Indigenous

Students Joanne Bob, left, and Yvonne Frenchie receive help with classroom exercises from FEATHERS Society literary program instructor Maureen Robinson on Wednesday, April 20, at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. (Mandy Moraes/News Bulletin)

B.C.-based literacy program for Indigenous elders looks to expand across Canada

Program provides learning opportunities for elders, including residential school survivors

Students Joanne Bob, left, and Yvonne Frenchie receive help with classroom exercises from FEATHERS Society literary program instructor Maureen Robinson on Wednesday, April 20, at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. (Mandy Moraes/News Bulletin)
The original school bell sits atop a monument dedicated to the Indian Residential School at George Gordon First Nation on Wednesday April 20, 2022. The first geophysical investigation of the George Gordon Indian Residential School identified 14 possible burial locations. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Michael Bell

‘Just the beginning’: 14 graves found at former residential school in Saskatchewan

George Gordon First Nation recently wrapped up the first phase of its months-long search

The original school bell sits atop a monument dedicated to the Indian Residential School at George Gordon First Nation on Wednesday April 20, 2022. The first geophysical investigation of the George Gordon Indian Residential School identified 14 possible burial locations. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Michael Bell
Wet’suwet’en supporters and Coastal GasLink opponents continue to protest outside the B.C. Legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday, February 27, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Ottawa feared repeat of 2020 rail blockades before B.C. pipeline arrests last fall

Notes show federal concerns around construction of the 670-kilometre Coastal GasLink pipeline

Wet’suwet’en supporters and Coastal GasLink opponents continue to protest outside the B.C. Legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday, February 27, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
(Black Press Media file)

Coastal First Nation’s clean energy conversion efforts ahead of curve in B.C.

The heat pump project aims to provide the Haiɫzaqv with healthy homes and tackle energy poverty

  • Apr 15, 2022
(Black Press Media file)
Crystal Smith (far left) and husband Raymond Shaw were unable to register their newborn son’s name because it uses Kwak’wala characters. Photo contributed

Province refuses to register B.C. baby’s First Nations name

Registrar General office says λugʷaləs K’ala’ask Shaw contravened Vital Statistics Agency standards

Crystal Smith (far left) and husband Raymond Shaw were unable to register their newborn son’s name because it uses Kwak’wala characters. Photo contributed
A property affected by November flooding of the Nicola River is seen along Highway 8 on the Shackan Indian Band, northwest of Merritt, B.C., on Thursday, March 24, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

After the flood: First Nations along B.C.’s Highway 8 work on recovery

People grapple with tough questions about how best to rebuild after twin climate change disasters

A property affected by November flooding of the Nicola River is seen along Highway 8 on the Shackan Indian Band, northwest of Merritt, B.C., on Thursday, March 24, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A woman holds an eagle feather and red dress as she listens to speakers during National Day of Truth and Reconciliation ceremonies on Parliament Hill September 30, 2021 in Ottawa. Red dresses have become a symbol for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

B.C. announces $5.34 million to combat violence against Indigenous women

Funds will be delivered through the B.C. Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres

A woman holds an eagle feather and red dress as she listens to speakers during National Day of Truth and Reconciliation ceremonies on Parliament Hill September 30, 2021 in Ottawa. Red dresses have become a symbol for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Amanda Vick is part of the first graduating class of the Indigenous law program at the University of Victoria. (Photo courtesy of University of Victoria)

Students of the world’s first Indigenous law program set to graduate in B.C.

Graduates to influence areas of law such as constitutionalism, Indigenous governance

Amanda Vick is part of the first graduating class of the Indigenous law program at the University of Victoria. (Photo courtesy of University of Victoria)
Nicola-Cree Belcourt’s family members hold posters of the young woman near the place in Port Alberni where her body was found on April 2, 2022. Her family is appealing to anyone with information on her death to please come forward. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Family of woman found dead in Port Alberni ‘call her home’ with Indigenous ceremony

Port Alberni RCMP are still looking for video, information into Merritt woman’s death

Nicola-Cree Belcourt’s family members hold posters of the young woman near the place in Port Alberni where her body was found on April 2, 2022. Her family is appealing to anyone with information on her death to please come forward. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Copies of the 2022 federal budget are seen in the media lockup, ahead of the tabling of the federal budget, in Ottawa, on Thursday, April 7, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Budget 2022: Liberals devote $4.3 billion to Indigenous housing needs

Budget also addresses ongoing search for unmarked graves at the former sites of residential schools

Copies of the 2022 federal budget are seen in the media lockup, ahead of the tabling of the federal budget, in Ottawa, on Thursday, April 7, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Maxwell Johnson is seen in Bella Bella, B.C.. The Indigenous man has filed complaints with the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal and the Canadian Human Rights Commission after he and his granddaughter were handcuffed when they tried to open a bank account. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Heiltsuk Nation, Damien Gillis)

Vancouver police officers suspended for handcuffing Indigenous man, granddaughter at BMO

Maxwell Johnson, 12-year-old granddaughter arrested without cause for trying to open bank account

Maxwell Johnson is seen in Bella Bella, B.C.. The Indigenous man has filed complaints with the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal and the Canadian Human Rights Commission after he and his granddaughter were handcuffed when they tried to open a bank account. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Heiltsuk Nation, Damien Gillis)
Grand Chief Clarence (Kat) Pennier. (Sto:lo Tribal Council)

Stólō Tribal Council embarking on interview project for survivors of St. Mary’s Residential School

‘It’s a humongous task, but it needs to be done,’ said Stólō Grand Chief Clarence Pennier

Grand Chief Clarence (Kat) Pennier. (Sto:lo Tribal Council)
University of British Columbia sociology professor, Kimberly Huyser, has been studying the impact of social factors on Indigenous people’s health throughout the pandemic. (UBC website)

Social factors make Indigenous people more vulnerable to COVID, says B.C. professor

Poor access to health care, lack of clean drinking water, among factors

University of British Columbia sociology professor, Kimberly Huyser, has been studying the impact of social factors on Indigenous people’s health throughout the pandemic. (UBC website)
President of Sto:lo Tribal Council Tyrone McNeil (left) and Grand Chief Stewart Phillip at a news conference Tuesday, April 5, 2022, in Vancouver, B.C. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)

Alliance against open-net fish farms calls for feds to follow through on phasing out commitment

First Nations and fishing organizations renew call for feds to move away from current fish farm structure

President of Sto:lo Tribal Council Tyrone McNeil (left) and Grand Chief Stewart Phillip at a news conference Tuesday, April 5, 2022, in Vancouver, B.C. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)
Archbishop Richard Smith shares his observations regarding his trip to Rome, in Edmonton on Monday April 4, 2022. Archbishop Smith was part of the delegation that met with the Pope Francis over the Roman Catholic Church’s role in Canada’s residential school system. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Archbishop says pope wants to repeat his residential school apology on Canadian soil

Archbishop of Edmonton says Pope Francis statement last week just the first step on road to healing

Archbishop Richard Smith shares his observations regarding his trip to Rome, in Edmonton on Monday April 4, 2022. Archbishop Smith was part of the delegation that met with the Pope Francis over the Roman Catholic Church’s role in Canada’s residential school system. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Phil Fontaine, stands outside St. Peter’s Square at the end of a meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, Thursday, March 31, 2022. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

‘Never losing hope:’ Former national chief says apology reflects decades-long fight

It was 13 years ago that Phil Fontaine requested an apology from then-Pope Benedict

Former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Phil Fontaine, stands outside St. Peter’s Square at the end of a meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, Thursday, March 31, 2022. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Members of the Assembly of First Nations perform in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Thursday, March 31, 2022. First Nations, Inuit and Métis delegates are set to have a final meeting with Pope Francis in the Vatican today. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Alessandra Tarantino

Pope Francis apologizes to Indigenous delegates for Canada’s residential schools

‘I want to say to you with all my heart: I am very sorry’

Members of the Assembly of First Nations perform in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Thursday, March 31, 2022. First Nations, Inuit and Métis delegates are set to have a final meeting with Pope Francis in the Vatican today. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Alessandra Tarantino
Former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Phil Fontaine, outside St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Sunday, March 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

‘Hope for change:’ First Nations delegates meet with Pope Francis

Meeting with the head of the Roman Catholic Church lasted two hours rather than scheduled one

Former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Phil Fontaine, outside St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Sunday, March 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
The memorial at the Centennial Flame for children who died at Indian Residential Schools, in Ottawa, on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021. Ottawa is eyeing a five-year timeline to build a national monument to honour survivors of its residential schools system. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Building national monument honouring residential school students to take five years

Ottawa is eyeing a five-year timeline to build a national monument to…

The memorial at the Centennial Flame for children who died at Indian Residential Schools, in Ottawa, on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021. Ottawa is eyeing a five-year timeline to build a national monument to honour survivors of its residential schools system. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is framed by a eagle statue as he visits Tk’emlups te Secwepemc in Kamloops, B.C. Monday, Oct. 18, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

First Nations need long-term funding for residential school investigations: chief

Funding for mental health and well-being of residential school survivors, families, and communities

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is framed by a eagle statue as he visits Tk’emlups te Secwepemc in Kamloops, B.C. Monday, Oct. 18, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward