APTN News Brief

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.

Our lead story: a First Nations-led gathering in Saskatoon discusses the results of a recently-released forensic audit into the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, which found millions in unaccounted for FSIN spending.    

Our lead story: AFN regional chief for New Brunswick Joanna Bernard resigns from the child and families portfolio, citing difficulties working with the National Children's Chiefs Commission.

Our lead story: Indigenous Services Canada publicly releases the results of a long-awaited forensic audit of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, finding millions in either ineligible or questionable FSIN spending.

Our lead story: as Thunder Bay police now search a local landfill for the remains of Deborah Anishinabie, the leader of Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) says her murder and the investigation have taken a toll on surviving family members.

Our lead story: a command centre is set up on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River to help with the search for 14-year-old Samuel Bird, missing as of June 1st.

Our lead story: following a recent visit to Neskantaga First Nation—site of Canada's longest-ever boil-water advisory—Ontario ombudsman Paul Dubé criticizes the province and the feds for their inaction on its deplorable living conditions.

Our lead story: a member of Grassy Narrows—a northern Ontario First Nation plagued by decades of mercury poisoning due to pollution from a nearby paper mill—manages to directly confront premier Doug Ford at a public event in the Niagara region.

Our lead story: a proposed class action lawsuit by some former employees of Indian Oil and Gas Canada—alleging systemic racism, abuse of power, and workplace misconduct—is now set for a certification hearing in early November to determine whether it can proceed.    

Our lead story: Mi'kmaw land protectors escalate their efforts to prevent further clearcutting of a Cape Breton mountain by setting up a camp and checkpoint, a site patrolled regularly by RCMP.

Our lead story: as the fall parliamentary session begins, word is the Carney government will deliver an austerity budget this sitting, with debate over bill C-5 (aka the One Canadian Economy Act) likely another hot topic.