Indigenous

Assembly of First Nations former chief Phil Fontaine, center, stands outside St. Peter’s Square at the end of a meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, Thursday, March 31, 2022. Residential school survivors met with Roman Catholic bishops today to discuss what they expect from Pope Francis’ visit to Canada next month.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Andrew Medichini

Residential school survivors tell bishops their expectations of Pope Francis’s visit

Group of residential school survivors wants the papal visit expanded to more locations

Assembly of First Nations former chief Phil Fontaine, center, stands outside St. Peter’s Square at the end of a meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, Thursday, March 31, 2022. Residential school survivors met with Roman Catholic bishops today to discuss what they expect from Pope Francis’ visit to Canada next month.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Andrew Medichini
The idea for the new Table Talks program, which aims to bring non-Indigenous and Indigenous community members together to have meaningful conversations about reconciliation, was sparked by a conversation between Kim English (left) and Kelly Terbasket, the Syilx Okanagan director of IndigenEYEZ. (Submitted)

Table Talks aims to bring South Okanagan Similkameen together to talk reconciliation

The project is by IndigenEYEZ and the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen

The idea for the new Table Talks program, which aims to bring non-Indigenous and Indigenous community members together to have meaningful conversations about reconciliation, was sparked by a conversation between Kim English (left) and Kelly Terbasket, the Syilx Okanagan director of IndigenEYEZ. (Submitted)
Artwork by Métis artist Jean Paul Langlois for Brenda Knights and Jason Bothe’s skateboard brand, Bentwood Skateboards. (Contributed photo)

B.C. couple commissions Indigenous art for skateboards

Brenda Knights and Jason Bothe run initiatives to get Indigenous youths skateboarding

Artwork by Métis artist Jean Paul Langlois for Brenda Knights and Jason Bothe’s skateboard brand, Bentwood Skateboards. (Contributed photo)
Recent UBC graduate Aiyana Twigg won the 2022 Lieutenant Governor’s medal for inclusion, democracy and reconciliation. (Courtesy of Aiyana Twigg)

UBC student wins Lieutenant-Governor medal for work on Indigenous language revitalization

Aiyana Twigg helps under-resourced communities to develop their own dictionaries, among other things

Recent UBC graduate Aiyana Twigg won the 2022 Lieutenant Governor’s medal for inclusion, democracy and reconciliation. (Courtesy of Aiyana Twigg)
Shirley Ann Soosay, from Samson Cree Nation, Alta., is seen in an undated handout photo. Soosay's remains were buried in a California cemetery in 1980. On Friday, they are expected to return to her community about 43 years after she was last heard from. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Violet Soosay, *MANDATORY CREDIT*

‘Always hope’: Remains of Cree woman sent home to Alberta decades after disappearance

‘Now there’s closure, there’s healing that can start happening’

Shirley Ann Soosay, from Samson Cree Nation, Alta., is seen in an undated handout photo. Soosay's remains were buried in a California cemetery in 1980. On Friday, they are expected to return to her community about 43 years after she was last heard from. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Violet Soosay, *MANDATORY CREDIT*
The newly constructed arbor can fit 300 people and replaces the old structure that was decommissioned in 2018. (OKIB photo)

‘Building a sense of community’: Okanagan Indian Band unveils new cultural arbor

The band is hosting a celebration for the new structure, after its previous arbor was decommissioned in 2018

The newly constructed arbor can fit 300 people and replaces the old structure that was decommissioned in 2018. (OKIB photo)
The former Kamloops Indian Residential School is seen in Kamloops, B.C., on Tuesday, June 1, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Trudeau faces chants, pounding drums as he walks through crowd at Kamloops memorial

Prime Minister gets stern reception at a daylong memorial held at the nation’s PowWow Arbor

The former Kamloops Indian Residential School is seen in Kamloops, B.C., on Tuesday, June 1, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Kamloops Indian Residential School survivor Camille Kenoras holds eagle feathers as she laughs during a ceremony to mark the one-year anniversary of the TkÕemlœps te SecwŽpemc announcement of the detection of the remains of 215 children at an unmarked burial site at the former residential school, in Kamloops, B.C., on Monday, May 23, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

215: Memorial honours unmarked graves found 1 year ago at former Kamloops residential school

Governor General Mary Simon, Canada’s first Indigenous person in the role, attended the event

  • May 23, 2022
Kamloops Indian Residential School survivor Camille Kenoras holds eagle feathers as she laughs during a ceremony to mark the one-year anniversary of the TkÕemlœps te SecwŽpemc announcement of the detection of the remains of 215 children at an unmarked burial site at the former residential school, in Kamloops, B.C., on Monday, May 23, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The BC Prosecution Service announced a number of policy changes May 20, aimed at bettering the justice system for Indigenous people. (Credit: Cliff MacArthur/provincialcourt.bc.ca)

New BC Prosecution document guides against excessive incarceration of Indigenous people

Prosecutors reminded to always consider impacts of colonialism, residential schools

The BC Prosecution Service announced a number of policy changes May 20, aimed at bettering the justice system for Indigenous people. (Credit: Cliff MacArthur/provincialcourt.bc.ca)
People are silhouetted as they walk past the former Kamloops Indian Residential School after gathering to honour the 215 children whose remains have been discovered buried near the facility, in Kamloops, B.C., on Monday, May 31, 2021. The year since the the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nation announced that ground-penetrating radar had located the suspected grave sites in a former apple orchard has been one of national reckoning about residential schools in Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

A year of trauma, catharsis and finally peace for some survivors of Kamloops school

215 suspected unmarked graves were found at the former residential school in May 2021

People are silhouetted as they walk past the former Kamloops Indian Residential School after gathering to honour the 215 children whose remains have been discovered buried near the facility, in Kamloops, B.C., on Monday, May 31, 2021. The year since the the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nation announced that ground-penetrating radar had located the suspected grave sites in a former apple orchard has been one of national reckoning about residential schools in Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A young girl drums during a healing ceremony in town square to honour Chantel Moore in Edmundston, N.B. on Saturday, June 13, 2020. Moore was a 26-year-old Indigenous woman who was fatally shot by police in Edmundston on June 4. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Stephen MacGillivray

Chantel Moore inquest coroner jury says police use-of-force policy needs review

B.C. Indigenous woman shot dead by an officer in New Brunswick in 2020 during a wellness check

A young girl drums during a healing ceremony in town square to honour Chantel Moore in Edmundston, N.B. on Saturday, June 13, 2020. Moore was a 26-year-old Indigenous woman who was fatally shot by police in Edmundston on June 4. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Stephen MacGillivray
Tk’emlups te Secwepemc Chief Rosanne Casimir stands outside the former Kamloops Indian Residential School after speaking to reporters, in Kamloops, B.C., on Friday, June 4, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Chief sees process of ‘exhumation to memorialization’ at Kamloops graves site

Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nation mission: bringing the missing children home

Tk’emlups te Secwepemc Chief Rosanne Casimir stands outside the former Kamloops Indian Residential School after speaking to reporters, in Kamloops, B.C., on Friday, June 4, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The Canadian flag flies at half mast over the Peace tower and parliament buildings Friday, Oct. 22, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Residential school survivors didn’t want to ‘wear’ decision to raise flag: documents

Period after discovery of unmarked graves marked longest time in Canadian history flags at half-mast

The Canadian flag flies at half mast over the Peace tower and parliament buildings Friday, Oct. 22, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Const. Jeremy Son arrives at the coroner’s inquest into the death of Chantel Moore in Fredericton, Tuesday, May 17, 2022. An expert in Canadian policing says the New Brunswick police officer who fatally shot a 26-year-old Indigenous woman during a wellness check two years ago was following police training and practices. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kevin Bissett

Expert says police officer who fatally shot B.C. woman was right to use lethal force

Inquest testimony: Chantel Moore had the ability to inflict grievous harm or death

