Indigenous

A stamp bearing the portrait of Nellie Cournoyea is seen in an undated handout photo. The first Indigenous woman to lead a provincial or territorial government in Canada is being honoured with a new stamp. Canada Post says it has unveiled a stamp in honour of Cournoyea, known as a champion of her people in Canada’s western Arctic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Canada Post, *MANDATORY CREDIT*

New Canada Post stamp honours first Indigenous woman to lead a Canadian government

Nellie Cournoyea was known as a champion of Inuit people in Canada’s western Arctic

A stamp bearing the portrait of Nellie Cournoyea is seen in an undated handout photo. The first Indigenous woman to lead a provincial or territorial government in Canada is being honoured with a new stamp. Canada Post says it has unveiled a stamp in honour of Cournoyea, known as a champion of her people in Canada’s western Arctic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Canada Post, *MANDATORY CREDIT*
Members of the Lekwungen Drum Group perform Saturday, June 10, during the second Change-Makers Gathering Festival at Starlight Stadium in Langford. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Change-Makers Gathering returns to rainy Langford

The festival celebrates Indigenous culture and knowledge

Members of the Lekwungen Drum Group perform Saturday, June 10, during the second Change-Makers Gathering Festival at Starlight Stadium in Langford. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Marine vessels from seven South Island First Nations cruised into Victoria’s Inner Harbour to celebrate Indigenous ocean stewardship and show the value of recent government funding. (Natasha Baldin/News photo)

B.C. First Nations vessels form flotilla at Victoria Inner Harbour

Event was a celebration of progress

  • Jun 9, 2023
Marine vessels from seven South Island First Nations cruised into Victoria’s Inner Harbour to celebrate Indigenous ocean stewardship and show the value of recent government funding. (Natasha Baldin/News photo)
(Far right) Jo-Ina Young with members of her ribbon skirt dancers business at the launch for the South Island Indigenous Business Directory. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

Greater Victoria directory highlights Indigenous businesses

A step towards businesses making economic reconciliation

(Far right) Jo-Ina Young with members of her ribbon skirt dancers business at the launch for the South Island Indigenous Business Directory. (Ella Matte/News Staff)
A Chilkat blanket, created in a Tlingit community in the 1800s, is seen in an undated handout photo. A man who is helping return the 140-year-old robe to the British Columbia First Nation where it was created says it’s as if the regalia called out to its people and they are bringing it home. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Taku River Tinglit First Nation

B.C. First Nation buys back 140-year-old robe, paying almost $40,000 to bring it home

The intricately woven Chilkat robe was purchased by the Taku River Tlingit First Nation

A Chilkat blanket, created in a Tlingit community in the 1800s, is seen in an undated handout photo. A man who is helping return the 140-year-old robe to the British Columbia First Nation where it was created says it’s as if the regalia called out to its people and they are bringing it home. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Taku River Tinglit First Nation
Canadian Coast Guard members, along with the Port Hardy RCMP, helped paint Stan Hunt’s 18-foot tall Indigenous monument for residential school children. (Tyson Whitney - North Island Gazette)

Monument for residential school children going on tour starting June 16 in Port Hardy

Port Hardy council approved the use of Carrot Park at their May 23 meeting

Canadian Coast Guard members, along with the Port Hardy RCMP, helped paint Stan Hunt’s 18-foot tall Indigenous monument for residential school children. (Tyson Whitney - North Island Gazette)
The Yukon provincial flag flies on a flagpole in Ottawa, Monday July 6, 2020. A Yukon First Nations community has begun its search for unmarked graves at a former residential school site with a ceremony that triggered strong emotions. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Launch of search for graves at former Yukon residential school triggers raw emotions

A community report on the results is scheduled to be completed by the end of summer

The Yukon provincial flag flies on a flagpole in Ottawa, Monday July 6, 2020. A Yukon First Nations community has begun its search for unmarked graves at a former residential school site with a ceremony that triggered strong emotions. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan addresses media on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, March 27, 2023. The minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada has announced the federal government is giving nearly $6 million for Indigenous communities in British Columbia to develop clean energy projects. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Federal government provides $5.9M for Indigenous clean energy projects in B.C.

He says more than $3.9M of the funding will be given to the BC Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative

International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan addresses media on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, March 27, 2023. The minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada has announced the federal government is giving nearly $6 million for Indigenous communities in British Columbia to develop clean energy projects. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth speaks to media during a press conference in the press gallery at Legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Monday February 5, 2018.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. group gets $5.5M to help end violence against Indigenous women, girls

B.C. releases update on its response to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth speaks to media during a press conference in the press gallery at Legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Monday February 5, 2018.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
A war memorial (background) has been erected in Lower Nicola to commemorate locals who have served in the armed forces for Canada. (Jake Courtepatte/Capital News)

Lower Nicola monument unveiled honouring Indigenous veterans

67 names are inscribed on memorial

A war memorial (background) has been erected in Lower Nicola to commemorate locals who have served in the armed forces for Canada. (Jake Courtepatte/Capital News)
A woman places one of 215 pairs of children’s shoes on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery as a memorial to the 215 children whose remains have been found buried at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, May 28, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Vancouver brings temporary residential schools memorial to a close after 2 years

City plans to ‘reactivate’ the plaza, including supporting Indigenous weekend markets

A woman places one of 215 pairs of children’s shoes on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery as a memorial to the 215 children whose remains have been found buried at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, May 28, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Snuneymuxw Chief Michael Wyse and director of development at Seacliff Properties Georgia Desjardins as they officially sign the land transfer agreement at the Snuneymuxw Recreation and Wellness Centre Gymnasium on Thursday, May 18. (Mandy Moraes/News Bulletin)

