‘Economic reconciliation is real,’ says chief at Casino Rama forum
By Danielle Pitman, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, OrilliaMatters.com The third annual Anishinabek Nation Economic Development Opportunities (ANEDO) forum kicked off Wednesday at Casino Rama on Rama First Nation. The forum provides a networking space for developing opportunities and partnerships with Indigenous communities. “These gatherings matter,” said Marsha Smoke, Anishinabek Nation Southeast Regional Chief. “The support is there for those working in communities on economic development issues. I really believe that it’s important to lift people up, and so they know that we’re proud of what they do and that they should be proud of their accomplishments as well,” she said. Speakers discussed the challenges and struggles unique to First Nation communities. Some of those challenges are believed to be rooted in a system that separates Indigenous businesses from others. “It’s...
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Home invasion nets man another 94 days in jail, plus three years probation
By Bob Mackin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Prince George Citizen A 34-year-old man was sentenced Oct. 10 in Prince George Provincial Court to another 94 days in jail for a home invasion more than three years ago. Judge Cassandra Malfair’s total sentence for Keifer John Joseph was two years less a day. Joseph has been in custody for 423 days, which qualified him for the enhanced credit of 635 days. Malfair also agreed to a three-year term of probation under the joint Crown and defence sentencing proposal. Joseph pleaded guilty to break and enter to commit an indictable offence for the Aug. 9, 2022 crime. Malfair said a resident was in his first floor apartment on Upland Street before midnight when Joseph appeared outside the patio door, exhibiting erratic behaviour...
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Justice ministers’ meeting wraps up in Kananaskis
By Anja Karadeglija A two-day meeting of ministers responsible for justice and public safety at the federal, provincial and territorial levels is set to wrap up in Kananaskis, Alta. today after discussions ranging from bail reform to the role of victims in the criminal justice system. Federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser said it was an opportunity for every province and territory to be represented in discussions about “all of the issues in Canada that touch on justice and public safety.” Fraser told The Canadian Press Thursday those discussions also covered the three justice bills the federal government is bringing forward this fall. In September, the Liberals introduced a bill targeting hate crimes, and Fraser is set to introduce next week a bill imposing tougher bail and sentencing standards for violent...
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Man charged with murder of Edmonton boy who vanished in June
By Rob Drinkwater Edmonton police say they have charged a man with second-degree murder in the death of a 14-year-old boy who disappeared in June. They say the remains of Samuel Bird have been found in a rural area outside the city. Bryan Farrell, who is 38, faces various other charges, including interfering with a body, aggravated assault and arson. Samuel was last seen leaving his mother’s home in west Edmonton to go visit a friend. Posters with the Indigenous boy’s name and photo have been plastered on utility poles across the city, and volunteers have been searching for him for months. Police say they are not looking for other suspects in the killing. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2025. This is a corrected...
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Jewelry swap scammers targeting vulnerable Brantford residents
BRANTFORD, ONT. – Brantford police are advising residents to be mindful of potential fraudsters, after receiving several reports of jewelry swap scams. According to these reports, a male and female suspect call elderly victims over to their vehicle and ask for directions to religious temples. They then hand the victim fake gold chains, claiming that their culture promotes this behaviour for good deeds. The suspects also offer to place the fake gold onto the unsuspecting victim, at which point they remove and pocket any real jewelry, before leaving the scene in their vehicle. Police are urging the public to spread awareness and notify anyone who may be especially vulnerable, as these suspects can be very convincing and often target seniors. Any local residents who believe they have been a victim...
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Fintrac imposes more than $600K penalty on First Nations Bank of Canada
Canada’s anti-money laundering agency has imposed a penalty of more than $600,000 on First Nations Bank of Canada for violations under the country’s anti-money laundering laws. Fintrac imposed an administrative penalty of $601,139.80 on Sept. 22 for five violations found during a compliance examination. The regulator says the bank failed to submit suspicious transaction reports in 31 per cent of the case files it reviewed where there were reasonable grounds to suspect transactions were related to money laundering or terrorist activity financing. It also said the bank did not develop and apply written compliance policies and procedures. In addition, it says the bank failed to assess and document the risk of money laundering or terrorist financing and failed to take prescribed special measures with high-risk clients. Fintrac also says FNBC...
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Délı̨nę Got’ı̨nę Government looks to build housing in Yellowknife
By Claire McFarlane, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cabin Radio A representative of the Délı̨nę Got’ı̨nę Government says it is working on a plan to develop a “significant amount” of housing in Yellowknife. “We’re currently looking to do a large-scale push into multi-family housing, strictly related to band and affordable rental housing in Yellowknife,” said Cal Babych at a public hearing on Tuesday evening. Babych, founder of the Vancouver-based Babych Group realty company, was representing the Délı̨nę Got’ı̨nę Government or DGG at the meeting. He spoke during a presentation about DGG’s plans to build housing on a piece of rugged terrain on School Draw Avenue, opposite Rotary Park and the Dettah ice road. The piece of land was rezoned to allow for residential development on Tuesday evening after council unanimously approved...
