18-year-old from Ivujivik takes action against Elections Canada
By Cedric Gallant, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunatsiaq News An 18-year-old from Ivujivik has issued a formal complaint to Elections Canada. Tiivi Tullaugak says he wants to hold the government agency accountable for failing to arrive in his community on April 28, federal election day, to set up polling stations. “I knew I had to do something, not just for our community but for Nunavik,” he said. Tullaugak said he would have voted in the election — his first — if he’d had the chance. Liberal Mandy Gull-Masty won the riding with 12,578 votes, defeating second-place finisher incumbent Sylvie Bérubé of the Bloc Québécois who received 10,381 votes, and two other candidates. Elections Canada is investigating why people were denied the chance to vote in seven Nunavik communities on election...
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Memoir tackles intergenerational trauma and the author’s determination to overcome circumstances
By Shari Narine, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Windspeaker.com Chyana Marie Sage offers a brutally honest look at the impact intergenerational trauma had on her family in her memoir Soft as Bones. “It’s a story that I knew was important for me to tell, not just for my own personal healing or the healing of my family and the acknowledgement of what we went through, but also recognizing that our story is one small piece of the puzzle that makes up the mosaic of Indigenous people across Turtle Island,” said Sage, who is Cree, Métis and Salish. Sage earned her Master of Fine Arts in creative non-fiction from Columbia University, in Manhattan. She has been teaching online courses in remote Indigenous communities for Connected North and is also a journalist. Residing...
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Six Nations Police Project PANDA seizes over $9 million in contraband tobacco and illegal cannabis in massive plant shutdown
Six Nations Police shut down an illegal tobacco and cannabis operation on Chiefswood Road on May 7, 2025 seizing over $9 million in illegal tobacco and cannabis (Turtle Island News Photo) SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND RIVER, ON – Six Nations Police seized over 25,000 kg (or 25 metric tonnes) of contraband tobacco, (fine cut tobacco and cigarettes) with an estimated street value of more than $6.29 million, over $3 million in illegal cannabis and 15 firearms after shutting down what they called a “criminal network” producing and manufacturing contraband tobacco on Six Nations of the Grand River Territory in May. The four month long investigation began after the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau’s (OCEB) launched Project PANDA in February 2025 supporting the Six Nations Police Service...
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‘Cows and plows:’ The settlement over a broken Indigenous treaty shows the urgent need for more transparent governance
By Jas M. Morgan Members of the Tootinaowaziibeeng Treaty Reserve (TTR) in Manitoba recently voted to ratify the Treaty 4 Agricultural Benefits Settlement Agreement. Commonly known as the “cows and plows” settlement, the agreement aims to address longstanding, unmet promises made by the British Crown in 1874 to TTR and other Indigenous communities in several treaties, including Treaty 4. This settlement compensates Indigenous communities for agricultural support that was promised but never delivered. When the British Crown signed Treaty 4 in the 1800s, it committed to providing Saulteaux peoples with farming equipment, livestock and enough seed to cultivate the lands they were assigned. Canada’s push to teach Prairie Indigenous Peoples how to farm was part of a broader colonial project to settle so-called “nomadic” communities. Yet despite these historical promises,...
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Trump tariff threats on EU, Apple, send US futures and global markets skidding
By Jiang Junzhe And Matt Ott U.S. futures and global markets slumped Friday after President Donald Trump posted a pair of tariff threats on social media, one aimed at Apple and the other at the European Union. Futures for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 1.5% and Nasdaq futures tumbled 1.7% before the bell. Oil prices fell and Treasury yields sank. Markets took a sharp turn downward after Trump posted on social media that he wants “a straight 50% Tariff” on the EU beginning June 1 because representatives of the bloc have been difficult in negotiations. European markets fell nearly immediately after Trump’s post on his own Truth Social site. Germany’s DAX quickly swung to a 1.9% loss, while the CAC 40 in Paris fell 2.4%....
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‘Different from a textbook’: Doig Day returns in 2025 to educate kids about Indigenous culture and language
By Ed Hitchins, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Energeticcity.ca DOIG RIVER, B.C. — With a little wind in the air, school buses parked in an area on the grounds of Doig River First Nation (DRFN) for the annual Doig Day. One by one, excited fourth graders filed off the vehicles on May 22nd, donning navy blue t-shirts for what has become a tradition for School District 60 students. Started in the 1970s in a classroom with a handful of students, the event has become a staple on the North Peace region’s cultural calendar. Community members, industry partners and the public explored the area, with stations dedicated to hunting and trapping, smoking meat, preparing a moose hide to use for materials such as clothing and drums and even learning the Beaver alphabet....
