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Today in history
March 17 In 2020, Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency over COVID-19, ordering the closure of bars, restaurants, theatres and libraries. Alberta and British Columbia made similar declarations, while the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs declared a state of emergency for 62 First Nations, closing reserve borders to non-essential travel. March 18 In 2019, the country’s top bureaucrat announced he would retire as clerk of the Privy Council. Michael Wernick said in a statement there was no path for a “relationship of mutual trust” if the Conservatives or N-D-P form the next government. Former justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould accused Wernick of pressuring her to help Quebec-based engineering giant S-N-C-Lavalin avoid a criminal prosecution. March 19 In 1885, the Northwest Rebellion began when a provisional government led by Louis...
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UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY: Our Health Care Professionals Are Precious
by Xavier Kataquapit I grew up on the James Bay coast and from an young age I learned early on that we were more or less on our own when it came to medical emergencies. We had limited health care on the James Bay coast as was the case with most remote Indigenous communities across Canada. Most have never had a full time on site doctor and if any serious health matter arose, people had to be airlifted from Attawapiskat to Moosonee, Timmins or Kingston on emergency flights. The health care system has been striving to deal with cutbacks, all kinds of shortages in doctors and nurses and health care practitioners for years and it is getting worse rather than better as time goes on. I learned a lot of...
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Local girls’ Under-9 team registers six lopsided victories at Little NHL en route to championship
By Sam Laskaris Writer A Six Nations girls’ hockey squad steamrolled over all of its opponents at last week’s Little NHL tournament. The Grand River Spirit Under-9 squad took top honours in its category at the tournament, which concluded last Thursday. The Little NHL, the largest Indigenous youth hockey tournament in Ontario, featured a record 270 clubs this year. Most of the games were held in Markham but rinks in nearby communities were also utilized. The Spirit won all six of its tournament matches. How dominant was the local club? Well, it scored a whopping 71 goals in its half dozen matches. And backstopped by goaltender Aubree Vyse, the Grand River squad did not allow a single goal throughout the entire tournament. That’s right. Vyse registered six consecutive shutouts, including...
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Record-breaking Little NHL tournament included eight Six Nations clubs advancing to finals
By Sam Laskaris Writer Plenty of memories were made, both on and off the ice at this year’s Little NHL tournament, which concluded this past Thursday. The five-day event, which was primarily held at rinks in Markham, attracted a record 270 clubs from across the province. The Little NHL, which celebrated its 51st year, has become the largest Indigenous youth hockey tournament in Ontario. More than 20 Six Nations squads were among the participants this year. And several of those clubs enjoyed plenty of success. Four local clubs ended up winning their age groupings. And four other Six Nations teams advanced to their championship finals. The previous record of 245 competing squads had been established at the 2024 Little NHL, which was also held mostly at Markham facilities. Chico Ralf,...
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Carney announces plans to boost Canada’s military footprint in the Arctic
By Kyle Duggan -CP-Prime Minister Mark Carney said Tuesday that Ottawa will expand the Canadian Armed Forces’ presence in the Arctic and turn to Australia’s over-the-horizon radar tech to monitor threats from adversaries such as China and Russia. Carney also pledged $253 million in new funding for Indigenous reconciliation initiatives in the North. They include $94 million to upgrade power plants in Nunavut, $20 million for a hydroelectricity project to help move northerners off diesel, and $66 million to build and repair homes across Nunavut. “The announcements today will strengthen Arctic security, they’ll bolster our partnerships with our closest allies, they’ll build the North’s economic potential and advance reconciliation,” Carney said during a short stopover in Iqaluit on the return leg of his first official trip abroad. “Canada is, and...
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Poilievre says his goal will be to greenlight Ring of Fire permits within six months
By David Baxter Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says that he will “set a goal” to greenlight all federal Ring of Fire permits, a major northwestern Ontario critical mineral deposit, within six months. Poilievre says that a Conservative government would also commit $1 billion over three years to build a road network to link the potential mining site to Ontario’s highway network and First Nations communities in the area. The Ring of Fire is about 500 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, and contains critical minerals like nickel, copper, platinum and cobalt potentially worth tens of billions of dollars. Ontario Premier Doug Ford promised to speed up provincial approvals for Ring of Fire projects during the recent provincial election. The terms of reference were finalized in January between 15 First Nations in...
