Northern Ontario fires prompt large-scale evacuations, destroy homes in First Nation
By Maan Alhmidi and Allison Jones Forest fires in northwestern Ontario have devastated several communities, forcing widespread evacuations and destroying homes and buildings in one First Nation as harrowing wildfire videos and images emerge on social media. The fires have prompted evacuation orders for several communities, including Armstrong, Lac La Croix First Nation, Collins First Nation, Whitesand First Nation, Gull Bay First Nation and Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation. Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige said a fast-moving wildfire has advanced toward Namaygoosisagagun First Nation, also known as Collins First Nation. The fire has caused extensive damage and destruction to homes and buildings, Debassige said in a statement. She said community members were forced to flee without the support of emergency services but all have been accounted for...
Register
Trump is taking longer to approve disaster aid and denying Democratic states more frequently
By David A. Lieb And M.k. Wildeman When major disasters strike, Americans are routinely waiting weeks — or even months — to receive presidential approval for aid. And if they live in a state that didn’t support President Donald Trump, chances are greater that aid will denied. Since taking office last year, Trump has approved about 65 requests for major disaster declarations and denied more than two dozen others from states, tribes or territories seeking federal financial assistance following hurricanes, tornadoes, storms, floods and fires. Trump has taken longer on average to approve disaster requests than any other president, according to an Associated Press analysis of data dating back to 1989, when a federal law setting new parameters for disaster determinations was implemented. And no other president has such a...
Register
Ministers to address Assembly of First Nations gathering in Ottawa
By Alessia Passafiume A handful of federal ministers are expected to address hundreds of First Nations chiefs as they gather in Ottawa today. They’ll be speaking in front of the Assembly of First Nations’ annual general meeting about public safety, the economy and natural resources development and social services for communities. The Assembly of First Nations is a national advocacy body that takes its direction from some 630 First Nations chiefs through special and annual general assemblies. Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty, U.S. Trade Minister Dominic Leblanc, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson are among the ministers set to address chiefs. First Nations chiefs passed two resolutions on Wednesday confirming that stance and committing the AFN to opposing legislation or policies that dilute their rights...
Register
Winds carrying wildfire smoke over Ontario force cancellation of music festival
Many regions of Ontario have traded heat warnings for air quality warnings as gritty, dusty wildfire smoke permeates the skies. Environment Canada has lifted many of the heat warnings spanning the province, though hot weather is expected to linger in some areas. Air quality warnings are now in place from Thunder Bay to Kingston and down to Toronto, London and Windsor, as residents of several First Nations communities in northwestern Ontario flee forest fires. The weather office has said winds from the northwest will continue to blanket southern Ontario with smoke from the northern fires until at least Friday. The smoke was so bad on Wednesday that it turned Toronto’s skyline an eerie shade of orange and forced the first night of an outdoor music festival in London to end...
Register
Chiefs of Ontario call on federal and Ontario government to provide immediate emergency support to communities hit by wildfires
The Chiefs of Ontario are calling on the federal and provincial governments to immediately provide coordinated emergency support as escalating wildfires threaten First Nations across northern Ontario. As of July 15, First Nations Leadership from the Ontario region have held several meetings to discuss the emerging wildfire crisis in the North. The sessions opened with Knowledge Keeper Fiddler offering a prayer for Namaygoosisagagun First Nation, Whitesand First Nation, Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek, Animbiigoo Zaagi’igan Anishinaabek, and all First Nations currently affected by or evacuating because of the wildfires. Chiefs across the region offered support for those directly impacted by the fires. Several First Nations are facing mandatory evacuation orders issued by their Leadership with support from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). As the situation rapidly unfolds, many other Nations are currently...
Register
Judge extends injunction freezing millions of Alberta separatist leader’s assets
By Lisa Johnson A judge has extended a special court order freezing the assets of a prominent Alberta separatist as part of an ongoing trust fund dispute with a First Nation. Last week, Justice Michael Marion in Calgary granted a temporary injunction freezing up to $8.5 million in assets held by Jeffrey Rath. It’s part of an ongoing legal battle between Rath and Tallcree First Nation over control of a multimillion-dollar trust fund. The northern Alberta First Nation alleges Rath, its former lawyer, misappropriated millions from the fund. The allegations have not been tested in court. Justice John Gill of Edmonton has agreed to extend the injunction, saying there’s a risk Rath would “continue to take steps to frustrate the process of locating the missing money.” Rath has been a...
Register
Chiefs call on feds to criminalize residential school denialism as hate speech
By Alessia Passafiume First Nations chiefs say the federal government is enabling residential school denialism by failing to make it a crime. The chiefs passed an emergency resolution at the Assembly of First Nations general meeting in Ottawa on Tuesday calling on the feds to criminalize residential school denialism as hate speech. “Truth is not optional and reconciliation cannot exist without truth,” said Chief David Monias of Pimicikamak Cree Nation. “We must honour the survivors and we must honour every child who never came home.” The resolution comes not long after the Liberals passed a new hate crime law. Some senators tried and failed to amend that law to cover residential school denialism. Chiefs have passed similar resolutions over the years but the federal government has yet to change the...
Register
Northern Ontario wildfires destroy homes in First Nation, prompt large evacuations
By Maan Alhmidi Forest fires in northwestern Ontario have devastated several communities, forcing widespread evacuations and destroying homes and buildings in one First Nation as harrowing wildfire videos and images emerge on social media. The fires have prompted evacuation orders for several communities, including Armstrong, Lac La Croix First Nation, Collins First Nation, Whitesand First Nation, Gull Bay First Nation and Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation. Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige said a fast-moving wildfire has advanced toward Namaygoosisagagun First Nation, also known as Collins First Nation. The fire has caused extensive damage and destruction to homes and buildings, Debassige said in a statement. She said community members were forced to flee without the support of emergency services but all have been accounted for based on the...
Register
Chiefs warn they’ll fight any assault on First Nations rights in major projects push
By Alessia Passafiume First Nations chiefs say they’ll oppose any actions by federal and provincial governments to expedite major projects that would undermine their rights and environmental protections. They passed two resolutions at the Assembly of First Nations annual general meeting in Ottawa on Wednesday confirming that stance and committing the AFN to opposing legislation or policies that dilute their rights or undermine their decision-making processes. Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation Chief Veronica Smith said recent federal moves to speed up major projects “have raised concerns among First Nations across Canada that efforts to expedite project approvals may undermine the meaningful implementation of free, prior and informed consent, treaty relationships, environmental stewardship responsibilities and nation-to-nation decision-making.” Many First Nations have expressed concerns about Prime Minister Mark Carney’s major project...
Register
Northern Ontario fires prompt large-scale evacuations, destroy homes in First Nation
By Maan Alhmidi and Allison Jones Forest fires in northwestern Ontario have devastated several communities, forcing widespread evacuations and destroying homes and buildings in one First Nation as harrowing wildfire videos and images emerge on social media. The fires have prompted evacuation orders for several communities, including Armstrong, Lac La Croix First Nation, Collins First Nation, Whitesand First Nation, Gull Bay First Nation and Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation. Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige said a fast-moving wildfire has advanced toward Namaygoosisagagun First Nation, also known as Collins First Nation. The fire has caused extensive damage and destruction to homes and buildings, Debassige said in a statement. She said community members were forced to flee without the support of emergency services but all have been accounted for...
Register
Wild fire smoke from northern Ontario pushing into southern Ontario including Six Nations
A haze caused by smoke from northern fires fill the skies over the Grand River at Ohsweken Wednesday, July 15, 2026 (Photo by Alex Murray) SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND RIVER-Wildfire smoke drifting into southern Ontario has produced an orange sky hanging over most cities and towns causing an air quality warning to be issued across the province. More relief is expected tomorrow, after Wednesday, July 15th, registered some of the worst air quality in the world as a result of smoke from northwestern Ontario forest fires moving south. Environment Canada updated its air quality warning to orange in the Toronto area as a result of heavy smoke conditions from wildfires. The wildfire smoke caused poor air quality and reduced visibility for much of southern Ontario, the federal weather...
Register
Wildfire smoke turns Toronto sky orange, prompts air quality alerts across Ontario
By Kathryn Mannie Smoke from wildfires in northwestern Ontario is drifting south and choking the skies over Toronto and other regions. Environment Canada’s air quality warnings are active from Thunder Bay to Kingston and down to London as several First Nations communities in northwestern Ontario are under mandatory evacuation orders due to forest fires. Jean-Philippe Bégin, a meteorologist with the weather agency, says winds from the northwest will continue to blanket Toronto and southern Ontario with smoke until at least Friday, when winds are expected to change direction and blow smoke north. It could bring relief to southern Ontarians by the end of the week but would put communities north of the fires in the crosshairs. “It’s only displacing the problem,” Bégin said, “as long as the forest fires are...
Register
Feds announce new members of Senate appointments advisory board
By Catherine Morrison A week after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced his first picks for the Red Chamber, the federal government named almost a dozen people to its Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments. In 2016, the previous Liberal government created the independent advisory board to provide non-binding recommendations on Senate appointments to the prime minister. But the board had become largely dormant under Carney, with most of the seats on it left vacant. On Wednesday, the government announced its plans for the board. The statement said the board will continue to have three federal members, including a chair, and two additional members from each province or territory where a Senate vacancy is to be filled — the same as it was under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. A news release...
Register
Chiefs warn they’ll fight any assault on First Nations rights in major projects push
By Alessia Passafiume First Nations chiefs say they’ll oppose any actions by federal and provincial governments to expedite major projects that would undermine their rights and environmental protections. They passed two resolutions at the Assembly of First Nations annual general meeting in Ottawa on Wednesday confirming that stance and committing the AFN to opposing legislation or policies that dilute their rights or undermine their decision-making processes. Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation Chief Veronica Smith said recent federal moves to speed up major infrastructure projects “have raised concerns among First Nations across Canada that efforts to expedite project approvals may undermine the meaningful implementation of free, prior and informed consent, treaty relationships, environmental stewardship responsibilities and nation-to-nation decision-making.” Many First Nations have expressed concerns about Prime Minister Mark Carney’s major...
Register
Northern Ontario wildfires destroy homes, buildings in First Nation community
Forest fires in northwestern Ontario have devastated several communities, forcing widespread evacuations and destroying homes and buildings in one First Nation. The fires have prompted evacuation orders for several communities, including Armstrong, Lac La Croix First Nation, Collins First Nation, Whitesand First Nation, Gull Bay First Nation and Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation. Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige says a fast-moving wildfire has advanced toward Namaygoosisagagun First Nation, also known as Collins First Nation. Debassige says in a statement that the fire has caused extensive damage and destruction to homes and buildings. She says community members were forced to flee without the support of emergency services but all have been accounted for based on the information available as of this morning. Collins First Nation Chief Helen Paavola...
Register
AFN-Chiefs call on feds to criminalize residential school denialism as hate speech
By Alessia Passafiume First Nations chiefs say the federal government is enabling residential school denialism by failing to make it a crime. The chiefs passed an emergency resolution at the Assembly of First Nations meeting in Ottawa this week calling on the feds to criminalize residential school denialism as hate speech. Chief David Monias of Pimicikamak Cree Nation says the truth is not optional and that reconciliation cannot exist without it. He says there is extensive documentation of the abuse those institutions perpetrated on First Nations children and efforts to downplay that history distort the truth. More than 150,000 Indigenous children were forced to attend residential schools, the last of which closed in 1996. An estimated 6,000 children died in the schools, though experts say the actual number could be...
Register
New gathering space marks major milestone for Cold Lake FirstNations
By Chantel Downes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeland This Week The nation officially broke ground on the new Community Gathering Space on June 19. The facility will be located between Hotel Dene and Casino Dene along Highway 28 and is expected to accommodate up to 750 guests. Once complete, the space will be used for community celebrations, cultural gatherings, conferences, trade shows, markets, meetings, weddings, and other special events. It will also directly connect Hotel Dene and Casino Dene, strengthening the nation’s hospitality and tourism offerings. Shawna Janvier, CEO of Hotel Dene & Conference Centre and Casino Dene, said the Community Gathering Space has been years in the making. “It’s been in the planning stages for about five years or so, most of that being in the last three years....
Register
Wildfire smoke turns Toronto sky orange
(CP) Smoke from wildfires in northwestern Ontario drifted south and choked the skies over Toronto and other regions on Wednesday. Environment Canada’s air quality warnings are active from Thunder Bay to Kingston and down to London as several First Nations communities in northwestern Ontario are under mandatory evacuation orders due to forest fires....
Register
Feds announce new members of reformed Senate advisory board
By Catherine Morrison A week after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced his first picks for the Red Chamber, the federal government has named almost a dozen people to its Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments. In 2016, the previous Liberal government created the independent advisory board to provide non-binding recommendations on Senate appointments to the prime minister. Under the Carney government, the board will continue to have three federal members, including a chair, and two additional members from each province or territory where a Senate vacancy is to be filled — the same as it was under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. A news release today says the board will be chaired by François Rolland, who has served as a federal member of the board since 2018. Others named to the...
Register
Impending closure of Ekati diamond mine a ‘deeply disappointing outcome’: owner
The impending closure of the insolvent Ekati diamond mine is a “deeply disappointing outcome” for workers, shareholders and communities in the Northwest Territories, said the chief executive of Australia-based Burgundy Diamond Mines. “Ekati has made an extraordinary contribution to the territory for more than 25 years as a major private-sector employer and through its long-standing relationships with Indigenous communities and local businesses,” Jeremy King said in an announcement posted to the Australian Stock Exchange. The Supreme Court of British Columbia granted the Canadian arm of Burgundy, Arctic Canadian Diamond Company Ltd., protection from creditors in May. Since then, Burgundy said it reached out to a broad range of potential investors and counterparties. “Despite an extensive process to identify new investment or a transaction, no viable proposal was received,” King said....
Register
