Topic: Today’s News

L’Assemblée des Premières Nations Québec-Labrador (APNQL) tient  à réagir au décès, hier, de M. Serge Bouchard.  

« L’APNQL a développé et met en œuvre un Plan d’action contre la discrimination et le racisme.  Serge Bouchard a dédié toute sa vie, tout son œuvre à cette même cause. Il a fait de sa vie un plan  d’action contre le racisme et la discrimination. Il nous encourage à persévérer sur cette voie, celle  du respect et du rapprochement entre humains, et continuera de nous inspirer. Merci Serge. » 

C’est par cette réflexion que Ghislain Picard, Chef de l’APNQL, exprime à la fois son émotion  personnelle et la reconnaissance de l’APNQL envers Serge Bouchard. Informer, expliquer,  intéresser, provoquer la curiosité du public, sans chercher à convaincre, sans faire la morale ou la  leçon, c’était la manière Serge Bouchard. Son départ en pleine pandémie, en ce moment même où  ce rapprochement humain est profondément bouleversé sinon compromis, doit nous inspirer, nous  ramener à l’essentiel : le respect de l’autre, l’écoute attentive, la réflexion. 

À sa famille, ainsi qu’à la grande famille que constituent ses auditeurs et lecteurs assidus,  l’APNQL offre ses condoléances, nous invite tous à replonger dans son œuvre et à nous en inspirer. 

À propos de l’APNQL  L’Assemblée des Premières Nations Québec-Labrador est l’organisme régional politique qui regroupe les 43 chefs des Premières Nations du Québec et du Labrador. www.apnql.com

Dans la foulée de la présentation du Plan d’action de l’APNQL contre le  racisme et la discrimination, le chef de l’Assemblée des Premières Nations Québec-Labrador (APNQL),  Ghislain Picard, invite les représentants des médias à une table ronde virtuelle interactive en français, lors  de laquelle sera abordé la question des femmes autochtones face au racisme et à la discrimination. M. Carol  Dubé, mari de Mme Joyce Echaquan, sera présent pour un mot d’ouverture. 

QUOI : Table ronde virtuelle sur le thème des femmes autochtones 

QUI : • Ghislain Picard, chef de l’Assemblée des Premières Nations Québec 

Labrador 

• Suzie Basile, professeur à l’UQAT et titulaire de la Chaire de recherche du  

Canada sur les enjeux relatifs aux femmes autochtones 

• Adrienne Jérôme, cheffe du Conseil de la Nation Anishnabe du Lac Simon 

• Viviane Michel, présidente de Femmes Autochtones du Québec (FAQ) 

• Manon Massé, députée et porte-parole de Québec Solidaire 

• Samira Laouni, Présidente-Directrice du C.O.R. Organisme de  

communication pour l’ouverture du rapprochement interculturel 

QUAND : 15 avril 2021 de 12h à 13h30 

LIEU : https://zoom.us/j/97012548199 et en direct via le Facebook de l’APNQL 

À propos de l’APNQL  

L’Assemblée des Premières Nations Québec-Labrador est l’organisme régional politique qui regroupe  43 chefs des Premières Nations au Québec et au Labrador. Suivez l’APNQL sur Twitter @APNQL.  Vous pouvez consulter le Plan d’action de l’APNQL sur le racisme et la discrimination sur le site de  l’APNQL à l’adresse : https://apnql.com/fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PLAN-ACTION-RACISME-ET DISCRIMINATION_VF.pdf

Port Alberni, BC: On Saturday, May 8^th, the RCMP shot a Nuu-chah-nulth woman on the Hitacu reserve  (Port Albion) when they were called to a domestic dispute. Thankfully, the shots were not fatal and the  Nuu-chah-nulth woman is recovering in hospital from her wounds. 

Nuu-chah-nulth are shocked and appalled that another shooting by RCMP of a Nuu-chah-nulth person has  happened so soon after the last shooting just 2 months ago. These senseless shootings are far too much and should not be happening.  

