Category Archives: Indigenous Nations

Indigenous Nations, Rivers & Oceans

2014’s weather was even weirder than 2021’s, in this coastal BC town

qathet Living, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

It was a stormy October night in 2014, when a massive flash flood raged over the Tla’amin salmon hatchery. 

Logs, leaves and mud clogged the hatchery river fencing. The river overflowed into the protected area. “It was actually very similar to the downpour we received just a few weeks ago,” says Scott Galligos, a Tla’amin hatchery technician. “The flood itself lasted just about 48 hours. There was a lot of salmon escapement.” 

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Forests, Indigenous Nations

Unfinished business between First Nations and Catalyst Paper Excellence

qathet Living, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

“We are working closely with the Hegus John Hackett and the Tla’amin Executive Council to ensure the steps we take in building this new relationship are thoughtful and measured.” 

That’s what Catalyst Paper Excellence stated in a media release on September 24, 2021, when the company announced the re-naming of the local mill to Catalyst tiskwat.

Less than three months later, on December 1, Catalyst made another announcement: the indefinite curtailment of this mill.

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Indigenous Nations, Justice

First Nation leaders say BC implementation of UNDRIP is too slow

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

(ANNews) – It has been two years since British Columbia passed legislation requiring the government to align the entirety of its laws with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). However, despite the legislation, the change seen is extremely limited.

The mandate requires a huge undertaking that involves updating over 5,000 provincial laws. Two major changes announced by the province are: an amendment of the Interpretation Act and an amendment to the B.C Human Rights Code.

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Indigenous Nations, Justice

Incarceration Rates For Canadians Drop While Indigenous Incarceration Rates Rise

Over-representation of Indigenous people in correctional settings remains one of Canada’s most pressing human rights issues, and is evidence of public policy failures over successive decades as no government has been able to stop or reverse this trend,” said the Correctional Investigator.

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

(ANNews) – On December 17, 2021, the Office of the Correctional Investigator released a report detailing Canada’s incarceration rates for Indigenous and non-indigenous people.

It found that First Nation, Metis, and Inuit women are grossly over-represented in the Canadian prison system and will soon comprise 50% of all federally-sentenced women in the country.

Continue reading Incarceration Rates For Canadians Drop While Indigenous Incarceration Rates Rise →
Disaster, Indigenous Nations

Social inequities put Indigenous communities at greater flood risk, study finds

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A recent study has identified Indigenous communities that are “hot spots” for flood risk in Canada, which can help senior levels of government shape and prioritize flood management strategies in line with social equity and environmental justice.A recent study has identified Indigenous communities that are “hot spots” for flood risk in Canada, which can help senior levels of government shape and prioritize flood management strategies in line with social equity and environmental justice.

A total of 40 risk hot spots were identified in the University of Waterloo study among 360 Indigenous reserves, with the highest number of hot spots located in B.C. at 13 and in Ontario with 10.

Continue reading Social inequities put Indigenous communities at greater flood risk, study finds →