Aboriginal and Inuit Non-Mining Issues – Page 2

Attawapiskat member files UN human rights complaint over decades-long struggle for clean drinking water – by Isaac Phan Nay (Indigi News – January 25, 2024)

February 5, 2024

https://indiginews.com/

Charles Hookimaw’s submission to the international organization aims to hold ‘Canada’ accountable: ‘It’s been dragging on too long’

An Attawapiskat member has submitted a 500-page human rights complaint to the United Nations over his First Nation’s lack of access to clean drinking water. For months, Charles Hookimaw has been working with lawyers to draft a document and recently mailed it to Geneva, where it is set to be considered by the United Nations’ Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

In the complaint, he details his community’s decades-long struggle with tainted water — and he’s hoping to speak on the matter before their permanent forum on Indigenous People. As “Canada” vies for a spot on the UNHRC, experts say the complaint could be a small step towards more equitable access to drinking water.

After years of trouble, can the AFN’s new chief avoid another ‘explosion,’ and unite First Nations? – by Joy SpearChief-Morris (Toronto Star – January 30, 2024)

January 30, 2024

https://www.thestar.com/

Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak has inherited an organization that has been buffeted by internal strife.

OTTAWA — The emotion in the room was electric as Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak stood in a full buckskin dress to be sworn in as national chief of the Assembly of First Nations in Ottawa last month. In an election that ran to seven ballots, the former regional chief from Manitoba became the youngest person, the first mother and just the second woman elected to head the AFN in its 64-year history.

She also inherited an organization that has been buffeted by internal strife. Among its more than 630 First Nations are some whose members feel the AFN no longer effectively represents them. Many First Nations are divided over legislative moves in Ottawa that, critics charge, promise to advance the self-government rights of some at the cost of others.

Neskantaga First Nation works to uplift community since suicide crisis 10 years ago – by Liam Casey (Toronto Star – January 30, 2024)

January 30, 2024

https://www.thestar.com/

NESKANTAGA FIRST NATION, ONT. – Small, white crosses dot a graveyard just outside Neskantaga First Nation in northern Ontario. Some graves are marked with white picket fences, flowers have been placed at others. Most have no names or ages, but some do. A 16-year-old girl rests in one plot, a 13-year-old in another. Suicide brought them there.

Ten years ago, Neskantaga First Nation – a remote community with a population of about 450 – declared a state of emergency after four suicides and several attempted suicides by teens. The state of emergency officially remains, but the community quietly spoke about a small milestone this past summer: no one had killed themselves in Neskantaga in three years.

OPINION: How have we grown numb to the suicide of Indigenous children? – by Tanya Talaga (Globe and Mail – November 27, 2023)

November 27, 2023

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/

“There have been at least 599 reported deaths by suicide in 30 Northwestern Ontario First Nations between 1986 and June, 2023 – a staggering number that is already out of date as I write this.”

In another world, the death of 11-year-old Elaina Cecilia Nancy Beardy would have shaken Canada’s smug belief that this country offers all its children a good and safe start. Her death would have been the lead story on newscasts and in newspapers, inspiring governments and all of society to move mountains to ensure this never happens again.

Instead, Elaina’s death by suicide on Oct. 28 scarcely received any public mention or attention outside of her family’s northern Ontario communities of Kingfisher Lake First Nation and the neighbouring Sachigo Lake First Nation, situated about 350 km and 450 km north of Sioux Lookout, respectively.

Wab Kinew officially sworn in as Manitoba’s 1st First Nations premier – by Sarah Petz (CBC News Manitoba – October 18, 2023)

October 20, 2023

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/

New cabinet sworn in Wednesday includes First Nations women for 1st time in province’s history

Wab Kinew has officially become Manitoba’s 25th premier, and the first First Nations premier of a Canadian province, following a colourful and tradition-filled swearing-in ceremony that Kinew said marked the dawn of a new day for the province.

Kinew took his oath of office, which was administered by Manitoba Lt.-Gov. Anita Neville, while wearing a ceremonial First Nations headdress in a ceremony at The Leaf in Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park. After taking his oath, Kinew greeted the crowd in the languages of seven different Manitoba Indigenous nations, and said Wednesday was the start of a new era.

Solid NDP win cements Kinew as 1st First Nations premier in Manitoba history – by Bryce Hoye (CBC News Manitoba – October 3, 2023)

October 4, 2023October 4, 2023

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/

New Democrats emerge with enough seats to form majority government

The NDP sailed to victory Tuesday night with a solid win that cements leader Wab Kinew as Manitoba’s first First Nations premier and also nets the party enough seats to form a majority government. NDP Leader Wab Kinew led his party with a projected win in Fort Rouge, and while results continue to come in, the New Democrats will come away with at least the 29 seats needed to form a majority government.

“This is a great victory for all of us in Manitoba,” Kinew said to thunderous applause at NDP campaign headquarters Tuesday night. “We can do amazing things when we stand together as one province.” Kinew’s win makes Manitoba the first Canadian province to elect a First Nations premier.

How a First Nations school in Thunder Bay, Ont., combines traditional and land-based learning – by Sarah Law (CBC News Thunder Bay – October 2, 2023)

October 3, 2023

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/

Matawa Education and Care Centre brings in students from Matawa’s 9 First Nations

It’s been years in the making, but construction has finally finished at the Matawa Education and Care Centre in Thunder Bay, Ont.

The centre invited community members and dignitaries to a grand opening ceremony on Friday to mark the completion of renovations at the building, including its new gymnasium, kitchen, classrooms and Student Care Centre. The day was intentionally chosen to lead into Canada’s third National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Saturday.

