Prophet River First Nation prepares for Chief and Council elections
By Ed Hitchings Local Journalism Initiative Reporter PROPHET RIVER, B.C. — Prophet River First Nation (PRFN) has published its final lists of candidates for the positions of Chief and Council. Shelley Chipesia, Sheree Reno, Kirk Tsakoza, and Brian Wolf will try to unseat incumbent Chief Valerie Askoty. Askoty has served as PRFN Chief since 2021, when she defeated Tzakoza and Reno. She recently told Energeticcity.ca about her ambitions for a potential second term, which included nominating a board to oversee PRFN’s economic development corporation. “It should be run as a business separate from the Nation, away from political interference,” said Askoty in an interview on July 10th. “At the end of the day, Nation members are the stakeholders.” Two officials will be chosen from a pool of 10 candidates for...
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Manitoba Métis president ticketed for fishing without a licence, province says
Canadian Press 19/07/2024 A recent interaction between a conservation officer and David Chartrand, president of the Manitoba Métis Federation, appears set to become the latest skirmish in the battle over Indigenous hunting and fishing rights in the province. Chartrand was given a ticket last month for angling without a licence on a lake near the northern community of Cranberry Portage, the government’s central communications agency said Friday. Chartrand has until Aug. 14 to respond. Such tickets can carry fines of $298. Chartrand said he has not been charged with anything, was not breaking the law, and was exercising his right to fish. “One of the officers was trying to figure out what he had to do, and I think he was not properly briefed,” Chartrand said in an interview this...
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B.C. Interior residents get ready to go as rapidly growing wildfire threatens
The Canadian Press 19/07/2024 15:53 It’s the first time The Inn at Spences Bridge has been empty since April. Dorothy Boragno, who owns the inn with her husband Michael Findlay, said Friday they watched thick smoke across the Thompson River from the out-of-control Shetland Creek wildfire that has already forced others to evacuate. “We’ve been through fires before, so we know what happens, and if they get close, usually we get firemen to stay at our hotel, so we’re not too worried yet. But it does bring back bad memories,” said Boragno. The Shetland Creek fire in the southern Interior more than doubled in size from Thursday to Friday, due to what the B.C. Wildfire Service said was “significant overnight growth” and more accurate mapping. The fire is now listed...
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Brant County Health Unit confirms mosquitoes collected test positive for West Nile
BRANTFORD, ONT. – The Brant County Health Unit (BCHU) has confirmed mosquitoes collected last week, as part of the unit’s surveillance program, have tested positive for the West Nile virus (WNV). The mosquitoes were collected from a residential neighbourhood in Brantford. It the first lab confirmed evidence of WNV in Brantford-Brant this year. BCHU explained mosquitoes can transmit WNV to humans after becoming infected by feeding on the blood of birds carrying the virus. Residents can take the following steps to protect themselves and their families from mosquitoes: Cover up. Wear light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts and pants with tightly woven fabric. Avoid being outdoors from early evening to morning when mosquitoes are most active and likely to bite, as well as at any time in shady, wooded areas. Reduce mosquito breeding...
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Top court says government can be held liable for making unconstitutional laws
The Canadian Press 19/07/2024 The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that the state is not immune from liability for drafting and enacting laws that are later found to be unconstitutional. In a ruling Friday, a majority of the top court said governments have a limited liability for laws that are found to violate the Charter. The decision paves the way for a New Brunswick man to take the federal government to court over two laws passed by the former Conservative government in 2010 and 2012. Joseph Power was convicted of criminal offences in the 1990s, served a prison sentence, and then went on to become a medical radiation technologist. He was suspended from work in 2011 when his employer learned of his criminal record, and he applied for a...
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A Conversation With Calgary Stampede First Nations Princess Margaret Holloway
By Deena Goodrunning, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter 19/07/2024 13:27 The Calgary Stampede First Nations Princess holds many roles and responsibilities. Not only does she represent “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth” alongside the Calgary Stampede Princess, she also represents the First Nations of Treaty 7 and Elbow River Camp on a local, national and international scale. Elbow River Camp, previously known as Indian Village, has been a part of the Calgary Stampede since it first started in 1912. The tradition of the Calgary Stampede First Nations Princess began in 1965 when Gloria Littlelight from the Tsuu’tina Nation was crowned as the first Calgary Stampede First Nations Princess. Since then, a young woman from one of the five nations of Treaty 7 (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, Stoney Nakoda, and Tsuut’ina) is annually...
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Wildfire near Spences Bridge, B.C., explodes in size overnight as heat wave continues
The Canadian Press 19/07/2024 The out-of-control Shetland Creek fire in British Columbia’s southern Interior has more than doubled in size due to what the wildfire service describes as “significant overnight growth” and more accurate mapping. The fast-growing fire, now listed at 124 square kilometres in size, up from 57 square kilometres, has prompted evacuation orders and alerts between the communities of Spences Bridge and Ashcroft, east of Kamloops. An update posted to the BC Wildfire Service website says conditions are hot, dry, and windy, and there’s potential for continued substantial growth of the fire today. It says the blaze advanced about six kilometres in the northwest direction parallel to Highway 1 Thursday night. The service says 71 firefighters and six helicopters are currently battling the blaze in addition to structure...
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Help to combat drug-addiction community emergency funded
Local Journalism Initiative 19/07/2024 12:50 Fort William First Nation has received federal funding to hire a public safety and emergency co-ordinator to help it deal with an ongoing drug-addiction emergency. “This will help address the state of emergency, and relieve some of the pressure off Chief (Michele Solomon), council and community as they co-ordinate a path forward,” a spokesman for Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) said on Thursday. The decision to create the position was made following a meeting this week between FWFN band leadership and Indigenous Services Canada Minister Patty Hajdu (Thunder Bay-Superior North). Last week Fort William First Nation declared a state of emergency over an “escalating situation” related to opioid drugs. Solomon said that in addition to reaching out to community, police and treaty partners, the community would...
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Liberal House leader Steven MacKinnon sworn in as labour minister, replacing O’Regan
The Canadian Press 19/07/2024 09:05 Government House leader Steven MacKinnon has been sworn in as the federal Liberals’ new minister for labour and seniors. He participated in a ceremony at Rideau Hall this morning alongside Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Gov. Gen. Mary Simon. MacKinnon joined cabinet as the House leader in January to replace Karina Gould while she is on maternity leave. He previously served as the Liberals’ chief whip in the House of Commons. Outgoing labour minister Seamus O’Regan announced Thursday he was resigning from cabinet for family reasons, though he is staying on as a Newfoundland MP until the next federal election. The full cabinet is expected to meet virtually today for the first time since the Liberals’ surprising loss in a Toronto byelection last month. This...
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Kids Club Off to Nice Start
By Carol Baldwin Local Journalism Initiative Reporter 18/07/2024 The first cultural learning afternoon for attendees of the 2024 Kids Club in Wakaw was held on Wednesday, July 10. Forty-three young people learned about bannock making and the ribbon skirt from Val Gaudet, a citizen of Batoche Homeland of the MetisLocal #51. Val shares her knowledge and skills regularly at special events designed to acquaint people with Metis history and culture. Dwane Burke, Recreation & Community Development Manager, with the Town of Wakaw, asked the children, “How many of you have had Bannock?” Roughly half raised their hands, and nearly half of those again asserted they had made it. Although the Metisculture is one of the historic cultures of the area, with intra- and interprovincial migration and international immigration, significant numbers...
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‘Like lava’: Evacuee tells of frightening fire escape, as blazes spike across B.C.
The Canadian Press 18/07/2024 Nandini Villeneuve and other residents of the Saranagati Hare Krishna village were in a meeting with emergency staff from the Thompson-Nicola Regional District late Wednesday when it was announced that a wildfire bearing down on the religious community had worsened. “It kind of just took off and then we were told that the meeting is done, and you guys are getting out of here,” said Villeneuve. She said that when she and the 25 families living in Sarangati left for Cache Creek around 7 p.m. the Shetland Creek wildfire was descending the mountain “like lava coming down,” shocking evacuees with its speed. The rapid growth of the out-of-control Shetland Creek fire in the B.C. Interior came ahead of a major spike in the number of fires...
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Yukon government ready to step in after mine disaster, firm’s silence ‘unhelpful’
The Canadian Press 18/07/2024 Yukon’s deputy mining minister says it’s “unfortunate and frankly unhelpful” that the owners of the Eagle Gold mine have been “silent in general” about action to remedy a disastrous ore slide that spilled hundreds of millions of litres of cyanide solution. Lauren Haney said Victoria Gold had been “doing a lot of work” to treat and divert contaminated water, but it may not be enough, and the Yukon government was contemplating stepping in to “complement and supplement” the company’s work. She told a briefing on Thursday that officials were “relying heavily” on the advice from technical experts to keep them apprised of the situation at the disaster site, and the territorial government hasn’t ruled out taking on a greater role. “We are looking at all the...
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Mount Currie cold case reignited after new tip
By Roisin Cullen Local Journalism Initiative Reporter 18/07/2024 Sea to Sky RCMP’s General Investigation Section executed a search warrant at a property in Mount Currie on Wednesday, July 17 in cooperation with the Stl’atl’imx Tribal Police Service, and with the assistance of the RCMP Integrated Forensic Investigation Services and RCMP Tac Troop. The warrant is in connection to the historical disappearance of Stanley Peters Jr., who was reported missing from D’Arcy in 1987. According to a release, Pemberton RCMP received information related to the cold case on May 17. Since that time, the investigation has remained open and active, “with the goal of bringing Mr. Peters Jr. home to his family,” the release said. Police would not say what the warrant covered, or if anything was recovered during the search...
