First Nations

Butterflies in Spirit founder Lorelei Williams (left), UBCIC representative Louisa Housty-Jones, and BCAFN representative Melissa Moses speak at a panel on ending violence against women in Vancouver on Nov. 24, 2022. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)

UBCIC, BCAFN call on VPD to release video of officers mocking sexual harassment

Officers filmed video while uniformed and on-duty, spread it throughout department

 

The Raincoast Conservation Foundation led a study of contaminants in the water of the Sumas Lake area following the November 2021 floods. The findings were released Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022. (Alex Harris/Raincoast Conservation Foundation)

Painkillers, pesticides and cocaine among contaminants found in Fraser Valley floodwaters

Study of water samples raises ‘fundamental questions’ about health of people and fish

 

Discrimination is a near ubiquitous experience for status First Nations in B.C. when they use their status cards, a Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs-commissioned study found. (Screenshot/They Sigh or Give You the Look: Discrimination and Status Card Usage report)

Racism when using First Nations status cards a ‘near-universal experience’: UBCIC study

All but 4 survey respondents reported discrimination when using status card in B.C.

 

Sierra Chi?ela William, right, sits with her grandmother Eileen William, after receiving her sash as a finalist for Miss Canada Petite Global. (Credit: Roger William)

B.C. woman hoping to bring Miss Canada Globe Petite title to Xeni Gwet’in Nation

Sierra Chi?ela William competes for pageant title in Toronto

Sierra Chi?ela William, right, sits with her grandmother Eileen William, after receiving her sash as a finalist for Miss Canada Petite Global. (Credit: Roger William)
A defaced road sign of a logging truck is seen near the protest site of Fairy Creek on southern Vancouver Island on Oct. 4, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

BC Supreme Court rejects old growth protesters application to combine their cases

Application called for court to join and stay proceedings due to RCMP’s “alleged systemic misconduct”

A defaced road sign of a logging truck is seen near the protest site of Fairy Creek on southern Vancouver Island on Oct. 4, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Deemed as an historic milestone for conservation, it was the result fo a partnership between the provincial Spotted Owl Breeding and Release Program and Spuzzum First Nation. (BC Gov News)

Wild B.C. population of critically endangered spotted owl jumps from 1 to 4

Conservation made possible due to partnership between Spuzzum First Nation and provincial government

Deemed as an historic milestone for conservation, it was the result fo a partnership between the provincial Spotted Owl Breeding and Release Program and Spuzzum First Nation. (BC Gov News)
Mary Brown, program coordinator for the Heiltsuk Gvi’las Restorative Justice Department, is developing a new program for at-risk young women in Bella Bella using $100,000 from a human rights complaint settlement with the Vancouver Police Board. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)

Police settlement with Heiltsuk grandfather to fund new program for at-risk young women

Vancouver Police Board will contribute $100,000 to the Nation’s restorative justice department

Mary Brown, program coordinator for the Heiltsuk Gvi’las Restorative Justice Department, is developing a new program for at-risk young women in Bella Bella using $100,000 from a human rights complaint settlement with the Vancouver Police Board. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)
Alvin First Rider, an environmental technician with Blood Tribe land management, works to build a beaver dam analog in a dry creek bed on the Kainai First Nation in southern Alberta as part of work to protect grasslands and watersheds near Stand Off, Alta., on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Climate Changed: First Nation balances Western science with traditional knowledge

One method involves mimicking the work of beavers to better control the water supply

Alvin First Rider, an environmental technician with Blood Tribe land management, works to build a beaver dam analog in a dry creek bed on the Kainai First Nation in southern Alberta as part of work to protect grasslands and watersheds near Stand Off, Alta., on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Archaeology crews have discovered a roasting pit feature at the Boitanio Mall site where excavation is underway to replace a sewer pipe. (Brandon Hoffman photo)

Archaeology crews unearth fire pit, roasting pit at Williams Lake mall excavation site

‘The roasting pit is super significant because we rarely find them,’ said Whitney Spearing.

Archaeology crews have discovered a roasting pit feature at the Boitanio Mall site where excavation is underway to replace a sewer pipe. (Brandon Hoffman photo)
FILE – Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, then B.C. Representative for Children and Youth, speaks to a reporter in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday, Nov. 13, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

UBCIC backs Turpel-Lafond after investigation questions her Indigenous heritage

It is up to Indigenous communities to determine who belongs, not media, union says

FILE – Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, then B.C. Representative for Children and Youth, speaks to a reporter in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday, Nov. 13, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Terry Teegee, regional Chief of the B.C. Assembly of First Nations speaks at a meeting between Canada's premiers and Indigenous leaders at the Songhees Wellness Centre on July 1. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

New First Nations centre coming to B.C. to give economic development guidance

Centre will look at how to better benefit from sectors such as forestry, mining and natural gas

Terry Teegee, regional Chief of the B.C. Assembly of First Nations speaks at a meeting between Canada's premiers and Indigenous leaders at the Songhees Wellness Centre on July 1. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
“A Mother’s Cry” is so revered in Nisga’a culture that only the Gitmaxmak’ay Nisga’a Society dancers are permitted to perform musical narration, as seen at Salmon Fest in June 2022.

‘A Mothers Cry’ heard across B.C.’s northwest captures the pain of separation and loss

Hallowed Nisga’a song shares the anguish of stolen children and mothers’ arms left empty

“A Mother’s Cry” is so revered in Nisga’a culture that only the Gitmaxmak’ay Nisga’a Society dancers are permitted to perform musical narration, as seen at Salmon Fest in June 2022.
Orange Shirt Day founder Phyllis Webstad from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation lives in Williams Lake, B.C. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Orange Shirt Society founder hopeful for future of Indigenous families

B.C.’s Phyllis Webstad will be at Niagara Falls for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Orange Shirt Day founder Phyllis Webstad from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation lives in Williams Lake, B.C. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
B.C. premier John Horgan, left, and five ministers met with the Tŝilhqot’in Nation in the Xeni Gwet’in caretaker area Sept. 21 and 22. (B.C. government photo)

Tŝilhqot’in title lands crux of two-day meeting with Indigenous leaders, premier, ministers

Premier John Horgan, five ministers met with the Tŝilhqot’in Nation at Nemiah Valley Lodge

B.C. premier John Horgan, left, and five ministers met with the Tŝilhqot’in Nation in the Xeni Gwet’in caretaker area Sept. 21 and 22. (B.C. government photo)
Quatsino First Nation’s community hall was full on Tuesday evening as BHP made a public apology to the nation regarding the Island Copper Mine’s operations. (Tyson Whitney - North Island Gazette)

Global firm apologizes to B.C. First Nation for damage caused by copper mine

Decommissioned open pit mine was located in Quatsino First Nation traditional territory

Quatsino First Nation’s community hall was full on Tuesday evening as BHP made a public apology to the nation regarding the Island Copper Mine’s operations. (Tyson Whitney - North Island Gazette)
Intensive Support & Resource worker Nick Bello, (left), Pat Giasson (team leader Youth Probation - MCFD); Jaylene Thompson; Trevin Charlie, Shayla Malloway-Seward, and Envy Malloway-Seward.

Mentorship program for Stó:lō youth comes of age after a decade

‘Indigenous grad rates in Chilliwack went from 55% to 79%’ due to programs like Mémiyelhtel

Intensive Support & Resource worker Nick Bello, (left), Pat Giasson (team leader Youth Probation - MCFD); Jaylene Thompson; Trevin Charlie, Shayla Malloway-Seward, and Envy Malloway-Seward.
Apprentice carver Rey Dickie and master carver Stan Hunt stand next to the log that will be carved into a monument to remember Indigenous children who died at residential schools. (Tyson Whitney - North Island Gazette)

B.C. carvers creating monument to children found in unmarked residential school graves

Monument will be toured across Vancouver Island before being shipped to Vancouver

Apprentice carver Rey Dickie and master carver Stan Hunt stand next to the log that will be carved into a monument to remember Indigenous children who died at residential schools. (Tyson Whitney - North Island Gazette)
Some of the mountain bikers attending the Jesmond trail grand opening on Aug. 27 and the Rocky Mountain Bicycles demo team at the Big Bar Ranch, where many were camped to celebrate the trail opening event. (Ruth Lloyd photo - Black Press Media)

Trail opening spiritually and economically important moment for southern Cariboo First Nation

Stswecem’c Xget’tem First Nation celebrated mountain bike trail development at Jesmond Mountain

Some of the mountain bikers attending the Jesmond trail grand opening on Aug. 27 and the Rocky Mountain Bicycles demo team at the Big Bar Ranch, where many were camped to celebrate the trail opening event. (Ruth Lloyd photo - Black Press Media)
Sonny McHalsie, a Stó:lō historian, with Bad Rock (Xéylxelamós) behind him, a sacred transformation site on the Fraser River, also known as Lady Franklin Rock, near Yale. Recently 45 sacred sites of the Stó:lō have gained legal protection. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress file)

Landmark agreement to protect 45 sacred sites across Stó:lō territory a first for B.C.

‘This is a major step forward for First Nations heritage conservation in B.C,’ says Stó:lō chief

Sonny McHalsie, a Stó:lō historian, with Bad Rock (Xéylxelamós) behind him, a sacred transformation site on the Fraser River, also known as Lady Franklin Rock, near Yale. Recently 45 sacred sites of the Stó:lō have gained legal protection. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress file)
Fieldwork undertaken by Kitselas Geothermal to explore the feasibility of a geothermal power project at Lakelse Lake. (Photo courtesy Kitselas Geothermal)

Shell Canada signs deal with Kitselas Geothermal in northwest B.C.

Energy giant invests in Lakelse Lake geothermal potential

Fieldwork undertaken by Kitselas Geothermal to explore the feasibility of a geothermal power project at Lakelse Lake. (Photo courtesy Kitselas Geothermal)