Freedom is the reason Canada must be cherished, not cancelled – by Terence Corcoran (National Post – June 28, 2023)

July 5, 2023July 5, 2023

https://nationalpost.com/

The 1867 Project is an eye-opening collection of essays that dig down into mainstream Canadian negativism and expose most of it as the product of twisted ideologies and misunderstandings

The 1867 Project challenges and rejects anti-Canadian identity politics and issues a call for national ideological renewal.

As our troubled nation approaches another Canada Day — the 156th anniversary of Confederation — the celebration is always at risk of being overtaken by people, ideologies and movements that portray Canada’s heritage as a national embarrassment, the product of colonialism, racism, genocidal tendencies, cultural repression and conflict, a place where statues of historical figures deserve to be toppled.

John A. Macdonald saved more Indigenous lives than any other prime minister – by Greg Piasetzki (National Post – July 2, 2023)

July 4, 2023

https://nationalpost.com/

Given that he died in 1891, the facts of Sir John A. Macdonald’s life are unchangeable. The story of his life, however, has changed dramatically. For most of Canada’s history, Macdonald was considered a nation-builder worthy of celebration and veneration. Today he is a war criminal, at least to hear some tell it.

But a proper and balanced consideration of Macdonald’s life reveals that, through his own actions and policies, Canada’s first prime minister was directly and deliberately responsible for saving the lives of untold numbers of Indigenous people. Given the temper of our times, this is not likely to be a popular notion. But that does not make it any less true.

Canada’s not a genocidal state — despite what our self-hating PM would have you believe – by Conrad Black (National Post/MSN.com – May 6, 2023)

May 8, 2023

https://www.msn.com/

On Oct. 27, 2022, a motion by NDP MP Leah Gazan was presented to the Canadian Parliament, and later unanimously approved, demanding that the federal government recognize the genocidal nature of Indian residential schools. All of our legislators agreed to equate Canada with regimes that have committed the most horrible crimes in human history.

Surely, not one per cent of Canadians would agree that this country belongs in the same moral category as those responsible for the eight genocides officially recognized by the Canadian government.

Robinson Superior Treaty annuity trial continues at University of Sudbury – by Jenny Lamothe and Heidi Ulrichsen (Northern Ontario Business/Sudbury.com – February 17, 2023)

February 20, 2023

https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

Experts, economists debate the value of development, resource extraction in treaty area

The third stage of the Robinson Superior Treaty annuity trial resumed this week at the University of Sudbury with the testimony of David Hutchings, an economist who specializes in conducting economic analysis in complex tax, securities and antitrust matters.

Presenting his report on behalf of the Anishnaabe people of the Superior area Feb. 13 and 14, and continuing next week, Hutchings offered his report as a reply to the economists who testified on behalf of the Crown.

Ontario First Nation hires outside firm to investigate 28-year boil water advisory – by Olivia Stefanovich (CBC News Politics – February 3, 2023)

February 3, 2023

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/

Neskantaga has lived under a boil water advisory longer than any other First Nation

A northern Ontario First Nation that has lived under a boil-water advisory for nearly three decades has hired an outside consultant to find out once and for all what ails the community’s water system.

Neskantaga First Nation, roughly 450 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, Ont., is marking a grim milestone this month — 28 years under a boil water advisory, longer than any other First Nation.

State-of-the-art healthcare complex officially coming to Moosonee – by Sergio Arangio (CTV Northern Ontario – January 28, 2023)

January 30, 2023

https://northernontario.ctvnews.ca/

A project decades in the making is taking a major step forward in providing state-of-the-art healthcare to the James and Hudson Bay area.

First Nations chiefs, community members and government officials gathered for a ground breaking ceremony at Northern College’s Moosonee campus Thursday, to celebrate that development is now underway to replace the area’s outdated regional hospital with a modern healthcare complex.

“Certainly a historic moment, a moment that everyone’s been waiting for for 25-plus years,” said Weeneebayko Area Health Authority (WAHA) CEO, Lynne Innes, in an interview the next day.

Government regulatory duplication slowing progress in the Ring of Fire – by Ian Ross (Northern Ontario Business – January 27, 2023)

January 27, 2023

https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

Ring of Fire Metals CEO Steve Flewelling seeks balanced, faster approach to advance Far North nickel project

Federal Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson wants to avoid government duplication with the provinces in regulations and permitting in order to bring new critical mineral mines into production quicker. So does Ring of Fire Metals CEO Steve Flewelling.

But when it comes to proposed mine development in the James Bay region, Wilkinson insisted last month that no shortcuts will be taken in safeguarding the environment, protecting fragile peatlands, and in respecting the rights of Indigenous people and communities near any proposed mine site.

News Release: Kingfisher Lake First Nation Energized by Wataynikaneyap Power (November 24, 2022)

November 30, 2022

The ‘line that brings light’ connects Kingfisher Lake First Nation to the provincial power grid

FORT WILLIAM FIRST NATION, Ontario, Nov. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wataynikaneyap Power announces the energization of Kingfisher Lake First Nation, a remote northern Ontario community, which was connected to the provincial power grid on November 8, 2022. Upon grid connection and onto a reliable power source, the community turned off its diesel generators which had previously provided primary power to this remote community.

The Wataynikaneyap Power transmission system connects the Kingfisher Lake community distribution system to the Ontario grid through a total of 250 km of line and two substations, originating from its Pickle Lake Substation. Kingfisher Lake will continue to be served by Hydro One Remotes Communities Inc. (HORCI) for the local distribution of electricity.