First Nations

Trees burned by the Bush Creek East Wildfire are seen above Little Shuswap Lake in Squilax, B.C., Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. British Columbia is not ruling out regulating wild mushroom picking after an Indigenous community said the areas devastated by the Lower East Adams Lake and Bush Creek wildfires last year are now sprouting large numbers of morel mushrooms, attracting a large number of foragers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. looks into mushroom picking rush after First Nation reports conflicts

Nations say foragers are putting pressures on the land’s fragile ecosystem

 

Chief Derek Epp (left) and Chief David Jimmie after receiving their Freedom of the City of London awards in London, England on May 7, 2024 (Submitted Photo)

B.C. pair given London’s Key to City in historic UK ceremony

Award marks first time honour has been given to First Nations members in over 350 years

 

B.C.’s bill 13 was approved in the legislature on April 4. (Don Denton)

B.C. legislation changes take effect for First Nations land ownership rights

The legislation allows federally recognized First Nations to hold land directly

  • May 22, 2024

 

The law implementing the Rising Tide’ Haida Title Lands Agreement between B.C. and the Haida First Nation Thursday received Royal Assent as perhaps the most significant piece of legislation to emerge from this spring’s legislative session. (Government of B.C./YouTube)

B.C. legislature gives royal assent to Aboriginal title law for Haida Gwaii

Supporters say law historic in advancing Reconciliation, critics question effect on property rights

The law implementing the Rising Tide’ Haida Title Lands Agreement between B.C. and the Haida First Nation Thursday received Royal Assent as perhaps the most significant piece of legislation to emerge from this spring’s legislative session. (Government of B.C./YouTube)
Carey Price signed autographs for Williams Lake U11 Timberwolves Development Team players and gave them some words of encouragement before a gold medal game in Kelowna on Jan. 28, 2024. (U11 Timberwolves photo)

Carey Price to receive honorary doctorate from UNBC

UNBC said Price has an impressive list of achievements both on and off the ice

  • May 15, 2024
Carey Price signed autographs for Williams Lake U11 Timberwolves Development Team players and gave them some words of encouragement before a gold medal game in Kelowna on Jan. 28, 2024. (U11 Timberwolves photo)
The provincial government is encouraging First Nations to join an app-based notification system alerting them to hazardous spills to improve response efforts. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. encouraging First Nations to sign up for app-based spill alert system

About 20 of more than 200 B.C. First Nations currently using app-based spill notification system

The provincial government is encouraging First Nations to join an app-based notification system alerting them to hazardous spills to improve response efforts. (Black Press Media file photo)
The problem of unauthorized mushroom pickers on Skwlāx land has escalated to the point of threatened violence, with the Band having asked for conservation officers and other agencies to help intervene. (BC Morel Mushroom PIckers-Facebook)

Threats against Skwlāx members escalate Shuswap mushroom conflict

Band asks province for ‘action plan’ for them and other wildfire affected areas

The problem of unauthorized mushroom pickers on Skwlāx land has escalated to the point of threatened violence, with the Band having asked for conservation officers and other agencies to help intervene. (BC Morel Mushroom PIckers-Facebook)
A jacket pictured at the Red Dress Day gathering in Vancouver on May 5, 2022. Recognized Canada-wide, the day honours the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQ people. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)

First Nations leaders in B.C. call for action on Red Dress Day

Sunday honours the lives of Indigenous woman and girls who have gone missing or been murdered

A jacket pictured at the Red Dress Day gathering in Vancouver on May 5, 2022. Recognized Canada-wide, the day honours the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQ people. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)
Skwlāx te Secwepemcúl̓ecw Kukpi7 James Tomma stated that non-band members are not allowed to harvest edible mushrooms on band land, and that doing so could result in prosecution for trespassing. (Heather Black-Salmon Arm Observer)

Frustration grows with fungi foragers harvesting on band land in Shuswap

Skwlāx te Secwepemcúl̓ecw says mushroom pickers could face trespassing charges

Skwlāx te Secwepemcúl̓ecw Kukpi7 James Tomma stated that non-band members are not allowed to harvest edible mushrooms on band land, and that doing so could result in prosecution for trespassing. (Heather Black-Salmon Arm Observer)
Kukpi7 (Chief) James Tomma, with Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hadju, addresses the crowd at the Welcome Home celebration of the new Dancing Fawn II neighbourhood on Wednesday, April 24. (Heather Black-Salmon Arm Observer)

Skwlāx band in Shuswap takes first step home in wildfire recovery

‘This is the start of a great rebuild for our entire band, both physically and mentally’

Kukpi7 (Chief) James Tomma, with Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hadju, addresses the crowd at the Welcome Home celebration of the new Dancing Fawn II neighbourhood on Wednesday, April 24. (Heather Black-Salmon Arm Observer)
On Friday, Feb. 16, the Sts’ailes community gathered at the longhouse for a ceremony to celebrate asserting their jurisdiction over their own child and family services laws. In a ceremony two months later, the province signed a coordinating agreement supporting the First Nations community (Observer File Photo)

Province signs historic child and family services agreement with B.C. First Nation

Province supports Sts’ailes asserting their own family services laws

On Friday, Feb. 16, the Sts’ailes community gathered at the longhouse for a ceremony to celebrate asserting their jurisdiction over their own child and family services laws. In a ceremony two months later, the province signed a coordinating agreement supporting the First Nations community (Observer File Photo)
As of March 31, 2024 BC Emergency Health Services has responded to 54 drug poisonings in the Williams Lake area. (Monica Lamb-Yorski file photo Williams Lake Tribune)

Tiny communities in B.C.’s Chilcotin grappling with pain of drug poisonings

Tsideldel, Xeni Gwet’in chiefs say residents are healing in the face of addiction

As of March 31, 2024 BC Emergency Health Services has responded to 54 drug poisonings in the Williams Lake area. (Monica Lamb-Yorski file photo Williams Lake Tribune)
B.C. will be commiting $6.45 million a year to First Nations post-secondary education, after passing legislation on April 9, 2024. (Credit:Pixabay)

B.C. legislates $6.45M in annual funding for First Nations post-secondary

Funds to go to 44 educational institutes throughout the province

B.C. will be commiting $6.45 million a year to First Nations post-secondary education, after passing legislation on April 9, 2024. (Credit:Pixabay)
The Lightning Rock in Abbotsford marks what is believed to be the burial site of First Nations people who were victims of small pox epidemics. The province announced on Wednesday (March 27) that it has purchased the 89-acre land and will transfer the property to Semá:th First Nation. (Ben Lypka/Abbotsford News)

Province’s land purchase protects Indigenous sacred burial site in Abbotsford

89-acre Lightning Rock property to be transferred to Semá:th First Nation

The Lightning Rock in Abbotsford marks what is believed to be the burial site of First Nations people who were victims of small pox epidemics. The province announced on Wednesday (March 27) that it has purchased the 89-acre land and will transfer the property to Semá:th First Nation. (Ben Lypka/Abbotsford News)
Ista Oud keeps her eye out for a bog in an area she plans to spend more time in over the next year. (Photo submitted)

Young woman prepares to live remotely in B.C.’s Great Bear Rainforest

Ista Oud, 19, plans to spend a year off-grid in Nuxalk territory

Ista Oud keeps her eye out for a bog in an area she plans to spend more time in over the next year. (Photo submitted)
Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada president Lisa Koperqualuk, Heiltsuk Hereditary Chief Harvey Humchitt, Chief Marilyn, Coun. Maria Martin and traditional leader Rory Housty appear as a delegation before the International Maritime Organization in London, England Monday, March 18. (Heiltsuk Nation photo)

B.C. First Nation shares concerns over oil spills with UN

‘Right now the only losses compensated are economic’: Heiltsuk Chief Marilyn Slett

Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada president Lisa Koperqualuk, Heiltsuk Hereditary Chief Harvey Humchitt, Chief Marilyn, Coun. Maria Martin and traditional leader Rory Housty appear as a delegation before the International Maritime Organization in London, England Monday, March 18. (Heiltsuk Nation photo)
A black bear mother and her two cubs were sighted at Boer Mountain in Burns Lake on Sept. 23, 2023. A BC Greens MLA and the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs are calling on the province to legislate protections for bear dens. (Saddman Zaman/Black Press Media)

BC Greens MLA tables bill to protect bear dens from logging for 3rd time

UVic report finds old growth logging decimating critical hibernation options for B.C.’s black bears

A black bear mother and her two cubs were sighted at Boer Mountain in Burns Lake on Sept. 23, 2023. A BC Greens MLA and the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs are calling on the province to legislate protections for bear dens. (Saddman Zaman/Black Press Media)
The train tracks by Lophet Road is the approximate location of a fuel spill when a VIA passenger train struck a piece of debris, damaging the fuel tank. Seabird Island officials and several other agencies are working on cleanup efforts. (Adam Louis/Observer)

Seabird Island chief hopeful about recovery efforts after train fuel spill

Water shipped in as cleanup commences

The train tracks by Lophet Road is the approximate location of a fuel spill when a VIA passenger train struck a piece of debris, damaging the fuel tank. Seabird Island officials and several other agencies are working on cleanup efforts. (Adam Louis/Observer)
The oil tank owned by Key-West Asphalt after it slid down a slope in Herrling Channel on the Fraser River near Hope. (Ram Environmental)

Oil spill near Hope ‘a regulatory failure,’ say area First Nations

‘We are holding Key-West Asphalt accountable for cleaning up waste oil,’ MOE says after landslide

The oil tank owned by Key-West Asphalt after it slid down a slope in Herrling Channel on the Fraser River near Hope. (Ram Environmental)
Heiltsuk Nation’s herring spawn-on-kelp fishery explained in a short video produced by the nation. (Video screen capture)

B.C. First Nation suing Canadian government over fishery closure

Heiltsuk Nation says the 2022 closure by Fisheries and Oceans Canada undermined its rights

Heiltsuk Nation’s herring spawn-on-kelp fishery explained in a short video produced by the nation. (Video screen capture)