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Supreme Court declines to reinstate independent agency board members fired by President Donald Trump
By Mark Sherman WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court’s conservative majority on Thursday said President Donald Trump likely has the authority to fire independent agency board members, endorsing a robust view of presidential power. But the court suggested that it could block an attempt to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who Trump has complained has not cut interest rates aggressively. The court’s action essentially extended an order Chief Justice John Roberts issued in April that had the effect of removing two board members who Trump fired from agencies that deal with labor issues, including one with a key role for federal workers as Trump aims to drastically downsize the workforce. The firings have left both agencies without enough board members to take final actions on issues before them, as...
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B.C. First Nations fear protests and conflict over fast-track legislation
By Darryl Greer First Nations leaders in British Columbia say proposed legislation to fast-track resource projects will likely lead to protests and litigation should the provincial government push the law through. Robert Phillips with the First Nations Summit says the B.C. government’s proposed legislation, known as Bill 15, to approve infrastructure projects more quickly was done unilaterally, causing frustration and upset among First Nations leadership. He says there will be conflict, litigation and protests if the B.C. NDP fails to “kill the bill” without engaging with First Nations on potential amendments. Phillips and other First Nations representatives and municipal leaders spoke at a joint news conference to outline opposition to the legislation, which Premier David Eby says is needed to combat the threat of tariffs imposed by the United States...
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Manitoba Tory loses critic duties but will remain in caucus after ethics probe
By Steve Lambert A Manitoba Progressive Conservative has been stripped of his critic duties in the wake of a report from the province’s ethics commissioner. Jeff Wharton is one of three Tories who were found by the ethics commissioner this week to have violated the conflict of interest law in pushing for a silica sand mine. The report says Wharton, former premier Heather Stefanson and former deputy premier Cliff Cullen tried to get approval for the project after the Tories lost the 2023 election but before the incoming NDP government was sworn in. Wharton has apologized and said he accepts the report’s findings, which include thousands of dollars in fines. Progressive Conservative Leader Obby Khan says Wharton will remain in caucus but has been removed as critic for business, mining,...
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Prison time for woman guilty of child porn, bestiality
By Bob Mackin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Prince George Citizen A woman who admitted making and sharing pornography featuring her young child and using a cat in a sex act was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in jail by a Provincial Court judge in Prince George on Thursday, May 15. “It disturbs us all when we hear such acts of violence perpetrated by a mother against her child,” said Judge David Simpkin. The woman, whose name is banned from publication in order to protect the young victim, had pleaded guilty in November 2023 to four offences between January 2021 and May 2022: making child pornography, distributing child pornography, sexual interference of a person under 16 years of age and bestiality with a cat. The Crown had asked Simpkin for a total...
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First Nations leaders pledge ‘confrontation on the ground’ over Ontario mining bill
By Liam Casey Several First Nations travelled from the far reaches of northern Ontario to Queen’s Park in Toronto on Thursday to have their voices heard on a proposed law that seeks to significantly speed up mining approvals in their traditional lands, only to come away exasperated with Premier Doug Ford’s government. Several dozen First Nations leaders and supporters sang and beat a large drum before entering a committee hearing for Bill 5, an omnibus bill introduced by the province as its solution to build mines faster. With words failing, several First Nations leaders pledged to take the fight to the land should the province stay its course. “There will be confrontation on the ground,” said Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler of Nishnawbe Aski Nation after voicing concerns at a committee...
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Caledon, Mississaugas host Council-to-Council discussion
By Riley Murphy, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Caledon Citizen On May 14, the Town of Caledon and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN) came together for a council-to-council discussion at the historic and newly renovated Council House in Hagersville. The gathering helped to reaffirm their commitment to reconciliation, mutual respect, and their goal of working together closely. During the gathering, Elder Darin Wybenga held a treaty education session, which was an important step in strengthening relationships between the councils and promoting a better understanding between the Town and Indigenous communities. In Mayor Groves’ presentation on friendship, she presented a wood board in friendship and with respect to Ogimaa-Kwe (Chief) Claire Sault of the MCFN. “The board was crafted by a local artisan, using wood from a fallen black...
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Indigenous Amazon tribe says New York Times story led to its members being smeared as porn addicts
By Andrew Dalton LOS ANGELES (AP) — An Indigenous tribe from the Brazilian Amazon has sued The New York Times, saying the newspaper’s reporting on the tribe’s first exposure to the internet led to its members being widely portrayed as technology-addled and addicted to pornography. The Marubo Tribe of the Javari Valley, a sovereign community of about 2,000 people in the rainforest, filed the defamation lawsuit seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages this week in a court in Los Angeles. It also names TMZ and Yahoo as defendants, alleging that their stories amplified and sensationalized the Times’ reporting and smeared the tribe in the process. The suit says the Times’ June 2024 story by reporter Jack Nicas on how the group was handling the introduction of satellite service...
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Trump hosts top crypto investors as some industry leaders fear he’s putting personal profits first
By Will Weissert And Alan Suderman WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump rewarded top investors in one of his cryptocurrency projects with a swanky dinner on Thursday night, an event that showed the ascendance of an emerging financial industry — and also the president’s willingness to mix public office with personal profit. Some 220 of the biggest investors in the $TRUMP meme coin were invited to Trump’s luxury golf club in Northern Virginia, where they dined on filet mignon and halibut. According to participants’ posts on social media, Trump spoke for about half an hour before dancing to the song “YMCA.” Despite the White House insisting that Trump would be attending the event “in his personal time,” he stood behind a lectern with the presidential seal as he touted an...
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Emergency reserves, high prices, rationing. How did Japan’s rice crisis get this far?
By Mari Yamaguchi TOKYO (AP) — Rice is essential to Japanese culture, tradition and politics. People take pride in the oval-shaped sticky Japonica grain, which is still a staple even though total consumption has fallen over the decades. But since last summer, prices have soared as supplies have fallen short of demand. The government has long paid farmers to cut back on rice acreage, and change to other crops to keep rice prices relatively high. To cope with shortfalls this year, the government has released rice reserves. But the grain has been slow to reach supermarket shelves. Anger over that was part of the reason the agriculture minister quit this week. Consumers are frustrated and wondering where’s the rice? Why did the farm minister resign? Agriculture Minister Taku Eto resigned...
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Ottawa has to allow home prices to fall to make housing more affordable, experts say
By Craig Lord Housing experts are pushing back against a federal cabinet minister’s recent claim that home prices don’t need to go down in order to restore housing affordability. Gregor Robertson, the former mayor of Vancouver who was elected to the House of Commons in April, sparked the debate after he was sworn in as housing minister earlier this, when a reporter asked him whether he thinks home prices need to fall. “No, I think that we need to deliver more supply, make sure the market is stable. It’s a huge part of our economy,” he said. Robertson added that Canada lacks affordable housing and championed Ottawa’s efforts to build out the supply of homes priced below market rates. Mike Moffatt, founding director of the Missing Middle Institute, had a...
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Coalition urges Carney to drop nuclear from energy plan
By Abdul Matin Sarfraz / Local Journalism Initiative/ Canada’s National Observer A coalition of First Nations, physicians and environmental organizations is ramping up pressure on Prime Minister Mark Carney to drop nuclear energy from his “energy superpower” strategy, warning it comes with high costs, long delays and long-term risks. In an open letter, dozens of organizations urge the federal government to halt funding for nuclear development and instead prioritize renewables, energy efficiency and storage. The letter warns that new nuclear projects are likely to increase electricity costs while delaying meaningful climate action. “We are concerned that you may be unduly influenced by the nuclear and fossil industry lobbies,” reads the letter. During the federal election campaign, Carney pledged to make Canada “the world’s leading energy superpower,” focusing on clean and...
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Fort Simpson is getting a new health centre. Where should it go?
By Claire McFarlane, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cabin Radio A new regional health centre is set to be built in Fort Simpson. The question is now how the centre’s location should be decided. Which plot of land should be used for the project has been a topic of discussion at recent council meetings in the Northwest Territories village. Last week, councillors expressed concern and frustration over the handling of the process so far, describing a lack of communication between the mayor and some council members. Councillor Troy Bellefontaine said he had seen emails showing GNWT staff contacting the village on December 10 last year about a meeting to discuss potential locations for the new health centre. A meeting was eventually scheduled for February 10, Bellefontaine said, but only Mayor Les...
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Tribes say the U.S. misappropriated funds to pay for Native American boarding schools
By Graham Lee Brewer Two tribal nations filed a lawsuit Thursday saying that the federal government used the trust fund money of tribes to pay for boarding schools where generations of Native children were systematically abused. In the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, the Wichita Tribe and the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California said that by the U.S. government’s own admission, the schools were funded using money raised by forcing tribal nations into treaties to cede their lands. That money was to be held in trust for the collective benefit of tribes. “The United States Government, the trustee over Native children’s education and these funds, has never accounted for the funds that it took, or detailed how, or even whether, those...
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Youthful candidate seeks Eskasoni Council seat
By Rosemary Godin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cape Breton Post He just turned 21 years old in March. But Cole Stevens has goals to improve the future for his family and community. Last month he took a first step by accepting the nomination for a place on the Eskasoni First Nation band council. The election is May 26 and Stevens is running against 67 other people for one of 12 council positions. Despite his youth, Stevens is not a new name to the community of just over 4,700 people. He has been a sports star in the fields of baseball, hockey and golf, receiving awards and accolades since he was about 13 years old. He looks forward to competing again in the 2025 Mi’kmaq Summer Games to be hosted by...
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