Tag Archives: Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond

Indigenous Nations, Women

sɛƛakəs Harmony Johnson: Lead with your values

Originally published on qathet Living

Tla’amin Nation’s Harmony Johnson has dedicated her professional life to making change. Because so much has to change. 

The consultant, who lives between Tsleil-Waututh Territory and Tishosum, has been behind some of the biggest moments in reconciliation in qathet, BC and across Canada. They include working on the Tla’amin treaty; recording elders speaking ayajuthem; leading policy work with the First Nations Summit and First Nations Leadership Council; shaping and launching the First Nations Health Authority; writing Written as I Remember It with her grandmother, Elsie Paul; and authoring “They Sigh or Give You the Look: Discrimination and Status Card Usage” on behalf of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs – in response to the handcuffing assault by police of Maxwell Johnson and his 12-year-old granddaughter in a Vancouver bank. 

And so much more. 

Continue reading sɛƛakəs Harmony Johnson: Lead with your values →
Indigenous Nations, Justice

Advocates question RCMP’s role in recent deaths of Indigenous peoples

By Philip McLachlan,  The Discourse, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Content warning: This story mentions self-harm and police response to a distress call, as well as content about police violence against Indigenous people. Please read with care.

Advocates are demanding a public inquiry following the death of a Williams Lake First Nation (WLFN) man who died after RCMP were called to his home — the latest plea for systemic reform to a police force which one chief says has an “inherent bloodlust against people of colour.”

Rojun Alphonse’s family called officers to his apartment early in the morning on July 10 because they were concerned that he was going to harm himself — but instead of calming the man in distress, the RCMP showed up to “terrorize” Alphonse with tear gas, automatic weapons, body armour and armed vehicles, said WLFN Chief Willie Sellars.

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Indigenous Nations

Systemic racism in Canada’s healthcare system persists

By Melissa Renwick, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

In effort to address ongoing critical gaps in our understanding of Indigenous health, Edgewood Health Network (EHN Canada) hosted an online webinar on March 10 to highlight the disparities in healthcare access among Indigenous peoples living in urban centres. 

Hosted by Celina Sqwasulwut Williams, a spiritual advisor at Ravenswood Consulting, participants were guided through the current state of the healthcare system and how it needs to improve its diversity and inclusion measures for Indigenous communities.

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Indigenous Nations, Justice

New BC bills welcomed, but UNDRIP implementation moving at a snail’s pace

By Shari Narine, Windspeaker, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Two bills introduced in the British Columbia legislature on Nov. 17 illustrate the province is heading in the right direction, say two First Nations leaders.

However, both BC Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee and Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs president Grand Chief Stewart Phillip say more political will is needed to move the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples forward at a faster pace.

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Health, Indigenous Nations

Workers tackling anti-Indigenous racism: scapegoating and ‘backlash’ at Island Health

By Odette Auger, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, also Lindsay Sample and Emilee Gilpin, the Discourse

Several current and former staff at Island Health are raising concerns after what they say has been a dismantling of the Indigenous Health department’s cultural safety facilitation team.

The staff allege that during the province’s 2020 investigation into Indigenous-specific racism in the health care system detrimental changes were made to their team. This included the firing of long-time cultural safety facilitator and then-Acting South Island Manager of Indigenous Health, Yvette Ringham-Cowan.

Continue reading Workers tackling anti-Indigenous racism: scapegoating and ‘backlash’ at Island Health →