First Nations

B.C. has become the second province to mark Orange Shirt Day (Sept.30), also known as National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, as a provincial statutory holiday. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu)

B.C. marks 10th anniversary of Orange Shirt Day with new statutory holiday

British Columbians asked to mark holiday by learning about legacy of residential school system

B.C. has become the second province to mark Orange Shirt Day (Sept.30), also known as National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, as a provincial statutory holiday. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu)
Wamiss signing shirts in Carrot Park. (Tyson Whitney - North Island Gazette)

500 kilometres: Wamiss finishes second sobriety walk for cancer

‘No matter what’s in front of you, don’t let it stop you’

Wamiss signing shirts in Carrot Park. (Tyson Whitney - North Island Gazette)
A now closed fish farm within B.C.’s Discovery Islands region. (Photo courtesy Sheri Beaulieu/Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance)

123 First Nations renew call to close B.C. salmon farms as DFO weakens promise

Recent federal documents appear to walk back 2019 commitment to fully phase out open net fish farms

A now closed fish farm within B.C.’s Discovery Islands region. (Photo courtesy Sheri Beaulieu/Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance)
Jaxon Billyboy, seen here at his Grade 12 graduation June 2023, was one of four firefighters killed in a highway crash near Cache Creek. (Photo submitted)

B.C. wildfire fighter killed in crash remembered as loving and resilient

Jaxon Billyboy-Bowe, from the Tsilhqot’in Nation, was 19 years old

Jaxon Billyboy, seen here at his Grade 12 graduation June 2023, was one of four firefighters killed in a highway crash near Cache Creek. (Photo submitted)
Joffre Lakes Park is set to reopen to the public on Sept. 19, following a closure by two First Nations. (Black Press Media files)

B.C., First Nations agree to reopen Joffre Lakes Park to public

Park to reopen on Sept. 19, but close for the day on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Joffre Lakes Park is set to reopen to the public on Sept. 19, following a closure by two First Nations. (Black Press Media files)
The McDougall Creek wildfire ripped through the Bear Creek area of West Kelowna. There is very little left for residents to salvage. (Brittany Webster/Capital News)

Resources, warnings accompany people home in aftermath of B.C. wildfires

Officials working to prepare and protect those returning after West Kelowna wildfire

The McDougall Creek wildfire ripped through the Bear Creek area of West Kelowna. There is very little left for residents to salvage. (Brittany Webster/Capital News)
Federal Minister of Crown-Indigenous Affairs, Gary Anandasangaree, delivers an apology on behalf of Canada to Williams Lake First Nation Sunday, Sept. 10 while WLFN Coun. Chris Wycotte and Chief Willie Sellars look on. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Williams Lake First Nation receives federal apology for lost lands

Federal Minister of Crown-Indigenous Affairs, Gary Anandasangaree, delivers apology

Federal Minister of Crown-Indigenous Affairs, Gary Anandasangaree, delivers an apology on behalf of Canada to Williams Lake First Nation Sunday, Sept. 10 while WLFN Coun. Chris Wycotte and Chief Willie Sellars look on. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
NHL players Tyson Barrie and Tyler Ennis were all smiles as they played ball hockey with local kids in Ty-Histanis on Aug. 17. (Andrew Bailey photo)

NHL players promote potential multiplex in Tofino-Ucluelet region

Tyson Barrie, Mike Smith, Tyler Ennis and more join West Coast Multiplex Society push in Ty-Histanis

NHL players Tyson Barrie and Tyler Ennis were all smiles as they played ball hockey with local kids in Ty-Histanis on Aug. 17. (Andrew Bailey photo)
Joffre Lakes Provincial Park, 2019. (Black Press Media files)

Joffre Lakes Provincial Park to stay open over Labour Day weekend

It will then be inaccessible starting Sept. 5 as the province, Lil’wat Nation have ongoing talks

Joffre Lakes Provincial Park, 2019. (Black Press Media files)
IceBear and wife Charronne will log some long miles in this RV from their Crofton home to Ontario. (Photo by Don Bodger)

IceBear’s exhibit at an Ontario gallery a return to his roots

Crofton artist back in Wiarton to showcase his work near the reserve where he was taken as a child

IceBear and wife Charronne will log some long miles in this RV from their Crofton home to Ontario. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Gary Anandasangaree walks past members of the media during the Liberal Cabinet retreat in Charlottetown, Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. Canada changed the way it settles First Nation land claims, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada confirmed Friday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

