Potlotek partnering in Valley solar energy project
By Rosemary Godin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cape Breton Post Potlotek First Nation and AI Renewables are partnering in a new solar energy project for Brooklyn, Annapolis County. Brooklyn Solar will be part of the province’s Community Solar Program which allows people to subscribe to solar gardens for clean electricity at a reduced cost. The province is contributing $960,000 to help build the solar garden, which will produce 4.8 megawatts. Potlotek First Nation, located on the shores of Bras d’Or Lake in Cape Breton is a Mi’kmaq community of about 800 members and has a rich and significant history. Known historically as Chapel Island, the area has been a sacred gathering place for the Mi’kmaq people for centuries. “Potlotek’s involvement in clean energy is a powerful step towards honouring the...
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N.S. police scale back search for two children, say little chance they are alive
By Lyndsay Armstrong NOVA SCOTIA-Police have scaled back a search for two children reported missing from their home in northeastern Nova Scotia, saying Wednesday there’s little chance they could have survived after six days in the densely wooded area. RCMP Staff Sgt. Curtis MacKinnon said most searchers would finish their shifts at the end of the day, and the effort to find the children would be reduced to specific areas – including places that had already been looked at. Six-year-old Lily Sullivan and four-year-old Jack Sullivan were reported missing as of 10 a.m. Friday in rural Pictou County, about 140 kilometres northeast of Halifax. “If we thought they were alive right now we’d still be out there,” MacKinnon told reporters at the search command centre. Up to 140 trained searchers...
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Northland asking province and feds for education improvements
By Pearl Lorentzen, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeside Leader Northland is advocating both the provincial and federal government for changes related to education. Northland School Division board of trustees met on April 26. They started with a closed session, followed by an open discussion on advocacy. The discussion started with federal advocacy on Jordan’s Principle. The division is sending out form letters that parents can send to their members of parliament. The Government of Canada is in charge of on-reserve education for First Nations students and Jordan’s Principle funding. Northland has schools in communities across Northern Alberta, with high Indigenous populations. Some of the students live on reserve, so it has some federally funded students. Also, in the past it had several education assistants and other supports through Jordan’s Principle....
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Canada’s premiers to gather for meetings in Saskatchewan in June
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew tells Prime Minister Mark Carney he wants to see Indigenous “fair trade zones” By Catherine Morrison Ontario Premier Doug Ford says Canada’s premiers and Prime Minister Mark Carney will meet in person in Saskatchewan on June 1 and 2. Ford, who took part in a conference call with Carney and the other premiers Wednesday, said the premiers congratulated the prime minister on both his election victory and the “restraint” he showed during Tuesday’s meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. “I don’t think I’d have the restraint that he had yesterday, to be very frank,” Ford said. “I think it’s a good start on a new relationship… I think everyone’s feeling relatively good on the meeting yesterday. So that’s a good start.” Carney spoke with the premiers...
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Indigenous-owned infrastructure vital to country’s trade markets
By Sam Laskaris, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Business leaders worldwide have been spending a good chunk of time thinking about their trade positions since American President Donald Trump took office in January. Trump’s constant tariff talks have caused many to rethink how to respond. At a recent conference in Toronto, one of the sessions focused on how Indigenous ownership in port, rail and transportation facilities is vital to the country’s ability to service world markets. The session, held April 28 at the First Nations Majors Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference, was titled Indigenous Leadership in Canada’s Port and Export Infrastructure. The two panelists for the session were Chris Avery and James Berube. Avery is the CEO of the Arctic Gateway Group, which owns and operates the Port of Churchill and Manitoba’s...
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Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Chief dismisses group’s call to step down
By Connor McDowell, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Brandon Sun A group that calls itself the Concerned Members of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation is calling on the chief to resign. A letter was presented to chief and council on Monday, Sioux Valley elder Harold Blacksmith said in a social media post this week. The letter calls for Chief Vince Tacan to quit over alleged claims of lack of communication and concerns about delays on community projects such as establishing a police detachment. “These issues, brought forward in good faith, remain unresolved,” the group’s letter stated. “We respectfully and firmly call on you, Chief Vincent Tacan, to step down from your role,” it said. “It is a call for change, renewal, and the restoration of trust between leadership and the people.” A...
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Baby eel fisher calls for enforcement against illegal harvesting on N.S. river
A licensed baby eel fisher says he’s been sending evidence to the federal Fisheries Department of illegal fishing on a Nova Scotia river, but he says Ottawa is not acting. Stanley King, manager of Atlantic Elver Fishery, says he has sent videos and images of unlicensed fishers on the Ingram River, about 40 kilometres southwest of Halifax. However, King says he’s unaware of any fisheries officers showing up at the location to enforce the law. He says he believes the total allowable catch of the tiny eels — which have been selling for about $1,500 per kilogram — has been far exceeded on the river. Atlantic Elver Fishery is among the group of commercial licence holders who have lost half their quota to Indigenous fishers without compensation from the federal...
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First Nations must be part of Alberta separation debate, says Piikani Nation chief
By Somya Lohia, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Shootin’ the Breeze Piikani Nation Chief Troy Knowlton is voicing firm opposition to recent moves by the Alberta government that critics say are advancing a separatist agenda, warning that any steps toward separation must respect treaty rights and cannot proceed without First Nations’ consent. In a statement issued May 1, Knowlton emphasized that treaties 6, 7 and 8 predate the formation of Alberta and remain legally binding. “Those are treaties with the Crown, and Alberta lacks the authority to interfere with or negate those treaties,” he said. “Proceeding down a path towards separation cannot be undertaken without the consent of Alberta’s First Nations.” Knowlton added that Indigenous communities will “aggressively protect” their treaty and inherent rights. “We will require that the Crown’s obligations...
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BC Hydro names new president, the day after power ‘action plan’ unveiled
BC Hydro is promoting from within for a new president and CEO. Executive vice-president of operations Charlotte Mitha will take over the top job when outgoing president Chris O’Riley retires in August. BC Hydro board chair Glen Clark says the Crown corporation is heading into a “massive growth phase” as the province looks to drive sustainable economic development. The utility’s announcement comes the day after the Ministry of Energy unveiled its Clean Power Action Plan which includes a push for up to another 5,000 gigawatt-hours per year of energy from new renewable projects. Mitha calls the plan “very ambitious” and says it can only be done through partnerships with First Nations, companies and the community. She joined BC Hydro in 2004 and says plans for the future have her feeling...
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Students learn to lead on the land in ground-breaking university program
By Sonal Gupta, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Canada’s National Observer Canada’s first Indigenous land stewardship degree puts Indigenous law, governance and connection to land at the heart of environmental education. Hayley Toderian, 29, waited two years to enrol. Now, she’s part of the inaugural class in a groundbreaking undergraduate program at the University of British Columbia, the first of its kind. The four-year degree was created in response to growing recognition of the need for Indigenous-led approaches to land management and environmental challenges, land reclamation and environmental policy. For Toderian, who is a member of Sts’ailes First Nation (also known as Chehalis First Nation in BC), the program offered something she had been searching for a long time. She began post-secondary studies in 2019 at Langara College in general studies,...
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Changing school’s name carries risk of erasing colonist’s racist history, MMF warns trustees
By Maggie Macintosh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Winnipeg Free Press The Manitoba Métis Federation made a case Monday against trustees renaming a city school honouring a military leader who has gained infamy in recent years. Wolseley School is the latest subject of debate over educational sites named after historical figures whose actions do not align with 21st-century values. Col. Garnet Wolseley (1833-1913) played a key role in the colonial crusade against Louis Riel and the Métis people who lived under his provisional government in the Red River Settlement. “(He did) horrible things to our people, to our nation — murders, rapes, the reign of terror, burning homes down to the ground, chasing us away…. We need to make sure that the atrocities of people like Wolseley are never forgotten,” the...
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NDP plans to rebuild from ‘grief,’ Idlout says
By Jeff Pelletier, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunatsiaq News A week after narrowly winning re-election as Nunavut’s MP, Lori Idlout says the New Democratic Party plans to rebuild from its election losses. Idlout was one of seven New Democrats to secure a seat in the April 28 federal election, earning a second term in the House of Commons with a 77-vote lead over Liberal challenger Kilikvak Kabloona. But party leader Jagmeet Singh failed to win his own seat in the Burnaby Central riding. He announced his resignation on election night. Before the election, there were 24 NDP MPs. “Our first conversations have been that of grief with the loss of our friends who were not re-elected, and discussions about how we’re going to rebuild as a party because we still...
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Spring Carving on the Edge Festival uplifts the next generation
By Nora O’Malley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Ha-Shilth-Sa Tofino, BC – Hammering chisels with rubber mallets, children helped hollow out a traditional Nuu-chah-nulth log drum at the spring Carving on the Edge Festival, which took place May 1 to 4 at the Tofino Community Hall in Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations territory. Tla-o-qui-aht artist Hjalmer Wenstob said the focus of the spring festival was all about coming together. “Our log drum is what we built the whole festival around. It was drop-in carving throughout the whole festival. Really, it’s just basically about learning about different tools,” said Wenstob. “It’s a nice, simple block of wood that people aren’t afraid of. We’re gonna hollow it out as a community,” he said. Three different school groups participated in the log drum project: the Grade...
