indigenous peoples into white culture, others saw it as a form of cultural genocide. According to the Canadian department of Indigenous Affairs, somewhere around 20,000 First Nation, Métis and Inuit children were removed from their homes between 1960 and 1990. Many were sent abroad, some as far away as New Zealand. According to some sources, about 50 percent of them were sent to the United States. In Manitoba, around 3,400 Indigenous children were adopted by primarily non-Indigenous families between...
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Thomas re-elected as chief on Walpole Island
By Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice Walpole Island First Nation Bkejwanong Territory Chief Leela Thomas has been re-elected to a second term. With nearly 1,000 ballots cast on Sept. 19, Thomas, as the incumbent, outpaced five opponents vying for the chief’s chair by capturing 504 votes. The race saw Kennon M.L. Johnson finish second with 208 votes; Daniel Miskokomon third with 143 votes; Ronald A. Ron Sayed fourth with 90 votes; Cody Miskokomon fifth with 32 votes and Hussein Sayed in sixth place with five votes. Following the vote, Thomas posted on social media thanking the community for returning her to office. “Chimiigwech from the bottom of my heart for your encouragement, your support, and your trust in me to serve the nation again,” she wrote. “Also,...
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Denialism Protects the Status Quo
By Carol Baldwin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Wakaw Recorder Each year on September 30, Canada honours Survivors and the children who never returned home, their families and their communities through the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It is an opportunity for Canadians to learn about the lasting negative impacts residential schools and colonialism have left on generations of First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The news on Sunday of Second Sons Canada’s appearance in Kamloops cannot be coincidental. At the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc announced in May 2021 the discovery of 215 potential burial sites detected by ground-penetrating radar. This finding shook the country and the world as headlines appeared on the newswire. It also helped accelerate the creation of the National Day...
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Haldimand County OPP seek public’s help in locating missing man Kyle Laforme
HALDIMAND COUNTY, ON – Haldimand County OPP are asking the public for help in locating a missing man. Haldimand County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) investigated a report of an abandoned vehicle on Ouse Street in Cayuga September 27, 2026, at about 12:30 p.m.,. The vehicle belonged to Kyle Laforme, 35, of Hamilton, who had abandoned his vehicle. OPP, concerned for his well-being, began a missing person’s investigation immediately. The West Region OPP Emergency Response Team (ERT) and Haldimand Fire conducted an initial search in the immediate area and waterway. Extensive searches continued for the next several days with assistance from OPP Marine Unit, OPP Underwater Search Rescue Unit (USUR), and OPP Aviation Services. A missing person bulletin was shared on OPP West Region social media platforms. Investigators are releasing...
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From Conversation to Action: Indigenous Policing Summit Highlights Community-Led Approach
By Chevi Rabbit, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Alberta Native News For members of Maskwacis, attending the Indigenous Policing Summit on the Tsuut’ina Nation near Calgary provided an opportunity to listen, learn and bring new ideas home. Several members attended the summit, which brought together speakers and policing representatives from across Canada to discuss Indigenous policing, community safety and the importance of meaningful relationships between police and First Nations. For Cst. A/Cpl. Catlin Chiasson of the Maskwacis RCMP, the summit reinforced an important message: conversations about Indigenous policing need to lead to action. “It was phenomenal that we had the opportunity to send several members there,” Chiasson said. “From what I’ve heard, the speakers from across Canada were speaking about not only having conversations, but conversations that come to fruition. So,...
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UCalgary students decry residential school denialism debate
By Sarah Palmer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, LiveWire Calgary University of Calgary students are calling on the school for answers after a controversial on-campus debate. Social media posts have surfaced from Sept. 29, when a national student-led organization set up a debate table in the Science Theatres area, posing the question of whether the residential school system should be considered a genocide. The organization, Canadian Students for Free Speech, describes itself as a “movement defending open debate, viewpoint diversity, and free expression on Canadian campuses,” according to its website, which also serves as a place to report censorship. Tom Flanagan, a current political science master’s instructor at UCalgary who has been employed by the school as a professor for decades, and journalist Drea Humphrey were the featured debaters, according to...
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Presidents rarely visit Indian Country. Trump’s rally on the Choctaw Nation is the latest
By Savannah Peters, Thomas Pablo And Sarah Liese DURANT, Okla. (AP) — President Donald Trump’s rally Thursday on the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma put him in the company of just a handful of U.S. presidents who have visited tribal reservations while in office. The rally was part of Trump’s recent campaign push through deep red states, where he has been stumping for Republican candidates and promoting his agenda ahead of November’s midterm elections. While historically significant, the visit to Choctaw appeared to be incidental. Zach Kraft, a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee, said the city of Durant was chosen because it’s close to Texas, a state that’s an important part of Trump’s political itinerary. “President Trump wants to make sure Oklahoma stays red. And he also wants to make...
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Orange Shirt Day founder reflects on truth and reconciliation at West Vancouver ceremony
By Abby Luciano, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, North Shore News The woman responsible for the creation of Orange Shirt Day got to see her idea blossom into a sea of orange during a gathering to observe National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Wednesday at Park Royal in West Vancouver. The event, called Spirit to Live, honoured residential school survivors and the children who never made it home. Survivors took to the stand sharing their experiences and its lasting impacts. Phyllis Webstad, CEO and co-founder of the Orange Shirt Society, was one of many who shared her experience and the story behind why people wear orange. At six years old, Webstad was sent to St. Joseph Mission Indian residential school near Williams Lake, B.C. A gift from her grandmother, a shiny...
