Outdoor education facility officially opened in Îyârhe Nakoda FirstNation
By John Watson, Local Journalism Initiative, Rocky Mountain Outlook ÎYÂRHE NAKODA FIRST NATION – A new outdoor education building has been officially opened at Mînî Thnî community school to offer students hands-on learning experiences and a different experience to more standardized desk learning. Since 2022, the Wim and Nancy Pauw Foundation has donated $290,000 to the Stoney Education Authority, and has committed an additional $125,000 annually for the next two years to the facility. “We are still looking at getting an official name for our outdoor land-based building, and basically, it is there for our four schools to utilize so that we can do land – based education and lessons in a totally different setting from the regular traditional classroom,” said Bill Shade, superintendent of Stoney Education Authority. “We wanted...
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From longhouse to powerhouse: Six Nations pursues energy sovereignty
By Sonal Gupta, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Canada’s National Observer A 130-year-old Indigenous longhouse is leading the charge toward energy independence for an Ontario community — and showing how their cultural values can fuel the future. The project, led by the Cayuga Nation of the Six Nations of the Grand River, aims to reduce reliance on energy sources such as propane for heat and power by integrating clean energy solutions with their cultural traditions. The Sour Springs Longhouse, built in 1892, is an important ceremonial site for the Six Nations community in southwestern Ontario. In 2022, the community undertook a three-phase renovation, which includes energy-efficient retrofits, the installation of a 24-kilowatt hybrid solar photovoltaic (PV) system, and the construction of a low-carbon seed storage facility. But first, it was a...
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Judge rules BRFN counsel in ‘conflict of interest’ amid ousted Chief’s judicial review
By Ed Hitchins, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Energeticcity.ca FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The dismissed Blueberry River First Nations (BRFN) Chief is celebrating a victory in her fight against the council which ousted her. Judy Desjarlais was removed last fall after an independent investigation by BRFN council launched in 2023 said she had failed to “act unilaterally, but did so regardless” pertaining to exemptions granted for Petronas’ industrial work on BRFN’s high-value areas. The high-value areas are zones of particular importance for BRFN’s way of life that require specific management to protect them from new development. The federal judge in Desjarlais’ review protesting her removal, Justice Catherine A. Coughlan, has said the opposing counsel hired by BRFN was in a conflict of interest. BRFN’s counsel had previously worked at another...
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Next generation of scientists and innovators showcase their creativity, curiosity
By Maggie Macintosh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Winnipeg Free Press Up-and-coming researchers showed off their microplastic extractions and homemade artificial intelligence models at the 2025 Manitoba Schools Science Symposium. Five years after it was abruptly called off due to COVID-19, the annual event inviting Grade 4 to 12 students to put their hypotheses to the test is rebounding. The competition has returned to the University of Manitoba’s Max Bell Centre and its latest edition drew 335 competitors from 35 schools — the strongest turnout since 2018-19. Veteran Ella Strachan was among them. For her final science fair, the Grade 12 student wanted to measure plastic pollution in Lake Winnipeg and determine where it is most likely to accumulate. She had a dozen vials of lake water containing colourful debris on...
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Mushuau Innu sign expanded bylaws to combat drug crisis
By Heidi Atter, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Independent The Mushuau Innu Band Council has signed new an expanded trespassing bylaw and expanded enforcement bylaw, giving expanded powers to community safety officers to search personal effects at the airport, search band-owned homes, and for the band council in Natuashish to ban more people from the community with the goal of disrupting the flow of drugs into the remote First Nation community. The bylaw changes, signed April 7 by the chief and council, came less than two months after mothers and grandmothers in Natuashish held a meeting on the drug situation in the fly-in community in February. At the time, the women proposed a number of ideas, including the now-expanded community safety officer powers and home searches. Chief John Nui said...
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Candidates discuss their polices relating to healthcare access
By Keith Lacey, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Penticton Herald With more than six million Canadians lacking access to a family doctor, healthcare accessibility has become a pressing issue across the country — including in the federal riding of South Okanagan–West Kootenay. During Wednesday’s only scheduled candidates’ forum, held at the Cleland Theatre in Penticton, the topic of healthcare access was among several key issues discussed during the two-hour Q&A session. “Access to healthcare remains top of mind for millions of Canadians, particularly in rural communities, where emergency room closures have become all too common,” said Michael Magnusson, executive director of the Chamber. “These issues impact not just the health and well-being of individuals, but also the viability of small towns.” Magnusson posed the following question to candidates: “What is your...
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BC’s interior old-growth forests hiding billions in economic benefits, report says
By Sonal Gupta, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Canada’s National Observer Protecting old-growth forests in the BC interior could generate more than $43 billion over the next century — far more than logging the land, a report says. Research by environmental consultancy ESSA Technologies determined that if all the old-growth forest in regions around the Okanagan and Prince George were fully protected, the carbon storage alone would keep 28 million tonnes of carbon emissions out of the atmosphere over the next 100 years. That’s roughly what would be generated by burning 63 million barrels of oil, and would be worth $43 billion — $33 billion for Prince George and $10 billion for the Okanagan. Even limited protection of only the most at-risk forests would yield $11 billion in benefits. “The value...
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Poilievre promises tougher ethics rules, takes aim at Carney’s assets
By Kyle Duggan Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is promising to tighten financial transparency rules for elected officials — and is using that promise to take aim at Liberal Leader Mark Carney. Poilievre told a press conference in Ottawa on Sunday that if his party forms government, he’ll ban what he calls “shadow lobbying.” “We will eliminate the lobbying loophole and require anyone who is acting as an adviser to government officials to declare themselves and register as a lobbyist, whenever they are advising on matters that touch upon their financial interests or that of their company,” Poilievre said. He said this rule would have forced Carney to register as a lobbyist when he advised former prime minister Justin Trudeau through the Liberal party. The Conservative leader also said he would...
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NWMO puts out call for suppliers in region
By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Thunder Bay Source IGNACE – Having chosen a site for keeping used nuclear fuel underground, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization is now reaching out to local and Indigenous businesses and suppliers in Northwestern Ontario about contracts relating to the project. The deep geological repository, or DGR, that the industry funded organization wants to build west of Ignace means potentially hundreds of jobs and many other economic opportunities as well, a news release said. “It’s really exciting,” NWMO spokesperson Vince Ponka said Friday. “We are looking for northern businesses, Northwestern Ontario businesses, to connect with us and register, just so we’re aware of the businesses that are out here, the suppliers that are out here.” Ponka said the DGR “is such a major, huge...
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UCCM Police shares ‘Lighting the Fire Within’ to other police forces
By Jacqueline St. Pierre, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Manitoulin Expositor M’CHIGEENG — After five years of early intervention work aimed at preventing intimate partner violence (IPV) in Anishnaabe communities across Manitoulin Island, the UCCM Anishnaabe Police Service is calling on the federal and provincial governments to permanently fund its Lighting the Fire Within program. Originally launched in 2018 with a $1 million investment from Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE), the program was built to address the roots of IPV through trauma-informed, culturally grounded, community-first approaches. But with the original funding expired, UCCM Police say the work can’t stop now. “The Lighting the Fire Within programming helped within our communities and it’s unfortunate that the funding has stopped,” said UCCM Police Chief James Killeen. “We want to keep a...
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Kitselas First Nation in northwestern B.C. votes in favour of self-governance
Members of the Kitselas First Nation in British Columbia’s Skeena Valley region have voted to become self-governing. The nation says in a news release that more than 96 per cent of its enrolled voters took part in the ratification on Thursday. It says 85 per cent of voters ticked Yes for the treaty, while 81 per cent voted Yes for its constitution. The nation says the vote means it will no longer be “controlled by Canada’s Indian Act” and will work for the next three years to implement the treaty. It says under the treaty, enrolled citizens will be able to vote in elections, receive treaty benefits, exercise their rights and run for elected office. Christine Boyle, B.C.’s minister of Indigenous relations and reconciliation, congratulated the nation on Friday,...
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Valemount says businesses facing shutdown amid B.C. government ‘inaction’
By Peter Shokeir, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Jasper Fitzhugh The Village of Valemount is accusing the British Columbia government of “inaction” for failing to provide financial relief for businesses impacted by the 2024 Jasper wildfire. Valemount Mayor Owen Torgerson described his experience lobbying his provincial government as “frustrating” and emphasized how dire the economic situation was for his community. “We’ve seen closures, whether that’s temporary or permanent,” Torgerson said. “We’ve seen curtailment of hours. We’re hearing of layoffs, so it’s a mix [of situations]. The business community, regardless of what sector you’re in, has been impacted immensely.” Last summer, the Jasper wildfire forced thousands to evacuate to Valemount and closed regional highways. To mitigate the indirect impacts of the wildfire on local businesses, the Village is now seeking $1.5 million...
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Last all-Indigenous fire unit featured in Knowledge Network documentary
By Luke Faulks, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Matt Nelson knew he wanted to fight fires since he was in Grade 7. His teacher, now-Lil’wat Nation’s Chief Dean Nelson, was a firefighter before moving to teach at the Xet̓ólacw Community School in Mount Currie. “He planted that seed,” Nelson remembers. Now, Nelson features in Wildfire, a five-part documentary series from Knowledge Network set to premiere on April 29. The series’ final episode interviews him for his work as part of the last remaining all-Indigenous fire crew in B.C.—the Salish Fire Unit, based in Lil’wat First Nation. In 1988, The BC Wildfire Services (BCWS) started to partner with Indigenous communities around the province to build up local fire-fighting capacity and create employment opportunities. The Salish Unit in Mount Currie, founded in 1989,...