Canada confirms it changed land claim process, mulls Indian Act changes

More than half of the 160 specific claim funding requests were denied

Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Gary Anandasangaree walks past members of the media during the Liberal Cabinet retreat in Charlottetown, Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. Canada changed the way it settles First Nation land claims, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada confirmed Friday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese
Two First Nations say they’re “shutting down” public access to B.C.’s Joffre Lakes Park for more than a month to allow for harvest celebrations. Joffre Lakes Provincial Park, 2019. (Black Press Media files)

First Nations ‘shutting down’ B.C.’s Joffre Lakes Park for more than a month

Lil’wat, N’Quatqua First Nations say the park will reopen on National Truth and Reconciliation Day

Two First Nations say they’re “shutting down” public access to B.C.’s Joffre Lakes Park for more than a month to allow for harvest celebrations. Joffre Lakes Provincial Park, 2019. (Black Press Media files)
Joanne Zebroff captured this image of the Kelowna wildfire in Clifton/McKinley on Aug. 18, 2023. (Facebook)

Community leaders urge calm and patience as crews battle Okanagan wildfires

‘We have been here before, and we got through it together’

Joanne Zebroff captured this image of the Kelowna wildfire in Clifton/McKinley on Aug. 18, 2023. (Facebook)
It’s been eight years since Delores Brown’s body was found and no suspects have yet been held responsible in her murder. A highway sign was installed south of Duncan within the last year to call more attention to the case. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Deedee Brown’s murder remains unsolved eight years later

Penelakut Island teen’s body was found near Norway Island on Aug. 19, 2015

It’s been eight years since Delores Brown’s body was found and no suspects have yet been held responsible in her murder. A highway sign was installed south of Duncan within the last year to call more attention to the case. (Photo by Don Bodger)
SFU’s Dorothy Christian, accompanied by Cowichan Tribes Chief Lydia Hwitsum, reads a letter of congratulations to Valerie Bob upon receiving her PhD. (Photo by Don Bodger)

SFU degree presented in groundbreaking fashion to Penelakut woman with cancer

Valerie Bob unable to travel so university staff members come to her home

SFU’s Dorothy Christian, accompanied by Cowichan Tribes Chief Lydia Hwitsum, reads a letter of congratulations to Valerie Bob upon receiving her PhD. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Marchers commence up Oak Street toward downtown Chemainus. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Penelakut continues on its healing journey with annual march

Painting of former Kuper Island Residential School donated back to the community

Marchers commence up Oak Street toward downtown Chemainus. (Photo by Don Bodger)
A key chain dangles from a fence as part of a memorial outside the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in Kamloops, B.C., Thursday, June 1, 2023. A Guatemala-based forensic anthropology organization is extending its hand to Indigenous Peoples in Canada looking to potentially recover bodies of children on the grounds of former residential schools. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Guatemala-based group extends hand on First Nations’ residential school searches

Fredy Peccerelli says his Indigenous-led excavations identify the remains of as many as 125 people per year

A key chain dangles from a fence as part of a memorial outside the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in Kamloops, B.C., Thursday, June 1, 2023. A Guatemala-based forensic anthropology organization is extending its hand to Indigenous Peoples in Canada looking to potentially recover bodies of children on the grounds of former residential schools. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Working in concert with WSANEC matriarchs and elders, Greater Victoria Greenbelt Society has renamed the land surrounding Mary Lake WMIYETEN Nature Sanctuary, meaning ‘place of the deer.’ (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

Highlands nature sanctuary given Indigenous name

WMIYETEN Nature Sanctuary set to be area for healing, teaching and conservation

Working in concert with WSANEC matriarchs and elders, Greater Victoria Greenbelt Society has renamed the land surrounding Mary Lake WMIYETEN Nature Sanctuary, meaning ‘place of the deer.’ (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
North Island MLA Michele Babchuk ties the apron up on Social Development and Poverty Reduction Minister Sheila Malcolmson as B.C. Premier David Eby adjusts his during the announcement of $7.5 million to the United Way by the province for Food Hubs. Photo by Edward Hitchins/Campbell River Mirror

Provincial government announces $7.5 million investment in food hub funding

Goal is to double the number of B.C.’s food hubs to 40 from the current 20

North Island MLA Michele Babchuk ties the apron up on Social Development and Poverty Reduction Minister Sheila Malcolmson as B.C. Premier David Eby adjusts his during the announcement of $7.5 million to the United Way by the province for Food Hubs. Photo by Edward Hitchins/Campbell River Mirror
Mitzi Dean, Minister of Children and Family Development, says she remains committed to her work. (Photo courtesy Government of BC)

B.C’s Children’s Minister remains ‘committed’ to her work amid resignation calls

Dean understands outrage after death of 11-year-old in foster care, but will continue to do work

Mitzi Dean, Minister of Children and Family Development, says she remains committed to her work. (Photo courtesy Government of BC)