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Ancient Âsowanânihk crossing reveals millennia of Indigenous use as communities seek protection
By Aaron Walker, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Windspeaker.com Archaeological evidence from an ancient North Saskatchewan River crossing is helping researchers trace thousands of years of Indigenous land use while surrounding communities seek protection for a landscape at the centre of a logging dispute. Âsowanânihk, meaning “A Place to Cross,” lies near Crutwell, west of Prince Albert, Sask. Archaeologists are examining evidence of people returning over thousands of years. Environmental archaeologist Glenn Stuart says the evidence shows repeated occupation but does not establish that people lived at the site permanently. The University of Saskatchewan associate professor outlined the findings in written responses to Windspeaker’s questions. Project updates on June fieldwork and news reports published in September provide more information about the ongoing research and efforts to protect the surrounding environment. Reading...
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Languages website launches with Nakoda lessons
By Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Windspeaker.com A free online teaching resource called canadianlanguages.org launched Sept. 21 with Nakoda lessons taught by Theresa O’Watch of Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation. With Cree, Dakota, Dene and Michif lessons already in production, the new initiative aims to break down barriers to learning the first languages in Canada. While many provincial K-12 curricula across the country now include Indigenous languages, most schools still do not teach them. Founder Wahbi Zarry “wanted to make it so easy for a teacher that there is just no reason left not to teach an Indigenous language in class.” The Morocco-born certified French teacher developed an interest in Indigenous languages while pursuing a Bachelor of Education in Saskatchewan. Frequently hearing about their endangerment, his award-winning documentaries 10...
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In Tk̓emlúps, community gathers to ‘reclaim our space’ and denounce white nationalism
By Aaron Hemens, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, IndigiNews Content warning: This article contains details about residential schools. Please read with care for your spirit. On the eve of Orange Shirt Day, more than 100 people gathered in Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc to cleanse and reclaim a site where a white nationalist demonstration occurred earlier this week. For nearly three hours on Tuesday night, Secwépemc people and their allies drummed, sang and prayed — for the land and the people, and for all the families impacted by residential schools. Ashley Michel from Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc organized Tuesday’s gathering with four other Secwépemc (Shuswap) mothers. After seeing images of a group of masked white nationalists circulating on social media early this week, she told IndigiNews that they felt they had to come together...
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‘It doesn’t belong to me, it belongs to the Dane-Zaa.’ : Ridington Family digitally repatriates collection to Treaty 8 community
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Energeticcity.ca FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — After nearly three decades of work, a collection of Indigenous stories, recordings and photographs have made its way back to the Treaty 8 people of northeast B.C. An event honouring the digital repatriation of historical resources dating back to the 1960s was held in the grand ballroom of the Northern Grand Hotel in Fort St. John on the morning of Sept. 25. It was a special moment for Amber Ridington, whose father, Robin Ridington, first began work with the Dane-Zaa people six decades ago. During her hour-long presentation, Amber got emotional while speaking about the history of the Indigenous community and their interactions with her family. After the presentation, the Folklorist spoke about the initial efforts of her parents, Robin...
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Tentative settlement in N.S. First Nation class action over non-consensual MRI scans
A tentative settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit alleging members of a Nova Scotia First Nation underwent MRI scans without their consent. The law firm representing the class confirmed Thursday that the proposed settlement with the defendants — two Halifax doctors — is subject to approval from the Nova Scotia Supreme Court. None of the allegations in the lawsuit have been tested in court. The original lawsuit, filed in 2020 and certified in 2024, alleged radiologists Robert Miller and Sharon Clarke took magnetic resonance imaging scans of about 60 members of the Pictou Landing First Nation without their knowledge or consent. A statement of claim filed in Nova Scotia Supreme Court says band members agreed to undergo the scans as part of a research project in 2017...
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Indigenous groups given just two months to consult on pipeline project designation
By Alessia Passafiume Indigenous communities along the route for the newly announced West Coast oil pipeline were given just two months for consultations on whether the pipeline should be designated a project of national interest — and that was still more than the government had planned. At first, the consultations were to take place over one month. They were extended to two months after Indigenous leaders raised concerns about the tight timeline. A summary of those consultations posted online by the federal government says Indigenous groups decried a lack of information about the project, which they said prevented them from fully assessing its impact. Prime Minister Mark Carney promised his major projects agenda would not interfere with Canada’s obligations under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples....
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Driver released after collision that killed 2 First Nations elders in Delta, B.C.
Delta police say the driver involved in a collision that killed two Tsawwassen First Nation elders and injured two others has been released from hospital, as investigators assess whether the driver’s medical emergency played a role in the crash. Police say in a news release Thursday that while there is no information to suggest the collision was intentional, they are investigating whether a medical emergency experienced by the driver just before the collision on Wednesday morning may have been a contributing factor. The collision happened shortly before 10:30 a.m. at the Tsawwassen Mills mall near the Tsawwassen First Nation, in an area scheduled to host the unveiling of four traditional carvings known as house posts. The Nation hosted a community walk in recognition of the National Day for Truth and...
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