-
Jan 16, 2025 | 
aptnnews.ca | Leanne Sanders
A retired teacher in the Mountain View School Division in Manitoba says he’s “disgusted” after learning that the song, God Save the King, is being reinstated in its schools. Cam Bennet of Dauphin, taught school for 33 years and just learned of a directive sent out to school administrators on Thursday. He says the practice hasn’t been in place in decades.
-
Jan 14, 2025 | 
aptnnews.ca | Leanne Sanders
Climate activists in B.C. are giving the province a failing grade on a number of fronts relating to energy. The B.C. Climate Emergency Campaign (BCCEC) released it’s 2024 progress report Tuesday. The campaign is calling on B.C. to implement 10 urgent climate actions which it says have been endorsed by 600 groups across the province. The BCCEC says it is tracking the province’s progress on issues such as fossil fuel expansion, building electrification, public transit and biodiversity protection.
-
Jan 10, 2025 | 
aptnnews.ca | Leanne Sanders
News that the Chiefs of Ontario (COO) and Nishnawbe Askiy Nation (NAN) are moving ahead on a child welfare settlement with the federal government is not sitting well with some experts in the field. “Nothing surprises me with Canada,” said Mary Teegee, chair of the BC Indigenous Directors Forum with Our Children Our Way. “I was a bit appalled that they would actually take that route.
-
Dec 9, 2024 | 
aptnnews.ca | Leanne Sanders
With the first sentencing of one of four people charged with murder in connection with the 2020 killing of Megan Gallagher in Saskatoon, her family is now girding for three more trials in the new year. On Friday, Robert (Bobby) James Thomas was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 18 years after being convicted of second-degree murder. Thomas was originally charged with first-degree murder, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge in October.
-
Dec 5, 2024 | 
aptnnews.ca | Leanne Sanders
Smudge was offered in the convention hall as mothers who’ve lost their children in violent police interactions wept telling their stories to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the AFN special chiefs assembly in Ottawa. The crowd stood in respect for the women as they spoke while repeated cries of “shame” could be heard throughout the room. The grief over losing her son Jon Wells is still fresh for the Blood Tribe’s Edith Wells.
-
Dec 4, 2024 | 
aptnnews.ca | Mark Blackburn |Leanne Sanders
Chiefs meeting in Ottawa at the Assembly of First Nations gathering have voted to kickstart a new round of negotiations to reform the on reserve child welfare system with the federal government and have the AFN issue a public apology to First Nations child welfare agencies. In a resolution that passed without any amendments, chiefs voted to direct the AFN executive to put Canada on notice that reforms need to happen and that discrimination must end.
-
Dec 4, 2024 | 
aptnnews.ca | Leanne Sanders
The chief of Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation in British Columbia says he was saddened to leave his career as a police officer with the RCMP but the racism was too much to handle. Jerry Jack, who is attending a gathering of chiefs at the Assembly of First Nations in Ottawa, told APTN News he was an RCMP officer in B.C. for 17 years starting in 1996 but racism from some commanders and fellow officers ultimately led to him leaving the force. “I was saddened to leave.
-
Dec 3, 2024 | 
aptnnews.ca | Leanne Sanders
The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations spoke of unity within the national organization as the organization’s annual December meeting kicked off in Ottawa. “There’s so much work ahead, but by strengthening our relations — (being) united — we can do anything together,” Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said during her opening remarks. But Woodhouse Nepinak said little to address the controversy surrounding her handling of the child welfare deal with Ottawa.
-
Nov 26, 2024 | 
aptnnews.ca | Leanne Sanders
After laying him to rest just five days ago, Eugene Joseph’s partner still finds it difficult to talk about him. Joseph, 47, a member of Tl’azt’en First Nation, died Nov. 11, just days after being taken into the custody of Prince George RCMP. Dawn Agno told APTN News that Joseph had been her partner for about two years. “They call him Duncan up here, but I’ve only known him as Eugene,” she said. “To me, he was very kind, very generous. He always tried to help the people on the street.
-
Nov 25, 2024 | 
aptnnews.ca | Leanne Sanders
The police watchdog in British Columbia is looking into the in-custody death of a First Nations man in Prince George in northern B.C.The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of BC is investigating the death of Eugene Joseph, 47, of Tl’azt’en First Nation just a few days after he was arrested by members of the RCMP. According to his common-law wife, Dawn Agno, Joseph was a day school survivor and an intergenerational survivor of residential school.