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How bootcamps are helping to address the historic gap in internet access on US tribal lands
The Associated Press 19/07/2024 There’s a home movie theater with orange walls and plush recliners at the top of a steep hill on Matthew Rantanen’s ranch in Southern California. But on a recent afternoon, people weren’t flocking to the room to watch a movie or to escape the scorching heat, they were shining a beam of light through more than 55,000 feet (17 kilometers) of fiber optic cable coiled up in the corner. The demonstration took place during a hands-on broadband training for tribal nations near rural Aguanga, about 53 miles (85 kilometers) north of San Diego. Participants handled fiber made up of strands of glass as thin as human hair that transmit energy through pulses of light. The session was part of an initiative founded in 2021 by Rantanen...
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‘Challenging’ wildfire conditions in B.C. as hot and dry weather persists
The Canadian Press 19/07/2024 Over 250 wildfires are burning in British Columbia as much of the province continues to bake under a heat wave that is expected to last into next week. Cliff Chapman with the BC Wildfire Service said Thursday that the province appeared to be “on the precipice of a very challenging 72 hours” with hot and dry weather, dry lightning and strong winds in the forecast. Parts of B.C. are expected to see temperatures in the mid- to high 30s over the coming days, along with overnight lows in the mid-teens. The out-of-control Shetland Creek fire in the Interior has grown to about 50 square kilometres in size and has led to some evacuation orders and alerts. An evacuation order issued by the Thompson-Nicola Regional District covers...
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Federal government announces $89 million for conservation projects across Canada
The Canadian Press 18/07/2024 The federal government is spending $89 million to fund 10 greenhouse gas emission reduction projects as the government works toward the goal of conserving 30 per cent of the country’s land and water by 2030. Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault made the announcement in British Columbia on Thursday, where he said the “evidence of climate change is striking,” referencing extreme weather events including flooding, drought and “devastating” wildfire seasons. “With the goal of reversing biodiversity loss across the country, bit by bit, we’re getting there, protecting prime lands and waters that serve up some of the most important habitats for imperilled species.” He added that the projects are also aiding in the fight against climate change. Guilbeault told the conference in West Vancouver that about $50 million...
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OPP raid two Haldimand County cannabis shops, seize $200,000 in products and currency
HALDIMAND COUNTY, ON – Haldimand-Norfolk Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Community Street Crime Unit (CSCU), and the Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team (PJFCET), raided two Haldimad County cannabis shops seizing products and Canadian currency valued at $200,000. OPP executed Cannabis Act search warrants at an address on Main Street in Dunnville and a Cayuga Street address in Cayuga Wednesday July 17,2024 seizing a quantity of illegal cannabis, cannabis products, and Canadian currency. The estimated value of the seized property is approximately $200,000. As a result of the investigation, a 55-year-old from Hamilton has been charged with the following offences: Obtain or Offer to Obtain Cannabis by Any Method or Process Possessing Cannabis for the Purpose of Selling Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000 Further, a 32-year-old and...
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Group says photos of reclusive tribe on Peru beach show logging concessions are ‘dangerously close’
This June 2024 photo provided by Survival International shows members of the Mashco Piro along the Las Piedras River in the Peruvian Amazon near the community of Monte Salvado, in Madre de Dios province, Peru. (Survival International via AP) BY STEVEN GRATTAN The Associated Press 18/07/2024 15:50 An advocacy group for Indigenous peoples has released photographs of a reclusive tribe’s members searching for food on a beach in the Peruvian Amazon, calling it evidence that logging concessions are “dangerously close” to the tribe’s territory. Survival International said the photos and video it posted this week show members of the Mashco Piro looking for plantains and cassava near the community of Monte Salvado, on the Las Piedras River in Madre de Dios province. Several logging companies hold timber concessions inside territory inhabited by...
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Métis Federation adds office space, touts revitalization of downtown Winnipeg
The Canadian Press 18/07/2024 13:58 The Manitoba Métis Federation is finalizing the purchase of two more office buildings and a parking lot in the heart of downtown Winnipeg. The buildings are near the major intersection of Portage Avenue and Main Street, where the federation bought a former Bank of Montreal building in 2020. Federation president David Chartrand says it’s part of a plan to revitalize downtown Winnipeg, which has seen office vacancy rates rise since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Chartrand would not reveal how much the federation is paying but says it’s less than the estimated $140 million it would cost to construct new buildings. He says the federation plans to bring 160 employees downtown from other areas, in addition to staff already downtown. Chartrand, who has been...
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RCMP to heighten presence in N.S. town after patrol car set alight late at night
The Canadian Press /07/2024 14:38 The Mounties say they are bringing in more officers to a southwestern Nova Scotia community where a patrol car was set on fire in a service station lot earlier this week. Investigators say police responded to the blaze in Meteghan, N.S., after receiving a call around 1:45 a.m. on Wednesday. Officers say that when they arrived, they found that the police car had been destroyed and two other non-police vehicles that were parked nearby were damaged by the fire. Sgt. Jeff LeBlanc, the detachment commander, said in an interview that RCMP think the fire was set intentionally and that it is linked to other recent violent incidents in the area. He said that over the past six months the RCMP have investigated shots fired at...
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