Indigenous

The federal government has launched a $10-million program to directly supporting small businesses involved in Indigenous tourism across Canada. Unofficially named “The First Sidewalk” a 700-foot walking trail system to promote ecotourism is seen in Bella Bella, B.C., Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Feds in B.C. to pump $10M into Indigenous tourism small business

Funding will also help the Indigenous Tourism Association promote an accreditation program

The federal government has launched a $10-million program to directly supporting small businesses involved in Indigenous tourism across Canada. Unofficially named “The First Sidewalk” a 700-foot walking trail system to promote ecotourism is seen in Bella Bella, B.C., Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
BC Hydro’s Skeena Substation south of Terrace would be a key part of a plan to send more power to the northwest. (File photo)

Northwest B.C. First Nations plug in to power line equity and opportunity

Massive energy needs being predicted to fuel green economy

BC Hydro’s Skeena Substation south of Terrace would be a key part of a plan to send more power to the northwest. (File photo)
Wendy Jocko, a retired sergeant, is photoghed with her son James McMullin, 38, a veteran with The Royal Canadian Regiment, who died in October. His funeral is scheduled for Wednesday, which is Indigenous Veterans Day, in Pikwakanagan, Ont. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO

Canadian Indigenous soldiers share reasons why they serve

Trio tell their stories as Nov. 8 marks National Aboriginal Veterans Day

Wendy Jocko, a retired sergeant, is photoghed with her son James McMullin, 38, a veteran with The Royal Canadian Regiment, who died in October. His funeral is scheduled for Wednesday, which is Indigenous Veterans Day, in Pikwakanagan, Ont. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO
J.B. Williams of the Tsawout First Nation in front of the fire for traditional Coast Salish pit cook hosted by the Eye Sqa’lewen and Camosun College at the Interurban Campus. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

Rain doesn’t stop Saanich college from hosting Indigenous pit cook showcase

The annual event demonstrates the process and traditional use of the camas

J.B. Williams of the Tsawout First Nation in front of the fire for traditional Coast Salish pit cook hosted by the Eye Sqa’lewen and Camosun College at the Interurban Campus. (Ella Matte/News Staff)
FILE -Russell Eagle Bear, with the Rosebud Sioux Reservation Tribal Council, talks to U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland during a meeting about Native American boarding schools at Sinte Gleska University in Mission, S.D., Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Haaland plans to be in Bozeman, Mont. Sunday to wrap up her nationwide tour confronting the legacy of the institutions where students were often abused. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)

Survivors say trauma from abusive Native American boarding schools continues

An report released by the Interior Department identified 408 government-backed schools in 37 states

FILE -Russell Eagle Bear, with the Rosebud Sioux Reservation Tribal Council, talks to U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland during a meeting about Native American boarding schools at Sinte Gleska University in Mission, S.D., Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Haaland plans to be in Bozeman, Mont. Sunday to wrap up her nationwide tour confronting the legacy of the institutions where students were often abused. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
Singer Buffy Sainte-Marie smiles as she accepts the Hall of Fame award at the Juno Awards ceremony in Hamilton on Sunday, March 26, 1995. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Scott Gardner

‘Duped’: Indigenous musicians upset over Buffy Sainte-Marie ancestry story

Disappointment among many as doubts raised about singer’s Indigenous heritage claims

Singer Buffy Sainte-Marie smiles as she accepts the Hall of Fame award at the Juno Awards ceremony in Hamilton on Sunday, March 26, 1995. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Scott Gardner
Correctional Investigator of Canada, Dr. Ivan Zinger, delivers remarks at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa, on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

Canadian prisons ‘disturbingly and unconscionably Indigenized’: corrections watchdog

About 3% of the correctional service’s annual budget goes to supporting healing lodges: Report

Correctional Investigator of Canada, Dr. Ivan Zinger, delivers remarks at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa, on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
First Nations Health Authority acting chief medical officer Dr. Nel Wieman was consulted on the BC Coroner Service’s recent death review panel report on the toxic drug crisis that was released Nov. 1, 2023. Wieman speaks about the illicit drug toxicity deaths in the province and about the effect on First Nation’s communities during a press conference at B.C. Legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Monday, February 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

