Ontario reports 185 new COVID-19 cases, 7 more deaths
July 22, 2021
Provincial health officials are reporting 185 new COVID-19 cases and seven more deaths on Thursday, as the seven-day rolling average remains the same compared to a week ago. On Wednesday, the province logged 135 new coronavirus cases, while 127 were reported on Tuesday and 130 on Monday.
https://www.cp24.com/news/ontario-reports-185-new-covid-19-cases-7-more-deaths-1.5519001
Nishnawbe Aski Nation again urges Premier Ford to declare state of emergency amid wildfire evacuations
July 21, 2021
A political organization representing 49 northern Ontario First Nations is again calling on the province to declare a state of emergency, and for Premier Doug Ford to have feet on the ground in the northwest.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/nan-wildfire-call-for-ontario-state-emergency-1.6111363
Sault Ste. Marie to host 100 fire evacuees from North Spirit Lake First Nation
July 21, 2021
Sault Ste. Marie is the latest city to provide shelter to people from northwestern Ontario displaced due to forest fires. It will host about 100 evacuees from North Spirit Lake First Nation.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/sault-hosting-evacuees-northwest-fires-1.6110887
New forest fires in northwestern Ontario hit single-day high amid evacuations
July 21, 2021
A single-day high for new forest fires in northwestern Ontario this year has seen 81 confirmed, nearly doubling the previous record 2021 total recorded earlier, as evacuations from First Nations and other communities continue.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/new-fires-nwo-1.6110774
FedNor offers boost for tourism
July 21, 2021
The $500 million Tourism Relief Fund will be spread over two years and will include $50 million for Indigenous tourism initiatives and $15 million for national initiatives. Over the program’s duration, FedNor will spend $25.3 million.
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/fednor-offers-boost-tourism-031759183.html
Lametti outlines 2 projects aimed at revitalization of Indigenous laws
July 21, 2021
Justice Minister David Lametti on Wednesday outlined two out of 21 projects receiving government funding, aimed at addressing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 50 on revitalizing Indigenous laws.
Federal government funding Indigenous law centre in Ontario
July 21, 2021
The federal government is earmarking funds for projects that aim to build on Ottawa’s commitment to help revitalize Indigenous legal traditions.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/federal-government-indigenous-law-funding-1.6111239
Search of former Mohawk Institute grounds should be a criminal investigation, survivors say
July 21, 2021
Survivors of a former residential school from Six Nations of the Grand River say the grounds search for unmarked graves should be a criminal investigation. “This is a criminal investigation, and our goal is to search for justice,” says Chief Mark Hill from Six Nations elected council.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/ground-search-mohawk-institute-1.6110935
Fort William First Nation hosts virtual pow wow
July 22, 2021
A Sunrise Ceremony by Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek Elder Jim Misquart was featured at the beginning of the Fort William Virtual Pow Wow on July 3.
https://anishinabeknews.ca/2021/07/22/fort-william-first-nation-hosts-virtual-pow-wow/
‘Sending a quilt is like sending a hug’: Timmins woman’s project supporting residential school survivors (8 photos)
July 22, 2021
When Vanessa Génier heard the news about the 215 Indigenous children being recovered from unmarked graves at the former residential school in British Columbia, she wondered what she could do to support residential school survivors. A Missanabie Cree First Nation member, Génier, who’s been quilting for over 30 years, created the Facebook group Quilts for survivors.
Women paddle from Sault to Spanish to help First Nations
July 21, 2021
Two women will paddle from Sault Ste. Marie to Spanish following the recent discovery of unmarked graves at a former residential school site in British Columbia.
Canadians must build personal relationships with Indigenous: residential schools forum
July 21, 2021
Canadians need to build personal relationships with Indigenous people and their communities to develop compassion and understanding of the impact of the residential school system, according to the chair on Truth and Reconciliation at Lakehead University.
https://www.newmarkettoday.ca/local-news/lakehead-university-educates-community-during-3970973
Shingwauk Residential School donates shoes to Nogdawindamin
July 21, 2021
Shingwauk Residential School Centre has donated shoes from the recent memorial placed at Algoma University to Nogdawindamin Family and Community Services.
Mississaugas of Scugog Island Chief LaRocca asks Indigenous leaders: What does allyship mean to you?
July 21, 2021
There are two sides to every coin and sometimes two edges to every sword, especially if former Residential Schools are the topic of conversation.
McMaster joins effort to enhance end-of-life care in Indigenous communities
July 21, 2021
A McMaster University researcher is leading an initiative that is intended to support First Nations, Inuit and Metis (FNIM) people who are entering palliative care and wish to remain at home.
https://www.insauga.com/mcmaster-joins-effort-to-enhance-end-of-life-care-in-indigenous-communities
Horse therapy program in Sudbury helps Indigenous women impacted by violence
July 22, 2021
A health centre in Sudbury, which focuses on the urban Indigenous population, is trying a new way to help women who have been impacted by violence. It’s a healing program with the help of horses.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/equine-therapy-women-impacted-by-violence-1.6111624
Sheguiandah First Nation holds first water walk
July 21, 2021
As the sun rose above the horizon on Sheguiandah Bay a group of 10 water walkers gathered with traditional healer Jake Ago Neh and walk organizers Shelba Deer, community wellness worker program co-ordinator at the Sheguiandah First Nation Health Centre Shelba and volunteer Crystal Madahbee to begin Sheguiandah First Nations’ very first water walk.
https://www.manitoulin.com/sheguiandah-first-nation-holds-first-water-walk/
Northern Nishnawbe Education Council facing multimillion-dollar lawsuit over historic sexual abuse
July 21, 2021
Six former First Nations students of an Indigenous-led educational organization have filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit alleging it failed to protect them from sexual abuse allegedly perpetrated by a man employed by the organization who passed away before standing trial on the charges.
Inquest announced into 2017 workplace death of Wiikwemkoong man
July 22, 2021
An inquest has been announced into the 2017 workplace death of a Wiikwemkoong man. Dr. Emily Groot, the regional supervising coroner for the North Region out of Sudbury, announced July 21 that an inquest will be held into the death of Carl Peltier.
Inquest into the Death of Carl Peltier Announced
July 21, 2021
Mr. Peltier, 53, died in hospital on August 21, 2017, as a result of injuries sustained while working at a construction site in Chelmsford. An inquest is mandatory under the Coroners Act. The inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding Mr. Peltier’s death. The jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing further deaths.
https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1000565/inquest-into-the-death-of-carl-peltier-announced
Minister of Indigenous Affairs meets the team behind Fire Keeper Patrol program
July 21, 2021
Minister of Indigenous Affairs Greg Rickford has made a stop in Timmins to meet and thank the team behind the Fire Keeper Patrol program. Rickford said he wanted to meet the team face-to-face and acknowledge their “great work”. Wednesday afternoon, he met with Mushkegowuk Council’s director of health Sylvina Rickard and the Fire Keeper Patrol program co-ordinator Virginia Sutherland.
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/minister-indigenous-affairs-meets-team-190734265.html
After findings at Indian Residential Schools, settler Canadians shouldn’t hide behind the ‘gothic narrative’
July 21, 2021
The idea of Canada as an expansive crime scene is neither unfamiliar nor disorienting to Indigenous people. The use of ground-penetrating radar to reveal unmarked graves at or near the sites of former residential schools does what personal narratives of physical, emotional and sexual abuse at residential schools and 94 Calls to Action were seemingly not enough to do.
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/findings-indian-residential-schools-settler-145350064.html
Opinion: Flap over Indigenous Governor-General’s lack of French is colonialism
July 21, 2021
An investigation launched by the Commissioner of Official Languages into the appointment of Canada’s first Indigenous Governor-General, after a few hundred people complained that she doesn’t speak French, is modern-day colonialism.
Akwesasne’s adult Kanien’kéha immersion program graduates its 1st cohort
July 22, 2021
When Victoria Ransom embarked on a two-year journey to learn her language, her son and late grandmother were the driving forces. “I wanted to learn the language so that I could teach my son,” she said.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/akwesasne-kanien-keha-immersion-graduates-1.6111407
Kahnawake gets $5M to bring high-speed internet to Mohawk community
July 22, 2021
Canada and Quebec have bolstered a plan to bring high-speed internet to the entire province, with a joint investment of $94 million that will support local businesses, co-operatives and non-profit organizations.
Hundreds of wildfire evacuees brace for extended stay in Winnipeg hotels
July 22, 2021
More than 1,300 people from First Nations in Manitoba are now staying in hotels in Winnipeg and Brandon after escaping wildfires with no idea when they might be able to return home. Forest fires burning out of control and smoke continue to threaten communities east of Lake Winnipeg, including Berens River, Bloodvein, Little Grand Rapids and Pauingassi First Nations.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-wildfire-evacuees-hotels-1.6112112
Shoal Lake evacuees return home
July 21, 2021
Shoal Lake Cree Nation members are returning home after wildfires forced the community to evacuate. Chief Marcel Head says about half of the 300 band members who were forced to leave are coming home after taking shelter in dorms at the University of Regina.
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/shoal-lake-evacuees-return-home-150251624.html
Pauingassi First Nation Wildfire Evacuations Update
July 21, 2021
In the last week, Pauingassi First Nation has experienced extremely heavy smoke in the community due to numerous nearby wildfires. The First Nation has been working diligently with various partners to ensure the safety and evacuation of community members.
https://www.netnewsledger.com/2021/07/21/pauingassi-first-nation-wildfire-evacuations-update/
7 eastern Manitoba communities without power due to wildfires amid more evacuations
July 21, 2021
Seven communities in eastern Manitoba have lost power after a hydro line was damaged by wildfires that have already displaced more than 1,300 people from First Nations east of Lake Winnipeg.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/wildfires-manitoba-forest-fires-evacuations-1.6111153
‘Timely and appropriate’ to include Mi’kmaq in P.E.I. land use decisions, says chief
July 22, 2021
The chief of Lennox Island First Nation says she is “extremely delighted” to see a recommendation about the inclusion of the Mi’kmaq in policy decisions in P.E.I.’s latest report on land use.
First Nations and Rocky Mountain House leaders investigate accusations of racism
July 21, 2021
Earlier this month, an Indigenous man from O’Chiese First Nation was denied medical service for his mother who was believed to be having a heart attack. In a video posted to Facebook, Sonni Strawberrii is seen being denied medical attention from an EMS ambulance while his mother is unconscious in the passenger seat of his car.
Stunt school in Alberta to boost Indigenous representation in film industry
July 21, 2021
Indigenous youth from across the country are learning to be stunt actors through Stunt Nations, an Indigenous stunt school out of Cochrane, Alta.
Arson and vandalism continue at Canadian churches as more Indigenous burial sites are revealed
July 21, 2021
Acts of arson and vandalism primarily aimed at Catholic churches have continued across Canada in July. The latest incident occurred on July 19, when firefighters responded to reports of a fire at 3:30 a.m. at the St. George Coptic Orthodox Church in Surrey, British Columbia. The church was completely destroyed.
https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2021/07/20/church-arson-attacks-across-western-canada-241082
Nisga’a Nation partners with gas companies to propose $10B LNG facility in B.C.
July 20, 2021
The Nisga’a Nation have a proposal to build a $10-billion liquified natural gas export facility, complete with a pipeline, ready to go in northern British Columbia.
Despite wildfires and heatwave threats, B.C. has never used Canada’s cellphone alert system
July 22, 2021
B.C. emergency officials have yet to use Canada’s direct-to-cellphone alerting system to warn the public about major threats, despite an unprecedented, week-long heatwave in which hundreds of people died, followed by severe forest fires that razed the village of Lytton and led to the evacuation of thousands.
Indigenous communities in B.C. can now claim up to $475K to help search for remains
July 21, 2021
The B.C. government says it will provide immediate funding to 21 First Nations communities to help with searches for remains at former residential schools or hospitals.
N.W.T’s first community safety officer pilot program coming to Fort Liard
July 22, 2021
A progressive, healthy and safe community. This vision for the Hamlet of Fort Liard, N.W.T. could be one step closer to being achieved through the implementation of the territory’s first Community Safety Officer Pilot Program.
Government of Canada Partnering with Indigenous Coastal Communities to Enhance Marine Safety across Inuit Nunangat
July 21, 2021
Through the Oceans Protection Plan, the Government of Canada is working in partnership with Indigenous coastal communities to improve marine safety. As part of this plan, in 2017 the Canadian Coast Guard launched the Indigenous Community Boat Volunteer Pilot Program.
https://www.cbj.ca/manufacturing-news/?rkey=20210721C5508&filter=4782
