Centuries-old logbooks reveal how bowhead whales are recovering from near-extinction
By Nicholas Freymueller, Postdoctoral Researcher in Extinction Biology, Adelaide University; and Damien Fordham, Associate Professor of Global Change Ecology, Adelaide University Bowhead whales have the greatest life-span of any mammal on Earth. They can reach over 200 years in age thanks in part to their slow metabolism and cancer-suppressing genes. They are far stockier and shorter than other large baleen whales, making them perfectly adapted to life among Arctic sea ice. Their bodies are dark, verging on black. The only exception to this is the front part of their lower lips, which shines brilliant white. For many thousands of years, bowhead whales have helped maintain stable Arctic marine food webs. For millennia, they have served as a vital food source for Inuit communities, who harvest them sustainably in spring and...
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RCMP investigating motive in Saskatchewan shooting that left 1 dead, 1 injured
RCMP are working to determine the motive for a shooting that left a woman dead and a man seriously injured in a remote community in northern Saskatchewan. The shooting happened Monday near the health centre in Pelican Narrows, 500 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon. When officers arrived, they found the woman and the man at different spots on the same road, RCMP said. The woman died at the scene and the man was taken to hospital. Residents were ordered to shelter in place, and a suspect was arrested at a home five hours later. Insp. Ashley St. Germaine said Tuesday that charges have yet to be laid against the suspect. Another person had been detained but was released without charges, she added. St. Germaine said she doesn’t believe the shooting was...
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Indigenous speakers, politicians watching audit of languages office closely
By The Canadian Press staff Indigenous language speakers and political leaders say they were disappointed to learn a landmark Indigenous languages office is under investigation after the federal government received anonymous complaints. The Canadian Heritage department has ordered a financial audit of transactions and activities at the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages, The Canadian Press reported earlier this week. The department has not elaborated on the specific allegations made against the office, an arm’s-length body that was set up five years ago in response to a recommendation by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The department has said it has contracted an independent third-party firm to conduct the audit and has notified Commissioner Ronald Ignace. One Indigenous language speaker said part of the problem with organizations like the commissioner’s...
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Greenstone breaks ground on key project for Ring of Fire access
By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, SNnewswatch.com GREENSTONE —The work has just begun on “a transformative project” on Main Street in the Geraldton ward, Mayor Jamie McPherson said Tuesday. “It’s a transformative project because of the extent of the work,” the Greenstone mayor said after a groundbreaking ceremony attended by provincial cabinet member Greg Rickford, municipal leaders, business leaders and First Nations representatives. “It’s also transformative in the involvement of all the different communities and levels of government in this,” McPherson added. “And without certainly Minister Rickford and Premier Ford, and all their support investing in our infrastructure, this change would not be able to happen across the community and all the communities that are tied together.” With more than $80 million in provincial funding, Greenstone’s Main Street Rehabilitation...
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Surrey, B.C., police board ousts Norm Lipinski as chief, board chair resigns
The police chief in Surrey, B.C., has left the service in an exit that also triggered the resignation of the police board chair, who said the decision was made at meeting his colleagues knew he couldn’t attend, and that “political tentacles” had reached into the oversight body. The board said in a statement on Tuesday that Chief Const. Norm Lipinski had been replaced by Deputy Chief Const. Todd Matsumoto, who was appointed to the top post on an interim basis. The board also said it would begin looking for a permanent chief, with updates in the next few weeks. Lipinski oversaw Surrey’s transition from the RCMP to its own municipal police force, a process that was contentious as Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke tried unsuccessfully to reverse the move and hand...
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Culturally-appropriate resources could save lives, deputy grand chief tells inquest
By Carrie Ivardi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, NWOnewswatch.com THUNDER BAY — Kevin Mamakwa died “a very tragic death, a senseless death, that could have been avoided.” That’s according to Nishnawbe Aski Nation Deputy Grand Chief Anna Betty Achneepineskum, the third witness to testify at a coroner’s inquest into the 27-year-old Kingfisher Lake First Nation man’s death in custody at the Thunder Bay District Jail. “The main message that we wanted to convey is that the Anishinaabe citizens, we need to have more mental health services,” Achneepineskum said on Tuesday. The second day of the inquest into Mamakwa’s death marked the six-year anniversary of his passing. Presiding Coroner Dr. Michael Wilson acknowledged this fact before introducing Achneepineskum. She said that building a new jail is necessary, but that the government must...
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Former US Interior Secretary Deb Haaland wins the Democratic nomination for New Mexico governor
By Susan Montoya Bryan And Savannah Peters ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland has won the Democratic nomination for New Mexico governor, giving her a path to become the first Native American woman in the U.S. elected to the office. Haaland’s campaign celebrated Tuesday night at a historic plaza in Albuquerque’s Old Town neighborhood, where supporters gathered for traditional hoop dancing and a prayer in Tiwa, one of many Native languages spoken among tribes in the state. “New Mexico, thank you for believing in what we can build together,” she posted on social media. Under President Joe Biden, Haaland championed public lands conservation and oversaw a first-of-its-kind federal investigation into the abuse of Native American children at government-run boarding schools. In 2018, the citizen of Laguna Pueblo...
