Construction crew unearths ancient Indigenous burial site in Toronto
ByThe Canadian Press A construstion crew working on a project in the heart of Toronto stumbled on a surprise late last week when its members unearthed ‘ancient’ human remains from an Indigenous burial ground, the city has confirmed.The crew made the discovery on Friday while working on a water service line on Withrow Avenue, a street near Toronto’s famed Greektown, the city said in a statement. Workers contacted Toronto Police after finding the remains. Toronto police spokeswoman Laura Brabant said the remains were found shortly after noon on Friday and both police and an anthropologist responded to the find.“The anthropologist attended the scene and has advised the remains are from an ancient Indigenous burial ground, that is marked in that area,” Brabant said in an emailed statement. The area has...
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Ribbon Skirt day a reminder there’s much work to be done
By Dave Baxter Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Drums, dancers and ribbon skirts filled a Winnipeg shopping mall on Thursday, as Manitoba and all of Canada celebrated National Ribbon Skirt Day. In December of 2022, Royal Assent was given to Bill S-219, an act first introduced by Manitoba Senator Mary Jane McCallum to officially recognize Jan. 4 as National Ribbon Skirt Day across Canada. The bill’s passing came after reports of an incident back in 2021 where Isabella Kulak, an Indigenous youth living in Saskatchewan, said she was shamed by a teacher’s assistant at her school for wearing a traditional Indigenous ribbon skirt during a formal school event and made to feel the skirt was not appropriate for the event or its dress code. To celebrate Ribbon Skirt Day in Winnipeg...
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Navajo Nation charges 2 tribal members with illegally growing marijuana as part of complex case
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP)- Authorities on the largest Native American reservation in the U.S. have charged two tribal members with illegally growing marijuana on the Navajo Nation, marking just the latest development in a years-long case that also has involved allegations of forced labor. Tribal prosecutors announced the charges Thursday, claiming that Navajo businessman Dineh Benally and farmer Farley BlueEyes had operated a massive marijuana growing operation in and around Shiprock, New Mexico. The two men were expected to be arraigned on the charges in late January, prosecutors said. Benally had previously been charged for interference with judicial proceedings after a Navajo judge granted a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction in 2020 that was aimed at halting operations at the farms in northwestern New Mexico. David Jordan, an attorney...
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New Year will be one of highlighting Indigenous perspectives at APL
By Brock Weir Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Indigenous perspectives will be amplified at the Aurora Public Library this year as they continue on the path towards Truth & Reconciliation. Indigenous Teachings is a new initiative of the Aurora Public Library (APL) which, in 2024, will take the place of the One Book One Aurora project, which marked its tenth anniversary last year. Reccia Mandelcorn, APL’s Manager of Community Collaboration, says One Book One Aurora (OBOA) had a highly successful decade, and might return in future years, but the decision was made to feature, instead of just one book, “many of the fabulous books written by Indigenous authors.” These volumes will inspire at least three months of expansive programming. “Our many successful events broadened our community’s knowledge of Indigenous issues, but...
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BC’s Cops Weren’t Fully Prepared for Drug Decriminalization
By Michelle Gamage Local Journalism Initiative Reporter When British Columbia’s drug decriminalization pilot project came into force earlier this year, only two-thirds of police officers had been trained in what that meant, The Tyee has learned. This comes from a document accessed via a freedom of information request that laid out the meeting minutes of the province’s Mental Health Working Group back in January 2023. As of Jan. 30, 2023, 66 per cent of all frontline officers had been given training on decriminalization, according to the FOI. The pilot project, which made it legal for people 18 years and older to carry a combined total of 2.5 grams of opioids, crack, powder cocaine, meth, ecstasy or MDMA, kicked off the next day. The pilot will run until Jan. 31, 2026....
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Rate cuts and a return to growth: What Deloitte sees on the Canadian economic horizon
By Rosa Saba THE CANADIAN PRESS TORONTO-The Canadian economy will return to growth in the second half of 2024, with interest rate cuts as early as this spring, according to a new forecast by Deloitte Canada. The firm’s economic outlook predicts stagnant growth during the first half of the year as the effects of higher interest rates continue to work their way through the system. Deloitte Canada chief economist Dawn Desjardins said that while this could mean a technical recession, two quarters or more of negative GDP growth, it’s unlikely the Canadian economy will see the deep decline or labour market rout that typically accompany a true recession. “We have a pretty substantive recovery in our forecast,” she said. Momentum in the economy and the job market is poised to...
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Winter road time could be short for some First Nations
By Mike Stimpson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter CAT LAKE FIRST NATION- City dwellers may have welcomed the unseasonably warm December weather, but it made Cat Lake’s chief a tad nervous. Chief Russell Wesley estimated in a recent interview that his remote community northeast of Red Lake might see a winter-road season of just four weeks, with half that time safe for light vehicles only. That wouldn’t leave much time for the big trucks to deliver gasoline and building supplies for the homes he hopes to see put up in 2024. New housing is important to Cat Lake as the community of 500 is still building to replace homes where inspectors found mould in 2018-2019. A report in early 2019 recommended that 87 of the 128 homes in the community at...
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Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation launches official app
By Ethan Braund Local Journalism Initiative Reporter A new app is aimed at improving communication among members of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. “We are always looking for ways to ensure important information can be easily accessed by our members, this mobile app is a new and faster way to connect,” Keri L. King, executive director of operations at MCFN, said in a media release. MCFN released the app in late November in partnership with the mobile app platform Communikit, The app will push notifications to MCFN members, with a focus on community news, events and alerts, making it easier to access such information, said the release. Initial feedback about the app has been positive with members saying it is nice to have information all in one place,...
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Statement by the Prime Minister on National Ribbon Skirt Day
January 4, 2024 Ottawa, Ontario The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on National Ribbon Skirt Day: “Today, I acknowledge all those across Canada who are marking the second National Ribbon Skirt Day and the significance that ribbon skirts represent during ceremonies and special events throughout the year. “Observed for the first time last year, National Ribbon Skirt Day commemorates the experience of Isabella Kulak, a member of Cote First Nation in Saskatchewan who was shamed for wearing a handmade ribbon skirt to a formal day at her elementary school. Ribbon skirts have been worn by First Nations and Métis women, girls, and gender-diverse people for generations. With their vibrant colours, bold patterns, and intricate designs, they are a symbol of pride and offer a deep connection...
NACCA CEO weighs in on Indigenous advisory councils
By Marc Lalonde Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The CEO of a Canada-wide organization whose mandate is to promote Indigenous economic development said the recent resignation of CN’s entire Indigenous Advisory Council was an indication CN, like others in Canada — was paying mere lip service to reconciliation. National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association CEO Shannin Metatawabin, whose organization is an umbrella group for more than 50 Indigenous financial institutions, said what most corporate leaders have so far failed to grasp is that Canada is a very wealthy country. And much of that wealth has come at the expense of, and of detriment to, Indigenous people and communities, he said. “They need to acknowledge that we’ve been excluded from the economy and that there are steps that they can actively take to...
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Feds must fix unfair West Coast fishing rules: House committee
By Rochelle Baker Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Federal inaction means West Coast harvesters still flounder with unfair fishing regulations, says a parliamentary committee. Fisheries and Oceans Canada faces a wave of criticism in a recent report by the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans (FOPO), which reiterated a call to equalize fishing policy on the coasts. For the second time in five years, the committee is pushing the fisheries department (DFO) to make changes so only Canadian fish harvesters with actual “boots on deck” of a boat can own fishing licences or quota on the West Coast. The key recommendation is one of 19 stemming from a recent study by the committee on the effect corporate and foreign ownership of commercial licences and quotas is having on Canadian fisheries. On...
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CPAWS looks back at the big issues of 2023
By Scott Hayes Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Of the many major environmental issues that headlined news stories during 2023, it’s easy for Kecia Kerr to choose the biggest: wildfires. “In addition to having huge impacts on communities and human populations, they of course have had big impacts on wildlife and habitat for wildlife as well,” said the executive director at the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS). CPAWS is a national charity dedicated to the protection of public land, freshwater and ocean areas. Its analysts reviewed the wildfires that afflicted Wood Buffalo National Park last year. Approximately 505,000 ha of the total of the 44,741 sq km park’s area was burned. “The amount burned is actually probably bigger than these numbers at this point,” Kerr said. She added that three...
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OPP investigate homicide after two found dead near remote northern First Nation
Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug- Ontario Provincial Police say a homicide investigation is underway in a remote northern First Nation after two people were found dead. Police say both bodies were found in a recreation and camping area near Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, a remote fly-in community more than 500 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, but only one of the deaths is being investigated as a homicide. OPP spokesperson Autumn Eadie says the second death is part of the investigation but not believed to be the result of foul play. A news release sent out by the First Nation’s tribal council said both people were community members. Eadie says officers responded to a call around 3 p.m. on Jan. 1 and found one person dead, then shortly after found a second person dead. OPP say...
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With belaboured bill recognizing Metis self government in limbo, here’s what to know
By Alessia Passafiume THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA- The committee process for a testy piece of legislation that would recognize Metis governments in three provinces has been extended until at least February. House of Commons committee hearings about Bill C-53 have seen 65 witnesses testify and 274 briefs submitted that argue vigorously either for or against the legislation. Some First Nations groups are also opposed to the bill, which would recognize Metis governments in Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan, urging MPs to vote against it because they say it could erode their own rights. But it has support from the bodies that would be the direct beneficiaries of the bill and wider groups including the Metis National Council. Members of Parliament have most recently been arguing over the finer points of the...
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With belaboured bill recognizing Metis self government in limbo, here’s what to know
By Alessia Passafiume THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA- The committee process for a testy piece of legislation that would recognize Metis governments in three provinces has been extended until at least February. House of Commons committee hearings about Bill C-53 have seen 65 witnesses testify and 274 briefs submitted that argue vigorously either for or against the legislation, which Metis leaders say would set the stage for treaties on internal matters such as child welfare. Some First Nations groups are also opposed to the bill, which would recognize Metis governments in Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan, urging MPs to vote against it because they say it could erode their own rights. But it has support from the bodies that would be the direct beneficiaries of the bill and wider groups including the...
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‘Indigenizing’ universities means building relationships with nations and lands
By Deondre Smiles The move in Canadian academia to “decolonize” or “Indigenize,” and commit to broader frameworks of reconciliation, pertains to how work is done within universities, as well as how universities engage with broader communities. Commitments aim to increase the visibility of Indigenous academics, including hiring of Indigenous faculty members and staff, but they are also about the visibility of Indigenous ways of being and knowing. Until fairly recently, these ways of being and knowing have been largely absent in Canadian higher education structures. As part of these plans, there is often an assumption that Indigenous scholars will be better equipped to interface with local Indigenous communities, both inside and outside of universities. This has meant sustained and targeted recruitment of Indigenous students and the adoption of various “Indigenous...
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Oneida Nation of Thames band councillor facing fraud charges involving day-school survivor settlement money
ONEIDA NATION OF THE THAMES-An Oneida Nation of the Thames band councillor has been suspended after being charged with fraud. Ursula Doxtator, 54, is facing criminal charges after being accused of defrauding a survivor of Canada’s day school system out of settlement money, according to court documents. Middlesex OPP arrested Ursula Doxtator, 54, on Nov. 24, two months after launching an investigation into a fraud complaint, and charged her with fraud valued at more than $5,000 and trying to use a forged document. Two days after the charges against Doxtator were made public, Oneida Chief Todd Cornelius released a letter saying a council member was charged in a criminal case unrelated to their official duties and had been suspended in accordance with council’s code of ethics and conduct. ...
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Former Manitoba cabinet minister accused by colleagues of trying to rush mine project
WINNIPEG- A former Manitoba Progressive Conservative cabinet minister is denying accusations by two former colleagues that he tried to rush approval of a proposed mining project. Jeff Wharton says he was simply gathering information about the planned Sio Silica mine after the Tories lost the Oct. 3 election, in order to pass it on to the incoming NDP government. Two Tory ministers who were defeated in the election, Kevin Klein and Rochelle Squires, say Wharton called them and, in separate conversations, asked them to get the project approved before the NDP government was to be sworn-in. Klein and Squires both say they refused for a few reasons, including a long-standing constitutional practice called the caretaker convention, which forbids outgoing governments from making most major decisions. In the end, no licence...
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What you need to know about Bill C 53 and the recognition of Metis self government
OTTAWA -The committee process for a testy piece of legislation that would recognize Metis governments in three provinces has been extended until at least February. House of Commons committee hearings about Bill C-53 have seen 65 witnesses testify and 274 briefs submitted that argue vigorously either for or against the legislation. Members of Parliament are now arguing over the finer points of the bill during meetings devoted to clause-by-clause deliberation, seven of them so far, featuring hours of debate. Some First Nations groups are opposed to the bill, which would recognize Metis governments in Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan, urging MPs to vote against it because they say it could erode their own rights. But Metis Nation of Ontario president Margaret Froh says Metis people have been fighting for their rights...
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Advocates Win Injunction Blocking BC’s Drug Decriminalization Rollbacks
By Michelle Gamage Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Legislation limiting where people can use drugs under the province’s decriminalization pilot project has been put on hold after the Supreme Court of British Columbia ruled the updates could cause irreparable harms. The legal challenge was launched by the non-profit Harm Reduction Nurses Association in early November. The lawsuit alleges B.C.’s Bill 34, the Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act, violates sections of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The lawsuit alleges the legislation violates people’s right to equality, life, liberty and security and protection from cruel and unusual treatment, said Caitlin Shane, staff lawyer with Pivot Legal Society and counsel for the Harm Reduction Nurses Association. The court didn’t rule the law violates those Charter rights. But Chief Justice Christopher...
