First Nation Chiefs want public inquiry and changes to Ministry of Natural Resources after wildfire response
By Alex Murray Writer First Nations chiefs from across northwestern Ontario came together in Thunder Bay to call for a public inquiry into the Doug Ford government’s emergency response to the region’s wildfires. “The lack of communication and evacuation support should horrify all Canadians. Our community was on its own,” said Gull Bay First Nation Chief Wilfred King, who organized the press conference hosted by Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) on Tuesday (July 21). “In the year 2026, how could this happen? More importantly, how do we make sure this never happens again? That’s what an inquiry must answer,” King, who declared a state of emergency for his community on July 14, added. The inquiry would look at issues with operational decision-making, emergency coordination, communication with First Nations, resource allocation, and...
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Police watchdog in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia hiring Indigenous investigator
By Eli Ridder A police watchdog in Atlantic Canada is hiring an Indigenous investigator after years of advocacy by First Nations communities reeling from a series of officer-involved deaths. The Serious Incident Response Team, which serves Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, says it created the new position to build trust in police by including Indigenous perspectives. The watchdog, known as SIRT, investigates incidents of death, serious injury, sexual assault or intimate partner violence that may have resulted from the actions of a police officer. Police actions have come under increased scrutiny in recent years due to a flurry of tragic deaths. Four Indigenous people have been killed by police officers in New Brunswick since 2020, including Bronson Paul, who was fatally shot by RCMP in January. The agency’s director Erin...
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Kanesatake council announces aid for septic upgrades
By Hadassah Alencar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Eastern Door More than $3.2 million in funding towards a “first wave” of septic system upgrades for Kanehsata’kehró:non was announced by the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake (MCK) on July 23. The investment by Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) will improve 17 percent of Kanesatake’s septic systems and is part of a long-term project expected to eventually upgrade all the community’s septic tank systems. Those chosen to receive funding were selected on an “evaluation and prioritization process related to the risks of contamination of the territory’s water sources,” according to an MCK public statement. This evaluation is based on an inspection and inventory of septic system in Kanesatake by the W8banaki Tribal Council that began last year and will last until 2027. W8banaki representatives...
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Feds received more than 21,000 emails on proposed changes to major project reviews
By Nick Murray The federal government says it received more than 21,000 emails on proposed changes to how major projects are reviewed and will spend the coming weeks combing over those submissions. A window for public feedback on the proposed changes closed Wednesday. The government said it will publish a report summarizing the submissions by the end of the summer. A spokesperson for the Privy Council Office — which oversees the major projects office — said that while officials are still compiling the feedback, as of July 17 the government had received 187 written submissions from stakeholders. They included Indigenous and environmental groups, think tanks, academics, provinces, territories and municipalities. “The Government of Canada also attended 24 meetings with Indigenous groups (including three virtual engagement sessions) and 27 stakeholder meetings,”...
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Funds to fight crime not for Kanesatake
By Hadassah Alencar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Eastern Door A federal-provincial action plan to target the growth of organized crime exploiting Indigenous communities in Quebec does not include direct funding to Kanesatake, according to the Ministry of Internal Security, while funding for Kanesatake’s community security stays in limbo. Last week, the long-awaited crime-fighting plan was announced with federal minister of Public Safety Gary Anandasangaree committing $2 million in funding for increased collaboration between the Surete du Quebec (SQ) and Mohawk communities in the province. Kanesatake does not have an Indigenous police force, so instead, the SQ will establish partnerships with Mohawk communities such as the Kahnawake and Akwesasne, said the Ministry of Internal Security in a statement. “Consequently, these new teams and the enhanced collaboration will undoubtedly have a...
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Kahnawake steps up for victims
By Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Eastern Door Helen Paavola, chief of the small community of Namaygoosisagagun First Nation, flew into her homelands this week, finding nothing left but ashes. Not even the road bridges are left standing. “My members barely escaped with the clothes on their backs. My community was left to evacuate without notice and support,” she said. Images taken from a tin boat show a goliath wildfire, dwarfing the forest below, but videos, pictures, and words do no justice to the reality on the ground, she said. As wildfires raged in northern Ontario, Namaygoosisagagun, also known as Collins, was not the only community left to manage its own escape. “If you’ve never been to Whitewater Lake,” said Pauline Drake, chief of that First Nation, “it...
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Caretaker chief’s presence questioned
By Hadassah Alencar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Eastern Door Mohawk Council of Kanesatake (MCK) caretaker council member Brant Etienne attended the annual general assembly of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) last week, but some Kanehsata’kehró:non have criticized his presence and participation at the meeting. Etienne said he attended the three-day general meeting to vote on resolutions as a council chief, advance ongoing community projects, and meet with other chiefs. From July 14 to 16, he participated in smaller meetings and in some of the plenaries and focused on the community’s security needs as well as general interests at the assembly. For example, on the first day, Etienne addressed the assembly to remind other chiefs that Kanesatake’s need for improved security is shared by many other Indigenous communities, and...
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How can Fort Simpson better prepare for future evacuations?
By Claire McFarlane, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cabin Radio As Fort Simpson residents settle back home following a wildfire, some are starting to think about what could be done differently should they face another evacuation. Issues being raised include access to essentials if people remain in town, a plan for pets that can’t be evacuated, and how residents should be notified of an evacuation. Tyler Pilling, the Northwest Territories village’s director of protective services, said many aspects of the village’s 20-day evacuation went relatively smoothly, in part because residents had enough time to pack up and leave. “It probably would have been very hectic if we only had a few hours, like some places have been given,” said Pilling, “but the 24 or so hours we had before things really...
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A Pathway to Home – Chisasibi housing research project addresses local realities
By Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Nation A recent workshop in Chisasibi gathered input for an initiative exploring “Community-Led Pathways for Affordable and Resilient Housing.” The three-year project is a collaboration between the Cree Nation of Chisasibi, the Chisasibi Eeyou Resource and Research Institute (CERRI), Concordia University, and the Volt-Age Living Lab. By combining technical solutions with community engagement and energy-planning expertise, the project addresses issues of overcrowding, aging infrastructure, high energy costs, and the impacts of harsh weather. The collaborative approach is designed to reflect the community’s unique needs, values and priorities. “The housing situation in Chisasibi is a big problem,” said Brody Sam, a 17-year-old trainee at CERRI. “The biggest issues are mould, overcrowding and having to make additions to current housing. I’ve sometimes seen three...
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Steelworkers Humanity Fund donates $20,000 for wildfire relief in Northwestern Ontario
TORONTO, July 24, 2026 — The Steelworkers Humanity Fund (SHF) is donating $20,000 to support people and communities evacuated by recent wildfires in northwestern Ontario, as well as future wildfire relief efforts across Canada. This year’s wildfire season has forced more than a dozen communities to evacuate in recent days, including 10 First Nationscommunities across northern Ontario. Close to 2,500 people have evacuated to Thunder Bay and other host communities where the United Steelworkers union (USW) represents members affected by the wildfires, in sectors including sawmills and mining. At the initiative of USW local unions in the region, the SHF will divide its support between two initiatives. The Northwestern Ontario Wildfire Community Support Fund was established through a partnership between the United Way of Thunder Bay and the Thunder Bay...
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Critics accuse Ottawa of ignoring human rights as it signs trade deal with Ecuador
By Catherine Morrison Critics are accusing Ottawa of prioritizing trade over human rights by signing a free trade deal with Ecuador. International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu and Ecuador’s minister of production, foreign trade and investment Luis Alberto Jaramillo took part in a signing event in Ottawa on Friday. A Global Affairs Canada news release issued Friday said the event marks an “important milestone in Canada’s efforts to diversify trade and create new opportunities for Canadian businesses.” “It also reflects Canada and Ecuador’s shared commitment to strengthening their trade and investment relationship and bringing the agreement into force as soon as possible,” said the release. Several Canadian organizations and civil society leaders have warned that a Canada-Ecuador free trade deal will threaten the environment and worsen a human rights crisis in...
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Petition urging Alberta separation vote successful with 223K verified signatures
By Jack Farrell Elections Alberta announced Friday that a citizen-led petition looking to force a vote on Alberta quitting Canada is successful. The agency said it verified nearly 223,000 signatures out of almost 280,000 valid names counted. It needed almost 178,000 signatures to be successful. Despite the result, the petition is largely moot. It was quashed in court in May, although the ruling is being appealed by those behind the petition campaign as well as Premier Danielle Smith’s government. Smith has cited the separatist petition and a competing pro-Canada petition as the reason why she has put a separation question on the province’s Oct. 19 referendum The question asks Albertans if they want to remain in Canada or hold a second, binding referendum on leaving the country. The premier has...
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‘Too big to rig’: Alberta separation petition succeeds with 223K verified signatures
By Jack Farrell and Lisa Johnson A citizen-led petition seeking to force a vote on Alberta quitting Canada is officially successful. Elections Alberta announced Friday it verified nearly 223,000 signatures out of almost 280,000 valid names counted. The petition needed almost 178,000 signatures to be successful. Despite the result, the document is largely moot. It was quashed in court in May, although the ruling is being appealed by those behind the petition campaign as well as by Premier Danielle Smith’s government. Smith has cited the separatist petition and a competing pro-Canada petition that got a little more than 400,000 verified signatures as the reason why she has put a separation question on the province’s Oct. 19 referendum. The question asks Albertans if they want to remain in Canada or hold...
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‘Too big to rig’: Alberta separation petition succeeds with 223K verified signatures
By Jack Farrell and Lisa Johnson A citizen-led petition seeking to force a vote on Alberta quitting Canada is officially successful. Elections Alberta announced Friday it verified nearly 223,000 signatures out of almost 280,000 valid names counted. The petition needed almost 178,000 signatures to be successful. Despite the result, the document is largely moot. It was quashed in court in May, although the ruling is being appealed by those behind the petition campaign as well as by Premier Danielle Smith’s government. Smith has cited the separatist petition and a competing pro-Canada petition that got a little more than 400,000 verified signatures as the reason why she has put a separation question on the province’s Oct. 19 referendum. The question asks Albertans if they want to remain in Canada or hold...
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Whitesand, Whitewater Lake feeling loss from wildfires
By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, SN newswatch.com THUNDER BAY — Whitesand Chief Lawrence Wanakamik says he’s disappointed by the province’s response to this month’s dramatic flare-up in wildfires. “Whitesand First Nation remains deeply disappointed by the province’s response before, during, and after the July 13 wildfire evacuation,” Wanakamik said this week in a news conference with other Indigenous leaders. His First Nation 220 kilometres north of Thunder Bay evacuated on July 13-14 as a forest fire raged nearby. He told Newswatch last week more than 470 members left their homes in the Whitesand reserve and neighbouring Armstrong, and many of them left hours before an evacuation order was issued. At Tuesday’s news conference with Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek (Gull Bay) Chief Wilfred...
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‘Too big to rig’: Alberta separation petition succeeds with 223K verified signatures
By Jack Farrell and Lisa Johnson A citizen-led petition seeking to force a vote on Alberta quitting Canada is officially successful. Elections Alberta announced Friday it verified nearly 223,000 signatures out of almost 280,000 valid names counted. The petition needed almost 178,000 signatures to be successful. Despite the result, the document is largely moot. It was quashed in court in May, although the ruling is being appealed by those behind the petition campaign as well as by Premier Danielle Smith’s government. Smith has cited the separatist petition and a competing pro-Canada petition that got a little more than 400,000 verified signatures as the reason why she has put a separation question on the province’s Oct. 19 referendum. The question asks Albertans if they want to remain in Canada or hold...
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‘Create change:’ Why these Indigenous entrepreneurs are leaning into AI
By Brittany Hobson Shani Gwin’s foray into the world of artificial intelligence began with a problem. The Métis entrepreneur from Edmonton previously worked in government communications and found herself one of the only Indigenous people on her team. She was often tasked with reviewing Indigenous content for misinformation. She noticed that Indigenous people frequently have to battle online hate speech and inform others on First Nation, Inuit and Métis history. It prompted Gwin to create a technology company called wasikan kisewatisiwin, which means “kind electricity” in Cree. It has developed an AI tool that can detect inaccurate representations of Indigenous Peoples in written content. “A lot of our history online is from a colonized perspective. It’s not validated by us,” Gwin said in a recent interview. “I see this as...
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Communities unite to bring missing northern Sask. men home
By Nicole Goldsworthy, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, SaskToday.ca, SASKTODAY.ca BEAR RIVER — Three men reported missing during a planned foraging trip near Jayjay Lake were found safe Friday after a large-scale, two-day search involving RCMP, emergency agencies and community volunteers. Early Friday morning, July 24, an RCMP aircraft located Roderick Bird, 49, Emil Ratt, 67, and Ricky McKenzie, 48, in a remote muskeg area near Jayjay Lake, according to Saskatchewan RCMP. A Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency helicopter airlifted the three men to safety, where they were assessed by EMS. Police said they are not believed to have suffered any serious injuries. The three men were reported missing after failing to return from a planned foraging trip. They were last reported to be near Highway 165, about 10 kilometres north of...
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La Ronge Regional Fire Department lifts fire ban
By Nicole Goldsworthy, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, SaskToday.ca, SASKTODAY.ca LA RONGE — Residents in La Ronge, Air Ronge and several Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) communities can have fires as of July 25. The La Ronge Regional Fire Department announced that the fire ban, originally issued on July 14, has been rescinded effective immediately for the town of La Ronge, the northern village of Air Ronge and LLRIB reserves 156 and 156B. The department said recent rainfall, combined with lower temperatures and higher humidity, has reduced the area’s fire hazard rating to a low level. Additional precipitation is also forecast in the coming days. “We would like to thank you for your co-operation,” the department said in its announcement. The Lac La Ronge Indian Band Emergency Management Office also...
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Confidence on the Catwalk: Métis Model’s journey with Western Canada Fashion Week
By Chevi Rabbit, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Alberta Native News For more than two decades, Western Canada Fashion Week (WCFW) has been one of Canada’s premier fashion events, showcasing the work of emerging and established designers while launching the careers of runway models, photographers and creative professionals. Founded in Edmonton by Sandra Fernandez, WCFW has earned a reputation for celebrating diversity, nurturing new talent and creating opportunities for Canadian fashion to flourish on a national stage. Among its most recognizable success stories is Métis model Lauren Bellrose, whose journey from a shy young woman with little confidence to one of Western Canada Fashion Week’s senior top runway models is a story of perseverance, mentorship and believing in yourself. Bellrose is recognized by Western Canada Fashion Week as one of its...
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