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Indigenous participation, engagement key to economic growth in Canada, report says
By Sammy Hudes A new report says boosting economic relations with Indigenous partners and incorporating their world views in business decision-making can help position Canada for a more resilient economic future. The report, published Wednesday by Deloitte’s Future of Canada Centre, explores how sovereign Indigenous economic partnerships are among Canada’s most underleveraged growth opportunities. “As Canada grapples and comes to terms with a very challenging economic and global restructuring, Indigenous peoples being included in economic growth and new projects is going to be part of the solution and not an additional cost,” said Dean Janvier, a partner at Deloitte Canada. “In fact, it will be a net benefit to Canada.” The report incorporates interviews with 12 nationally recognized Indigenous business leaders. Its findings are also based on research conducted with...
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Canada funds research into plastic pollution in Indigenous communities
By Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Windspeaker.com Six Indigenous-led projects have been approved for nearly $2.4 million in new federal research funding to study the social, cultural and economic impacts of plastic pollution on Indigenous communities. Only eight per cent of Canada’s four million tonnes of annual plastic waste is currently recycled, reads a report on the Oceana website. Indigenous communities have identified increasing plastic contamination concerns in local waterways, on shorelines and in food systems of remote northern areas where waste management and transportation challenges increase environmental pressures, said Nathan Pritula, Environment and Climate Change Canada’s manager of science policy. “Advancing research partnering with Indigenous groups helps to improve our understanding of how plastics and microplastics move through the environment and food webs,” he said, asserting that community-driven...
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AFN chief rebukes Alberta separation talks in meeting with King Charles
By Alessia Passafiume The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations rebuked the Alberta separation movement during a meeting with King Charles at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday. “The King was there with us in unison, that First Nations are foundational partners in the creation of Canada, and our relationship cannot be changed or moved just from politics,” Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak told The Canadian Press in an interview. “As long as the sun shines, the grass grows and the river flows, we’re all treaty people in Canada.” The Alberta government is putting forward a referendum in October asking voters if they want to remain part of Canada or to pursue a second binding referendum on separating from Canada. “We’ve got a beautiful country. If you don’t want to be part...
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RCMP investigating motive in Saskatchewan shooting that left 1 dead, 1 injured
RCMP are working to determine the motive for a shooting that left a woman dead and a man seriously injured in a remote community in northern Saskatchewan. The shooting happened Monday near the health centre in Pelican Narrows, 500 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon. When officers arrived, they found the woman and the man at different spots on the same road, RCMP said. The woman died at the scene and the man was taken to hospital. Residents were ordered to shelter in place, and a suspect was arrested at a home five hours later. Insp. Ashley St. Germaine said Tuesday that charges have yet to be laid against the suspect. Another person had been detained but was released without charges, she added. St. Germaine said she doesn’t believe the shooting was...
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N.B. power company risked millions of dollars taking shortcuts on gas plant: auditor
By Eli Ridder New Brunswick’s provincially owned energy corporation made a series of poor choices with its planned natural gas power plant that exposed taxpayers to millions of dollars worth of risk, the public auditor says. The utility entered into a long-term agreement without regulatory approval and selected equipment without studying alternatives, among other missteps, auditor general Paul Martin said in his report released Tuesday. While the need for a new natural gas plant is valid, Martin told lawmakers, NB Power “did not proceed in the clearest or most disciplined order, increasing governance, financial and regulatory risk for New Brunswick power and energy customers.” The Renewable Integration and Grid Security project is a 500-Megawatt natural gas power plant proposed for rural southeastern New Brunswick. It received approval from the provincial...
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Brantford Police asking public for help in identifying robbery suspect
BRANTFORD, ONT-The Brantford Police Service (BPS) are looking for the public’s help afer a jewelry store was robbed at gun point Friday, May 29, 2026, at around 9:25 a.m. BPS said a male suspect displaying a firearm entered a jewelry store located within Lynden Park Mall in northeastern Brantford with his face concealed. The suspect stole a large amount of jewelry and cash before fleeing the scene. BPS could not be reached for comment on how much was stolen or from which jewelry store. At the time of the robbery two employees were in the shop, though no injuries were reported to BPS. Police describe the suspect as male, wearing a black hooded jacket, sunglasses, a face covering, black gloves, dark pants, and dark running shoes. BPS asks anyone with...