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‘We made it through the night’: New Secwépemc children’s book teaches about grief and loss
By Dionne Phillips, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, IndigiNews A new children’s book by author Stanley (T’ult) Daniels of Tsq̓éscen̓ First Nation provides a cultural context around grief. Tscwinúcw-k: The Stars of the Secwépemc opens with a young boy named Malakai playing with his Kyé7e. She passes away soon after, and the book then follows the journey of Malakai as he deals with the loss — using his cultural teachings to remember his Kyé7e, who now lives in the Sky World with the other ancestors. Through stories, Malakai’s mother (Setse7), helps him understand the teaching of Tscwinúcw-k — meaning “we survived the night” — which serves as a reminder that ancestors continue to be there, guiding the people with love. “So what Tscwinúcw-k is, is kind of like an artistic expression,...
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Sault-Algoma candidates address challenges of new riding
By Margaret Kirk, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Sault Star As Canadians prepare for the upcoming federal election, a significant change in electoral geography is reshaping how citizens in Northern Ontario are represented in Ottawa. According to the final report of the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario in 2023, the Algoma–Manitoulin–Kapuskasing riding was erased, with surrounding districts absorbing the characteristically rural population. The change in riding boundaries happened because Northern Ontario grew by 2.8 per cent from 2011-2021, while the rest of Ontario grew by 11.2 per cent in the same period. The Sault Ste. Marie riding became Sault Ste. Marie–Algoma and now spans north to include Hornepayne, White River, Dubreuilville and Wawa. East of Sault Ste. Marie. It includes Missanabie Cree, Michipicoten, Batchewana, Garden River, Batchewana, Serpent River and...
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A Two-Spirit Journey is the ‘book to change the narrative’ in 2025
By Shari Narine, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter CBC’s competition Canada Reads recently celebrated a memoir published almost a decade ago. “I am grateful that they picked the book,” said Ma-Nee Chacaby, Ojibwe-Cree author of A Two-Spirit Journey. “I didn’t ever think it was ever going to go anywhere. I just wanted other First Nations to start writing their stories. That was my main thing. Maybe if I write, they’ll follow.” A Two-Spirit Journey was published in 2016 by the University of Manitoba Press. Chacaby, who is visually impaired, told her story to non-Indigenous close friend and professional writer Mary Louisa Plummer over Skype during the course of several months in 2013. Plummer typed it and then read the first draft to Chacaby, who rounded it out with additional material....
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Blueberry River Restoration Society’s chief executive officer talks organization’ ambitions
By Ed Hitchins, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Energeticcity.ca FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Blueberry River Restoration Society is open for collaborative work, and is asking for proposals for impactful restoration projects. Angela D’Amato van den Hout is the CEO of Blueberry River Restoration Society (BRRS), and spoke of the organization’s mandate in an interview with Energeticcity.ca. According to its website, the society was born out of a 2021 Supreme Court decision, which ruled the province violated Blueberry River First Nations’ (BRFN) members’ Treaty 8 rights by failing to account for the impacts of cumulative development, including on fishing, hunting and cultural practices. A government-BRFN partnership was formed, and BRRS was founded in 2023 with a focus on providing funding for ecological restoration projects within BRFN territory. The website reads its...
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New rental building helps bring Squamish Nation members back home
By Abby Luciano, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, North Shore News A new rental building on Xwemelch’stn (Capilano Reserve) is giving Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) members who have lived away from the area the opportunity to return home. Nation members celebrated the grand opening of the Chenkw Em̓út building Tuesday. The three-storey, 95-unit building is for Squamish Nation members with priority to Elders, youth and families based on a multi-generational housing approach. “[It’s] a really exciting day for the community being able to celebrate this amazing housing project that’s been in the works for the last six years,” said Sarah Silva, a member of the board of directors for Hiy̓ám̓ Housing, a non-profit organization the Nation launched to address housing needs for members. Chenkw Em̓út, meaning “I am home,” is a...
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Carney follows Poilievre in pledging to speed up resource projects
By Anja Karadeglija Liberal Leader Mark Carney took his promise of making Canada an “energy superpower” to the heart of Canada’s oil industry Wednesday, becoming the second party leader in three days to promise to speed up the review process to greenlight major national energy projects. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre made a one-project, one-review promise at a campaign stop in northwest British Columbia on Monday. Both parties are trying to convince Canadians they can ditch Canada’s reputation as a place where big projects take far too long to get built. With punishing U.S. tariffs under President Donald Trump still dominating much of the election conversation, both the Liberals and Conservatives are wooing Canadians with pitches to reduce Canada’s trade reliance on the U.S. by, among other things, building new pipelines...
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Carney, Poilievre taking their campaigns to the GTA today as campaigns hit half way mark
The Liberals and Conservatives will be campaigning in the Greater Toronto Area today. Liberal Leader Mark Carney is set to make an announcement in Brampton, Ont., in the morning and meet with supporters and volunteers in Hamilton, Ont., in the afternoon. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre will hold a press conference in Milton, Ont., in the morning and a rally in Woolwich, Ont., in the evening. As of 2021, the population of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area was over seven million, representing almost 20 per cent of Canada’s population. A new Leger poll, which was conducted online and can’t be assigned a margin of error, suggests that 48 per cent of Ontarians will vote Liberal in the election, compared to 39 per cent who will vote Conservative and nine per...
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