Peace region Métis artist named in finalists for national award
By Ed Hitchins, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Energeticcity.ca ROSE PRAIRIE, B.C. — A Peace region-based artist is all smiles after being named a finalist for a prestigious award. Haley Bassett, a former executive director at Arts North East and program coordinator at the Dawson Creek Art Gallery, has received a finalist distinction for the 2025 William and Meredith Saunderson Prizes for Emerging Artists. Of Métis ancestry, Bassett’s artwork incorporates harvested materials and natural found objects. She told Energeticcity.ca she heard the news during a Métis artist residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. “It means I must be doing something right,” said Bassett. “I kind of felt affirmation from the universe. I feel like I’m in the right place at the right time.” The awards are organized by...
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‘Fabulous opportunity’ to see Tse’k’wa artefacts at archeology event
By Ed Hitchins, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Energeticcity.ca FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. —Important Indigenous heritage site Tse’k’wa is teaming up with its field school partners to promote archeological efforts at the site in Charlie Lake. Scheduled for Wednesday, August 27th, Tse’k’wa’s Archeology Night Out will be hosted by the Tse’k’wa Heritage Society’s executive director Alyssa Currie and Dr. Farid Rahemtulla. Headed by Dr. Rahmetulla, the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) conducted field schools at the site in 2022 and 2024. The site in Charlie Lake features a cave dating back to the Ice Age. It is owned by three northeast B.C. First Nations: Doig River First Nation (DRFN), Prophet River First Nation (PRFN) and West Moberly First Nations (WMFN), who purchased the site in 2012. Currie told Energeticcity.ca while...
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NDP calls on province to reverse EA cuts in Prince Albert
By Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Prince Albert Daily Herald The Saskatchewan NDP and education workers represented by CUPE held a press conference facing Carlton Comprehensive High School on Tuesday to call on the Saskatchewan Party government to step in and cover educational assistant positions after federal funding cuts. Shadow Minister for Education Matt Love said that earlier in 2025, school divisions across the province had to make layoffs for educational assistants due to changes in Jordan’s Principle funding at the federal level. “The Saskatchewan NDP and education workers are here today to call on the Sask Party government to restore critical support for students by backfilling educational assistant positions being cut right here in Prince Albert,” Love said. “Educational assistants play a vital role in our classrooms, supporting...
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Catholic Division to enter new agreement around Jordan’s Principle
By Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Prince Albert Daily Herald The Prince Albert Catholic School Division is preparing to enter into a new agreement around funding for Jordan’s Principle. During the board of education’s regular meeting on Aug. 18, director of education Lorel Trumier and CFO Greg McEwen updated the board on a new agreement that was to be signed with Indigenous Services Canada. “We do have a funding agreement and obviously their fiscal year ends March and that’s probably why there hasn’t been much attention to it,” Trumier explained. The previous funding agreement expired on March 31. The division has received a new draft funding agreement that administration recommends signing off on. “What we’ve been waiting for is a response on their commitment for April to June for...
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Trying to get cross-border fishing on ‘government’s radar,’ says Powlowski
By Matt Prokopchuk, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, TBnewswatch.com FORT FRANCES — The member of Parliament who represents borderlands constituents upset over what they’re calling a lack of enforcement on the region’s border lakes says he’s listening. Marcus Powlowski told Newswatch he’s been speaking with a coalition of Northwestern Ontario interests who are pressing federal officials about their concerns over enforcement on Lake of the Woods and Rainy Lake. They’re particularly worried about the implications of what they say is an increasing number of American anglers making day trips from the U.S. into Canada on the water — without having to pass border checks or declare themselves to Canadian officials. Powlowski said the rules in place were based on reciprocity between the two nations sharing cross-border resources, but he said he...
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Denmark and Greenland apologize to Inuit women over forced contraception in the past
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Denmark and Greenland on Wednesday apologized for their roles in the past mistreatment of Greenlandic Indigenous girls and women that included forcing contraception upon them, in cases that date back to the 1960s. Nearly 150 Inuit women last year sued Denmark and filed compensation claims against its health ministry, saying Danish health authorities violated their human rights when they fitted them with intrauterine contraceptive devices, commonly known as coils or IUDs. Some of the women — including many who were teenagers at the time — were not aware of what happened or did not give their consent. Danish authorities last year said as many as 4,500 women and girls — reportedly half of the fertile women in Greenland at the time — received coil implants between...
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Brantford man arrested, charged with child pornography offences
BRANTFORD, ONT. – A Brantford man is facing child pornography charges, following an investigation from the Brantford Police Service (BPS) Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit. Members of the unit executed a search warrant at a local residence on Aug. 19, 2025, after hearing the accused was in possession of child pornography. During the search, officers seized multiple computers, cellphones and electronic devices, which detectives later confirmed to have evidence of child pornography. The 32-year-old man was arrested and subsequently held for a bail hearing. He is facing one count of Accessing Child Pornography, and two counts of Possession of Child Pornography contrary to the Criminal Code. The ICE Unit’s investigation is ongoing, as the accused is known to be an extensive traveller. Police are also concerned he may have communicated with...
