B.C.’s only fire of note no longer out of control, but road and power cuts drag on
By Chuck Chiang The Mount Underwood wildfire on Vancouver Island is no longer burning out of control, but the power outages and road closures that it triggered are dragging on. John Jack, chairman of the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, said there was a tough lesson in that for anywhere facing wildfire risks. “I think it’s important for every community to understand that this can happen anywhere, that emergency situations can cut off access or power for extended periods of time,” said Jack, who is also Chief Councillor for the Huu-ay-aht First Nation. He said every municipal government and community, “every neighborhood and even every household” should have a plan to make it through at least 72 hours without power.” The BC Wildfire Service reclassified the fire near Port Alberni as being...
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Mother of Toronto boy killed by stray bullet urges vigil crowd not to forget her son
By Natasha Baldin The mother of an eight-year-old Toronto boy killed by a stray bullet while he was in bed told a community vigil Thursday that she hopes everyone remembers JahVai Roy’s name. “His love language was loud,” Holly Roy told the crowd gathered outside the family’s North York apartment building. “He wanted to touch me, rub his mommy’s back. It was the little things. And that was our routine, in bed, snuggling,” she said, reflecting on the last happy memories she had with her son and his “energetic spirit.” JahVai’s name echoed around the building Thursday evening as community leaders and advocates promised to never forget him. Toronto police said a stray bullet from a shooting outside entered the family’s residence around 12:30 a.m. last Saturday, killing the boy....
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Timmins man frustrated at lack of support for missing adventurer
By Marissa Lentz-McGrath, Local Journalism Initiative, TimminsToday.com When Jacob Betker first met Steffen Skjøttelvik, it was during a snowstorm at the Timmins airport. The Norwegian adventurer had just landed in Canada with three dogs and a dream to trek from James Bay to Alaska over five years. Skjøttelvik’s plan was to travel by dog team in the winter and live off the land in the summer, staying near remote communities when needed, Betker said. “He was a young, physically capable guy with a sparkle in his eye,” Betker told TimminsToday. “He was very good with his dogs — you could tell right away. He knew how to handle them.” Now, 29-year-old Skjøttelvik is missing somewhere along the Hudson Bay coast. His last known communication was on Aug. 14, when he...
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Gwich’in annual assembly opens with forensic audit discussion
By Aastha Sethi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cabin Radio The Gwich’in Annual Assembly kicked off this week in Tsiigehtchic with participants emphasizing a desire to work together, despite ongoing legal disputes within the Gwich’in Tribal Council. Even so, adopting an agenda for the three-day meeting took roughly four and a half hours of Wednesday’s opening session. That included discussion of a forensic audit launched in 2023 over allegations of financial mismanagement, for which a report is now available. Delegates differed in their views regarding whether the report’s findings should be discussed in the open. “There’s members around this table that know what’s in that report, and there’s members around this table that are named in that report,” said Kelly McLeod, president of the Nihtat Gwich’in Council. “To have that information...
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Chiefs close in on defending league crown and earning spot in Mann Cup series
The Six Nations Chiefs have pushed the Peterborough Lakers to the brink of elimination following a 9-4 victory in Game 3 of their MSL championship final series on Thursday. Photo by Darryl Smart. By Sam Laskaris Writer The Six Nations Chiefs are on the verge of winning yet another league title. But Chiefs’ captain Cody Jamieson insists it is a bit premature for members of his squad to be in a celebratory mood. “A lot of work to be done yet,” Jamieson said moments after Six Nations downed the visiting Peterborough Lakers 9-4 at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (ILA) on Thursday to take a 3-0 lead in their best-of-seven Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) final series. The Chiefs can wrap up the series on Saturday when Game 4 is held at...
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A small Yukon community cuts diesel use by more than half with solar power
By Sonal Gupta, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Canada’s National Observer For 55 days this summer, the small Yukon community in Beaver Creek ran entirely on solar power. The White River First Nation’s Saa/Se Solar project began operating in April and now supplies more than half of the community’s electricity. The transition is expected to eliminate roughly 340,000 litres of diesel use each year, offsetting more diesel than any other solar facility in Canada. Beaver Creek, home to about 100 people in Yukon’s remote southwest corner near the Alaska border, has historically relied on round-the-clock diesel power with generators that hum day and night. “It used to be that if you didn’t hear the humming, it meant power outage,” said Alexandre Vigneault, the engineer on the project. The 1.9-megawatt solar farm...
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Six Nations Police lay charges after firearm discharged, “projectile” causes minor injuries
OHSWEKEN, ON-An Ancaster man is facing weapons, threats and assault charges after a firearm was discharged in an incident at a Seneca Road warehouse. Six Nations Police (SNP) responded August 19, 2025 to a report that a firearm had been pointed at an individual the day before . SNP said a verbal altercation had occurred on August 18, 2025, at a warehouse on Seneca Road and during the altercation a firearm was discharged and minor injuries occurred as a result of a “projectile”. SNP said they could not comment on the victim’s injuries or what the projectile involved was. As a result, SNP have arrested and charged Andrew Hadaddin, 34, of Ancaster, Ontario with the following offences:- Firearm pointing- Possession for a Dangerous purpose- Assault with a weapon- Firearm: unauthorized...
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NDP leader blasts Bill 5 and government health policies at Toronto wellness conference
By Sam Laskaris Writer Marit Stiles insists the fight is not over. Stiles, the leader of Ontario’s New Democratic Party (NDP), attended the opening day of the First Nations Community Wellness Conference held at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto. The three-day event, which began Aug. 19, included a lunch session which provided Stiles, and four other NDP politicians, an opportunity to provide some remarks and have a Q and A with conference delegates. The conference was organized by the Chiefs of Ontario. Stiles, who heads up the official opposition party in the province, kicked off the session by blasting the leading Conservative party and the June passing of its Bill 5, officially called the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, 2025. Stiles said it was a privilege for...
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Grand Erie Public Health reports first flu case of 2025
Grand Erie Public Health says it has already received its first confirmed case of the flu and its two months early. One laboratory-confirmed case of influenza A, or the flu is the firsr reported to public health for the 2025-2026 respiratory season. Last year Haldimand, Norfolk, Brantford and the County of Brant saw 608 laboratory-confirmed flu cases . While flu season in Canada typically begins as early as October and can last until May, the confirmed case is an indication that influenza is circulating in our community. The flu is a serious illness that affects the respiratory system. The infectious period for the flu can last two to five days after the onset of symptoms and up to seven days in young children. It usually begins suddenly and tends to...
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Police watchdog says fire at Wapekeka fly-in court site won’t impact shooting probe
By Matt Prokopchuk, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, TBnewswatch.com WAPEKEKA — The province’s Special Investigations Unit says it doesn’t expect a fire that razed a building in Wapekeka where a man was killed by police last month will impact their investigation into what happened. The youth centre in the remote First Nation, located about 600 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, burned to the ground in a fire which started on Aug. 17, according to Ontario Provincial Police. The centre, which also served as the in-community site for fly-in court, was where 23-year-old Tyresse Roundsky was shot and killed by an OPP officer on July 31 during a court session. The SIU had announced it is investigating the shooting. “The SIU is aware of the tragic fire at the Wapekeka youth centre,...
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KDFN councillor looks to represent NDP in Mountainview
By Talar Stockton, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Yukon News A councillor with Kwanlin Dün First Nation wants to run for the NDP in the Mountainview riding. Linda Moen announced she’d be seeking the nomination to run for the Yukon NDP in the Mountainview riding at a press conference on Aug. 14 in Whitehorse. The election hasn’t been called yet, but it’s legislated to take place by Nov. 3 at the latest. Moen took office as a councillor with KDFN in 2023. According to the NDP media release, Moen “has delivered results — creating more jobs for young people, building dozens of new housing units and making the community safer for families.” Moen has worked with the Public Service Alliance of Canada. According to a 2015 release from PSAC, she represented...
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Jordan’s Principle changes jeopardize supports for Yukon students
By Talar Stockton, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Yukon News The Yukon First Nations Education Directorate runs a rural nutrition program for students in schools across the territory. It provides two healthy meals to Indigenous kids, said Melanie Bennett, the YFNED executive director. But it’s more than just food: the traditional meals of bison and moose can provide a link to culture and land for kids in the most remote parts of the territory, she said. However, with the federal government’s change in interpretation of Jordan’s Principle, the program is in jeopardy. Like car seats for Indigenous babies and speech therapy for Indigenous kids in the territory, it’s one of the many things that’s been affected by Indigenous Services Canada’s (ISC) revisions. Jordan’s Principle is not a program. It’s a legal...
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B.C. court gives parliament 10-month deadline to make Indian Act comply with Charter
The B.C. Supreme Court has given the Canadian government until April 2026 to change the Indian Act to bring it into compliance with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms after a successful legal challenge by descendants of people who renounced their status under the law. The court ruled that provisions of the act that denied status to people with a “family history of enfranchisement,” where their parents or grandparents gave up their status and the benefits it entails, infringed upon the plaintiffs’ Charter rights. The ruling says the Canadian government agreed with the plaintiffs that the registration provisions of the act perpetuated “disadvantage, stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination” tied to enfranchisement by denying people the benefits of Indian status due to their family history. Lawyer Ryan Beaton says the ruling comes...
