Indigenous

Buffy Sainte-Marie performs at the Toronto International Film Festival’s kick off event in Toronto on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022. CBC says legendary musician Buffy Sainte-Marie’s birth certificate, other documents and details from family members contradict the singer’s claim that she is Indigenous. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Alex Lupul

Documents contradict Buffy Sainte-Marie’s Indigenous heritage: CBC report

Singer called herself ‘a proud member of the Native community with deep roots in Canada’

Buffy Sainte-Marie performs at the Toronto International Film Festival’s kick off event in Toronto on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022. CBC says legendary musician Buffy Sainte-Marie’s birth certificate, other documents and details from family members contradict the singer’s claim that she is Indigenous. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Alex Lupul
Buffy-Sainte Marie arrives to the Toronto International Film Festival’s Tribute Award, in Toronto, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. Sainte-Marie, a musician known for decades of Indigenous activism, says she’s always been honest that she doesn’t know the identity of her birth parents ahead of a CBC report that’s expected to question the icon’s First Nations ancestry. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

‘I know who I am:’ Buffy Sainte-Marie’s Indigenous identity questioned

Iconic singer calls questions hurtful as CBC poised to release probe into her First Nations ancestry

Buffy-Sainte Marie arrives to the Toronto International Film Festival’s Tribute Award, in Toronto, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. Sainte-Marie, a musician known for decades of Indigenous activism, says she’s always been honest that she doesn’t know the identity of her birth parents ahead of a CBC report that’s expected to question the icon’s First Nations ancestry. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Manitoba Regional Chief Cindy Woodhouse, second from right, stands with Sts’ailes First Nation Chief Ralph Leon Jr., left to right, Lake St. Martin First Nation Chief Christopher Traverse, and Elder Leonard Weasel Traveller as they listen to proceeding inside the Federal Court of Canada courtroom in Ottawa on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023. The court is hearing final remarks in what would be landmark child-welfare settlement if it passes. The settlement includes $23 billion in compensation for more than 300,000 children and their families, and another $20 billion to reform the child welfare system. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

$23B Indigenous child welfare settlement gets court approval

More than 300,000 First Nations children and families to be compensated for chronic underfunding

Manitoba Regional Chief Cindy Woodhouse, second from right, stands with Sts’ailes First Nation Chief Ralph Leon Jr., left to right, Lake St. Martin First Nation Chief Christopher Traverse, and Elder Leonard Weasel Traveller as they listen to proceeding inside the Federal Court of Canada courtroom in Ottawa on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023. The court is hearing final remarks in what would be landmark child-welfare settlement if it passes. The settlement includes $23 billion in compensation for more than 300,000 children and their families, and another $20 billion to reform the child welfare system. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Jennifer Bonnell posing with her book Stewards of Splendor: A History of Wildlife and People in British Columbia. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

‘Stewards of Splendor’: new book charts history of B.C.’s people and wildlife

The 496-page book presents B.C. findings from 1774 to the present

Jennifer Bonnell posing with her book Stewards of Splendor: A History of Wildlife and People in British Columbia. (Ella Matte/News Staff)
In this historic photo from the Archives Deschâtelets-NDC, children gather in front of the old Christie Residential School on Meares Island off the west coast of Vancouver Island near Tofino. The date the photo was taken is unknown. (Archives Deschâtelets-NDC)

Scholar debunks residential school denialism and so-called `mass grave hoax’

A Q&A with historian and Indigenous studies professor Sean Carleton

  • Oct 22, 2023
In this historic photo from the Archives Deschâtelets-NDC, children gather in front of the old Christie Residential School on Meares Island off the west coast of Vancouver Island near Tofino. The date the photo was taken is unknown. (Archives Deschâtelets-NDC)
Interim Assembly of First Nations National Chief Joanna Bernard speaks, joined by AFN Quebec-Labrador Regional Chief Ghislain Picard, left, and Nookomis Roberta Oshkabewisens, right, as they launch the AFN National Climate Strategy on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Indigenous leaders call for support in battling Canada’s climate emergency

Assembly of First Nations release strategy, call for collaboration from all levels of government

Interim Assembly of First Nations National Chief Joanna Bernard speaks, joined by AFN Quebec-Labrador Regional Chief Ghislain Picard, left, and Nookomis Roberta Oshkabewisens, right, as they launch the AFN National Climate Strategy on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Members of the Gitxsan Huwilp Government march down Vancouver streets in protest of the RCMP’s C-IRG program (Gitxsan Photo Upload)

Group of B.C. hereditary chiefs want RCMP pipeline policing unit shut down

Gitxsan chiefs march in Vancouver call for ban of RCMP Community-Industry Response Group

Members of the Gitxsan Huwilp Government march down Vancouver streets in protest of the RCMP’s C-IRG program (Gitxsan Photo Upload)
Members of the Sipekne'katik First Nation head from the wharf in Saulnierville, N.S., after launching their own self-regulated fishery on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020. A First Nations chief says his band's self-regulated Indigenous lobster fishery will press ahead today despite opposition from non-Indigenous commercial fishers that erupted in threats and violence this week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

More than 50 Indigenous fish harvesters in the Maritimes charged or on trial

Many plan to argue they have a constitutionally protected treaty right to catch and sell fish

Members of the Sipekne'katik First Nation head from the wharf in Saulnierville, N.S., after launching their own self-regulated fishery on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020. A First Nations chief says his band's self-regulated Indigenous lobster fishery will press ahead today despite opposition from non-Indigenous commercial fishers that erupted in threats and violence this week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
Tseshaht Chief Councillor Ken Watts talks to members of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and Port Alberni Bombers hockey teams, informing them about the First Nation’s history in the area and values. The teams met in mid September, leading up to National Truth and Reconciliation Day on Sept. 30. (Submitted photos)

B.C. First Nation teaching young hockey ‘Dogs new tricks

Alberni’s BCHL, Junior B hockey teams get immersion into Indigenous history, values, and principles

  • Oct 12, 2023
Tseshaht Chief Councillor Ken Watts talks to members of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and Port Alberni Bombers hockey teams, informing them about the First Nation’s history in the area and values. The teams met in mid September, leading up to National Truth and Reconciliation Day on Sept. 30. (Submitted photos)
Small Eyes, a Northern Spotted Owl, at the Spuzzum First Nation’s First Fish Ceremony on July 29, 2023. (Photo credit: Barbara Roden)

Federal government rejects emergency order to protect Northern Spotted Owl habitat

Members of Spuzzum First Nation “furious” at federal government

Small Eyes, a Northern Spotted Owl, at the Spuzzum First Nation’s First Fish Ceremony on July 29, 2023. (Photo credit: Barbara Roden)
The 2023 Point-In-Time Homeless Count took place Wednesday, March 8, 2023. (Oxford Films Media/Special to The News)

1/3 of Metro Vancouver’s unhoused are Indigenous: Report

64% of Indigenous respondents reported having lived or generational experience with residential school

The 2023 Point-In-Time Homeless Count took place Wednesday, March 8, 2023. (Oxford Films Media/Special to The News)
People rally on Parliament Hill on an International Day of Action to Search the Landfills, in Ottawa, on Monday, Sept. 18, 2023. The remains of Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran and another woman named as Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe, or Buffalo Woman, killed by an alleged serial killer, are believed to be in a landfill north of Winnipeg. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Indigenous women, girls killed at rate 6 times higher than non-Indigenous: StatCan

Most Indigenous women and girls were found to be killed by someone they knew, report says

People rally on Parliament Hill on an International Day of Action to Search the Landfills, in Ottawa, on Monday, Sept. 18, 2023. The remains of Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran and another woman named as Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe, or Buffalo Woman, killed by an alleged serial killer, are believed to be in a landfill north of Winnipeg. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
The Squamish Nation has filed a request to the BC Geographical Names Office to change the name of Mount Garibaldi. (Unsplash/Ashwini Chaudhary)

Squamish Nation requests return to traditional name for B.C. mountain peak

Mount Garibaldi known as Nch’ḵay̓ prior to colonization

The Squamish Nation has filed a request to the BC Geographical Names Office to change the name of Mount Garibaldi. (Unsplash/Ashwini Chaudhary)
Kanesatake elders with the Mohawk Mothers group arrive at Superior Court Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Mohawk Mothers worry evidence of bodies at McGill work site will be destroyed

Indigenous group believes there may be unmarked graves at the site

Kanesatake elders with the Mohawk Mothers group arrive at Superior Court Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
People march together at the University of British Columbia for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Vancouver, B.C., Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. The federal statutory holiday recognizes abuses suffered by Inuit, First Nations and Metis people at hundreds of state and church-run residential schools. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

‘A shared responsibility’: quotes from the 3rd Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Hundreds gathered across Canada to mark the day on Saturday

People march together at the University of British Columbia for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Vancouver, B.C., Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. The federal statutory holiday recognizes abuses suffered by Inuit, First Nations and Metis people at hundreds of state and church-run residential schools. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
The Blue Jays logo is pictured ahead of MLB baseball action in Toronto on Wednesday, April 27, 2022. Sgt. Chantal Larocque, who is an officer with the Anishinabek Police Service, sang the national anthem on Saturday as part of the Major League Baseball team’s ceremony for National Truth and Reconciliation Day. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

Indigenous police officer hopes to inspire with trilingual ‘O Canada’ at Jays game

Sgt. Chantal Larocque sang the national anthem for the team’s National Truth and Reconciliation Day ceremony

The Blue Jays logo is pictured ahead of MLB baseball action in Toronto on Wednesday, April 27, 2022. Sgt. Chantal Larocque, who is an officer with the Anishinabek Police Service, sang the national anthem on Saturday as part of the Major League Baseball team’s ceremony for National Truth and Reconciliation Day. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov
The Supreme Court of Canada is seen, Friday, June 16, 2023 in Ottawa. Bill C-92, or An Act Respecting First Nations, Metis and Inuit Children Youth and Families, became law in June 2019. It affirms that Indigenous nations have sole authority of their children and establishes minimum standards in caring for them. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Indigenous groups stand firm with child welfare law before Supreme Court

An Act Respecting First Nations, Metis and Inuit Children Youth and Families became law in June 2019

The Supreme Court of Canada is seen, Friday, June 16, 2023 in Ottawa. Bill C-92, or An Act Respecting First Nations, Metis and Inuit Children Youth and Families, became law in June 2019. It affirms that Indigenous nations have sole authority of their children and establishes minimum standards in caring for them. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Karlene Harvey is the illustrator of the new Every Child Matters children’s book. (Medicine Wheel Publishing photo)

Indigenous artist teams with Orange Shirt Day founder for new children’s book

Phyllis Webstad, Tsilhqot’in artist to bring Every Child Matters to life for children 6 and up

Karlene Harvey is the illustrator of the new Every Child Matters children’s book. (Medicine Wheel Publishing photo)
Fresh produce is shown at a market in Toronto on Wednesday Feb. 2, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Food insecurity a ‘public health crisis’ for B.C.’s Indigenous kids

Food costs hurting First Nations children at disproportionately high levels here and across Canada

Fresh produce is shown at a market in Toronto on Wednesday Feb. 2, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
The Nisg̱a’a Nation’s flag is laid across the exterior of the custom-built crate that houses the House of Ni’isjoohl Memorial Pole onto a plane in the United Kingdom on Sept. 14. (Master Corporal Nicolas Alonso, Canadian Armed Forces, via House of Ni’isjoohl/Nisg̱a’a Lisims Government)

Nisga’a pole return marks global landmark in reconciliation reckoning

Return to B.C. from Scottish museum could mark new chapter in post-colonial relationships

The Nisg̱a’a Nation’s flag is laid across the exterior of the custom-built crate that houses the House of Ni’isjoohl Memorial Pole onto a plane in the United Kingdom on Sept. 14. (Master Corporal Nicolas Alonso, Canadian Armed Forces, via House of Ni’isjoohl/Nisg̱a’a Lisims Government)