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Iroquois Lodge to remain closed, new building proposed
OHSWEKEN, ON –More than two months after Six Nations of the Grand River was hit by storm related flooding the community remains under a State of Emergency with the Iroquois Lodge remaining closed and residents remaining in a Delhi, Ontario residence. In a statement late Tuesday, Aug., 26, SNEC said remediation work, as a result of storm flooding June 18, 2025, is continuing on the Iroquois Lodge The statement says an Industrial Hygienist Assessment report on the lodge received on July 25, 2025, showed black water damage throughout the lodge has impacted wall and floor finishes . The statement says a lodge walk-through Aug., 5, 2025, that was part of the remediation phase showed “widespread and in-depth impacts to Iroquois Lodge.” Meetings have been held with the Power of Attorneys,...
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Brantford Police Citizens’ Police Academy recruiting
BRANTFORD, ONT-Want to find out what its like to be a Brantford Police Officer? The Brantford Police Service (BPS) are recruiting community members who want to learn more about the day-to-day life of police officers. The BPS Citizens’ Police Academy registration is now open and members of the public can submit applications as soon as possible. Space in the program is limited. The popular six consecutive weeks program will run each Wednesday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., beginning October 22, 2025, to November 26, 2025. The deadline to submit applications is Friday, September 19, 2025 The BPS are one of the first Ontario police services to offer the community participation free, educational program. The Citizens’ Police Academy launched in1999. The BPS Citizens’ Police Academy programs are a series of...
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‘Missing in action’: Area leaders call for more border water enforcement
By Matt Prokopchuk, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, TBnewswatch.com FORT FRANCES — Municipal, tourism and First Nations stakeholders continue to press federal officials on what they say is a lack of enforcement on waters that straddle the Canada-U.S. border — in particular over a lack of oversight of American anglers. A letter was sent to numerous federal and provincial ministries in July by a coalition of interests, including the municipalities of Kenora, Fort Frances, and Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls, along with Nature and Outdoor Tourism Ontario and Destination Northern Ontario, and the Anishinaabeg of Kabapikotawangag Resource Council — a not-for-profit that provides advocacy, advisory and technical services to five First Nations in Treaty 3 territory. Fort Frances mayor Andrew Hallikas told Newswatch in an interview there are numerous longstanding concerns from the...
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Nuu-chah-nulth artists work with Clayoquot Biosphere Trust
By Nora O’Malley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Ha-Shilth-Sa Vancouver Island, BC – Nuu-chah-nulth artists Dennis Hetu and Ivy Martin teamed up with the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust (CBT) on the west coast of Vancouver Island to bring traditional teachings to new welcome signage peppered throughout the region. Installed near the Tofino-Ucluelet Junction, Hetu’s latest carving titled Eclipse of the Hunter’s Moon – a project he worked on with his students from the Toquaht Carving School – can be viewed from the multi-use path. Carved using traditional and modern tools with store-bought Abalone shell inlays, Eclipse of the Hunter’s Moon portrays two wolves hunting during a lunar eclipse. At night, Hetu’s red cedar carving illuminates with a touch of glow-in-the-dark epoxy resin behind the moon. “A lot of my carvings have to...
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Chetwynd broadcaster with some Indigenous content has licence renewed after CRTC ‘admin error’ delay
By Ed Hitchins, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Energeticcity.ca CHETWYND, B.C. — The nation’s broadcasting licence bureau has given a Chetwynd-based transmitter a new lease of life after renewing its licence this month. The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) issued a full renewal to the Chetwynd Communications Society (CCS) to expire in 2030, according to an announcement on August 18th. The CCS operates both radio station Peace FM and television station Chet-TV, according to technical director Ray Semenoff. The licence includes programming featuring the First Nations Cree language, with some interviews with Elders from local Indigenous communities such as Saulteau First Nations (SFN) and West Moberly First Nations (WMFN). Local programming will occur daily from 6 a.m. until 12 a.m. Local programming on the radio has existed since the mid-1990s,...
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Peace Métis branches support president suspended by B.C. organization
By Ed Hitchins, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Energeticcity.ca FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Regional Métis organizations from the Peace are supporting the provincial Nation’s suspended president. Walter Mineault was suspended last week by the Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) for alleged “behaviour [that was] inconsistent with the organization’s policies” following public complaints. In separate press releases, both the Fort St. John Métis Society and Chetwynd’s Moccasin Flats Métis Society say the decision was made without input nor details to Métis citizens. “Despite a recent meeting with MNBC leadership, no meaningful clarity was provided to our society nor our citizens,” reads part of the statement by the Fort St. John Métis Society. “This failure to provide information has caused frustration and eroded confidence in the decision-making process.” Additionally, the Moccassin Flats...
