Topic: Today’s News

Williams Lake, BC: Today marks the beginning of the Environmental Appeal Board (EAB) virtual hearing of the Tŝilhqot’in Nation’s challenge of an amendment to a discharge permit authorized by a Director of  the BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. The Tŝilhqot’in Nation is appealing the  amended permit on the grounds that the Director did not properly consider Tŝilhqot’in laws and  principles in the consultation and accommodation process, and that the amended permit fails to protect  the environment, as required under BC’s Environmental Management Act. Due to Covid-19 restrictions,  the Appeal is being heard in a hybrid fashion, with a mix of written submissions and this virtual oral  hearing for cross-examination of witnesses and experts. 

Tŝilhqot’in inherent Indigenous laws regarding the Fraser River (ʔElhdaqox in our language) require that  the river be protected from degradation. Effluent that lacks sophisticated water treatment before being  discharged into the Fraser River is in direct contravention of our Indigenous laws. When approving this  amended permit in 2019, the Director did not adequately take into account the laws that we as  Indigenous peoples and caretakers of this area have used to govern and protect our lands and waters for  thousands of years.  

The Tŝilhqot’in Nation is seeking to have the 2019 amended permit revoked, or at minimum, amended.  If revoked, Gibraltar Mines Ltd. would not be permitted to increase the discharge levels by 50%. The  mine would however, still be able to discharge at their previous permitted rate which is itself of grave  concern to our Nation.  

BC has all together failed to ensure the protection of the environment by authorizing this amended permit. The corresponding provincial policy – which allows for untreated discharge entering a waterway  as long as it gets diluted quickly – should be cause for concern for everyone in the Province as we all directly or indirectly rely on and benefit from this important river and the life it supports.  

Quotes: 

Nits’ilʔin (Chief) Troy Baptiste, ʔEsdilagh First Nation 

“Our laws are there to protect our land and waters for use by current and future generations. They are  not being taken into consideration when our people can’t hunt and fish in places they have for  centuries. To have a mechanism within the Province of BC that allows for pollution to enter our waterways as long as it is quickly diluted is absolutely appalling. It is up to the Environmental Appeal  Board to do the right thing and revoke this 2019 permit.”

Nits’ilʔin (Chief) Francis Laceese, Tl’esqox  

“Our rights and laws have been ignored by the Provincial government for far too long. The hearing this  week is about holding this government and mining companies accountable for their actions and policies  that directly impact our fish, wildlife and waterways. The Fraser River is a major migration route for key  

salmon and other species such as the endangered white sturgeon – anything that increases the  temperature of this water or overall challenges the survival of fish should be outlawed in BC. The United  Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) has been adopted by the Province of  BC but this case is a glaring example of how BC is unable to put their words into action.”  

More Information: • Livestream the virtual EAB hearing: http://www.eab.gov.bc.ca/hearing_schedules/index.htm

The Lakehead University Native Students Association (LUNSA) is excited to be hosting
a virtual powwow celebration on Saturday, March 20 from 3 to 7 p.m. The powwow will
be broadcast live on YouTube and Facebook.

The annual powwow is LUNSA’s signature event that showcases tremendous talent and
entertainment, while reinforcing traditional aspects of Indigenous culture such as
drumming, dancing, singing, and giving thanks.

LUNSA is honoured to have Gene Nowegejick as the Elder and Todd Genno as the
Master of Ceremonies. LUNSA will be celebrating resiliency at their cultural celebration
this year.

LUNSA is a volunteer LUSU club. The club’s goals are to promote the spirit of unity
among Indigenous students at Lakehead University through social, cultural, and
recreational events in addition to promoting cultural awareness between club members
and the greater student population.

LUNSA Powwow Agenda and Details
• 3 pm, Opening ceremony
• 3:30 pm, Dancing and drumming time slots begin
• 7 pm, Closing ceremony
Master of Ceremonies: Todd Genno (Biigtigong Nishnaabeg)
Elder: Gene Nowegejick (Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek)
Watch it live:
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/LUNSAThunderBay
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/7BREzkzlW1Y

For more information, please contact mdbombar@lakeheadu.ca.

Indigiqueer author Joshua Whitehead’s “Jonny Appleseed” has won CBC’s Canada Reads Contest.

The debut novel from Whitehead, an Oji-nehiyaw scholar from Peguis First Nation, follows a two-spirit Indigiqueer young man as he returns home to his reserve to attend his stepfather’s funeral.

Mohawk actor and filmmaker Devery Jacobs backed the prevailing title in the public broadcaster’s annual battle of the books.

The days-long literary debate sees five high-profile panellists campaign for their favourite book to be named Canada’s ultimate must-read.

This year’s runner-up was “Butter Honey Pig Bread” by Francesca Ekwuyasi, which was defended by chef and TV host Roger Mooking.

The other titles in contention were: “Two Trees Make a Forest” by Jessica J. Lee, as endorsed by singer-songwriter Scott Helman; “The Midnight Bargain” by C.L. Polk, championed by Olympian and broadcaster Rosey Edeh; and “Hench” by Natalie Zina Walschots, picked by “Kim’s Convenience” star Paul Sun-Hyung Lee.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 11, 2021.

Are you applying for or thinking of applying for an Arts Program Grant? 

Come drop in to one of the Arts Program Virtual Info Sessions to discuss the three open grant streams:

1) Indigenous Arts Scholarship
2) Organizations and Collectives
3) Community Arts Infrastructure
 
Arts program staff will go over the application process, grant guidelines tips and tricks and answer questions from participants!

Tuesday, March 16^th: 12:00PM – 1:30PM
Tuesday, March 23^rd: 12:00PM – 1:30PM
Wednesday, March 24^th: 6:00PM – 7:30PM

There are only 10 seats available per session, so register today by emailing arts@fpcc.ca to receive zoom meeting info. If the session is full or the times don’t work for you please let us know and we will provide more information.
 
We look forward to seeing you there!
 

Tsulquate, British Columbia, March 9, 2021 – Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nation filed an  injunction application with the Federal Court on March 5^th, seeking to stop a DFO decision to  grant a commercial herring spawn on kelp licence in their traditional territories. 

“Despite past experience, we continue to be surprised by the way DFO ignores our input and  concerns,” noted elected Chief Paddy Walkus. “For years now, we have not exercised our food  fishery for herring spawn out of concern for conservation of dwindling herring numbers. Last  year our technical experts found no herring activity. Now DFO have made a decision that they  can issue a commercial licence in the heart of our homelands over our concerns.” 

Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nation’s traditional territory includes the areas in and around Smith  Inlet where they have 6 reserves that include traditional village sites and fishing stations. The  Nations were forcibly moved to Port Hardy by Indian Affairs in the 1950s and 60s, and away  from their traditional village sites. However, members still depend for food and income on the  resources of the lands and waters to which they claim Aboriginal title. 

“Our people have been fishing in these waters for thousands of years,” noted Chief Walkus. “We  have rights here, and those rights are constitutionally protected. DFO is supposed to give those  rights priority in order to meet its constitutional obligations. We need an economic base to  function as a Nation and access to a healthy diet – the sea is the basis of both of these things  for our people.” 

The month of March was named after herring, which has always been an important economic resource for the Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw people. Herring were traded with neighboring Nations for eulachan grease and other favored commodities and continues to be a staple of the traditional economy. 

Chief Walkus added: “The Federal government talks a lot about rights recognition and  reconciliation, but the Department of Fisheries and Oceans continues to interfere with our  access to the principle food and economic base of our people – while favoring the interests of  others. This is not what reconciliation looks like.” 

Difficult-to-detect eye disease is known as the ‘silent thief of sight’

TORONTO, March 9, 2021 /CNW/ – A person with glaucoma can lose as much as 40 per cent of their sight without noticeable symptoms and it is the leading cause of irreversible blindness that affects 78 million people worldwide, including over 800,000 Canadians, half of whom don’t even know they have it, according to the Canadian Ophthalmological Society. Now, during World Glaucoma Week, they are sharing a new video about the importance of regular eye exams for detecting what is known as the ‘silent thief of sight.’

“We rely on our sight for everything we do, so the loss of vision has a far-reaching, negative impact on quality of life, particularly among Canada’s aging population for whom this eye disease disproportionately affects,” said Dr. Colin Mann, President of the Canadian Ophthalmological Society. “Raising awareness and encouraging regular testing to prevent vision loss from glaucoma is an important message that Canadians need so they can save their sight before it’s too late.”

Because there are no noticeable symptoms, ongoing monitoring is needed to watch for changes and ophthalmologists may use several tests during an evaluation for glaucoma, a disease that affects the optic nerve. This nerve is what transmits the images you see from the eye to the brain and it is made up of many nerve fibres. When these nerve fibres become damaged by pressure that builds up inside the eye, known as intraocular pressure (IOP), it can cause blind spots and vision loss.

While those older than 60 are six times more likely to get glaucoma, anyone can develop the disease and there are several different factors that can increase your risk, including ethnicity, family history, long-term steroid use, previous eye injuries and certain optic nerve conditions.

Detection & Treatment
By the time it is noticeable, the most common symptoms of glaucoma include the loss of peripheral vision, halos around lights, eye pain and/or redness, and blurred or decreased vision. While it is a chronic eye disease, it can be controlled with proper management.

Treatment options include eye drops or several different medications to decrease the amount of fluid in the eye, increase outflow of fluid from the eye, or reduce the production of fluid, and laser treatments to improve drainage of fluid from the eye. For cases in which eye drops and laser fail to stop the progression of glaucoma, conventional surgery may be recommended to create a new passage for aqueous fluid to leave the eye, including minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGS), a group of devices/procedures to improve movement of fluid through the eye or reduce fluid production.

Learn more about your risk for developing glaucoma or other serious eye diseases by taking the quiz at seethepossibilities.ca.

About Canadian Ophthalmological Society
The Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS) is the national, recognized authority on eye and vision care in Canada. As eye physicians and surgeons, we are committed to assuring the provision of optimal medical and surgical eye care for all Canadians by promoting excellence in ophthalmology and by providing services to support our members in practice. Our membership includes over 900 ophthalmologists and 200 ophthalmology residents. We work collaboratively with government, other national and international specialty societies, our academic communities (ACUPO), our provincial partners and affiliates and other eye care professionals and patient groups to advocate for health policy in Canada in the area of eye and vision health. COS is an accredited, award-winning provider of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) through the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) and is an affiliate of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA). For more information, visit cos-sco.ca.