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Supreme court upholds $2 million debt in Mohawk Council of Kanesatake vs Sylvestre
The 24-year-old court battle affects protection of on reserve property By Lucas-Matthew Marsh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Iori:wase The Supreme Court of Canada has unanimously upheld a $2 million debt against the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake (MCK) in its ruling on Mohawk Council of Kanesatake vs Sylvestre. It’s a decision that multiple chiefs say makes a bad situation much worse. MCK Acting Vice chief Brant Etienne recalled feeling “gutted” when he got the news on Friday. “It’s not going to be the end of the world,” Etienne said. “But it’s definitely a hindrance to making things better.” The nearly 24-year legal battle drew attention from First Nations across Canada because it involved Section 89 of the Indian Act, which protects property on a reservation from seizure by non-Indigenous creditors. Eric...
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Canadian Tire to sell Hudson’s Bay point blankets, support the Blanket Fund
Canadian Tire Corp. Ltd. will begin selling the iconic Hudson’s Bay point blankets and has pledged to continue a program started by HBC to donate the net proceeds to support Indigenous-led initiatives. Under an expanded partnership between Canadian Tire and the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, the retailer has guaranteed at least $1 million a year to support Oshki Wupoowane, The Blanket Fund. The money will be used for multi-year grants that provide critical support to grassroots Indigenous organizations and reconciliation action grants to support one-time projects and events. While popular with shoppers today, the HBC point blankets have a problematic history because of their association with the company’s colonial past. The Blanket Fund was launched in 2022 in an effort for truth and reconciliation with an initial investment...
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Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu candidates talk land, devolution, housing at forum
By Jeff Pelletier, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunatsiaq News The four candidates running to be the next MLA for Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu shared their pitches to voters Thursday night during an all-candidates forum in Apex. At least 20 people turned out to Abe Okpik Hall in Apex to hear David Akeeagok, Tatanniq Lucie Idlout, Jacopoosee Peter and Walter Picco introduce their campaigns and answer questions from the public. Voters in the riding will be picking a new MLA because their former representative Premier P.J. Akeeagok announced earlier this year he would not seek re-election. David Akeeagok, the first candidate to speak, said his priorities are improving family wellness, building more housing and preparing Nunavut for the powers that will soon be transferred from the federal government through devolution. “We ourselves, need to...
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New affordable housing for Indigenous families underway
By Kimberly De Jong, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Brant Beacon Nearly 50 people attended Brantford Native Housing’s (BNH) groundbreaking ceremony for its new affordable housing development late last month. Once completed, the West Street project will provide a total of 18 affordable housing units designed for Indigenous families, seniors and individuals living with disabilities, all offered at below market rent. The development will include a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments, office space, indoor and outdoor programming areas, as well as a green space and a traditional medicine garden. Made possible by the support of the National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Incorporated (NICHI), which awarded $10-million for the build, and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) through $5-million in co-investment funding, the building has been designed by Smoke Architecture, an...
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Ford pledges to speak with Carney about All Nations Hospital
By Matt Prokopchuk, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, TBnewswatch.com KENORA — Federal funding for a planned new hospital in Kenora is one of the topics Premier Doug Ford says he’ll discuss with Canada’s prime minister. Speaking in Kenora on Wednesday, Ford said he’s scheduled to meet with Mark Carney on Thursday. Responding to a reporter’s question, the premier said he’ll forward local requests for Ottawa to chip into the cost of the All Nations Hospital. “He’s going to come over and we’re going to have a good long chat about quite a few different things, and I’ll mention this,” Ford said. “I’ll mention the request.” Ford, along with other provincial officials — including Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford — and several local and regional political and health care leaders were in...
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Yukon Liberals short of a full slate of election candidates as nominations close
The governing Liberal party in the Yukon has failed to secure a full slate of 21 candidates as the deadline to add names to the ballot passes for the Nov. 3 election. A statement from Elections Yukon says nominations for candidates closed on Tuesday, and late, incorrect or incomplete submissions will not be accepted under its Elections Act. Election Yukon says a total of 61 candidates have been nominated to serve as members of the 36th legislative assembly. The Yukon Party and NDP have completed their slates with 21 candidates for each riding, while one Independent candidate is running in the election. Elections Yukon says the Liberal slate has just 18 candidates, with no one running for the party in the ridings of Copperbelt North, Klondike and Kluane. Liberal Leader...
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Dawson Creek Indigenous treatment centre receives $25k in provincial funding
By Ed Hitchins, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Energeticcity.ca DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — Several First Nations-led treatment centres, including one in Dawson Creek, will receive provincial funding to further their recovery initiatives. According to a press release from October 8th obtained by Energeticcity.ca, North Wind Wellness Centre is one of 15 First Nations, Indigenous and Métis recovery organizations to receive $25,000. The received grants are through a consortium of the Ministry of Health, the Community Action Initiative and the First Nations Health Authority. The release says the grants will “support organizations in improving the delivery of treatment and recovery services by helping them invest in program supplies, equipment, technology, staff training, resident resources and other measures that will support long-term service improvements.” Located in Farmington just outside of Dawson Creek, North...
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Canada’s health ministers meeting in Calgary to discuss funding, workforce
Federal, provincial and territorial health ministers are in Calgary for two days of meetings, with interprovincial credential recognition and funding agreements up for discussion. The office of federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel said she’s also hoping to discuss mental health and addiction issues and vaccination programs. “The health ministers’ meeting will build on the renewed collaboration between the federal government, and provinces and territories to protect Canada’s health-care system,” Michel’s office said in a statement. Adriana LaGrange, Alberta’s minister of primary and preventative health services, is set to co-chair the meetings with Michel. LaGrange was set to hold a news conference with her counterparts Thursday afternoon. In a statement, LaGrange’s office said she’s looking for federal commitments to existing health funding programs and strategies to address health-care worker shortages. It...
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Manitoba youth advocate calls for more help for kids affected by wildfires
By Steve Lambert The Manitoba advocate for children and youth says the provincial government must do more to reduce the harm caused to young people from wildfires. Sherry Gott says children’s health and education are hurt by fires, particularly in remote and Indigenous communities that are more likely to be evacuated. She says in addition to breathing smoke and missing school, studies have shown children exposed to wildfires are more likely to experience adverse mental health effects than adults. Gott’s office is calling on the province to assess the full impact of fires on young people, and to ensure mental health, education and child protection supports are part of emergency planning. This year’s wildfire season in Manitoba was the worst in decades, with 32,000 people forced out of their communities....
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First Nations to intervene in Alberta independence case
By Jeremy Appel, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Alberta Native News (ANNews) – Six First Nations groups, including the Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations and Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta, have been granted intervenor status in a court challenge of the Alberta Prosperity Project’s (APP) effort to collect signatures for a referendum on Alberta independence. The APP is attempting to bring the following question to referendum: “Do you agree that the Province of Alberta shall become a Sovereign Country and cease to be a province in Canada?” Weeks after APP leader Mitch Sylvestre brought his group’s application forward to begin collecting signatures for the referendum question in July, Alberta Chief Electoral Officer Gordon McClure sent the question to the Court of King’s Bench to determine whether it’s constitutional. Section...
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How you can get your hands on a piece of Hudson’s Bay history
By Tara Deschamps When Hudson’s Bay filed for creditor protection and closed its stores, it left thousands of pieces of art and artifacts the retailer owned in need of a new home. Later this year, some will learn their fate. Here’s how the auction process will unfold. What pieces are available? The retailer had 4,400 items — 1,700 pieces of art and about 2,700 artifacts — when it collapsed in March. It hasn’t revealed what most of the items are but has said the bulk are from the company’s “retail era.” Among the available items are 27 paintings that will be sold by Heffel Fine Art Auction House during a live auction in November. Highlights of that auction include a painting of Morocco made by former British prime minister Winston...
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Tougher bail rules will lower gangs and guns violence: Poilievre
By Matt Prokopchuk, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, TBnewswatch.com THUNDER BAY — The federal leader of the opposition used a visit to Thunder Bay to, in part, promote his party’s proposed changes to Canada’s bail system. Pierre Poilievre’s comments come less than a week after Nishnawbe Aski Nation declared a state of emergency across its 49 member First Nationsover what its officials called “an escalating crisis” of gang infiltration, drug trafficking and drug-related violence. The declaration followed the shooting death of 27-year-old Sebastian Towegishig in Ginoogaming First Nation on Oct. 8 and the arrests of two teens after a two-day manhunt. Meanwhile, another NAN community in northeastern Ontario entered a fourth day under a shelter-in-place advisory on Thursday. When asked by reporters about the state of emergency and what his solutions...
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B.C. coroner’s panel report calls for action to reduce the risk of youth suicide
By Ashley Joannou A report commissioned by British Columbia’s chief coroner says little progress has been made in understanding, recognizing and reducing the risk of youth suicide in the province. Dr. Jatinder Baidwan convened a panel of experts in March to review the deaths of 435 people between the ages of 9 and 25 who died by suicide between Jan. 1, 2019, and Dec. 31, 2023. The report makes five recommendations to reduce such deaths, including the creation of a provincial suicide risk reduction framework specifically focused on youth and young adults. It says training of medical professionals should include early identification, assessment and follow-up of young people who may be at higher risk of death by suicide. It also calls for better data collection and a review of existing...
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