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Brantford Police asking for public’s help in identifying man involved in shooting
BRANTFORD, ONT-Brantford police are seeking the public’s help in locating a man they believe responsible for a shooting outside a city nightclub June 4, 2025. City police responded to reports of a shooting at a Colborne Street nightclub, near Clarence Street, just after midnight June 4. As a result police said one man was rushed to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Brantford Police released photos of an individual they believe may have been involved in the shooting and are hoping someone may be able to identify the man Police said the investigation is active . Any witnesses, who have not already been interviewed, are asked to contact Det. Const. Katie Esposto at 519-756-7050 ext. 2827. Information can also be provided anonymously to Brant – Brantford Crime Stoppers by calling 519-750-8477 or...
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Chiefs capture yet another Major Series Lacrosse title
By Sam Laskaris Writer The Six Nations Chiefs have earned provincial bragging rights for a third straight year. But make no mistake about it. That is not the three-peat the Chiefs have been coveting all season long. The Six Nations club defeated the visiting Peterborough Lakers 12-7 on Monday at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (ILA). With that victory the Chiefs won their best-of-seven Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) final series 4-1. More importantly, however, the Six Nations squad advances to the national Mann Cup series. The Chiefs are the two-time defending national Senior A champs and are keen to capture a third consecutive Canadian crown. They’ll commence their quest for a Mann Cup three-peat on Sept. 5. The Six Nations team will be heading west next week hoping to accomplish its...
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In the news today: Carney unveils energy agreement with Germany
Carney unveils energy agreement with Germany Canada is signing a critical minerals partnership with Germany that encourages the joint public financing of natural resources projects. Prime Minister Mark Carney says for too long, key Canadian minerals such as nickel and cobalt have gone underdeveloped while China and Russia dominate the global critical minerals market. Carney says the two countries also aim to closely co-operate in energy, including on liquefied natural gas and hydrogen energy. Carney is currently on a five-day trip through Europe and will meet with German business leaders later on today. When the prime minister met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz this morning, the two world leaders also discussed the war in Ukraine. Here’s what else we’re watching… Canada narrows sub suppliers to two options Government officials say...
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After Trump and Congress spending cuts, public media stations wait on money for emergency alerts
By Gabriela Aoun Angueira Warning: This may be an actual emergency — as far as emergencies about emergencies go, at least. The recently defunded nonprofit corporation that distributed federal money to public media stations across the United States is warning of another casualty when it shuts down next month: the resilience of the nation’s emergency alert systems. In 2022, Congress authorized $136 million for the Next Generation Warning System grant program, meant to help stations in rural, tribal and otherwise underserved communities repair and improve the warning systems that tell people about evacuation orders, Amber alerts, tornado warnings, and more. But CPB, which manages the grant money, is shutting down on Sept. 30 after Congress and President Donald Trump defunded it in July. That could leave unspent millions in grant...
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Alberta seeking public input in establishing nuclear power industry
By Lauren Krugel Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she expects the private sector to lead the way on potentially bringing nuclear power to the province, but her government would set up a Crown corporation if needed. “Because we have a power market where generation is privatized, we would anticipate that the private sector would pay for it,” Smith said Monday as she announced a new panel to gather public feedback on the possibility of building reactors in Alberta. “At the moment, we haven’t seen a need for us to establish a Crown corporation like they do in every other jurisdiction in Canada. We’re prepared to do that if we have to, if we cannot get enough baseload … But we want to see the private market work.” The panel is...
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First Nations ‘making history’ to buy B.C. port terminal that moves critical minerals
By Nono Shen Two First Nations have formed a joint partnership with a transport company to purchase the Port of Stewart bulk terminal on the Portland Canal that separates British Columbia and Alaska. The Nisga’a and Tahltan nations and Arrow Transportation Systems said Monday in a joint statement that the deal to buy Stewart Bulk Terminals Ltd., which owns and operates the facility in Stewart, B.C., is expected to close in the coming months. The three equal partners said the deepsea terminal’s primary purpose is transporting critical minerals such as copper concentrate to market from sources including Newmont’s Brucejack and Red Chris mines in Nisga’a and Tahltan territories. Andrew Robinson, chief executive officer of the Nisga’a Lisims Government, said in an interview that the terminal was in an “excellent position”...
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Woman being sued for calling four others ‘pretendians’ says she’s protecting identity
By Alessia Passafiume A First Nations woman is being sued for calling four women “pretendians,” with the plaintiffs seeking more than $500,000 in damages and retractions to the heavily publicized comments made about them. Michelle Christine Cameron, also known as Crystal Semaganis, who heads the Ghost Warrior Society, says she conducts research to safeguard community spaces designated for Indigenous Peoples and says those pretending to be Indigenous pose a real harm to communities and nations. In the lawsuit filed in July to the Supreme Court of Yukon, Amanda Buffalo, Krista Reid, Amaris Manderschied and their mother Louise Darroch, say Semaganis conducted research into their backgrounds and concluded they are of Ukrainian heritage, not Indigenous, and then engaged in a “relentless” social media campaign against them. Court documents say she is...
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