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Doig River First Nation applies to add five parcels of land to reserve
By Ed Hitchins, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A First Nation has applied to add five portions of land to its reserve, three of which are related to K’ih tsaa? dze Tribal Park. The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) regional board meeting agenda on March 6th included a letter from Anne Seymour, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) lands and economic development project manager, about the application. It was notifying PRRD that Doig River First Nation (DRFN) had submitted a request for five parcels of land be “set apart as a reserve.” Three of the five parcels are related to K’ih tsaa? dze Tribal Park, located 40 kilometres northeast of Fort st. John. The others are located in Mygosh and Broomfield Creek. DRFN had public engagements regarding their...
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Carney announces $6-billion military radar installation during Iqaluit stop
By Kira Wronska Dorward, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunavut News Newly sworn-in Prime Minister Mark Carney landed in Iqaluit on March 18 while en route from Europe. In Nunavut’s capital — his first stop in Canada outside of Ottawa — Carney announced a new $6-billion Arctic military radar system to be built jointly with the Australian government. The prime minister described the planned military installation as “the most advanced and efficient radar system… [that] will enable Canada to detect and respond to both air and maritime threats over our Arctic faster and from farther away.” “The world is changing,” he said. “Our adversaries are increasingly emboldened. International institutions and norms that have kept Canada secure are now being called into question. The United States’ priorities, once closely aligned with our...
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B.C.’s Forests Ministry told to protect cultural sites, First Nation’s water source
-CP-The Forest Practices Board says the British Columbia government “did not follow the law” when it approved range use plans that near the Halfway River First Nation’s watershed and at its culturally significant sites. The nation complained to the board in 2023 about grazing livestock being allowed to damage the sites, while displacing wildlife in its territory in northeastern B.C. The board says in a statement that it also found problems with the government investigation of the nation’s complaint about its drinking water being safe, and it urged B.C.’s Natural Resource Officer Service to review its probe into cattle being allowed to gather near the Halfway River. Keith Atkinson, chair of the Forest Practices Board, which also oversees range use, says the Forest Ministry had two range agreement holders in...
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Delight in Arviat as Inuit Child First initiative extended
By Darrell Greer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Kivalliq News Good news is always certain to put a smile on people’s faces. Arviat Mayor Joe Savikataaq Jr. said he was pleasantly surprised when news came down that the Inuit Child First Initiative had been extended for another year. He wasn’t too optimistic for awhile because no one knew what was going on and no information was being released about the program, he said. “Parliament was prorogued and still is prorogued (as of last week) but now, among many announcements made, we find out the program will be continued for another year,” said Savikataaq. “That’s definitely very good news for Arviat. Any money that you get for the community, no matter where it’s coming from or what purpose it’s for: it’s always...
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CBS’ ’60 Minutes’ is unflinching in its White House coverage in the shadow of Trump’s $20B lawsuit
By David Bauder NEW YORK (AP) — As CBS corporate leaders ponder settling President Donald Trump’s $20 billion lawsuit against the network’s “60 Minutes,” America’s storied newsmagazine has produced some fast and hard-hitting stories critical of the new administration in every episode since Trump was inaugurated. The latest was Sunday, when CBS News helped pay for a performance featuring non-white middle and high school musicians who had won a contest and with it, the right to play with the U.S. Marine Corps Band. The original concert, however, was canceled because of Trump’s executive order ending diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Correspondent Scott Pelley narrated six of the show’s seven stories since Trump’s inauguration, including Sunday’s. He examined the administration’s policies toward Ukraine and tariffs, looked at changes in the Justice...
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Seven sacred teachings: NL Indigenous artist uses painting to pass down knowledge
By Anasophie Vallee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Telegram An Indigenous artist from NL is using her artwork to share her knowledge. “I was in my twenties before I learned about the Seven Sacred Teachings, and now I live by them faithfully,” explained Brittany Wiseman. Wiseman is the Mi’kmaq artist commissioned by the Miawpukek Mi’kamawey Mawi’omi to create a piece of artwork for the Confederation Building. The artwork, titled “Powwow Serenity,” illustrates the Seven Sacred Teachings with corresponding images on each wigwam in the background. It was unveiled at a ceremony on March 15. The Seven Sacred Teachings The Seven Sacred Teachings, or Teachings of the Seven Grandfathers, are a set of guiding principles on human conduct towards others, including love, respect, courage, honesty, wisdom, humility, and truth. “I decided...
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Carney hopes recovering remains from Winnipeg landfill bring families closure
-CP-Prime Minister Mark Carney says he hopes recovering the remains of two First Nations women murdered by a serial killer from a Manitoba landfill brings closure to their families. RCMP have confirmed two sets of remains discovered at the Prairie Green landfill in the past month belong to Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran. A search of the Winnipeg-area landfill began in December in the hopes of finding the two women killed in 2022 by Jeremy Skibicki. He was convicted last year of first-degree murder in the slayings of Harris, Myran and two other Indigenous women. A trial heard that he targeted them at homeless shelters in Winnipeg and disposed of their bodies in garbage bins. Carney says he wanted to recognize the gruesome discovery and pay tribute to the women’s...
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Land defenders appeal sentences, arguing judge erred during Trans Mountain pipeline trial
By Aaron Hemens, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, IndigiNews Three land defenders who were convicted for opposing the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion (TMX) in Secwépemcúl’ecw are appealing their sentences. During a hearing in “Vancouver” earlier this month, a lawyer representing the trio asked the B.C. Court of Appeal to re-examine their convictions, arguing their sentencing judge had made a series of unfair errors against them during their trial. Benjamin Isitt said the appellants — Secwépemc land defender April Thomas, Nlaka’pamux land defender Red Deer Billie Pierre, and settler-ally Romilly Cavanaugh, a former TMX worker — were upholding Indigenous law when they were arrested. “They believe they had legal duties in these circumstances,” Isitt told a three-judge appeal panel on March 3, “arising from Secwépemc and Nlakaʼpamux laws to protect the sacred...
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Carney announces plans to boost Canada’s military footprint in the Arctic
By Kyle Duggan Prime Minister Mark Carney said Tuesday that Ottawa will expand the Canadian Armed Forces’ presence in the Arctic and turn to Australia’s over-the-horizon radar tech to monitor threats from adversaries such as China and Russia. Carney also pledged $253 million in new funding for Indigenous reconciliation initiatives in the North. They include $94 million to upgrade power plants in Nunavut and $20 million for a hydroelectricity project to help move northerners off diesel. Carney made the announcements during a short stopover in Iqaluit on the return leg of his first official trip abroad, during which the prime minister met with French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Carney is widely expected to trigger an early election in the coming weeks or days. The Liberal...
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Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government terminates consumer carbon price
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, whose rallying cry of “axe the tax” had him riding high in the polls says Carneyneeds to recall Parliament to repeal law By Sarah Ritchie Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first move after taking office on Friday was to eliminate the consumer carbon price, undoing Justin Trudeau’s signature climate policy. Carney addressed members of the media after the Friday afternoon cabinet meeting, saying the government is “focused on action.” “We will be eliminating the Canada fuel charge, the consumer fuel charge, immediately, immediately,” he said. The decision note Carney signed in front of cabinet ministers and the press actually stipulates that the “the fuel charge be removed as of April 1, 2025.” That’s when the price was scheduled to rise again. Instead, it will be eliminated for...
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NDP addresses hopes for new session during Prince Albert visit
By Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Prince Albert Daily Herald The next session of the Saskatchewan Legislature is set to begin soon and the Official Opposition NDP was in Prince Albert on Saturday to plan for it. NDP MLAs met at the Ches Leach Lounge in the Art Hauser Centre on Saturday ahead of the next session of the Legislature, which begins on Wednesday. Leader Carla Beck told reporters the party has been anxious to return to the Legislature. Beck said they discussed several matters they hope to address in the new session. “The tariffs and the impact to people here, folks locally in in Prince Albert, but right across the province, that’s incredibly important,” Beck said. “It’s top of mind, I think, for most people right now.” In...
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NASA’s stuck astronauts are finally on their way back to Earth after 9 months in space
By Marcia Dunn CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA’s two stuck astronauts headed back to Earth with SpaceX on Tuesday to close out a dramatic marathon mission that began with a bungled Boeing test flight more than nine months ago. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams bid farewell to the International Space Station — their home since last spring — departing aboard a SpaceX capsule alongside two other astronauts. The capsule undocked in the wee hours and aimed for a splashdown off the Florida coast by early evening, weather permitting. The two expected to be gone just a week or so after launching on Boeing’s new Starliner crew capsule on June 5. So many problems cropped up on the way to the space station that NASA eventually sent Starliner back empty...
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Turning medical travel costs program over to Ottawa an ‘option’: Health minister
With federal funding for a program covering Nunavut Inuit’s medical travel costs set to end at the end of this month, Health Minister John Main says turning administration of it back to Ottawa remains an “option.” “Time’s running out,” Main said March 11 of the Non-Insured Health Benefits program during an interview. “We really want to have an agreement in place [with Indigenous Services Canada] so we can plan properly, so we don’t have this huge gap or a huge hole in our budget.” The NIHB is funded by Indigenous Services Canada and administered by the Government of Nunavut. For Inuit in Nunavut, the program covers costs for medical travel and services including vision and dental care. Main also suggested the possibility of turning administration of the program over to...
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