We do not know the circumstances in which the RCMP officer shot this woman but we are told she had a  weapon but we feel this is not an excuse. We do not know if she was a danger to the officer or if the  officer reacted out of fear, panic, or out of racism. We do know however there are many alternatives to  de-escalate situations that do not require a person to be shot multiple times. We have seen many instances  where armed non-First Nations who are actively harming people/infrastructure be arrested without  incident. We ask that our people receive the same humane treatment that the rest of society receives and  that the violence and harm stop.  

What we do know and have been saying over and over again is that these shootings by police have to stop  now! Tla-o-qui-aht has had 3 members shot by police in the past 11 months, 2 fatally. This is  unjustifiable. Chantel Moore was shot by Edmundston City police. Within the last 2 months, Joseph  Jones was shot and killed on the Opitsaht reserve and now this shooting.  

Judith Sayers President of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council said “How can this be happening again?  This has become an epidemic, 3 shootings to us is an epidemic. We call on Public Safety Minister Bill  Blair, RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki, BC Solicitor Mike Farnworth to work with us to immediately  revamp police officers de-escalation training, increase their cultural training and address racism so there  are no more shootings of Nuu-chah-nulth people. We cannot afford another loss in our communities at the  hands of RCMP officers. While we are working with RCMP to try and resolve these issues, we must act  quicker and ensure the cooperation of the RCMP to make changes.” 

Mariah Charleson Vice President of the Nuu-chah-nulth commented that “The impact of these shootings  in our Nuu-chah-nulth communities is devastating. People are horrified after hearing gun shots fired in  their communities, a place we all have the right to feel safe. When the RCMP, who are meant to protect  

us, are the ones shooting us, we are in real trouble. We need to end this violent epidemic of police  violence. We can’t let the 231 Calls to Justice from the MMIWG Final report collect any more dust, let’s  put them to work and begin to implement them now.” 

In a year filled with unknowns, nurses have been one of the few consistencies across the country; stepping up and showing up to support an often-overwhelmed health care system. In many First Nations and Inuit communities, nurses are the primary point of contact for accessing health care and providing essential services and critical care to community members in need.

Today, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services, announced the recipients of the 2021 Awards of Excellence in Nursing. At the start of National Nursing Week, this year’s awards were presented to three nurses for their remarkable dedication and exceptional efforts to deliver high-quality, culturally safe health care to First Nations and Inuit:

• Jennifer Lister, a public health nurse serving a northern Innu First Nation, who, after a sudden career change, realized community nursing was her true passion.
• Krystel Cyra Kho, a nurse working in Nunavut to provide Inuit with quality health programs, who comes from a family of nursing professionals
• Chantelle Hughes-Kreutzer, an Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) employed nurse driving vaccination efforts for First Nations against preventable diseases while advocating for respectful, culturally relevant health care.

These annual awards are a celebration of the outstanding initiative, determination and distinction of frontline nurses providing necessary health care to First Nations and Inuit communities in Canada. The three recipients, who were nominated by their peers, have demonstrated commitment to their nursing practice through sound judgement, professionalism and culturally safe health care work.

Often in Indigenous communities, nurses face a unique set of health care challenges. Even when adding the extra complications of an unprecedented pandemic, nurses have continued to practice with tremendous integrity while serving First Nations and Inuit. Through every hurdle, their resolve has remained unbroken. We thank the three recipients and we thank all nurses throughout Canada for their admirable resiliency in caring for communities during these times. 

The Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC) is pleased to announce that, starting today, Gertie Mai Muise is the new, incoming Executive Director.

Ms. Muise is Mi’kmaq from St. George’s Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador. She has significant previous
experience working with the OFIFC in a variety of roles. Throughout her career, Ms. Muise has maintained contact working with many Ontario Friendship Centres and advocates the vital importance of the Friendship Centre movement for Urban Indigenous people.

Dr. Sylvia Maracle will continue in her role over the next several months to help with onboarding and
transition processes. “We are delighted and honoured to welcome Gertie Mai back to the OFIFC and know that her
experience as a staunch advocate of Urban Indigenous People is in total keeping of the work we do every day,” says Jennifer Dockstader, President, OFIFC. “These energies, passion and experience will help us continue to build the Friendship Centre movement today and into the future. Welcome back Gertie Mai.”

Ms. Muise has served in a variety of instrumental health leadership, transformation, and community
building roles, with a focus on uprooting systemic Indigenous-specific racism.
“It is an honour and privilege to return to the OFIFC to serve in this leadership capacity during these
challenging times,” says Gertie Mai Muise, incoming Executive Director, OFIFC. “I look forward to further
championing all forms of Indigenous health and wellness, as well as anti-racist education, across the
province of Ontario.”

Calls for provincial resources to support nurses continue as  Canada recognizes National Nursing Week, May 10-16 

Today marks the start of National Nursing Week. This week will be a celebration of the nursing profession,  an occupation that has most recently been pushed to its limits due to COVID-19.  

As BC’s politicians send messages of thanks in recognition of the exceptional commitment nurses have  shown to their patients, BCNU President Christine Sorensen is asking for government to go one step further  and put their words into real action.  

BC’s nurses have continually experienced difficulties accessing appropriate personal protective equipment  (PPE) since the beginning of the pandemic. Their concerns are heightened as the risk of airborne  transmission of COVID-19 was confirmed by the BC Centre for Disease Control last week, making  appropriate access to PPE all the more essential to their personal safety.  

Furthermore, despite the fact that our province ranks the lowest in the ratio of nurses to population in the  country, no serious plans to address the nurse shortage have been given any priority by decades of BC  governments, including the current one.  “Our nurses are exhausted, showing signs of burn out and an overall decline in their mental health. The  pandemic continues to expose just how vulnerable our health-care system truly is when it comes to not  having enough nurses,” says Sorensen. “We need action on this now so that we have enough nurses to  care for patients today and in the future. All British Columbians need to press government for a real plan to  support the nurses we have and ensure we all have the professional nursing care we need.” 

BCNU is asking everyone to join us this week in recognizing the crucial role nurses play every single day  across BC, especially since the start of the pandemic. To support its members, the Union is providing a  series of virtual self-care events that focus on the well-being of nurses throughout National Nursing  Week. The full line up of the week’s events can be found here. 

“Collectively we need to support nurses as they cope with the pandemic. We felt National Nurses week was  a good time to show our support for their mental health and all that they do every day for British  Columbians,” says Sorensen. 

Sous-titre : Les agent(e)s de protection de la nature poursuivent une longue tradition de travail de première ligne

L’Ontario, deuxième plus vaste province du Canada, s’étend sur environ 1 million de kilomètres carrés. Son climat varié passe du Sud tempéré à celui propre à la tundra dans le Nord. Cette vaste province renferme une abondance incroyable de ressources naturelles, notamment des possibilités de chasse et de pêche de loisir parmi les plus attrayantes en Amérique du Nord. 

Depuis 1892, les agent(e)s de protection de la nature assument la responsabilité de protéger ces ressources naturelles pour les générations à venir. Elles et ils continuent de le faire avec une ardeur renouvelée.  

« Les agent(e)s de protection de la nature ont un gros travail à faire, y compris la mise en application des règlements de la chasse et de la pêche, la promotion de la sécurité à la chasse, les enquêtes sur les activités illégales touchant la faune et l’éducation de la population, » a dit John Yakabuski, ministre des Richesses naturelles et des Forêts. « Elles et ils sont dehors par tous les temps, patrouillant les lacs, rivières, pistes, routes de campagne et centres urbains de notre province pour veiller à ce que nos ressources naturelles de calibre mondial demeurent ainsi. » 

Plusieurs régions de l’Ontario ne sont pas accessibles par la route. Les agent(e)s de protection de la nature utilisent une vaste gamme de véhicules pour se rendre là où on en a besoin en région éloignée. Elles et ils utilisent notamment des véhicules tout terrain, des motoneiges, des embarcations et des hélicoptères. 

Pour protéger les ressources naturelles de l’Ontario, les agent(e)s de protection de la nature recourent à des tactiques d’application des règlements à la fine pointe, y compris les analyses d’ADN, le repérage par GPS, l’analyse des données, les patrouilles aériennes, l’escouade canine et les leurres d’espèces sauvages.  

Le ministère compte à l’heure actuelle 184 agent(e)s de protection de la nature qui travaillent à partir de plus de 50 installations dans chaque région de l’Ontario. Parmi ces postes de première ligne, on compte des agent(e)s sur le terrain, des maîtres-chiens et des employé(e)s spécialisé(e)s en formation, renseignement et enquête. Toutes et tous exercent leur travail de mise en application des règlements à l’année. 

« Tout au long de la pandémie de COVID-19, nous avons été témoins d’innombrables actes d’héroïsme des travailleur(se)s de première ligne et nos agent(e)s de protection de la nature ne font pas exception, » a dit le ministre Yakabuski. « Ces personnes courageuses protègent les Ontariennes et Ontariens ainsi que notre patrimoine naturel depuis le début de la pandémie et je ne pourrais pas être plus fier d’elles. »  

Le ministère des Richesses naturelles et des Forêts recrute 25 nouveaux agent(e)s de protection de la nature pour joindre ses rangs. Ces agents aideront le ministère à porter plus d’attention à ses objectifs en matière de gestion viable des ressources et de sécurité publique.  

« Nous avons promis d’embaucher plus d’agent(e)s de protection de la nature pour protéger les précieuses ressources naturelles de l’Ontario et nous réalisons cet engagement, » a dit Mike Harris, adjoint parlementaire du ministre des Richesses naturelles et des Forêts. « C’est une excellente carrière pour quiconque se passionne pour le plein air. Si vous avez l’esprit aventureux et désirez servir la province sur la première ligne, nous voulons vous connaître. » 

Pour en apprendre davantage sur la façon de postuler, consultez le site Web Carrières dans la fonction publique de l’Ontario (gov.on.ca).

Conservation officers uphold a long tradition on the front lines

As Canada’s second-largest province geographically, Ontario spans approximately one million square kilometres, ranging from temperate in the south to tundra in the north. This vast province contains an incredible abundance of natural resources, including some of the best recreational hunting and fishing in North America.  

Since 1892, conservation officers have shouldered the responsibility of protecting these natural resources for future generations, and today, they’re still going strong. 

“Conservation officers have a big job to do, including the enforcement of hunting and fishing regulations, promoting hunting safety, investigation of illegal activities against fish and wildlife, and educating the public,” said John Yakabuski, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. “They’re out there in all weather conditions, patrolling the lakes, rivers, trails, backroads, and urban centres of our province — making sure our world-class natural resources stay that way.” 

Many areas of Ontario aren’t accessible by road, so conservation officers use a wide variety of vehicles to get where they’re needed in the backcountry. These include all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, boats, and helicopters. 

To protect Ontario’s natural resources, conservation officers use cutting-edge enforcement tactics, including DNA analysis, GPS tracking, data analysis, aerial and canine patrols, and wildlife decoys. 

There are currently 184 conservation officers in the ministry, working out of over 50 locations in every region of Ontario. These front-line positions include field officers, canine handlers, and specialist positions in training, intelligence and investigations — all of whom lead year-round enforcement service delivery.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen countless examples of heroism from front-line workers, and our conservation offers are no exception,” said Minister Yakabuski. “These brave folks have been out there the whole time, keeping Ontarians safe throughout the pandemic, and protecting our natural heritage — and I couldn’t be prouder of them.” 

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is recruiting 25 new conservation officers to its ranks. These officers will help the ministry increase its focus on sustainable resource management and public safety goals. 

“We promised to hire more conservation officers to protect Ontario’s precious natural resources and we’re making good on that commitment,” said Mike Harris, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. “This is a great career path for anyone who’s passionate about the outdoors. If you’ve got an adventurous spirit and a desire to serve your province on the front lines, we want to hear from you.” 
For more information on how to apply, go the Province of Ontario’s Public Service Careers website at www.gojobs.gov.on.ca.

 (Robinson Huron Treaty Territory, May 7, 2021) – After witnessing the House of Common’s emergency debate Thursday evening on Enbridge’s Line 5 crisis, members of the Robinson Huron Waawiindamaagewin Political Working Group call on Canada to do better and include all their treaty partners when making infrastructure plans and decisions. 