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Planned burn could have killed trapped firefighters, says B.C. safety report
By Brenna Owen British Columbia’s worker protection agency says a planned burn by the province’s wildfire service during the devastating 2023 fire season could have killed or injured multiple firefighters who became “trapped by extreme fire behaviour” that cut off their escape. Inspection reports by WorkSafeBC say the BC Wildfire Service didn’t adequately ensure safety during the burn in the Shuswap region on Aug. 17 that year, and a group of trapped Brazilian firefighters had to retreat to a “safe zone.” WorkSafeBC says they had to burn off fuel around their truck and spend the night because of low visibility, smoke, fire activity and falling trees. They were picked up the next day by another crew that “cut their way into the site.” “Other crews reportedly had to navigate off-road...
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Six Nations marks Red Dress Day
Red Dress Day at Ganohkwasra: where healing resides By Tara Lindemann Writer Ganohkwasra Family Assault Support Services staff observed the national Red Dress Day by hosting a gathering at its Pine Crescent location on May 5, which included lunch and holistic treatments for community members. Ganohkwasra counsellor, Samanth Cook, said there is no single path to healing. “It’s their journey,” she said. “We just walk alongside them, and seek to help them remember and cherish the moments they had with their loved ones, then find ways to nurture their memories while taking care of themselves.” Together with long-time advocate for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S), Linda John, counsellor Amber Silversmith unveiled a commemorative quilt made by family members to honour loved ones lost to...
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AFN Quebec/Labrador take message to Time Square
By Marc Lalonde, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Iori:wase The Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador’s (AFNQL) First Nations took a very visual message to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues with a Time Square billboard.The billboard’s message “Indigenous Peoples Rights: A Call to Respect #UNDRIP in Quebec played for 24 hours on the Times Square billboard.Ghisland PicardThe video was “a direct and unambiguous appeal to the governments of Quebec and Canada to uphold the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP),” the AFNQL said.AFNQL Regional Chief Francois Verreault-Paul said the message was aimed squarely at a provincial government he says has yet to put its best foot forward on Indigenous self-determination.“We wanted to raise awareness and highlight to the international community the need...
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Six Nations Soldier Honoured in Dutch Second World War Exhibit
By Joshua Santos Writer A Six Nations war veteran will be honoured in an international art exhibit celebrating the valiant sacrifices of Indigenous soldiers in the Second World War. Corporal Welby Lloyd Patterson, a Tuscarora from Six Nations, stands as a symbol of courage in Indigenous Liberators, a new art exhibit at the Freedom Museum in Groesbeek, Netherlands. The show launched on May 2 and runs until Nov. 30. “He was so brave,” said Maidy Keir, Patterson’s niece. “He volunteered to go up front and defend this canal. He fought off the enemy for three hours on his own. If it was not for him, the guys would not have survived.” The exhibit marks the 80th anniversary of the Dutch liberation from Nazi occupation and highlights the vital role First...
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Six Nations First Responders Honoured for Emergency Efforts
By Joshua Santos Writer Hundreds of emergency personnel were recognized for their efforts at an annual First Responders Appreciation luncheon Wednesday at the Six Nations Community Hall. “It is nice to see the council thank us like this,” said Luke Byrne, a paramedic with Six Nations Paramedic Service. He has been a paramedic for 14 years, and spent the past two years with Six Nations. “I think everyone is honoured to be here. It is not something that happens everywhere you go.” The event, hosted by Six Nations Elected Council and Emergency Services, celebrated firefighters, paramedics, police officers, and dispatchers. A Haudenosaunee honour song opened the proceedings with community gratitude. “I just wanted to be able to help people and give back to the community,” said Byrne. “I was looking...
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Six Nations told take it or leave it quarry expansion going ahead
Six Nations can benefit monetarily from a quarry expansion, or not, but it will happen with or without the community’s involvement. “Unfortunately, the province does not recognize a duty to consult. What happens if we say no? If we say no, the ministry will still give them their permits,” Peter Graham Consultation Supervisor with Lands and Membership said. “The Ministry of Natural Resources has told us they will not withhold any permit for a lack of accommodation.” Six Nations Elected Council’s (SNEC) Consultation and Accommodation Team (CAP) Team held an online community consultation on April 30 to speak with the community regarding an tentative agreement SNEC reached on January 27, 2025 with Port Colborne Quarries, owned by Rankin Construction. Port Colborne Quarries has applied to expand its existing Pit 3...
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Indigenous representation on boards debated at Toronto conference
By Sam Laskaris Writer It’s no secret that there is not sufficient Indigenous representation on corporate boards across Canada. Though Indigenous people comprise about five per cent of the country’s population, statistics indicate they only hold about 0.4 per cent positions as corporate directors. Six Nations member Roberta Jamieson, who has held her share of director positions, was one of the speakers at a Toronto conference this past week and offered her thoughts on Indigenous representation on boards. Jamieson was on a panel titled Stronger Boards, Smarter Business: The Case for Indigenous Representation in Corporate Leadership at the First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference, which concluded on Apr. 29. The two-day event, which attracted about 1,800 delegates, was held at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel. Jamieson told conference attendees...
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