Tag Archives: Indigenous Services Canada

Frantic escapes, damaged homes and lost time: First Nations hit hardest when wildfire season comes

By Matteo Cimellaro, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Debbie Rupke (Tomma) heard a rattle at her door. It was her cousin in a panic, telling her they had only minutes to leave. Strong winds had shifted, and the Bushcreek fire, which has burned at least 43,084 hectares north of Kelowna so far, was bearing down on their homes. Rupke (Tomma) had returned from Vancouver the day before, so she grabbed her yet-to-be-unpacked suitcase and her most precious memento: a family portrait of her daughter she gave up for adoption at 15.

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RoseAnne Archibald to reveal documents to BC chiefs of alleged corrupt practices at AFN, she says

By Sheri Narine, Windspeaker, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

It’s been a “challenging” 10 days, says RoseAnne Archibald in an extensive interview with Windspeaker.com conducted June 25.

The first woman leader of the largest, best-funded Indigenous organization in the country may or may not have been suspended from her position as national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, but Monday she meets with chiefs in British Columbia, at their invitation, and says she’ll present them with documented evidence of alleged corruption at the AFN.

Continue reading RoseAnne Archibald to reveal documents to BC chiefs of alleged corrupt practices at AFN, she says

NDP MPs push Liberals for action on housing crisis

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Just days after tabling a private members bill that would make decent affordable housing a right for all Canadians, NDP MPs continued to pressure the federal government to address the national housing crisis. They spoke in particular about the horrific state of affairs in Indigenous communities.

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Reclaiming her Indigenous name

Windspeaker, Local Journalism Initiative

For Danita Bilozaze of Łuechok Túe, using her family’s original Indigenous name is an essential part of preserving her connection to culture. So Bilozaze undertook a mission to get her Indigenous family name on all of her official identification, an effort that took many difficult months.

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Budget 2021: Indigenous children & families

By Anna McKenzie,  The Discourse, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Canada’s child-welfare system is broken and “will cost billions to fix,” says Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller

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