Indigenous

The former Kamloops Indian Residential School is seen at sunset after a rainstorm and a day-long ceremony to mark the one-year anniversary of the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc announcement of the detection of the remains of 215 children at an unmarked burial site at the former residential school, in Kamloops, B.C., on Monday, May 23, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Feds give Kamloops First Nation $12.5 million for healing centre

Tk’emlups te Secwepemc found 215 suspected unmarked graves near former residential school

 

Pope Francis and Gov. Gen. Mary Simon watch a traditional dance during the final public event of his papal visit across Canada as he prepares to leave Iqaluit, Nunavut on Friday, July 29, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Pope Francis’s tour came with a minimum $55-million price tag for Ottawa

‘Think of all the money that could have gone to survivors’

 

Chief Clinton Key, of the Key First Nation, speaks during a news conference about the launch of consultations regarding Bill C-92, federal legislation that re-affirms the rights of Indigenous communities to establish and provide their own child welfare services, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

First Nation chooses affluent Vancouver launch pad to reform Indigenous child welfare

Campaign aims at doing what’s best for children on the ‘front lines of colonization’

 

Women from the We Wai Kai First Nation danced during a blessing ceremony for the new Starbucks store to be built at the Quinsam Reserve. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror

Canada’s first Indigenous-owned licensed Starbucks to open on Vancouver Island

‘We just knew we needed to take a shot’ — We Wai Kai Chief Ronnie Chickite

  • Mar 22, 2023
Women from the We Wai Kai First Nation danced during a blessing ceremony for the new Starbucks store to be built at the Quinsam Reserve. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror
Kimberly Murray speaks after being appointed as Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites associated with Indian Residential Schools at a news conference in Ottawa on Wednesday, June 8, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Adviser on unmarked graves says some landowners are refusing access for searches

No federal law in place to protect suspected gravesites or grant communities access to such land

Kimberly Murray speaks after being appointed as Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites associated with Indian Residential Schools at a news conference in Ottawa on Wednesday, June 8, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
B.C. teacher Deborah Laurie Croft will be suspended for two days and must undergo anti-racism training, as a result of a regulatory college investigation into her treatment of two Indigenous students. (Credit: Pixabay)

B.C. teacher fired for mistreating Indigenous students must take anti-racism course

Deborah Laurie Croft admitted to pulling one student by the arm, hitting another with a book

B.C. teacher Deborah Laurie Croft will be suspended for two days and must undergo anti-racism training, as a result of a regulatory college investigation into her treatment of two Indigenous students. (Credit: Pixabay)
BC Premier David Eby speaks during a press conference in Vancouver, Tuesday March 14, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Rich Lam

Saskatchewan First Nation comes to B.C. to talk about taking over child welfare

Key First Nation expresses heartbreak and outrage following death of teen in B.C. care

BC Premier David Eby speaks during a press conference in Vancouver, Tuesday March 14, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Rich Lam
Governor General of Canada Mary Simon speaks during a visit to Bernard Constant Community School at James Smith Cree Nation, Sask., on Wednesday, September 28, 2022. Simon is using her role to help build ties between Indigenous people across the globe — an effort experts say is leveraging a colonial institution to advance reconciliation abroad and bolster centuries of collaboration. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu

Gov. Gen. Mary Simon champions Indigenous diplomacy, seeks new ties abroad

Simon has ability to create shared space for international communities rebuilding from colonialism

Governor General of Canada Mary Simon speaks during a visit to Bernard Constant Community School at James Smith Cree Nation, Sask., on Wednesday, September 28, 2022. Simon is using her role to help build ties between Indigenous people across the globe — an effort experts say is leveraging a colonial institution to advance reconciliation abroad and bolster centuries of collaboration. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu
The 10 MW Awasis solar project which opened in November is seen on the Cowessess First Nation in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Cowessess First Nation

Indigenous communities leading Canada’s clean energy boom

Communities play a role in almost 20 per cent of Canada’s electricity generating infrastructure

The 10 MW Awasis solar project which opened in November is seen on the Cowessess First Nation in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Cowessess First Nation
The Yukon provincial flag flies on a flagpole in Ottawa, Monday July 6, 2020. A Yukon First Nation has declared a state of emergency related to the opioid crisis, calling it an “emergency that is terrorizing the public.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Yukon First Nation declares state of emergency over opioids ‘terrorizing’ community

Declaration comes after a double homicide on Saturday of two Whitehorse men in remote town of Mayo

The Yukon provincial flag flies on a flagpole in Ottawa, Monday July 6, 2020. A Yukon First Nation has declared a state of emergency related to the opioid crisis, calling it an “emergency that is terrorizing the public.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Dale Culver was 35 years old and had a newborn daughter in July 2017, when he died after being pepper-sprayed and arrested by Prince George Mounties. Two of those officers are now charged with manslaughter, while another three are charged with obstruction of justice. (Photo courtesy of British Columbia Civil Liberties Association )

Family calls for change ahead of trial for B.C. cops accused of killing Indigenous man

Dale Culver died in Prince George in 2017 after police pepper-sprayed and arrested him

Dale Culver was 35 years old and had a newborn daughter in July 2017, when he died after being pepper-sprayed and arrested by Prince George Mounties. Two of those officers are now charged with manslaughter, while another three are charged with obstruction of justice. (Photo courtesy of British Columbia Civil Liberties Association )
Last June, the Tahltan Nation, the province of B.C. and Vancouver-based Skeena Resources reached a historic consent-based agreement that made the Eskay Creek gold and silver mine, shown in this undated handout, the first project to have permits authorized by a First Nation government. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Skeena Resources

Resource firms move ahead with UNDRIP compliance as B.C. legal changes lag

Declaration calls for free, prior and informed consent from Indigenous communities

Last June, the Tahltan Nation, the province of B.C. and Vancouver-based Skeena Resources reached a historic consent-based agreement that made the Eskay Creek gold and silver mine, shown in this undated handout, the first project to have permits authorized by a First Nation government. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Skeena Resources
Patricia Barkaskas, strategic advisor to the dean for the National Centre for Indigenous Laws, speaks at the site of the future National Centre for Indigenous Laws building at the University of Victoria Thursday (March 9). (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Construction underway in B.C. for Canada’s first National Centre for Indigenous Laws

University of Victoria facility to host degrees in Canadian Common Law, Indigenous legal orders

Patricia Barkaskas, strategic advisor to the dean for the National Centre for Indigenous Laws, speaks at the site of the future National Centre for Indigenous Laws building at the University of Victoria Thursday (March 9). (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
A rock with the message “Every Child Matters” painted on it sits at a memorial outside the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, in Kamloops, B.C., on Thursday, July 15, 2021. A Federal Court judge has approved a $2.8 billion settlement agreement between the Canadian government and plaintiffs representing 325 First Nations whose members went to residential day schools. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Federal Court approves ‘historic’ $2.8 billion residential day schools settlement

Court needed to sign off on deal federal government originally reached with plaintiffs in January

A rock with the message “Every Child Matters” painted on it sits at a memorial outside the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, in Kamloops, B.C., on Thursday, July 15, 2021. A Federal Court judge has approved a $2.8 billion settlement agreement between the Canadian government and plaintiffs representing 325 First Nations whose members went to residential day schools. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
B.C. Representative for Children and Youth Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond listens during a news conference after releasing a joint report with the B.C. Information and Privacy Commissioner about cyberbullying, in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday November 13, 2015. Another award has been stripped from Turpel-Lafond, the former judge, law professor and British Columbia representative for children and youth whose claims of Indigenous ancestry have been discredited. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond speaks out after award revoked over heritage claims

‘Trial by media is rampant, can be unbalanced and cause harm’

B.C. Representative for Children and Youth Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond listens during a news conference after releasing a joint report with the B.C. Information and Privacy Commissioner about cyberbullying, in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday November 13, 2015. Another award has been stripped from Turpel-Lafond, the former judge, law professor and British Columbia representative for children and youth whose claims of Indigenous ancestry have been discredited. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
B.C. Representative for Children and Youth Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond listens during a news conference after releasing a joint report with the B.C. Information and Privacy Commissioner about cyberbullying, in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday November 13, 2015. Another award has been stripped from Turpel-Lafond, the former judge, law professor and British Columbia representative for children and youth whose claims of Indigenous ancestry have been discredited. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

BC Civil Liberties Association revokes award granted to Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond

Another award has been stripped from Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, the former judge,…

B.C. Representative for Children and Youth Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond listens during a news conference after releasing a joint report with the B.C. Information and Privacy Commissioner about cyberbullying, in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday November 13, 2015. Another award has been stripped from Turpel-Lafond, the former judge, law professor and British Columbia representative for children and youth whose claims of Indigenous ancestry have been discredited. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A doctor wears a stethoscope around his neck as he tends to patients in his office in Illinois, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012. Two University of Calgary researchers weren’t surprised when their survey of Alberta doctors showed biases against Indigenous patients, but they were shocked by some of the comments. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Jeff Roberson

‘Really worrisome’: Survey suggests some Alberta doctors have anti-Indigenous biases

8% of respondents said they felt unfavourable towards Indigenous patients

A doctor wears a stethoscope around his neck as he tends to patients in his office in Illinois, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012. Two University of Calgary researchers weren’t surprised when their survey of Alberta doctors showed biases against Indigenous patients, but they were shocked by some of the comments. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Jeff Roberson
Members of five Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations — Tseshaht, Hupacasath, Uchucklesaht, Tlaoquiaht and Huu-ay-aht — perform a series of songs and dance in Port Alberni. MIKE YOUDS PHOTO

B.C. women working to keep Indigenous traditions and roles alive

On International Women’s Day, Maamiqsu are guiding the path to the revival of sacred ways

  • Mar 8, 2023
Members of five Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations — Tseshaht, Hupacasath, Uchucklesaht, Tlaoquiaht and Huu-ay-aht — perform a series of songs and dance in Port Alberni. MIKE YOUDS PHOTO
A restricted gun licence holder holds an AR-15 at his home in Langley, B.C. Friday, May 1, 2020. A House of Commons committee studying federal efforts to outlaw assault-style firearms is hearing criticism, as well as some measured support, from Indigenous leaders. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Indigenous leaders stress need for consultation on federal firearms legislation

A House of Commons committee heard criticism, as well as some measured…

A restricted gun licence holder holds an AR-15 at his home in Langley, B.C. Friday, May 1, 2020. A House of Commons committee studying federal efforts to outlaw assault-style firearms is hearing criticism, as well as some measured support, from Indigenous leaders. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Chrissie John (ḥakaƛ) and her partner are committed to teaching their two young children their First Nations language as they grow up. The family is part of an increasing number of First Nations people in B.C. who are working to reclaim their mother tongues. (Submitted photo)

Taking back identity: New learners fight to keep First Nations languages in B.C. alive

Number of fluent speakers declining, but new learners on the rise

Chrissie John (ḥakaƛ) and her partner are committed to teaching their two young children their First Nations language as they grow up. The family is part of an increasing number of First Nations people in B.C. who are working to reclaim their mother tongues. (Submitted photo)