Line 5 runs under the Straits of Mackinac, which connects Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, which many Robinson Huron First Nation communities rely on for clean water, fishing, transportation and ceremony. The pipeline’s construction was completed nearly 70 years ago and currently transports oil from western Canada to eastern Canada. The pipeline under the Mackinac consists of two pipelines which are now decades old and identified as being at the end of their life. Based in the United States, the National Wildlife Federation reviewed federal records and discovered that Line 5 had over 30 spills resulting in over 1 million gallons of oil entering the Great Lakes since 1968. Recently, plans were developed to encase the existing pipeline with a tunnel, raising concerns amongst many groups, including indigenous communities and residents south of the border, due to the previous leaks and poor maintenance of the line. 

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who was elected on a campaign promise to shut the line down, announced in the Fall of 2020 that she would revoke an easement granted in 1953 that allows Line 5 to operate under the Straits of Mackinac. That order will take effect on May 12, 2021. Her office recently stated that the ageing pipeline is a “ticking time bomb” and that it would be unlawful for Enbridge to continue to operate after her government’s deadline. 

The Canadian government has stated that it does not believe that Enbridge needs to comply with the May 12 deadline. Canada has stated that it is considering making an intervenor submission supporting Enbridge in ongoing American court proceedings to keep the pipeline operational. Canada’s argument could focus on a pipeline treaty from 1977 with the United States, allowing Canada to request negotiations with the U.S. to keep the line operational. 

Regarding Canada’s support of Enbridge and the referenced 1977 treaty, Ogimaa (Chief) Sayers of Batchewana First Nation stated, “This is a slap in the face of treaty rights holders across Canada. Canada is fighting to uphold a pipeline treaty from 1977 while continually ignoring historical treaty commitments to First Nations people across Canada.” 

Many of the Robinson Huron First Nation communities have advocated in the past to protect the Great Lakes, including meeting with American-based tribes to present a unified front. Leadership present at the May 6 Political Working Group meeting stated that they would examine further 

options to voice and possibly mobilize their support of American tribes who are also demanding the closure of the ageing pipeline. 

Ogimaa Duke Peltier of the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island stated, “The continued operation of this ageing pipeline presents a real and present danger not just for indigenous communities on both sides of the border, but to all peoples that live and rely on these lakes. Canada needs to do better when it comes to infrastructure planning and work with all their treaty partners, not just when it is convenient, or the court orders them to.” 

Ogimaa Peltier further stated that it is unfortunate that Canada has not planned to reduce dependence on crude oil. “Canada needs to work with all its treaty partners when it comes to the protection of our Great Lakes and planning for our future. As treaty partners, we can find solutions together.” 

May 7, 2021—Ottawa, Traditional unceded Algonquin Territory, Ontario

Yesterday, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services; the Honourable Carolyn Bennett,  Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations; and Pam Damoff, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services, met with Indigenous, provincial and territorial partners from across the country to discuss progress on the implementation of An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis Children, Youth and Families. The Act affirms the rights of Indigenous Peoples to exercise jurisdiction in relation to child and family services for their communities. It also establishes guiding principles, including the best interests of the child, cultural continuity and substantive equality, to guide the provision of child and family services in relation to Indigenous children. It responds to the Truth and Reconciliation’s Calls to Action and to the Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and supports the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The meeting provided an opportunity for partners to share their perspectives on the implementation of the Act, which came into effect on January 1, 2020. Chief Cadmus Delorme from Cowessess First Nation, Samuel Dyck and Piers Kreps from Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, and Al Benoit from the Manitoba Métis Federation spoke about their experiences and lessons learned from working toward the exercise of Indigenous jurisdiction over child and family services.Additionally, the Government of Canada outlined its approach to the implementation of the Act and its intentions for strong collaboration with Indigenous, provincial and territorial partners moving forward. A discussion to identify key issues and the best way forward concluded the meeting.

This meeting follows Deputy Minister and Technician-level meetings held earlier this year. We will  continue to work together at the national and regional levels and through bilateral, tripartite and distinctions-based working groups to support Indigenous communities in preparing for the exercise of jurisdiction over child and family services so that all Indigenous children have the opportunity to grow up in their communities immersed in their culture and surrounded by their loved ones.

The Government of Canada continues to support Indigenous-led initiatives to support First Nations, Inuit and Métis in taking control of child and family services, with the goal of keeping their children and youth connected to their families, communities and culture.