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Ontario eyes boost to protections in school for kids with medical conditions
By Allison Jones Ontario is proposing to strengthen protections for students with medical conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy, severe allergies and asthma to ensure they are safe while at school — welcome news for parents like Amy McQuaid. Her son Charlie has uncontrolled epilepsy with seizures that are silent and can just look like small, repetitive behaviours that can easily be missed in a busy classroom, she said. Charlie is in senior kindergarten this year and McQuaid said their experiences with varying levels of support for him prompted her to dive deep into the Ministry of Education policy on students with prevalent medical conditions. What she found was gaps in plans of care, supervision and enforceable provisions and she started Safe at School Ontario to advocate for changes. Much of...
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Fort Nelson First Nation member honoured as Indigenous hero
By Local Journalism Initiative Reporter PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — One of Fort Nelson First Nation’s (FNFN) own has been hailed an Indigenous education hero. School District 57 (SD57) has honoured Crystal Behn in its Indigenous Hero Poster Project. The project is an initiative from SD57, which celebrates people who have “strengthened the community and continue to inspire positive change,” according to its website. Behn was nominated in the Indigenous Education category, and told Energeticcity.ca about her first reactions to being nominated. An artist, knowledge keeper and Indigenous planner for the Two Rivers Gallery in Prince George, she has also held workshops highlighting her artwork to SD57 students. She’s also going to showcase her artwork and culture to students in Vanderhoof next week. “It made me feel really proud,” said Behn....
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Saskatchewan wildfires force out 1,300 people; progress made on blaze near Shellbrook
By Jeremy Simes More than 1,300 Saskatchewan residents remain out of their homes as two wildfires continue to spread in northern areas of the province. Bryan Chartrand with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency says the Cayford fire, northeast of Saskatoon near the Manitoba boundary, is burning vigorously. The agency says the fire has forced out about 1,200 residents from two First Nations communities due to concerns involving smoke and road access. Another blaze near the Rural Municipality of Shellbrook, also northeast of Saskatoon, has forced out 130 residents. Chartrand says the Lobstick fire saw minimal growth over the weekend and rain is expected later this week in the area. He says a chicken coop, shed and trailer were scorched in the blaze but crews have made progress to prevent the...
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‘There’s going to be an accident,’ airport official warns of seaplane traffic on Lake Couchiching
By Danielle Pitman, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, OrilliaMatters.com Recent float plane activity on Lake Couchiching is causing waves for those who live in the area, with a local airport official say it’s only a matter of time before there’s an accident. Among the worries floating around are questions about why the Lake Country Airways seaplane base is now using the lake and Cape Resort as its base of operations and how it was approved. “We have lived peacefully on this lake for 23 years,” says Belinda Robichaud. Her home is in Cumberland Beach, directly across from the location where Lake Country Airways operates at The Cape Resort on Rama Road. “Our main concern is the fact that virtually no one had heard that this base was even being considered, let...
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Food Banks Canada says employment insurance doesn’t serve modern workforce
Canada’s employment insurance system no longer serves the broader workforce as more people take up gig work or part-time jobs, says a new report from Food Banks Canada. In its latest poverty report card released Monday, the organization said the labour market has shifted toward part-time, temporary and contract work, while EI only caters to a shrinking workforce that has stable, full-time work with a single employer. Food Banks Canada chief executive Kirstin Beardsley said in a media statement the outdated EI system is one of the greatest threats to Canada’s resiliency as unemployment remains elevated and households struggle to keep up with the high cost of living. The report suggests EI eligibility is at the heart of the issue. EI requires claimants to accumulate a set number of insurable...
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Food tax cut, bad behaviour: What happened in Manitoba’s spring legislature sitting
By Ian Bickis The Manitoba legislature wrapped on Monday its spring sitting, which had the government pass a tax cut on some food items and saw accusations of racist comments and other unruly behaviour. The three-month stretch had some late nights, as the Opposition Progressive Conservatives pushed for deeper tax cuts than the NDP government offered in its budget bill. Tax cut The most prominent cut eliminates the provincial sales tax on prepared meals, including rotisserie chicken, as well as snacks and soft drinks at grocery and convenience stores, starting July 1. While most groceries are already tax-free, the province said the cut would save an average family of four roughly $100 a year to help with the cost of living. “That’s a huge step forward in lowering the burden...
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Father testifies at inquest into jail death
By Carrie Ivardi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, NWOnewswatch.com Content warning: This article addresses suicide and mental health. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or in need of urgent support, call 911. The CMHA also provides crisis response services across the region, including a 24/7 helpline at 807-346-8282 or toll free at 1-866-888-8988. THUNDER BAY — When he was feeling down, Kevin Mamakwa told his dad, physical exercise helped him to feel better. Jonathon Mamakwa took the stand on Monday as the first witness at the inquest into the death of his son, Kevin. Presiding Coroner Dr. Michael Wilson explained that the role of the five jury members is not to assign blame, but look into the circumstances of Kevin’s death. The Kingfisher Lake First Nation man...
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