APTN News Brief

Our lead story: the search of a Winnipeg-area landfill begins for the remains of 30-year-old mother of three Ashlee Shingoose—one of four First Nations women murdered over three years ago by a now-convicted serial killer.

Our featured story: the Ross River Dena Council speaks out against the proposed $4 billion 'Yukon–British Columbia Grid Connect' project, touted by the Carney government as one of its initial "nation-building" priorities.

Our lead story: with a MOU on a new proposed tar-sands-to-B.C. pipeline now signed, some slam the conditions of the federal/Alberta memorandum of understanding as excessive, while others claim there should have been more attached.

Our lead story: an anticipated federal/Alberta memorandum of understanding regarding a proposed pipeline from the tar sands to the west coast sparks concerns from both British Columbia and First Nations.

Our lead story: Manitoba's Red Dress Alert system takes one step closer to reality with the release of a final report on community consultations.  

Our featured story: the Assembly of First Nations 2SLGBTQQIA council claims new Alberta laws affecting young trans individuals—laws exempt from Charter-based court challenges for 5 years under the so-called notwithstanding clause—directly threaten the safety of Indigenous youth in the province.

Our lead story: a candlelight vigil near the Alberta legislature is held in honour of Natanis Merasty, the missing 24-year-old from Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, last seen in Edmonton this past May.

Our lead story: new and significant developments concerning allegations of misspending of federal Covid-19 relief funds at the Mohawk community of Kanesatake.

Our lead story: a look at the new premier and speaker chosen by Nunavut's recently-elected 21-member territorial legislature. >Interstitial: ZapSplat.com  

Our lead story: environmental groups line up alongside the chief of the Cold Lake First Nations in Alberta to demand a halt to a tar sands carbon capture proposal, the Pathways Alliance Project.

Our lead story: at a ceremony in Manitoba, Mark Carney becomes the first sitting prime minister to attend event commemorating anniversary of Métis leader Louis Riel's execution by the Canadian state.

Our lead story: new charges laid in the death of 21-year-old Grassy Narrows First Nation man Mekhi Pelly, with Terrance Cherry, 24, of Kenora now facing charges of first-degree murder as well as committing an indignity to a dead body.

Our lead story: PM Mark Carney proposes six more large-scale infrastructure projects—three of which would, if built, directly impact Indigenous peoples—supported by a so-called Major Projects Office meant to fast track the regulatory process. 

Our lead story: following news of the statutory release of Shawn Lamb—convicted in 2013 for killing two First Nations women in Winnipeg—family members of the victims are in shock, saying they had no warning it would happen. >Interstitial: zapsplat.com

Our featured story: Manitoba RCMP announce sexual assault charges dating back to 1984 against Chief Vincent Tacan, just days before this week's election on the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation. >Interstitial: zapsplat.com

A special Remembrance Day edition of the Brief centres on commemorations of Indigenous Veterans Day (observed every November 8th) in different parts of Canada. 

Our lead story: as some senators push to add the second-generation Status cut off to Bill S-2's removal of sex-based discrimination from the Indian Act, the Indigenous Services minister wants the bill to go forward as is.

Our lead story: the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) clears two RCMP officers in the August 2024 shooting death of 15-year-old Hoss Lightning Saddleback in Wetaskiwin, AB.  

Our lead story: heavy on infrastructure investments, this week's new federal budget gets mixed reviews from Indigenous organizations.

Our lead story: the Carney government's new federal budget makes big investments in defence, housing and infrastructure, but offers little in the way of new spending on Indigenous-specific priorities. 

Our lead story: Mikisew Cree First Nation in northern Alberta calls on the Carney government to reject the proposed release of toxic tar sands tailings into the environment.

Our lead story: at a semi-public ceremony, the Canadian Armed Forces issues an apology to members of minority groups who suffered racism and harassment while serving.

Our lead story: chiefs at the recent annual general assembly of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations vote to omit discussion of a controversial forensic audit from its agenda.  

Our lead story: with the 2025 federal budget less than a week away, the Carney government announces over $660 million in new funding over 5 years to promote equality for, and reduce violence against, women and gender-diverse Canadians.

Our lead story: witnesses tell the Senate Standing Committee on Indigenous Peoples that Bill S-2—meant to eliminate existing sex- and enfranchisement-based discrimination in the Indian Act—is flawed in its current form. >Interstitial: zapsplat.com

Our lead story: an update on the forthcoming search for the remains of Ashley Shingoose—one of four victims of a Manitoba serial killer back in 2022—a search her surviving family hopes is another step closer to completion. >Interstitial: zapsplat.com

Our lead story: In late May, a wildfire tore through the evacuated community of Chipewyan Lake in Treaty 8 territory, part of Bigstone Cree Nation in Alberta. Nearly half the structures were destroyed and the chief says the federal and provincial governments have been slow to respond. • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: https://aptnnews.ca Hear more APTN News podcasts: https://www.aptnnews.ca/podcasts/

Our lead story: The Carney government introduces legislation aimed at tightening bail rules for certain offences, but some fear the changes will worsen the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the prison system. • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: https://aptnnews.ca Hear more APTN News podcasts: https://www.aptnnews.ca/podcasts/

Our lead story: Police are treating the death of a Wolastoqey woman as a homicide after human remains were found in a wooded area north of Fredericton on Monday afternoon. • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: https://aptnnews.ca Hear more APTN News podcasts: https://www.aptnnews.ca/podcasts/

Our lead story: a follow-up Auditor General of Canada report finds that, despite a 84% boost in spending on First Nations primary health care, safe drinking water and emergency management since 2019, issues persist with their delivery by Indigenous Services Canada.

Our lead story: dozens protest outside an Edmonton courtroom just prior to 38-year-old Bryan Farrell's scheduled bail hearing on multiple charges related to the death of 14-year-old Samuel Bird, only to learn it's postponed.

Our lead story: A B.C. Supreme Court Justice hands down sentences to a trio of land defenders—Sleydo', Shaylynn Sampson, and Corey Jocko—who tried to block the construction of the Coastal Gas Link Pipeline through Wet'suwet'en territory. >Interstitial: Zapsplat.com

Our lead story: following a lengthy search, Edmonton police say the body of 14-year-old Samuel Bird has been found, with one man arrested and charged in connection with the teen's murder.

Our lead story: the Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth issues a statement of concern, saying the province needs to better prioritize Indigenous young people in its wildfire preparedness and response.

Our lead story: disturbing video of an RCMP arrest in Cape Breton raises concerns over the tasering of a 58-year-old Mi'kmaw man charged on suspicion of driving while intoxicated after refusing a breathalyzer. >Interstitial: zapsplat.com

Our lead story: survivors of the Portage La Prairie residential school in Manitoba gather to commemorate the 50-year anniversary of its closure, for some the first time seeing one another in decades. >Interstitial: zapsplat.com

Our lead story: the Edmonton Police Service says it's narrowed down the location of the remains of Samuel Bird—the 14-year-old who went missing back on June 1st—as somewhere likely in the Carrot Creek area, about 90 minutes west of the city.

Our lead story: as proceedings begin at the Federal Court of Appeal, some 50 supporters gather outside to back Kebaowek First Nation's efforts to keep blocking proposed radioactive waste disposal site at Chalk River, ON.

Our lead story: the Kebaowek First Nation stages a joint press conference in Ottawa ahead of a judicial review of their legal challenge to construction of a nuclear waste disposal site at Chalk River, ON.

Our lead story: as part of its pushback against a federal forensic audit, the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations claims expenses were fully accounted for, and allege "opposition forces" tried to sway the 2024 FSIN election in favour of "Ottawa-aligned" candidates.

Our lead story: at the request of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, Indigenous Services Canada says it will share greater details from a disputed forensic audit of FSIN spending.

Our lead story: FSIN 4th Vice-Chief Craig McCallum says he cannot in good conscience stand behind a Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations statement pushing back on a forensic audit of its operations. >Interstitial: zapsplat.com

Our lead story: after months of searching by family, supporters and Edmonton police, missing 14-year-old Samuel Bird is now presumed deceased, a death police believe to be criminal in nature.

Our lead stories: a look at some of the events across Canada marking the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Our lead story: on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, some note how few of the TRC's 94 calls to action have been answered since the commission delivered its final report in 2015.