Nanaimo River land, including ancient village site transferred to Island First Nation

Signing ceremony between Snuneymuxw First Nation and Seacliff Properties marks ‘profound milestone’

Snuneymuxw Chief Michael Wyse and director of development at Seacliff Properties Georgia Desjardins as they officially sign the land transfer agreement at the Snuneymuxw Recreation and Wellness Centre Gymnasium on Thursday, May 18. (Mandy Moraes/News Bulletin)
Wahmeesh Ken Watts, left, elected Chief Councillor with Tseshaht First Nation, and Evan Cook, Huu-ay-aht First Nations councillor, on May 11, 2023 announce a partnership between the nations to build a new hotel in the Alberni Valley. (MELISSA BIGMORE PHOTO)

First Nations agree to build first new hotel in Port Alberni since 1980

Huu-ay-aht, Tseshaht Nations partnering with MasterBUILT Hotels to build Microtel hotel

Wahmeesh Ken Watts, left, elected Chief Councillor with Tseshaht First Nation, and Evan Cook, Huu-ay-aht First Nations councillor, on May 11, 2023 announce a partnership between the nations to build a new hotel in the Alberni Valley. (MELISSA BIGMORE PHOTO)
Coast Salish artist Charlene Johnny from the Quw’utsun Tribes, is one of the 10 Indigenous artists that will benefit for the recent launch of Spark’s Indigenous Augmented Reality five-week incubator program in partnership with Meta and Slow Studies Creative. (Submitted photo)

Duncan’s Charlene Johnny 1 of 10 Indigenous artists to attend augmented reality program

Duncan’s own Salish artist Charlene Johnny is thrilled to be involved

Coast Salish artist Charlene Johnny from the Quw’utsun Tribes, is one of the 10 Indigenous artists that will benefit for the recent launch of Spark’s Indigenous Augmented Reality five-week incubator program in partnership with Meta and Slow Studies Creative. (Submitted photo)
Members of the Nuchatlaht First Nation and supporters rally outside B.C. Supreme Court before the start of an Indigenous land title case, in Vancouver, on Monday, March 21, 2022. A British Columbia Supreme Court judge says the First Nation did not prove it had rights to its entire claim area, although he suggested it may be time for the provincial government to rethink its current test for such titles. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Nuchatlaht did not prove title for entire Nootka Island claim: B.C. Supreme Court

Judge wrote case may show need for a ‘reconsideration of the test for Aboriginal title’ on the coast

Members of the Nuchatlaht First Nation and supporters rally outside B.C. Supreme Court before the start of an Indigenous land title case, in Vancouver, on Monday, March 21, 2022. A British Columbia Supreme Court judge says the First Nation did not prove it had rights to its entire claim area, although he suggested it may be time for the provincial government to rethink its current test for such titles. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The 12-and-a-half metre totem pole carved by about 160 inmates which stands outside the Vancouver Island Regional Corrections Centre in Saanich. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Totem pole carved by inmates dedicated at Wilkinson Road jail in Saanich

About 160 at Vancouver Island Regional Corrections Centre participated in first-of-its-kind project

The 12-and-a-half metre totem pole carved by about 160 inmates which stands outside the Vancouver Island Regional Corrections Centre in Saanich. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
The Elephant Hill wildfire burns in the distance near Clinton, as seen from behind a mountain on Kamloops Lake in Savona, B.C., during the early morning hours of Sunday July 30, 2017. An Indigenous-led report into the massive wildfire nearly six years ago that destroyed more than 100 homes in B.C.’s Interior says the blaze is costing $1 billion per year in ongoing impacts to nature and ecosystem services. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C.’s Elephant Hill wildfire results in losses of $1B per year: Indigenous report

Interior wildfire burned more than 1,900 square kilometres in the summer of 2017

The Elephant Hill wildfire burns in the distance near Clinton, as seen from behind a mountain on Kamloops Lake in Savona, B.C., during the early morning hours of Sunday July 30, 2017. An Indigenous-led report into the massive wildfire nearly six years ago that destroyed more than 100 homes in B.C.’s Interior says the blaze is costing $1 billion per year in ongoing impacts to nature and ecosystem services. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Alysha Archie after a violent assault by her ex-partner Keith Cailing on Oct. 5, 2021. Cailing was sentenced to 22 days jail for this assault that cause a significant head injury. (Submitted by Alysha Archie)

Indigenous domestic violence victim shares her story and her Red Dress Day display

‘I’ve been shot at, choked, had teeth knocked out’ - Alysha Archie

Alysha Archie after a violent assault by her ex-partner Keith Cailing on Oct. 5, 2021. Cailing was sentenced to 22 days jail for this assault that cause a significant head injury. (Submitted by Alysha Archie)
Colleen Peters (with umbrella) and her granddaughters, Alannah and Tatianna Peters, walk along Victoria Quay in the MMIWG2+ Walk of Remembrance, May 5, 2023 in Port Alberni. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Walkers remember missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people

Tla-o-qui-aht invited to lead walk in Nuu-chah-nulth territory, in Port Alberni

Colleen Peters (with umbrella) and her granddaughters, Alannah and Tatianna Peters, walk along Victoria Quay in the MMIWG2+ Walk of Remembrance, May 5, 2023 in Port Alberni. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Women of the Homalco First Nation walked through the streets to commemorate Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls on Red Dress Day. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror

Homalco First Nation honours Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

‘Each woman here that has made a dress has made it with someone in mind’ — Fay Blaney

Women of the Homalco First Nation walked through the streets to commemorate Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls on Red Dress Day. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror