Topic: Today’s News

(Ottawa, ON): The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is in federal court on Monday, November 25 to oppose the federal government’s Judicial Review of the recent Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) decision to compensate First Nations children and families who were wrongfully removed under the child welfare system and those denied essential services.

“The AFN will always stand up for First Nations children and families,” said AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde. “Canada has to stop fighting its own Human Rights Tribunal and respect the ruling to work with us on compensation for First Nations children and families who suffered from ‘willful and reckless’ discrimination. Canada says it’s open to discussing compensation, so it should send a strong signal of support by withdrawing its Judicial Review and meet with us immediately. Until that happens we will fight them every step of the way in court. This is too important.”

On October 4, 2019, the Government of Canada requested a Judicial Review of a September 6, 2019 CHRT decision ordering compensation for First Nations children wrongly removed or denied essential services. The CHRT cited Canada’s discrimination against First Nations children and families as “willful and reckless” and ordered Canada to pay the maximum amount allowable under the Canadian Human Rights Act. It is estimated that 54,000 children would benefit from this ruling.

The proceedings will be webcast live at: https://video.isilive.ca/fccf/2019-11/english/

The AFN is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada.  Follow AFN on Twitter @AFN_Updates.

Nunatsiavut President Johannes Lampe, along with members of the Nunatsiavut Government, elders and youth from each of the five Labrador Inuit communities, and Labrador MP Yvonne Jones and representatives from the Government of Canada, today took part in a ceremony to officially open a new state-of-the-art cultural centre in Nain. 

Illusuak, which in English means “sod house”, will serve as a centerpiece for the community, allowing Inuit the opportunity to gather and strengthen their connections to each other and to their culture. It houses a permanent exhibit, aimed at broadening Inuit history, culture, traditions and shared experiences. Its multi-purpose theatre will support audio/visual presentations, film screenings, lectures and live musical and dance performances. A facility’s gift shop will serve as a showcase for regional artists and craftspeople to display and retail their goods, and its café will offer traditional ad wild foods and serve as a place for people to gather to share stories. Parks Canada will occupy office space through a long-term lease agreement as part of a $2 million contribution to the project. 

“Illusuak will help bridge the generation gap between elders and youth, encouraging open dialogue, the sharing of traditional knowledge and the vision for the future,’ says Nunatsiavut President Johannes Lampe. “The stories that will be told in Illusuak will make Labrador Inuit proud. By understanding where we came from and how we survived as a people, Labrador Inuit will have a better appreciation of who we are as individuals and as a culture continuing to evolve in a modern world.” 

Funded through financial contributions from the Nunatsiavut Government, the Government of Canada and the Tasiujatsoak Trust, construction of the 13,700 square-foot facility began three years ago at a cost of more than $18 million.

Kenora, ON — Ogichidaa Francis Kavanaugh, Grand Chief of Treaty #3 congratulates newly announced Federal Cabinet Ministers and looks forward to meeting and working with each one of them on ensuring the priorities of the Treaty #3 Nation are met.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveiled major changes to the federal cabinet yesterday that saw Chrystia Freeland promoted to Deputy Prime Minister and Marc Miller, who learned the Mohawk language and made history by giving the first speech in it in the House of Commons, become the new Minister of Indigenous Services.

“I welcome the new Minister of Indigenous Services and look forward to working with him as well as Patty Hajdu, the new Minister of Health, along with all the others who have been given new cabinet posts,” said Grand Chief Kavanaugh. “I want to let the new Ministers know that there is much work to do and we will continue to move forward with our mission to better the lives of all Treaty #3 citizens and assert our sovereign jurisdiction over our lands and people. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the former Minister of Indigenous Affairs Seamus O’Regan for his work and wish him well in his new post.”

CALL FOR PAPERS

The Nunatsiavut Government is calling for an independent police investigation into the death of a 23- year-old Inuk woman whose body was removed from a makeshift tent in a wooded area of Happy Valley-Goose Bay during the early morning hours of November 15. 

“We have reason to believe the RCMP made assumptions as to the cause of death before carrying out a thorough investigation,” says Nunatsiavut President Johannes Lampe. 

The victim, originally from Nain, was a frequent visitor and client of the Housing Hub, an emergency shelter operated by the Nunatsiavut Government in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. 

“Concerns have been raised that police neglected to interview key witnesses before issuing a public statement that the woman’s death was not suspicious,” notes President Lampe. “Questions have also been raised as to whether the police properly secured the scene, and may have also left potential evidence behind. Has the RCMP learned anything from the national inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls, which denounced decades of police indifference and systemic racism and which called for fundamental policing reforms? 

“Would this matter have been handled differently if the victim wasn’t a homeless or transient Indigenous woman living in a tent?” This is the second death of a Labrador Inuk in recent weeks that has raised serious questions and concerns. A man was found dead in a segregation unit cell at Her Majesty’s Penitentiary in St. John’s on November 7, not long after an apparently intense altercation with corrections officers. The police investigation into that matter is ongoing.

Shared Journeys is a new program that embraces West Vancouver’s rich cultural diversity, bringing people together through stories, conversation and activities. By exploring what we have in common, as well as our differences, this program inspires openness, respect and curiosity. Shared Journeys invites us to make new connections and to help build a strong and welcoming community.

Let’s celebrate winter together by sharing our traditions! Learn about Christmas, Yalda, Dongzhi and Squamish Nation customs, make festive crafts and enjoy holiday treats. 

Drop in. All ages are welcome. Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1 P.M. – 3 P.M., WELSH HALL

For more information, visit or call the Information Desk at 604.925.7403

New federal child welfare legislation, An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis children youth and families, is coming into force on January 1, 2020.
This legislation will bring significant positive changes to First Nations Child and Family Services, while affirming the inherent right and jurisdiction of First Nations in the area of child and family services.

The information sheet attached is intended to provide information and answer critical questions you will need to know on day one of the legislation coming into force January 1, 2020.

For more information please contact Martin Orr at morr@afn.ca or via telephone 613-241-6789 ext. 212

November 8, 2019 – Orillia, Ont. 

A study led by Lakehead University researchers, in collaboration with Learning for a Sustainable Future, reveals that Canadians are deeply concerned about climate change, yet only half feel they know enough about the issue. 

The nationwide study, Canada, Climate Change and Education: Opportunities for Public and Formal Education, paints a broad picture of Canadians’ understanding of climate change and their desire for more education about the issue, both inside and outside of schools. Schools and curricula, the study revealed, are falling short of Canadians’ expectations for learning about climate change.

“Canadians are telling us that how we respond to climate change needs to change,” said Dr. Ellen Field, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) postdoctoral fellow in the Faculty of Education at Lakehead University and principal investigator of the study. 

“Students, parents and teachers agreed that schools should be doing more to educate young people about climate change and thatclimate change education is the responsibility of the school system.”

According to the study there is a lack of basic knowledge about climate change among Canadians, including many Canadian teachers. 

“There is variation in teachers’ level of preparedness when it comes to teaching about climate change,” explained Pamela Schwartzberg, President and CEO, Learning for a Sustainable Future. 

Only a third of teachers surveyed (35 per cent) reported teaching about climate change. For teachers who do integrate climate change content, most students experience one to 10 hours of instruction per year or semester on the topic. 

“We need to improve this statistic,” Schwartzberg stated. 

While, 32 per cent of the teachers surveyed believed they have enough knowledge to teach about climate change, over half (54 per cent) indicated that they wanted more professional development on climate change education. 

Schwartzberg added, “Learning for a Sustainable Future has worked for over two decades to provide professional development and high-quality resources to teachers and, now more than ever, can offer solutions to act fast and deliver on the expectations of Canadian youth, teachers and the public.”

When it came to Canadian youths’ knowledge of climate change, Field explained that almost 46 per cent of students in grades seven to 12 were aware that climate change is human-caused. What the researchers were not expecting was the response from Canadian youth that they didn’t feel mitigation efforts will change the course of climate change. 

“It is deeply concerning that almost half of students in junior and high school don’t believe that greenhouse gas reduction policies can have an impact,” Field stated.

“In the midst of a climate crisis, the study shows the critical need for more emphasis on climate change education in schooling, and suggests possible ways forward for provinces, school boards, principals and teachers,” explained Dr. Paul Berger, Chair of Graduate Studies & Research in the Faculty of Education at Lakehead University and supervisor of the project. “This study is a major contribution at a crucial time for action.” 

The study was supported with funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSRHC).

Read the full report online at: http://lsf-lst.ca/media/National_Report/National_Climate_Change_Education_FINAL.pdf

Watch the national climate change survey video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbuaU6IYV2I

About the Canada, Climate Change and Education: Opportunities for Public and Formal Education Study

These are some of the findings of a survey conducted between October 5, 2018 and January 31, 2019 on behalf of Lakehead University and Learning for a Sustainable Future. Educators, students, parents and members of the general public were surveyed from the LegerWeb platform and responses from a further 1,120 teachers were collected through a link hosted on the Learning for a Sustainable Future website. A total of 3,184 completed surveys were analyzed.  Margin of error is not reported for this type of survey, but in other types of surveys with this sample size Leger Research Intelligence calculated that the margin would be ±2.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

About Lakehead University

Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university with approximately 8,500 students and over 2,000 faculty and staff at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead has 10 faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Maclean’s 2020 University Rankings, once again, included Lakehead University among Canada’s Top 10 primarily undergraduate universities, and in 2018, Research Infosource named Lakehead Research University of the Year in its category for the fourth consecutive year. Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

About Learning for a Sustainable Future

Founded in 1991, Learning for a Sustainable Future (LSF) is a Canadian charity whose mission is to promote, through education, the knowledge, skills, values, perspectives and practices essential to a sustainable future. Working with business, governments, school boards, universities, communities, educators, and youth across Canada, LSF acts as a connector, a resource, and a facilitator for change. LSF’s innovative programs and strategic partnerships are helping reshape education policy and transforming learning methods, helping students learn to address the increasingly difficult economic, social, and environmental challenges of the 21^st century. www.LSF-LST.ca

Max FineDay, Executive Director of the Canadian Roots Exchange, will share his perspective on what reconciliation looks like during VIU’s fifth annual Indigenous Speakers Series on Monday, November 25. 

VIU MEDIA RELEASE: Wednesday, November 6, 2019

NANAIMO, BC: When Max FineDay graduated from university in 2015, his grandmother sat him down and told him he had a duty to explain Indigenous peoples to the rest of Canada by telling the kinds of stories that change people’s hearts and minds.

“She said I had been raised and prepared to do this work and when the time came, I needed to accept that opportunity,” says FineDay, a nêhiyaw napew from the Sweetgrass First Nation in Saskatchewan, Treaty 6 Territory. “When your grandmother tells you to do something, you really have no choice, and that set me up for what I do now. I tell stories to people who haven’t seen what I’ve seen so that they can be called to do something, called to learn, called to change their behaviour or learn a new skill.”

FineDay will be sharing some of these stories during Vancouver Island University’s (VIU’s) fifth annual Indigenous Speakers Series on Monday, November 25. The annual event, a partnership between VIU and CBC Radio One’s Ideas, aims to further the dialogue on reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada.

“People treat reconciliation as if it’s an inevitability,” says FineDay. “I’m not sure that it is. It’s contingent on the actions of Canada and Canadians – it’s not a ‘when’ but ‘if’ we get there.”

FineDay has a unique perspective to share on this topic, growing up immersed in two different Prairie communities – the Sweetgrass First Nation on his father’s side, and Norwegian farmers who settled in southern Saskatchewan on his mother’s side.  

“Both sides of my family aren’t as different as politics or media might suggest and it’s set me on the path to the work I’m doing – the repair of the relationships, reckoning with reconciliation,” he says. “I think this background has given me patience and understanding and hope.”

As Executive Director of the Canadian Roots Exchange, an organization that delivers reconciliation programs to Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth across the country, FineDay’s goal is to instill youth with pride in who they are and help them gain the skills, knowledge and education they need to pursue their dreams.

“Indigenous youth are the fastest-growing population in Canada, but they are so often let down by our country – they fill the jails at a disproportionate rate and their health outcomes are poorer,” he says. “After hearing stories from young people who have gone into the corporate sector who have felt tokenized, used, disrespected and misunderstood, I wonder where the place of young Indigenous people is in Canada’s 2019 economy. Are Canadians ready to debunk the image of a young native person who doesn’t want to work? Is Canada ready to imagine a young Indigenous person ready to lead economic opportunities using the stories and traditions of their ancestors in tandem with a modern education?”

Dr. Deb Saucier, VIU President and Vice-Chancellor, says through his work with the Canadian Roots Exchange, FineDay is inspiring the next generation of young leaders to embrace their culture rather than leave it at the door when they enter the workforce. 

“Max’s true power lies in his ability to tell the kinds of stories that help people see Indigenous people as people,” she says. “Much like Max does in his teachings, VIU also strives to ensure Indigenous ways of knowing and being are recognized and celebrated on the same level as Western ways of knowing and being.”

FineDay’s keynote lecture – The Promised Land: In Search of Freedom, Prosperity and #LandBack for Indigenous Peoples – takes place in VIU’s Malaspina Theatre (Building 310 at VIU’s Nanaimo campus) on Monday, November 25 from 7-9 pm. The keynote talk will be followed by a question and answer session hosted by Nahlah Ayed, host of CBC Radio’s Ideas. It will be recorded for national broadcast. To register for this free event, please visit Eventbrite.

Permalink: https://news.viu.ca/search-promised-land-freedom-prosperity-and-landback-indigenous-peoples

Photo Caption: National reconciliation speaker and Indigenous youth advocate Max FineDay will deliver the keynote talk in VIU’s fifth annual Indigenous Speakers Series on Monday, November 25. Photo Credit: Vancouver Island University