First Nations grappling with toxic drug crisis need own solutions: B.C. doctor

First Nations Health Authority rep says safer supply engagement lacking in First Nations communities

First Nations Health Authority acting chief medical officer Dr. Nel Wieman was consulted on the BC Coroner Service’s recent death review panel report on the toxic drug crisis that was released Nov. 1, 2023. Wieman speaks about the illicit drug toxicity deaths in the province and about the effect on First Nation’s communities during a press conference at B.C. Legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Monday, February 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Buffy Sainte-Marie opens the Juno Awards show on Sunday April 2, 2017 in Ottawa. The Indigenous Women’s Collective is calling for Sainte-Marie to lose her 2018 Juno Award for “Indigenous Album of the Year,” after a CBC story cast doubt on the singer’s ancestry. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Group wants Buffy Sainte-Marie to lose 2018 Juno over ancestry doubts

The Junos did not respond to a request for comment

Buffy Sainte-Marie opens the Juno Awards show on Sunday April 2, 2017 in Ottawa. The Indigenous Women’s Collective is calling for Sainte-Marie to lose her 2018 Juno Award for “Indigenous Album of the Year,” after a CBC story cast doubt on the singer’s ancestry. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
A memorial was set up for Jared Lowndes at the Campbell River Tim Hortons where the incident took place. Photo by Marc Kitteringham / Campbell River Mirror

Crown given probe suggesting 3 RCMP officers be charged in B.C. man’s death

Independent report done into death of Jared Lowndes in parking lot of a Campbell River Tim Hortons

A memorial was set up for Jared Lowndes at the Campbell River Tim Hortons where the incident took place. Photo by Marc Kitteringham / Campbell River Mirror
A memorial was set up for Jared Lowndes at the Campbell River Tim Hortons where the incident took place. Photo by Marc Kitteringham / Campbell River Mirror

Lowndes file referred to Crown; 3 RCMP officers could face charges

IIO announced intention to file report in December, 2022

A memorial was set up for Jared Lowndes at the Campbell River Tim Hortons where the incident took place. Photo by Marc Kitteringham / Campbell River Mirror
Buffy Sainte-Marie performs at the Toronto International Film Festival’s kick off event in Toronto on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022. CBC says legendary musician Buffy Sainte-Marie’s birth certificate, other documents and details from family members contradict the singer’s claim that she is Indigenous. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Alex Lupul

Documents contradict Buffy Sainte-Marie’s Indigenous heritage: CBC report

Singer called herself ‘a proud member of the Native community with deep roots in Canada’

Buffy Sainte-Marie performs at the Toronto International Film Festival’s kick off event in Toronto on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022. CBC says legendary musician Buffy Sainte-Marie’s birth certificate, other documents and details from family members contradict the singer’s claim that she is Indigenous. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Alex Lupul
Buffy-Sainte Marie arrives to the Toronto International Film Festival’s Tribute Award, in Toronto, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. Sainte-Marie, a musician known for decades of Indigenous activism, says she’s always been honest that she doesn’t know the identity of her birth parents ahead of a CBC report that’s expected to question the icon’s First Nations ancestry. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

‘I know who I am:’ Buffy Sainte-Marie’s Indigenous identity questioned

Iconic singer calls questions hurtful as CBC poised to release probe into her First Nations ancestry

Buffy-Sainte Marie arrives to the Toronto International Film Festival’s Tribute Award, in Toronto, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. Sainte-Marie, a musician known for decades of Indigenous activism, says she’s always been honest that she doesn’t know the identity of her birth parents ahead of a CBC report that’s expected to question the icon’s First Nations ancestry. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Manitoba Regional Chief Cindy Woodhouse, second from right, stands with Sts’ailes First Nation Chief Ralph Leon Jr., left to right, Lake St. Martin First Nation Chief Christopher Traverse, and Elder Leonard Weasel Traveller as they listen to proceeding inside the Federal Court of Canada courtroom in Ottawa on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023. The court is hearing final remarks in what would be landmark child-welfare settlement if it passes. The settlement includes $23 billion in compensation for more than 300,000 children and their families, and another $20 billion to reform the child welfare system. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

$23B Indigenous child welfare settlement gets court approval

More than 300,000 First Nations children and families to be compensated for chronic underfunding

Manitoba Regional Chief Cindy Woodhouse, second from right, stands with Sts’ailes First Nation Chief Ralph Leon Jr., left to right, Lake St. Martin First Nation Chief Christopher Traverse, and Elder Leonard Weasel Traveller as they listen to proceeding inside the Federal Court of Canada courtroom in Ottawa on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023. The court is hearing final remarks in what would be landmark child-welfare settlement if it passes. The settlement includes $23 billion in compensation for more than 300,000 children and their families, and another $20 billion to reform the child welfare system. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Jennifer Bonnell posing with her book Stewards of Splendor: A History of Wildlife and People in British Columbia. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

‘A big book’: Author teams with Victoria museum for wildlife history book

The 496-page book presents B.C. findings from 1774 to the present

Jennifer Bonnell posing with her book Stewards of Splendor: A History of Wildlife and People in British Columbia. (Ella Matte/News Staff)
In this historic photo from the Archives Deschâtelets-NDC, children gather in front of the old Christie Residential School on Meares Island off the west coast of Vancouver Island near Tofino. The date the photo was taken is unknown. (Archives Deschâtelets-NDC)

Scholar debunks residential school denialism and so-called `mass grave hoax’

A Q&A with historian and Indigenous studies professor Sean Carleton

  • Oct 22, 2023
In this historic photo from the Archives Deschâtelets-NDC, children gather in front of the old Christie Residential School on Meares Island off the west coast of Vancouver Island near Tofino. The date the photo was taken is unknown. (Archives Deschâtelets-NDC)
Interim Assembly of First Nations National Chief Joanna Bernard speaks, joined by AFN Quebec-Labrador Regional Chief Ghislain Picard, left, and Nookomis Roberta Oshkabewisens, right, as they launch the AFN National Climate Strategy on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Indigenous leaders call for support in battling Canada’s climate emergency

Assembly of First Nations release strategy, call for collaboration from all levels of government

Interim Assembly of First Nations National Chief Joanna Bernard speaks, joined by AFN Quebec-Labrador Regional Chief Ghislain Picard, left, and Nookomis Roberta Oshkabewisens, right, as they launch the AFN National Climate Strategy on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Members of the Gitxsan Huwilp Government march down Vancouver streets in protest of the RCMP’s C-IRG program (Gitxsan Photo Upload)

Group of B.C. hereditary chiefs want RCMP pipeline policing unit shut down

Gitxsan chiefs march in Vancouver call for ban of RCMP Community-Industry Response Group

Members of the Gitxsan Huwilp Government march down Vancouver streets in protest of the RCMP’s C-IRG program (Gitxsan Photo Upload)
Members of the Sipekne'katik First Nation head from the wharf in Saulnierville, N.S., after launching their own self-regulated fishery on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020. A First Nations chief says his band's self-regulated Indigenous lobster fishery will press ahead today despite opposition from non-Indigenous commercial fishers that erupted in threats and violence this week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

More than 50 Indigenous fish harvesters in the Maritimes charged or on trial

Many plan to argue they have a constitutionally protected treaty right to catch and sell fish

Members of the Sipekne'katik First Nation head from the wharf in Saulnierville, N.S., after launching their own self-regulated fishery on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020. A First Nations chief says his band's self-regulated Indigenous lobster fishery will press ahead today despite opposition from non-Indigenous commercial fishers that erupted in threats and violence this week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
Tseshaht Chief Councillor Ken Watts talks to members of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and Port Alberni Bombers hockey teams, informing them about the First Nation’s history in the area and values. The teams met in mid September, leading up to National Truth and Reconciliation Day on Sept. 30. (Submitted photos)

Tseshaht First Nation teaching Alberni Valley Bulldogs new tricks

BCHL hockey team and Junior B Bombers get immersion into Indigenous history, values, and principles

Tseshaht Chief Councillor Ken Watts talks to members of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and Port Alberni Bombers hockey teams, informing them about the First Nation’s history in the area and values. The teams met in mid September, leading up to National Truth and Reconciliation Day on Sept. 30. (Submitted photos)