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Indigenous Nations

DRIPA: Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council Says Its Time to Set the Record Straight!

Press release from the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council

April 14, 2026– Hupacasath and Tseshaht Territories, Port Alberni, BC
The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council (NTC) is relieved to hear that amendments to DRIPA are paused while the Premier looks for support with chiefs and opposition MLA’s. We know it is not because he is listening to the First Nations who have spoken out against amending DRIPA but rather his need to find enough MLAs to support his amendments. The premier needs to drop this initiative.

NTC says to the Premier, now it is time to work with First Nations and find solutions to what he feels is a huge problem. We would like good faith negotiations in person and no negotiating through the media. Also no short meetings and turn around times to respond to BC’s position. We want co-developed solutions. NTC has always been willing to look at options other than amending DRIPA.

Continue reading DRIPA: Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council Says Its Time to Set the Record Straight! →
Health

BC’s Toxic Drug Crisis Hits a Grim 10-Year Anniversary

By Michelle Gamage, The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

It’s been four and a half years since Jane McCormick’s son, Jeff, was killed by unregulated drugs. Were he alive, he would have just celebrated his 40th birthday with his two kids.

McCormick said that for the first three years she was filled with sadness. And then she started to get mad.

She’s mad because Jeff’s death, just like the more than 18,179 British Columbians killed by unregulated drugs since April 14, 2016, was preventable.

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Rivers & Oceans

Ottawa’s renewed salmon funding spawns both hope and skepticism

By Sonal Gupta, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Ottawa’s $412-million salmon recovery program offers a lifeline to BC’s struggling fisheries — but comes at the same time budget cuts are dismantling monitoring systems conservationists, experts and First Nations say are essential to protect them.

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Indigenous Nations History

Hots Docs to screen film documenting endeavour to change “horrific” city name

By Sam Laskaris, Windspeaker, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A documentary about a First Nation’s request to have the name of Powell River, B.C. changed will have its world debut at Toronto’s Hot Docs Festival this month.

The film, titled təm kʷaθ nan – Namesake, features interviews with members of the Tla’amin Nation, who have spent years attempting to get the name of its neighbouring city altered. According to Tla’amin belief, as stated in the film’s trailer, names carry history, teachings and responsibilities. Powell River gets its name from Israel Wood Powell, who served as B.C.’s superintendent of Indian Affairs for 17 years from 1872 to 1889.

Powell played a key role in the establishment of Indian residential schools. He also had a role in banning the potlach and in the theft of portions of Tla’amin Nation lands.

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Energy

BC comes under fire after cutting fees on LNG, pipeline projects

By Sonal Gupta, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

BC’s energy regulator is weakening oversight at a time when it should be making it stronger, according to environmentalists, Indigenous leaders and public‑health experts in the province.

The BC Energy Regulator (BCER), a Crown corporation funded largely by the companies it oversees, recently lowered levies for LNG Canada, Woodfibre LNG and the Coastal GasLink pipeline. The fees are collected “to meet [BCER’s] regulatory obligations and recover expenses,” the regulator says on its website.

LNG Canada’s annual levy fell from $900,000 to $600,000, Woodfibre’s from $2.5 million to $1.4 million and Coastal GasLink’s per‑kilometre charge dropped from $1,700 to $420.

Continue reading BC comes under fire after cutting fees on LNG, pipeline projects →