COVID-19 in Indigenous communities: What you need to know
July 21, 2021
Over 57 per cent of people aged 12 and up in First Nations and Inuit communities are now fully vaccinated, according to the latest data from Indigenous Services Canada.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/indigenous-covid-19-update-1.6109691
Ontario reports 135 new COVID-19 infections, 4 more deaths
July 21, 2021
Ontario is reporting 135 new COVID-19 infections today as case counts level off in the province. Today’s tally is up slightly from 127 on Tuesday but down from 153 reported last week. The rolling seven-day average of new cases appears to have plateaued this week, reaching 150 today, down only slightly from 164 last Wednesday.
https://www.cp24.com/news/ontario-reports-135-new-covid-19-infections-4-more-deaths-1.5517478
70 new forest fires broke out in Northwestern Ontario on Tuesday
July 20, 2021
With no sign of imminent relief from fire threats, residents of two more Northwestern Ontario First Nations are to be flown to safety in other communities starting Wednesday. The Ministry of the Solicitor General says partial evacuations are planned for both North Spirit Lake and Cat Lake due to their proximity to forest fires.
Crews Busy With 19 New Fires In Red Lake District
July 20, 2021
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is prioritizing multiple new forest fire starts in the Red Lake District.
https://www.ckdr.net/2021/07/20/red-lake-update/
Support for NAN First Nations
July 19, 2021
Forest fires are threatening several NAN First Nation communities and have forced many members to be evacuated to urban centres.
Accommodations and supports are being coordinated by the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre in partnership with municipalities and other organizations across northern Ontario.
https://www.nan.ca/fires/support-for-nan-first-nations/
First Nation’s court victory sets precedent for equitable compensation
July 21, 2021
More than 90 years after the Lac Seul First Nation’s reserve land was flooded to build a hydroelectric dam, Chief Clifford Bull says his people may finally receive just compensation.
Efforts to search for missing, buried residential school children need to be Indigenous-led, chiefs say
July 20, 2021
‘Give us the reins, give us the authority, you have proven you can’t watch our kids when you said you would,’ says Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare, addressing the government, adding the search must be Indigenous-led.
Ceremony for Ontario’s new Indigenous Hub in Toronto
July 21, 2021
The Indigenous community in Toronto celebrated the ground breaking of a new Indigenous Hub in the city. The new Hub will help meet critical health care, spiritual, employment, training and family support needs for a community traumatically impacted by colonization, the residential school system and the ’60s Scoop’.
https://tworowtimes.com/news/local/ceremony-for-ontarios-new-indigenous-hub-in-toronto/
Call for Nominations from the Citizens of Treaty #3 for Leadership Role of Ka Niigaanibowe’t/ Ka Niigaanibowiik for Abinoojii Inakonigiwin
July 19, 2021
Grand Council Treaty#3 and the Social Chiefs would like to share the posting of Ka Niigaanibowe’t/ Ka Niigaanibowiik as part of the implementation process for Abinoojii Inakonigiwin. Calls for nominations to this position have been supported through the Special Chiefs in assembly, resolution SCA – 21 – 03.
‘A national embarrassment’: Hundreds attend virtual forum on residential schools
July 20, 2021
Lakehead University hosted a live online forum — When History Hurts: A Community Dialogue — on Monday night. The event was meant to inspire conversation about residential schools, the story of Indigenous-settler relations, and to provide education on how community members can play a role in truth and reconciliation. More than 200 households pre-registered for the meeting which lasted about 90 minutes.
https://www.barrietoday.com/local-news/lakehead-university-educates-community-during-3971105
Saugeen First Nation Thanks Two Children For Helping The Community In Outbreak
July 20, 2021
Saugeen First Nation is thanking two children from Ancaster for raising money to help the community during its COVID-19 outbreak.
https://www.bayshorebroadcasting.ca/2021/07/20/123487/
First indigenous GG, first female AFN leader gives hope to First Nations
July 20, 2021
June may have been National Indigenous History Month in Canada, but July has arguably been the busier month for First Nations leaders like Kelly LaRocca, Chief of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island.
https://www.insauga.com/first-indigenous-gg-first-female-afn-leader-gives-hope-to-first-nations
No Pride in Genocide marchers call on protectors and allies to come together
July 21, 2021
Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek Elders Diane Hardy and Jim Misquart emphasized the impacts of Indian Residential Schools at the July 1 No Pride in Genocide march in Thunder Bay.
Indigenous-led green energy partnerships will move us forward
July 21, 2021
As we slowly emerge from the grip of a crippling pandemic, Canadians must now openly and honestly confront two challenges, our handling of each of which will affect life in this country for generations.
How Indigenous-led research can support Indigenous mental health and healing
July 20, 2021
Global News Morning speaks to the Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Mental Health and Addiction on research to reclaim traditional healing practices in healthcare.
Letter to the editor: Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing
July 21, 2021
As revelations about Canadian Indian Residential Schools continue, those of us who are descendants of survivors face a defining moment in our history.
https://anishinabeknews.ca/2021/07/21/letter-to-the-editor-truth-reconciliation-and-healing/
Opinion: Trudeau’s virtue signalling to First Nations is meaningless
July 19, 2021
A historic moment happened earlier this month, when the Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan announced it had reached an agreement with the federal and provincial governments to take control of its child welfare system and receive support and funding from both levels of government over the next two years.
Opinion: Justice for Indigenous communities won’t be complete under colonial legal frameworks
July 20, 2021
The recent discoveries of 215 Indigenous children’s bodies on the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School and 751 unmarked graves in Saskatchewan are unquestionably shocking and heart-wrenching. However, they should come as no surprise if you have been paying attention to the testimonies and stories of residential school survivors.
Crown-Indigenous Minister Carolyn Bennett’s office is a ‘toxic’ workplace, ex-staffers claim
July 20, 2021
Indigenous employees were regularly sidelined by a “toxic” working environment in the office of Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett but their complaints fell on deaf ears, several former staffers have told CBC News.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/bennett-staffers-workplace-1.6109493
Policing talks between Quebec and First Nations community go nowhere
July 20, 2021
Discussions between the Long Point First Nation and the Quebec government on the issue of policing in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue community of Winneway went nowhere on Monday, leading the head of the Indigenous community to accuse the province of being “disrespectful and very negligent.”
Kanesatake weighs options as grand chief seeks to bring back local police force
July 20, 2021
Partying, homicide, reckless driving, arson: everywhere Kanesatake Grand Chief Serge Simon looks, he sees figurative — and literal — fires to put out. “[We’ve had] 14 arsons, five attempts, constant racing throughout the community, gunshots day and night,” Simon told APTN News.
Search for missing Mi’kmaw woman takes family to Montreal seeking answers
July 20, 2021
A Mi’kmaw family from Nova Scotia is seeking the public’s help in the disappearance of Adria Gloade, 37, of Millbrook First Nation who has been missing since July 13. Her sister Tamara Gloade drove to Montreal to search for her, handing out flyers with her description. Garrett Gloade, Adria’s brother, stayed in Millbrook to search online. He says tips and messages led to the search in Montreal.
P.E.I. government to defer to First Nations communities on question of possible residential school investigations
July 20, 2021
Staffers with the province’s Indigenous relations secretariat were asked on July 16 whether they agree with assertions that residential schools should be treated by the P.E.I. government as crime scenes.
Lac La Ronge Indian Band plans late July search for residential school graves
July 21, 2021
The old cemetery behind the long-destroyed Lac La Ronge Indian Residential School sits on a dip in a hill just west of downtown La Ronge, Sask.
Manitoba’s Sagkeeng First Nation begins grim search for unmarked graves
July 20, 2021
The community of Sagkeeng First Nation has begun the grim process of searching for unmarked graves near the site of a former residential school in the community.
Manitoba’s former Indigenous affairs minister appointed to powerful committee despite criticism of government
July 21, 2021
The Manitoba minister who resigned from Premier Brian Pallister’s cabinet in protest earlier this month has suddenly been appointed to the provincial government’s most powerful committee — and officials refuse to explain why.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/clarke-treasury-board-1.6110031
Saskatoon to look into implementing UN Indigenous rights declaration
July 20, 2021
Saskatoon city councillors have voted in favour of examining the possibility of implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP).
Wildfires continue to burn across the Prairies, forcing evacuations
July 20, 2021
Out of control wildfires continue to sweep across the Prairies forcing people to evacuate their homes and communities in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. First Nations communities are being evacuated due to the fires and the smoke in both provinces as well.
Residents from four First Nations in Manitoba sent to Winnipeg due to wildfires
July 20, 2021
By the time Virginia Thomas left her home community of Bloodvein First Nation in eastern Manitoba on Monday evening, a nearby wildfire had made it to the main road.
https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/residents-four-first-nations-manitoba-165041605.html
Feds to send up to 120 Canadian Armed Forces to help Manitoba fight forest fires
July 20, 2021
Up to 120 members of the Canadian Armed Forces are on their way to help Manitoba fight wildfires that have so far displaced more than 1,300 people from First Nations east of Lake Winnipeg.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/forest-fires-manitoba-1.6110273
Planned dump site creates worry for chief of neighbouring First Nation community
July 20, 2021
The chief of a New Brunswick First Nation says he’s concerned about the impact a proposed dump site near the community could have on the community’s drinking water.
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/planned-dump-creates-worry-chief-110000302.html
Documentary explores relationship between father and daughter as she donates a kidney
July 21, 2021
A new documentary chronicles the emotional journey a family takes as a daughter donates a kidney to her ailing father so he can return to his home community during his final days.
Onion Lake powwow returns to huge crowd after pandemic measures lifted
July 20, 2021
After provincial pandemic restrictions were lifted in Saskatchewan earlier this month, the 2021 powwow at Onion Lake Cree Nation returned in a big way last weekend.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/onion-lake-powwow-2021-saskatchewan-1.6110027
B.C. reveals plan for $12M residential schools fund, announces new First Nations liaisons
July 20, 2021
The B.C. government has outlined how it plans to use $12 million to support First Nations and residential school survivors, as the country reels from the discovery of hundreds of children’s graves at former residential school sites.
Squamish Nation members to vote on historic land designation for 3 affordable housing sites
July 20, 2021
The future of Squamish Nation council’s plans to create diverse, affordable on-reserve housing options to “bring their people home” will soon be placed in the hands of members.
https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/squamish-nation-members-vote-historic-005040926.html
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.
Mother of First Nations man shot by police confronts Campbell River RCMP
July 21, 2021
Four warrior cries of mourning echoed through the crowd gathered at a funeral home on Tuesday as the family of Jared Lowndes retrieved his ashes after the 38-year-old father of two was shot and killed by Campbell River RCMP.
100-year-old Treaty 11 coming to N.W.T. for 1st time since signing
July 21, 2021
For the first time since its signing 100 years ago, the original Treaty 11 document is coming to the North. It’s a journey that has taken “months and months and months” worth of logistical planning, according to an archivist who’s involved. One Indigenous elder says it’s an opportunity to continue a dialogue about the “spirit and intent” with which the document was signed by local leaders.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/treaty-11-returns-north-1.6109999
