Category Archives: Indigenous Nations

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.

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Indigenous Nations, Transportation

North Vancouver Island intercity buses on hold: COVID-19

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Small rural communities on Vancouver Island are under strain and individual and community health is at risk with the continued lack of intercity bus service on Vancouver Island, service providers say.

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Health, Indigenous Nations

COVID’s impact on an Indigenous family

the Discourse, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

COVID-19 has impacted everyone — Elders, parents, youth, and children — in different ways. For some families who divide their time between communities, closures and lockdowns have made connecting difficult. However many have inspiring resilience. The Atleo family is one of them.

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Indigenous Nations, Politics

An Indigenous author explains Why the Indian Act must go

Campbell River Mirror, Local Journalism Reporter

Last week in a virtual Q & A session, Indigenous author Bob Joseph was asked “How will people know that they’ve achieved reconciliation?”

Joseph answered, “When people are at peace with the past.”

The first step is moving away from the Indian Act, according to Joseph, who advocates for First Nations heading towards self-governance, self-reliance and self-determination.

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Indigenous Nations History

Folk U: The Secret behind Tribal Societies

2/5/21 Folk U 101 Show: The Secret Behind Tribal Secret Societies

Secret societies were relatively common in the tribal world that Europeans encountered and documented, including the Northwest Coast.  They embodied some of the most awe-inspiring events in the cultures of traditional societies with mystifying public displays of magic and occult powers. as well as profane powers.  Masked spirits appeared and demonstrated their powers as well.  The feasts held for initiates were the most important and lavish events for many families.   

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