Category Archives: Indigenous Nations

Indigenous Nations, Justice

Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation criticizes Alberta government’s approach to border blockade

By Jacob Cardinal, Alberta Native News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

(ANNews) – On February 2, the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief and Council released a statement regarding the current U.S-Canadian border blockade in Coutts, Alberta.

“Over the past several days we have watched in dismay as the border blockade at Coutts, Alberta is allowed to continue without intervention from authorities,” said the statement. “The Critical Infrastructure Defense Act (CIDA), which was passed in 2020, was created in response to Indigenous railway blockades protesting pipeline developments on Indigenous territories.”

“This law was used to end Indigenous blockades — so the question that must be asked is why the blockade at Coutts is allowed to continue?”

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Indigenous Nations, Rivers & Oceans

Food fishery flounders: low returns

qathet Living, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Each year since the Tla’amin salmon hatchery was built in 1977, members of the Nation have received an allotment of food fish.

The food fish program uses salmon that pass through the hatchery, explains Tla’amin hatchery technician Scott Galligos. 

The amount of food fish Tla’amin receives is determined by Tla’amin’s final agreement treaty with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and is based on percentage, fish type, and population. 

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Indigenous languages

Project growing Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw souls through language, land, culture and technology

Windspeaker, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Sara Child, Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw, wants to “unlock” the power of the Kwak̓wala language and, if she and her team are successful, it could mean that other Indigenous peoples will have the keys to revitalize their endangered languages as well.

Child is a professor in Indigenous education at North Island College. The not-for-profit society she established in 2017, the Sanyakola Foundation, has received several years funding (May 2021 to May 2024) through the Mitacs Indigenous Pathways program.

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Indigenous Nations, Justice

Volunteer Terrace executive shares her experience with the restorative justice system

Terrace Standard, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Tracey Davidson never thought that her love for volunteering activities would one day see her leading a volunteering organization.

When she moved to Terrace from North Vancouver in 2011, she joined Volunteer Terrace (VT) as a volunteer community engagement coordinator.

She found herself enjoying volunteer work more and more, and it even helped her through the grieving process when her husband passed away.

Eventually she took up a paid position with the organization and was soon offered the role of interim executive director.

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Indigenous Nations

Human rights complaint filed against City of Terrace, mayor, councillor

Terrace Standard, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Former Terrace Councillor Jessica McCallum-Miller has filed a human rights complaint against the city, mayor and a council member, nearly a year after resigning from her position citing systemic racism.

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