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Fears for B.C. First Nation’s water supply as fire evacuation orders and alerts end
By Chuck Chiang and Nono Shen Evacuation orders and alerts due to a wildfire on Vancouver Island have been lifted and downgraded, but First Nations say they are still feeling the impact, warning that a propane-powered water-supply system could fail unless gas deliveries are restored. The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council said the road linking the Huu-ay-aht and Ditidaht First Nations to Port Alberni had been cut by the Mount Underwood fire, and propane deliverers would not send trucks down an alternative forestry road. “Port Alberni is their main source for supplies and medical needs,” the council said in a statement. “The only other route out of their communities to Youbou is very rough and dangerous. Flat tires are a common occurrence. In fact, there were 17 flat tires reported in 24...
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How Secwépemc songwriter Jeremy Kneeshaw gives back
By Rebecca Owens, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Wren For songwriter Jeremy Kneeshaw’s first performance at this year’s Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival, he assembled a retro-styled blues trio that ignited the dance floor. “It was totally surreal to be there, on the other side of the curtain,” he tells The Wren. “Ever since I was like a little kid, that was always my dream.” Through his company, Jeremy Kneeshaw Music Ltd., the Kamloops (Tk’emlúps)-based musician moves fluidly between solo performances, full band ensembles and behind-the-scenes production. Uniting his diverse skillset is a singular purpose to “make the right ears happy,” he says, whether by filling the dance floor or preserving songs too often silenced by history. A proud member of Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, Kneeshaw’s story is deeply rooted...
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NDP leader blasts Bill 5 and government health policies at Toronto wellness conference
By Sam Laskaris Writer Marit Stiles insists the fight is not over. Stiles, the leader of Ontario’s New Democratic Party (NDP), attended the opening day of the First Nations Community Wellness Conference held at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto. The three-day event, which began Aug. 19, included a lunch session which provided Stiles, and four other NDP politicians, an opportunity to provide some remarks and have a Q and A with conference delegates. The conference was organized by the Chiefs of Ontario. Stiles, who heads up the official opposition party in the province, kicked off the session by blasting the leading Conservative party and the June passing of its Bill 5, officially called the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, 2025. Stiles said it was a privilege for...
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Six Nations man facing attempted murder charge
OHSWEKEN, ON- A Six Nations man is facing an attempted murder and multiple weapons related charges after police responded to a complaint of a firearm being discharged in an incident on Fourth Line Road. Six Nations Police (SNP) received a complaint Sunday, August 10th, 2025, at about 8:20 p.m. that a firearm had been discharged towards a residence in the area. Police responded and said no injuries were reported. An investigation found it was an isolated incident with no threat to public safety. Police later identified and arrested a suspect. Police arrested and charged Wesley Burning, 31, of Ohsweken, Ontario with the following criminal offences: – Attempted Murder – Discharging Firearm with Intent – Firearm: Pointing – Firearm: Unauthorized Possession – Firearm: Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession – Breach Probation x...
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‘A lot of unity’: NAN leader says provincial, federal laws have helped galvanize First Nations
By Matt Prokopchuk, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, TBnewswatch.com MOOSE CREE FIRST NATION — First Nations leaders across northern Ontario had “a very robust discussion” about two pieces of economic development legislation and what those laws mean for their communities, says a Nishnawbe Aski Nation deputy grand chief. Bobby Narcisse said discussion around the pieces of legislation that were formerly known as the federal government’s Bill C-5 and the province’s Bill 5 before they were signed into law this summer made up a significant portion of this year’s Keewaywin Conference. The annual conference brings together chiefs and representatives from all NAN First Nations. “The chiefs are looking at ways to be more unified in those discussions as well in moving ahead,” Narcisse said. “There’s a general agreement that Bill C-5 and...
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‘We never had this before’
By Tom Peters, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Advocate The severe drought that has encompassed much of Nova Scotia — with governments and agencies on high alert forcing bans and restrictions on water usage and woods and park travel — is a situation that could stretch into the coming weeks. Looking at the seasonal forecast through the end of October, it “looks warm and it looks dry,” says Brian Proctor with Environment and Climate Change Canada. “We are not seeing any indication to a real return to normal or seasonally expected weather as we move into fall,” he said in an interview. At this time of the year, he said, “as we move toward precipitation in September which is often dependent on tropical storms, depressions or possibly hurricanes, there is...
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Ontario man who raised a pack of wolf-dogs worries government will euthanize them
By Sharif Hassan When a friend asked for help to build a fenced home for his dogs, Bryton Bongard made a deal: he would lend a hand in exchange for several puppies. That is how he ended up with what is now a pack of 16 strong, black and grey wolf-dog hybrids he calls his “babies.” The wolf-dogs that live in his backyard enclosure have never harmed anyone, Bongard said, nor have any neighbours complained since he brought the animals to his rural property in Wahnapitae, Ont., about 50 kilometres north of Sudbury, four years ago. But the provincial government is set to seize them anyway, he said, because it is against the law to keep wildlife native to Ontario as pets or in captivity, with some exceptions for places...
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