Topic: Today’s News

NATIONAL INDIGENOUS CANNABIS & HEMP CONFERENCE November 26 – 28, 2019 in Kelowna, BC

You may have heard about the National Indigenous Cannabis & Hemp Conference in Calgary (Nov 2018) or Ottawa (Feb 2019) and wished you had sent someone from your Community. We are now doing the third conference: NICHC Kelowna, being held on November 26-28 at the Grand Okanagan Resort in Kelowna BC. Now is your chance to make sure you do not miss this important conference.

Who will benefit from attending the National Indigenous Cannabis & Hemp Conference in Kelowna? Your EcDev Officer, Chief’s and Council, Health Officers, anyone who wants to discover a path to selfsufficiency though involvement in Cannabis or Hemp.

These 2 days will be packed with Indigenous, expert-led Sessions and on day two, there is the added bonus of a full day educational session on Community Wellness, focusing on harm reduction for addictions from opioids and strategies that could be helpful for your Nation. In addition, there is a full day Educational Session on Hemp – the lower cost crop alternative to Cannabis. How to get involved, what Hemp can do for Community wealth, who are the buyers, what is the process, what is the return on investment and more.

Visit nichc.ca/agenda.html to see some of the sessions we will have at the NICHC Kelowna event.

Some of our Confirmed Speakers will include: Chief Clarence Louie (CEO Osoyoos Indian Band Development Corp.), Chief Harvey McLeod (Upper Nicola Band, Shannin Metatawabin – CEO NACCA), Michael Ruscetta (CEO Trichome, Carol Anne Hilton –Indigenomics), Dr. Evan Adams (Chief Medical Officer of the BC First Nations Health Authority), Dr. Irene Turner (Chief Medical Officer, Ekosi Health), Chief Gina Deer (Mohawk Council of Kahnawàke) and many more!

Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/NICHC.ca and be sure to check the updated speakers list at nichc.ca/speakers.html

PLUS Register and pay now and you will receive an IMMEDIATE TRAVEL SUBSIDY for attending this event – a savings of $500.00! Delegate Registration is at nichc.ca/delegate-registration.html. There are additional Discounts for booking three or more delegates on the same registration. (excluding elder/student 19+ only registrations)

Network with 300 others from across the country, hear their first hand experiences and then make the decision on what your community’s involvement can look like.

We hope to see members from your Community or Nation at this event in November! If you have questions not answered on the website, please feel free to contact me:

Lisa Marin Operations Manager lisa@NICHC.ca 403-294-0977

NATIONAL INDIGENOUS CANNABIS & HEMP CONFERENCE November 26 – 28, 2019 in Kelowna, BC NATIONAL INDIGENOUS CANNABIS & HEMP CONFERENCE

Public Service Announcement Call for applications: Cultural Performers – Team Nunavut 2020 Arctic Winter Games

Would you like to promote Nunavut culture at an international event? Here’s your chance! 

The Department of Community and Government Services, Sport and Recreation Division is accepting applications for cultural performers to represent Team Nunavut at the 2020 Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse, Yukon from March 15 to March 21, 2020. 

Participants must be born between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2005. Groups must consist of a minimum of three performers and a maximum of six, along with a manager. 

For an application form, please email SRInfo@gov.nu.ca or call 1-888-765-5506. 

The deadline to apply is Monday, November 4, 2019. 

AFN Says Substantial Investments for Mental Wellness in First Nations are Essential in Closing the Health Gap Between First Nations and Canada

OTTAWA, Oct. 10, 2019 /CNW/ – On World Mental Health Day, the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) urges all federal leaders commit to substantial investments for mental wellness for First Nations as a top priority and to work diligently with First Nations and ensure First Nations enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.

“We must work together to improve the health and wellbeing of all First Nations and ensure we close the gap by developing health services that are driven by First Nations, that respect our rights and incorporate traditional health and healing practices” said AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde. “I believe our culture, languages and traditions have an integral role in achieving overall health and wellness. One of the priorities we are seeking during this federal election is a commitment from all parties to substantive, long term and flexible funding that supports a holistic approach to First Nations health and wellbeing. We are the youngest, fastest growing population. Healthy First Nations will make a stronger country for all of us.”

On September 9, 2019, the AFN unveiled its agenda for the next government, Honouring Promises: 2019 Federal Elections Priorities for First Nations and Canada which sets out a comprehensive agenda for reconciliation and closing the gap. The AFN continues to work directly with First Nations to advocate for appropriate supports and investments for First Nations-led approaches, with the intent of creating initiatives, policies, funding mechanisms, programs and services that are culturally relevant and provide proven results to all First Nations across Canada.

“It is incredibly important for me to highlight World Mental Health Day, because mental wellness continues to be a priority that is overlooked, and requires all our attention, support and energy,” said AFN Yukon Regional Chief Kluane Adamek, who holds the Mental Wellness portfolio for AFN. “The theme this year focuses on suicide prevention, which connects with so many of us and our communities. We are losing our community members, and especially our young people at an alarming rate. Everyone has a role to play in supporting mental wellness and our young people need to know their lives matter. We continue to advocate for increased investments in mental health services and suicide prevention programs, and we also need to address the fundamental determinants of health such as access to clean water, education and proper housing. We must learn from our past and present realities and ensure mental wellness remains a top focus to ensure stronger and healthier futures for our children.”

World Mental Health Day is presented by the World Federation of Mental Health and recognized annually on October 10.

The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund proudly announces the second annual Secret Path Week is October 17-22

Week of events and awareness highlighted by benefit concert “Secret Path Live” at Roy Thomson Hall October 19

TORONTO, October 9, 2019 – Today, the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF) proudly announced the official launch of the second annual Secret Path Week. The goal of Secret Path Week is to answer Gord Downie’s call to “do something” by creating reconciliACTIONs and furthering the conversation about the history of residential schools.

“Secret Path Week is about creating a national platform to have safe conversations, learn more about Indigenous culture and create awareness about the true history regarding residential schools. We encourage Canadians to take action, do something, to be part of the reconciliation movement,” said Sarah Midanik, CEO of the DWF. 

Secret Path week includes educational events, Walk for Wenjack, and tributes to Chanie Wenjack and Gord Downie. The week is highlighted by a benefit concert at Toronto’s Roy Thomson hall on October 19, entitled Secret Path Live, which will raise money to support programming at the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund. The concert is a re-creation of the original 2016 performances that brought together renowned musicians to share Chanie Wenjack’s story through an immersive multimedia performance. Chanie was a 12-year-old Ojibwe boy who died while trying to escape an Ontario residential school in 1966.  

“Gord felt Chanie’s story so deeply and intimately,” said Mike Downie. “When he spoke about Secret Path and his journey of becoming more aware of the impact of residential schools and the present treatment of Indigenous people, you could feel it had changed him. His passion emanated in every interview and performance. For Gord, changing the way Canadians studied and focused on our shared history was key to ensuring the learning and awareness continued – he insisted, “We have to get into the schools.””

DWF has implemented Legacy School programs in over 1300 schools. Legacy Schools exist in every province and territory in Canada and will also be activating reconciliACTIONs for Secret Path Week.  

Secret Path Live Benefit Concert – October 19, Roy Thomson Hall 8.pm. ET 

Secret Path Live is a re-creation of the 2016 performances that brought together renowned musicians to share the Chanie Wenjack story through an immersive multimedia experience.

The project, conceived by Gord and Mike Downie, intertwines the music from the Juno award-winning album, graphic novel by Jeff Lemire, and the animated film Secret Path to bring to light the painful legacy of Canada’s residential school system, and the long-suppressed mistreatment of Indigenous children and families, to the national stage. The hope was to start a national conversation and further reconciliation.

Featuring the original Secret Path band, acclaimed Canadian musical guests, dancers, and artists will come together to create a fully immersive and cultural experience that celebrates Indigenous history and commemorates the lives of Gord and Chanie.

Performers will be backed by the original Secret Path band, which performed with Downie at the benefit concert three years ago, along with special guest appearances by:

Buffy Sainte-Marie
Sam Roberts
Tanya Tagaq
July Talk
William Prince
Whitehorse
Tom Wilson

About The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund
Inspired by Chanie’s story and Gord’s call to build a better Canada, the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF) aims to build cultural understanding and create a path towards reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

DWF’s work centres around improving the lives of Indigenous people by building awareness, education, and connections between all Canadians. For more information, visit downiewenjack.ca.

About Secret Path
Gord Downie began Secret Path as a collection of 10 poems inspired by the story of Chanie Wenjack, a 12-year-old boy who died of exposure on October 22, 1966. He was attempting to walk home from Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School near Kenora, Ontario, to return to family he was taken from over 600km away. The poems inspired the full-length album, graphic novel, and award-winning film trilogy. 

Supporting the Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund
Your donation contributes to reconciliation in Canada by supporting the development of resources for DWF programs such as Legacy Spaces, Legacy Schools, reconciliACTIONs and events that serve to bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities together.To support the Downie Wenjack fund, please visit: downiewenjack.ca/support-us/donate/

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS! Poet Laureate Sheri-D Wilson invites you to participate in YYC POP: Portraits of People

Calgary, AB (Wednesday October 9, 2019) – YYC POP: Portraits of People is an open call out to the community, the entire city and the world, from Sheri-D Wilson, Poet Laureate of Calgary. 

This Legacy Project invites all Calgarians – whether writers or not – to create a portrait in the form of a poem, prose poem, or snapshot / flash fiction – about someone you know who lives and works in Calgary. 

“A city is characterized by its people, and as Calgary transforms, we ask you to look, as a community at what our identity is today, “ says Wilson, “Your submission will be a piece of the larger puzzle, which represents the new Calgary.” 

YYC POP explores: Who are we? What is our identity as a city? Who are the people that live here? And what are their stories? 

You can write about someone you know, or a historical figure whose contribution or story remains relevant to today. Who you choose should keenly represent the spirit and identity of Calgary now, as the city changes and grows. But the person you write about cannot be named (named proper) in your work. 

YYC POP: Portraits of People is open to everyone currently living in Calgary, the Greater Calgary area, and ex-pats. 

To submit your portrait and for full details please visit https://sheridwilson.com/. Deadline: Midnight on November 30, 2019. 

All YYC POP submissions will be curated by a jury of professional writers. Selected portraits will then be included in a hard-copy anthology being published by the award-winning Frontenac House, scheduled for release in April 2020. If your poem is selected to be part of YYC POP: Portraits of People, you may be invited to read your work at one of many book launches/ galas in the new year. Any writing not chosen for the anthology will be published online. 

YYC POP: Portraits of People is being produced by Sheri-D Wilson and the Calgary Spoken Word Society, and is supported by Calgary Arts Development, Brookfield Residential, YMCA, Frontenac House, CanLearn Society, Calgary Foundation, Alberta Gaming & Liquor Commission, Calgary Chamber, The City of Calgary, Shelf Life Books and the Writers’ Guild of Alberta. 

YYC POP Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/2461569337254474/ Facebook: @CalgarySpokenWordSociety Twitter: @YYCSpokenWord Instagram: @calgaryspokenwordsociety 

Grand Council Treaty #3 Leaders Declare State of Climate Emergency

Wauzhushk Onigum — On Thursday October 3, 2019 Grand Council Treaty #3 Chiefs gathered at the Fall Assembly in Wauzhushk Onigum and passed a resolution declaring a state of climate emergency in Treaty #3 Territory.

Declaring the climate emergency is in response to the ongoing global climate crisis and the need to act to protect Mother Earth for future generations.

“The wellbeing of our Nation and way of life is of the utmost importance to our leadership and declaring a climate emergency is just one way we can continue to care for each other and mother earth,” said Ogichidaa Francis Kavanaugh, Grand Chief of Treaty #3. “Since time immemorial, Creator entrusted the Anishinaabe to care for Aki (land) and Nibi (water) on Turtle Island. The Anishinaabe have always maintained a spiritual connection to the land and firmly believe that ‘we are the land and the land is us.’” 

The Territorial Planning Unit of GCT#3 continues climate change adaptation work through the ‘Teaching our Keepers’ program. Treaty #3 youth and children are receiving education on the importance of sustainable practices such as recycling, composting and gardening. Treaty #3 First Nations communities are also working towards reducing emissions by using geo thermal and solar energy systems to reduce carbon footprints.

“The work that the First Nations and Grand Council Treaty #3 are doing demonstrates the strength of our Nation and our commitment to doing our part to decrease the global climate footprint, said Chief Will Windigo of Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nations and Chair of the Grand Council Treaty #3 Environmental Chiefs Committee.

As stewards of the land and leaders in environmental sustainability, the Anishinaabe Nation of Treaty #3 will continue to care for Mother Earth. In declaring a state of climate emergency hope to continue to improve and raise awareness to the dire state of the environment on a local, national and global scale. Declaring a climate emergency is just one-step towards caring for our Mother Earth.

INNU NATION TAKES LEGAL ACTION AGAINST CANADA ON MOU WITH NUNATUKAVUT COMMUNITY COUNCIL

8 October 2019 | ST. JOHN’S, NL 

On October 1, 2019, reluctantly but having no other choice in order to protect our land rights, Innu Nation applied to the Federal Court asking the court to cancel the Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) between Canada and NCC because it has serious potential to delay and otherwise affect Innu Nation’s longstanding claim in Labrador. 

Innu Nation was shocked to hear the announcement by Canada on September 5, 2019 that Canada had entered into an expedited agreement with NCC following just one year of negotiations. The MOU if it proceeds, will harm the Innu’s aboriginal rights – rights that are currently protected under Canada’s constitution. 

Among other things, the signed MOU commits Canada to negotiate with NCC about jurisdiction and rights over land, sea, and ice, and recognizes NCC as a group, which can hold constitutional rights to lands and waters. NCC has claimed land rights throughout most of the Innu land claim area including the Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation Reserve where 2,000 of Innu Nation’s members reside. Innu Nation has been negotiating its own land rights with Canada for four decades. (NCC’s published land claims map attached.) 

Innu Nation asserts that Canada and the Minister for Crown-Indigenous Relations did not follow the legal requirements it was required to follow before signing the MOU. Canada also failed to exercise reasonable due diligence before agreeing to enter into this MOU. For example, Canada ignored its own previous research and legal opinion, which had concluded that NCC “is a modern political organization that represents people of varying degrees of Aboriginal ancestry and not an aboriginal collectivity capable of holding aboriginal rights.” 

Canada’s decision to enter into the MOU with NCC (which includes recognition of rights of NCC and discussion of NCC’s land claims) is thus wrong and Innu Nation determined it had no choice but to challenge this decision because of the impacts of this MOU on Innu Nation’s land rights. 

Innu Nation has repeatedly attempted to openly dialogue with Canada on the NCC MOU yet from July 2018, when talks between Canada and NCC were first announced, to today’s date, Canada has failed to provide any satisfactory answers to Innu Nation’s questions. 

Innu Nation will continue to take all actions necessary to protect Innu rights in our lands and waters. 

Ogichidaa Francis Kavanaugh says Federal Government Decision to Appeal Human Rights Ruling is Unacceptable: “Our children and our families have suffered enough”

Kenora, ON — Ogichidaa Francis Kavanaugh, Grand Chief of Treaty #3 is calling out Prime Minister’s decision to appeal a ruling that would compensate First Nations children and their families who were separated by a broken and discriminatory on-reserve child welfare system.

“The federal government’s actions are unacceptable. Our Anishinaabe children and families have been irreparably harmed by successive federal governments which refused to acknowledge the discrimination and provide fair and equitable funding for child welfare. All of our children are sacred gifts and our families have the right to access prevention and family preservation-based services which are funded appropriately,” said Ogichidaa Francis Kavanaugh. “Our children should never be treated in a discriminatory manner or be a pawn at the mercy of governments who fail to acknowledge the colonial legacy of the residential school, Sixties scoop and the child welfare system and the harm done to our citizens.”

On October 3, 2019 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that his government would be seeking to appeal the September 6 ruling made by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. The ruling ordered that the federal government provide compensation to First Nations children and their families who were separated by the underfunded on-reserve child welfare system from January 1, 2006 to a date to be determined by the tribunal. 

The Tribunal ordered the Federal government to compensate $40,000 to each child, the maximum allowed under the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal and also identified that funds be awarded to some of the parents and grandparents. The Federal government’s application for judicial review filed asks that the Tribunal’s decision be set aside and the claim for financial compensation be dismissed. 

“There are many ridings across Canada in which Indigenous voters can make a difference. All federal parties need to recognize that discrimination is unacceptable in 2019,” said said Ogichidaa Francis Kavanaugh. “Our Nation will continue to encourage all Indigenous citizens to vote and ask all of the federal parties and candidates to share how they will address our issues and priorities, especially for our children, families and our communities.”

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact: Office of the Ogichidaa, Kristine Reynard at (807) 548-4214 or Kristine.reynard@treaty3.ca

AFN National Chief Bellegarde Extremely Disappointed in Canada’s Request for Judicial Review of CHRT Ruling to Compensate Children

(Ottawa, ON): Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Perry Bellegarde is extremely disappointed to hear of today’s request for judicial review by the Government of Canada on the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) decision that secured compensation for First Nations children wrongly removed or denied essential services.

“This is beyond unacceptable. The Government of Canada is once again preparing to fight First Nations children in court. I’ve connected with Minister Seamus O’Regan to share my deep disappointment,” said AFN National Chief Bellegarde. “The AFN will always stand up and fight for First Nations children and families. The CHRT panel found that the government racially discriminated against First Nations children in care in a willful and reckless manner. As a result, the CHRT ordered Canada to pay the maximum amount allowable under the Canadian Human Rights Act. The government could have addressed the broken system and the funding inequalities before, but they didn’t. To appeal this CHRT ruling, which was meant to provide a measure of justice for First Nations children in care, is hurtful and unjust.”

It is estimated that a minimum of 54,000 children and their families could have benefitted from this ruling. The CHRT has issued seven compliance orders against Canada since its original ruling in January 2016.

“It is time for Canada to stop obstructing fairness and justice, end its discriminatory practices, and start taking responsibility for its historic and ongoing treatment of First Nations children. First Nations children must be provided the care and opportunity they deserve,” said AFN Manitoba Regional Chief Kevin Hart, who holds the child welfare portfolio for the AFN.

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

The Premier offers an apology to Québec’s First Nations and Inuit people on behalf of the Québec government

QUÉBEC CITY, Oct. 2, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ – On Wednesday the Premier of Québec, François Legault, made the following ministerial statement in the National Assembly:

“The report of the Public Inquiry Commission on relations between Indigenous Peoples and certain public services in Québec was made public on Monday, and the Commissioner’s findings are devastating for Québec. The report describes disturbing situations in which members of Indigenous nations were subjected to discrimination.

These findings make painful reading. What is at stake here is human dignity. Whether we are children, women or men, whether we are from an Indigenous or a non-Indigenous background, we are all human beings and entitled to our dignity. 

Indigenous women have borne the brunt of the harm described in the Commission’s report. The Québec state has not done enough, and the situation is unworthy of Québec society.

As a result, I offer Québec’s First Nations and Inuit people the heartfelt apologies of the Québec state as a whole. It has failed in its duty toward you, and today it seeks your pardon. 

My thoughts go especially to the Indigenous women who experienced the sad events in Val-d’Or, and I would like to salute their courage.

An apology is necessary and important, but it is not enough. We must understand the reasons that led to this situation, and from that foundation we must bring about change.

Just like for Québec as a whole, we must do more and do better. We must work alongside the First Nations and the Inuits. As I mentioned in my inaugural speech, we must work together to develop Québec for the common good of our respective nations. Today, with this statement, I can confirm that Québec will answer that call.

I must also emphasize the responsibility of the Canadian government—not to shirk our own responsibility, but to call for ongoing cooperation.

From this point on, the government will carefully examine each of the recommendations made and cooperate with the Indigenous communities.

The report highlights the fact that a lack of understanding of Indigenous realities undermines the relationship between our nations. Too many stereotypes about Indigenous people still circulate. We must work to recognize, on a factual and daily basis, the existence of the nations with which we share our territory. We must learn more about, and learn to appreciate, each other in order to draw closer together.

The Commission’s observations are clearly devastating, but I would like to end on a hopeful note. We can and we must improve our relationship and bring about the conditions that will allow Québec’s Indigenous and Inuit communities to flourish. We are not doomed to failure, because alongside all the mistakes and tragedies noted in the Commission’s report, there are examples of successful cohabitation between our respective nations that show us what is possible. 

To succeed in this endeavour, the Québec government must avoid trying to impose its own solutions. The key word is “respect”. The role of the Québec government and Québec nation is to stand alongside the Indigenous nations in good times and in bad. In every case, the absolute minimum targeted must be respect for human dignity and for our deep-held values. This is our duty. This is the promise we all—elected officials, public servants and Quebecers—must make. 

Thank you.”