Const. Jeremy Son arrives at the coroner’s inquest into the death of Chantel Moore in Fredericton, Tuesday, May 17, 2022. An expert in Canadian policing says the New Brunswick police officer who fatally shot a 26-year-old Indigenous woman during a wellness check two years ago was following police training and practices. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kevin Bissett
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada David Lametti photographed in Ottawa, Dec. 7, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

Justice minister meeting with B.C. Indigenous leaders in Chilliwack as ‘trust-building exercise’

‘It’s important to see the sites,’ Minister David Lametti said of residential school site tour

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada David Lametti photographed in Ottawa, Dec. 7, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)
Photos of Chantel Moore are displayed at the coroner’s inquest into her death in Fredericton, Tuesday, May 17, 2022. The police officer who fatally shot a 26-year-old Indigenous woman during a wellness check in Edmundston, N.B., two years ago says he doesn't know why things escalated so quickly. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kevin Bissett

Officer who killed B.C. Indigenous woman during wellness check testifies at inquest

Edmundston police Const. Jeremy Son doesn’t know why things escalated so quickly

Photos of Chantel Moore are displayed at the coroner’s inquest into her death in Fredericton, Tuesday, May 17, 2022. The police officer who fatally shot a 26-year-old Indigenous woman during a wellness check in Edmundston, N.B., two years ago says he doesn't know why things escalated so quickly. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kevin Bissett
A group of youths lead a group drumming and singing at sunset outside the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, to honour the lives of those suspected to be buried in unmarked graves near the facility, in Kamloops, B.C., on Friday, June 4, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Unmarked graves finding triggered Canada’s year of reckoning over residential schools

Country confronts the legacy of its residential school system for Indigenous children

A group of youths lead a group drumming and singing at sunset outside the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, to honour the lives of those suspected to be buried in unmarked graves near the facility, in Kamloops, B.C., on Friday, June 4, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, arrive in St. John’s to begin a three-day Canadian tour, Tuesday, May 17, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Prince Charles offers remarks about reconciliation as Canadian tour begins

Gov. Gen. Mary Simon welcomed Charles and Camilla to Canada in Inuktitut

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, arrive in St. John’s to begin a three-day Canadian tour, Tuesday, May 17, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Catherine McCarthy-Martin holds a yellow rose in honour of her niece Chantel Moore during a healing gathering at the B.C. legislature in Victoria on Thursday, June 18, 2020. A jury of three women and two men has been chosen in the coroner’s inquest into the death of Chantel Moore — a 26-year-old Indigenous woman fatally shot by police in Edmundston, N.B., during a wellness check on June 4, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Mother of Chantel Moore tells inquest about night N.B. police shot her daughter

Inquest underway into what happened the 2020 night Tla-o-qui-aht mom was shot and killed by police

Catherine McCarthy-Martin holds a yellow rose in honour of her niece Chantel Moore during a healing gathering at the B.C. legislature in Victoria on Thursday, June 18, 2020. A jury of three women and two men has been chosen in the coroner’s inquest into the death of Chantel Moore — a 26-year-old Indigenous woman fatally shot by police in Edmundston, N.B., during a wellness check on June 4, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Pictures of Chantel Moore, are held by family and friends during a healing gathering at the B.C. Legislature in Victoria on Thursday, June 18, 2020. The lawyer for the family of Chantel Moore says it’s hoped a coroner’s inquest that starts Monday in Fredericton can determine exactly what happened the day — almost two years ago — the 26-year-old Indigenous woman was shot and killed by police in Edmundston, N.B. during a wellness check.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Inquest to begin in N.B. police shooting of Indigenous woman during wellness check

Chantel Moore had recently moved from B.C. to New Brunswick to be closer to family

Pictures of Chantel Moore, are held by family and friends during a healing gathering at the B.C. Legislature in Victoria on Thursday, June 18, 2020. The lawyer for the family of Chantel Moore says it’s hoped a coroner’s inquest that starts Monday in Fredericton can determine exactly what happened the day — almost two years ago — the 26-year-old Indigenous woman was shot and killed by police in Edmundston, N.B. during a wellness check.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito