Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated pouring $98 million into housing
By William Koblensky Varela, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunavut News Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated has approved $98 million in spending on housing after receiving the money from the federal government’s Urban, Rural and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy, according to an Aug. 29 press release. Housing will be prioritized for women and children fleeing violence; Elders; and youth in crisis, according to Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI), which held a board of directors meeting in Kinngait this week. “Members noted a 46 per cent increase in project spending, with significant investments in Inuktut revitalization, community infrastructure, housing, the Inuit Health Survey, post-secondary education, tuberculosis care, and suicide prevention initiatives,” the NTI press release states. In the same board meeting, NTI learned that the Nunavut Trust will pay out $92.9 million this year, more...
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Hundreds of Manitoba wildfire evacuees face uncertain September
By Maggie Macintosh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Winnipeg Free Press Six-year-old Raylynn Mercer spent much of his summer break bicycling around hotel parking lots and cuddling with his Chihuahua, Princess. “He’s a trooper,” Irene Mercer said as she reflected on the abrupt end of her son’s first school year and uncertainty surrounding his entry into Grade 1. “Due to fires, they weren’t allowed to celebrate the end of kindergarten. He was very crushed.” The Mercers and others from Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, also known as Pukatawagan, were forced to flee south about 100 days ago. The 2025 wildfire season is the worst on record in 30 years. More than two million hectares of Manitoba have burned and while most fires are out or under control, widespread infrastructure damage is delaying...
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Archeology field schools to continue in 2026 at Tse’k’wa historic cave
By Ed Hitchins, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Energeticcity.ca CHARLIE LAKE, B.C. — The road to a career in archeology at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) will continue to run through Charlie Lake until at least 2026. The Tse’k’wa Heritage Society, located in the area, announced a third field school to take place in the area of its cave during the Archeology Night Out on Wednesday, August 27th at Treaty 8 Tribal Association offices in Fort St. John. A field school provides practical on-location instruction in archeological methods such as excavation, surveying and mapping. Previously, the Tse’k’wa National Historic Site, a cave with roots tracing back to the Ice Age, has hosted field schools in 2022 and 2024. The property is owned wholly by Doig River First Nation (DRFN),...
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What it could mean for the Fed to lose its independence
By Christopher Rugaber WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s attempt to fire a member of the Federal Reserve’s governing board has raised alarms among economists and legal experts who see it as the biggest threat to the central bank’s independence in decades. The consequences could impact most Americans’ everyday lives: Economists worry that if Trump gets what he wants — a loyal Fed that sharply cuts short-term interest rates — the result would likely be higher inflation and, over time, higher borrowing costs for things like mortgages, car loans and business loans. Trump on Monday sought to fireLisa Cook, the first Black woman appointed to the Fed’s seven-member governing board. It was the first time in the Fed’s 112-year history that a president has tried to fire a governor. Trump...
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‘My hero is here’; Eskasoni first responders honoured for special work they do
By Rosemary Godin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cape Breton Post Words of gratitude, loud applause and even tears of emotion were waiting for first responders at the end of a special parade in their honour Wednesday afternoon in Eskasoni First Nation. Organizers of the event held to express appreciation to the community’s firefighters, RCMP officers, paramedics, mental health and crisis teams were pleasantly surprised at the size of the crowd that filled the powwow grounds to say thank you. The crowd cheered and recognized not only present first responders, but also those from the past who had retired. As the crowd ate their supper, supplied by the chief and band council, or watched their children play on several inflatables in the field, awards were handed out and some tears were...
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Some Indigenous businesses halt exports to U.S. despite long-standing free-trade ties
By Alessia Passafiume -CP-AP-Some small Indigenous businesses are halting shipments to the U.S. in the wake of President Donald Trump’s tariff regime, even though trade ties exist that predate the founding of both Canada and the United States. “There needs to be a resolution to allow Indigenous Peoples to continue to undergo the trade routes that they have established and practised, and the treaties that have been signed in the past have suggested that these would be honoured,” said Matthew Foss, who serves as the vice president of research and public policy at the Canadian Council for Indigenous Businesses. “It’s up to the federal governments in Canada and the United States to figure out how to honour those.” Trump announced last month his government was going to suspend duty-free de...
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1.2M immigrants are gone from the US labor force under Trump, preliminary data shows
By Corey Williams It’s tomato season and Lidia is harvesting on farms in California’s Central Valley. She is also anxious. Attention from U.S. Immigration Control and Enforcement could upend her life more than 23 years after she illegally crossed the U.S.-Mexico border as a teenager. “The worry is they’ll pull you over when you’re driving and ask for your papers,” said Lidia, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition that only her first name be used because of her fears of deportation. “We need to work. We need to feed our families and pay our rent.” As parades and other events celebrating the contributions of workers in the U.S. are held Monday for the Labor Day holiday, experts say President Donald Trump’s stepped-up immigration policies are impacting the nation’s...
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Community play celebrates stories along the Grand
By Kimberly De Jong, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Brant Beacon After traveling to 12 different communities over the course of a month, The Voice of the River: Grand River Community Play tour officially came to a close at Chiefswood Park in Ohsweken on Saturday, August 23, 2025. Put on by the Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity and Grandview Theatre, The Voice of the River celebrated the power of community, of creativity and of the Grand River.Jean Farquharson and Ivy Miller speak about the life of a dragonfly during the final showing of The Voice of the River Peter Smith, co-producer, writer and director of Voice of the River, said that the project first began during the COVID-19 pandemic when he was invited to join the Grand River Histories Project with...
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Brantford City Council won’t ask Ontario to repeal Bill 5
By Kimberly De Jong, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Brant Beacon City of Brantford Council ultimately decided not to request that the provincial government repeal Bill 5, “Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025,” during its regular Council meeting on Tuesday, August 25, 2025. Last week, at the Committee of the Whole, Planning and Administration meeting on Tuesday, August 19, councillors voted on whether they would approve a resolution to: Endorse the Association of Municipalities of Ontario’s (AMO) request that the province include municipalities in the development of the regulatory framework to implement Special Economic Zones (SEZs). Oppose the provisions contained in Bill 5 that would reduce the environmental protections, override municipal planning authority, or prevent good faith consultation with Indigenous communities. Encourage the Province to support responsible housing and...
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Tourism operators’ bottom line burned by another summer of wildfires
By Lauren Krugel Fewer tourists are coming to Jasper, Alta., than usual this year, but it’s not for a lack of people eager to visit the picturesque Rocky Mountain town. Numbers are about as good as they can be, considering about one-fifth of the town’s overnight accommodations burned when a ferocious wildfire swept through last summer, said Tourism Jasper CEO Tyler Riopel. “There’s about as many people visiting Jasper this summer as we have overnight accommodations for, so I say it’s a win,” he said. “We’re seeing between a 16- and 20-per-cent actual visitor number reduction overall, and that is 100 per cent directly attributed to the loss in fixed-roof accommodations and campgrounds.” Spots that are available are almost entirely full, Riopel said, adding the squeeze is likely to last...
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‘This requires a dialogue that is grounded in opening up’
By Aastha Sethi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cabin Radio Métis scholar Kristy McLeod and Orange Shirt Day founder Phyllis Webstad have co-authored a book, Decolonization and Me, which is set to be released on September 1. McLeod, born and raised in Victoria, British Columbia, said she did not know much about Métis culture growing up and only began to become familiar with it as an adult – eventually pursuing a PhD focused on it. Many of her relatives are non-Indigenous. “I was really close with my maternal extended family and on that side of the family, I was the only child that did not have blonde hair and was not fair-skinned. That certainly raised a lot of questions for me,” she told Cabin Radio. “I had memories I’d suppressed during...
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OPP hit second major illicit cannabis operation in Haldimand County, seize $8 million in product
HALDIMAND COUNTY, ON – The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have seized another major illicit cannabis operation in Haldimand County and Ohsweken. OPP, after an eight-month illicit cannabis investigation, have laid charges against five individuals and seized $8 million in illicit cannabis, including dried cannabis, cannabis plants, edibles and vapes, as well as contraband tobacco. It’s the second major seizure in a month. A major OPP investigation in late July led to the arrest of 16 people and seizure of $55 million in illegal cannabis. In the latest seizure OPP communications officer Angie Sloan confirmed a search warrant was executed in Ohsweken as part of the investigation. Howev er, she said it is not OPP policy to provide addresses of search warrants. The investigation launched in October 2024, involved the OPP Provincial Joint...
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Mohawk Council of Kahnawake asserts sovereignty
By Eve Cable, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Eastern Door Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) grand chief Cody Diabo said that a meeting this week with Quebec’s minister of justice was “very disturbing,” adding that proposals for the province to develop its own constitution could undermine the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed with Kahnawake last winter. “It puts a lot of things in perspective in terms of how this current government looks at its relationships with First Nations as a whole,” Diabo said. He was joined by Council’s new chief political advisor Lloyd Phillips in Quebec City for the meeting with Quebec’s minister of justice and attorney general Simon Jolin-Barrette. The two were accompanied by Francis Verreault-Paul, head of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL). Diabo said that Quebec’s...
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Evacuation ordered as wildfire burns near N.W.T. community
By Jordan Omstead An evacuation has been ordered for a First Nations community in Northwest Territories due to a wildfire. A state of emergency has been declared in Whatì and all of the community’s roughly 500 residents were ordered to evacuate. An update posted by the community government says reception centres were being set up in Yellowknife and Behchokǫ́, the nearest community by road about 160 kilometres away. Evacuees were told to register at the Whatì Cultural Centre. Earlier this week, officials had said Friday was expected to bring challenging firefighting conditions, with winds forecasted to push the fire toward the community. An update posted by the territorial government suggested the wildfire was about seven kilometres away from the community’s airport as of Thursday night. This report by The Canadian...
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Bill 97 faces backlash
By Raven Katsit’siio Edwards Brown, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Eastern Door Quebec’s proposed Bill 97, which would see complete reform of how forests are managed, has ignited a wave of opposition from First Nations leaders, environmental advocates, and community groups. Critics say the legislation undermines treaty rights, promotes land privatization, and lacks meaningful Indigenous inclusion sparking walkouts, protests, and calls for a complete legislative overhaul. Earlier in the summer, the Assembly of First Nations Québec-Labrador (AFNQL) formally withdrew from the government’s high-level consultation table, citing a lack of commitment to a legitimate, co-constructed process. In a press release, the AFNQL’s described the suspension as necessary after the Quebec government, despite public statements of openness, refused to commit to three non-negotiable principles: Respect for ancestral and treaty rights under the...
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New report reveals urban hotspots for missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada
By Jacqueline St. Pierre, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Manitoulin Expositor M’CHIGEENG—A new report from Thomson Reuters reveals that Canada’s crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) is deeply rooted not only in rural and remote communities but also in urban centres across the country. The study, ‘Missing and Stolen: Disappearances and Trafficking of Indigenous Peoples in Canada,’ identifies Winnipeg, Edmonton and the Prince Albert–Regina–Saskatoon triangle as hotspots for MMIW cases between 2010 and April 2024. Ontario’s Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is also highlighted for its high rates of disappearances and online sex ads featuring Indigenous women and girls, a common indicator of human trafficking. Opening the report is the story of Juanita “Winnie” Migwans, of M’Chigeeng First Nation and cites the February 2025 story in the Expositor “Juanita...
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North Shore anti-glyphosate rally held, scheduled spray will not occur in region
By Jacqueline St. Pierre, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Manitoulin Expositor HIGHWAY 17—On August 14, the steady pulse of Highway 17 through Serpent River First Nation slowed to a crawl. Cars idled as Elders and allies stood on the asphalt, handing out pamphlets and warnings, calling for a moratorium on aerial glyphosate spraying across Anishinaabek territory. The message was plain and sharp: glyphosate — the herbicide known in forestry as Vision and to the public as Roundup — harms not only the trees and undergrowth it is designed to kill, but the people, animals, waters, and medicines that rely on those forests for life. By the end of that same week, the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and its corporate partner, Interfor, quietly announced that the scheduled aerial spray over...
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B.C. ministry unaware of coroners attending death scenes remotely after 2019
By Darryl Greer British Columbia’s Ministry of Public Safety says it was unaware of the BC Coroners Service continuing a practice of attending certain death scenes remotely after 2019. Ministry spokeswoman Tasha Schollen says the ministry’s understanding was that in-person scene attendance had been “restored” six years ago, and it’s now discussing the situation with the service. Her remarks come after a former coroner told The Canadian Press that two bodies went unnoticed at the Vancouver death scene of a third person in 2022 in part because the coroner attended remotely by phoning a police officer at the single room occupancy apartment. Former community coroner Sonya Schulz says the service stopped requiring coroners to physically attend certain scenes to save money several years ago. A delegate of B.C.’s director of...
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Southern Chiefs’ Organization hosting status card clinic at Keeshkeemaquah
By Renee Lilley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Portage Graphic Leader The Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) is making it easier for First Nations individuals to access essential identification by hosting a mobile status card clinic next month. The clinic will run on Monday, Sept. 16, from 10:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Keeshkeemaquah Conference & Gaming Centre, located on Long Plain First Nation’s urban reserve just west of Portage la Prairie. Staff will be on-site to help people apply for or renew their Secure Certificate of Indian Status cards, as well as assist with first-time registrations for those who do not yet have a status number. “We’re here to help people with the applications for both the secure certificate and the status cards,” said Kyler Murray, a status card intake...
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Westbank sells stake in massive Squamish Nation housing development in Vancouver
By Brenna Owen Developer Westbank Corp. has sold its entire stake in the Squamish Nation’s massive Senakw housing project, which broke ground in Vancouver in 2022, backed by a $1.4 billion federal loan for construction. The nation issued a statement Thursday saying OPTrust, which manages one of Canada’s largest pension funds, had bought out Westbank’s stake, increasing OPTrust’s ownership in the first two phases of the development to 50 per cent. “This decision to support the sale of Westbank’s share to a strong Canadian pension fund was rooted in protecting the nation’s business interests in the project, strengthening the future of this development and honouring our nation’s sovereignty,” the nation said in another update posted to its website. It said the restructured partnership means Squamish Nation and OPTrust share equal...
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