APTN News Brief

Our lead story: as northern Ontario wildfires force many First Nations residents to evacuate, premier Doug Ford visits the region without prior notice to Nishnawbe Aski Nation, a move its grand chief Alvin Fiddler described as "very disrespectful."

Our lead story: as leadership takes in initial aerial imagery of what's left of Collins First Nation following last week's massive blaze, the Anishinabek Nation calls out governments for their lack of support.

Our lead story: with residents of Collins, ON—aka Namaygoosisagagun First Nation—still in shock following their community's destruction by wildfire, the search is on for long-term accommodations in Thunder Bay as leaders prepare evacuees for a extended recovery period away from what's left of their homes.

Our featured story: the fast tracking of major projects in Canada remains a concern among many First Nations, a topic that came up a lot Wednesday at this week's AFN general assembly in Ottawa.

Our lead story: able only to watch their home town burn to the ground, residents of Collins First Nation flee for their lives by boat—one of at least five northern Ontario First Nations evacuated due to wildfires. Interstitial: zapsplat.com  

Our lead story: a proposed nuclear waste storage site near Wabigoon First Nation and the northwestern Ontario town of Ignace stirs mixed reaction, as some imagine economic benefits, others environmental catastrophe.  

Our lead story: new Canadian data from a first-ever national survey of respectful maternity care paint a picture of widespread mistreatment and disrespect towards Indigenous people during pregnancy and childbirth. 

Our lead story: a public health emergency is declared in the Island Lakes region of northeastern Manitoba, as four First Nations jointly call on all levels of government to combat a health and housing crisis for their roughly 17,000 Ansininew citizens. >Interstitial: zapsplat.com

Our lead story: at the B.C. coroner's inquest into the 2022 death of 20-year-old Tatyanna Harrison—last seen in downtown Vancouver months before her body was identified on a yacht in Richmond—Harrison's mother is shocked to learn the fate of her daughter's remains. >Interstitial: zapsplat.com  

Our lead story: an inmate dies at the Thunder Bay District Jail—a facility some call a 'death trap'—just weeks after calls for its closure by First Nations leaders and the family of another man who died at the institution.

Our lead story: a family from Kinonjeoshtegon First Nation demands answers from the Manitoba government after the death of 25-year-old Kiana Everett in provincial custody.

Our lead story: Prime minister Mark Carney and Alberta premier Danielle Smith jointly announce a proposed west coast pipeline that, if built, would see a million barrels per day flow largely alongside the existing Trans Mountain corridor. >Interstitial: zapsplat.com

Our lead story: prime minister Mark Carney travels to B.C. to announce a major economic partnership agreement with premier David Eby, including $10B to expand capacity at the Roberts Bank terminal, $3.5B for the North Coast Transmission Line, and $3B to replace the George Massey Tunnel.  

Our featured story: with an Indigenous elder's application to charge King Charles with genocide rejected by an Australian appeals court, he now looks into potential avenues for justice beyond the continent. >Interstitial: zapsplat.com  

Our lead story: Two remote communities in the Northwest Territories are being evacuated as out-of-control wildfires continue to grow closer.

Our lead story: A councilor from Whale Cove, Nunavut is facing charges of sexual assault, manslaughter and criminal negligence causing death. 

Our lead story: Northwest Territories fire crews and community members are dealing with the aftermath of a plane crash near Fort Simpson. RCMP and NWT fire say three people were onboard the plane, none survived.

Our lead story: Ottawa is considering fast-tracking three major infrastructure projects under the Building Canada Act, but the move is already raising concerns about environmental reviews and Indigenous consultation.

Our lead story: residents of the former northern Manitoba mining town of Leaf Rapids say their community is in crisis. After a string of violent incidents, residents are holding a public meeting to discuss safety and the future of the community.

Our lead story: headed into National Indigenous Peoples Day weekend, Manitoba's provincial court announces the creation of Canada's first associate chief judge of Reconciliation, a role judge Jerilee Ryle will begin on July 2. >Interstitial: zapsplat.com

Our lead story: members of Grassy Narrows First Nation in northwestern Ontario visit Ottawa to call on the Carney government to clean up mercury deposits in their local river system, and for the PM to apologize for comments made earlier this year.  

Our lead story: ongoing reaction to the Carney government's long-awaited release of its First Nations Clean Water Act, from federal opposition parties and a First Nation living under a boil water advisory since the mid-1990s. >Interstitial: zapsplat.com  

Our lead story: the Carney government introduces its long-awaited First Nations Clean Water Act to mixed reviews from First Nations leaders.

Our lead story: the federal government reports a 23% decrease in toxic drug deaths between 2024 and 2025, but notes the overall numbers remain higher than they were a decade ago.  

Our featured story: sources say the Carney government will introduce long-awaited First Nations clean water legislation on June 16—days before Parliament is set to rise for the summer—a bill they'd previously committed to introduce last fall.

Our lead story: as jury considers its recommendations at coroner's inquest into 2020 death of Kingfisher Lake First Nation man Kevin Mamakwa, his family leads calls for the closure of Thunder Bay District Jail where he died.

Our featured story: pointing to slow wildfire responses due to overlapping government jurisdictions, a new Senate committee report recommends a single, federal co-ordination agency, to be created with Indigenous input.  

Our lead story: as Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami releases its poverty reduction strategy for residents across Inuit Nunugat, ITK president Natan Obed says the federal Nutrition North program needs serious revamping. 

Our lead story: Bill S-228—federal legislation to criminalize forced or coerced sterilization—unanimously passes third reading in the House of Commons.

Our lead story: a Winnipeg walk is held to raise awareness about missing and murdered Indigenous men and boys, to support families left with more questions than answers. 

Our lead story: efforts by some Senators to amend Bill C-9—the proposed federal anti-hate legislation—in order to include residential school denialism as a punishable crime are voted down by a majority in Canada's Senate.

Our lead story: calling it a violent crime crisis, First Nations leaders in northeast Saskatchewan await support after three homicides in as many weeks, including one from a recent double shooting at Pelican Narrows. 

Our lead story: RCMP in northeast Saskatchewan say a suspect is now in custody following a double shooting in Pelican Narrows, but say charges have yet to be laid.

Our featured story: legal expert Pam Palmater says the Supreme Court dismissal of Wolastoqey Nation's application to challenge a New Brunswick Court of Appeal decision should not be seen as any kind of judgment by the SCC upon the Wolastoqey Aboriginal title claim. >Interstitial: zapsplat.com

Our lead story: the Federal Court of Appeal sides with Kebaowek First Nation in Quebec, which, since 2024, has fought federal approval of a proposed nuclear waste dump at Chalk River, two hours northwest of Ottawa.  

Our lead story: for the third consecutive time, a report by Canada's auditor general slams N.W.T.'s child and family services department for not meeting key responsibilities to kids in care, 98 per cent of whom are Indigenous. 

Our lead story: Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler asserts that recent Indigenous-led efforts to find missing people in Thunder Bay, ON, have been more effective than those of police.

Our lead story: The Canadian government's lead role in the creation of the residential school system is the focus of the international Permanent Peoples' Tribunal underway this week in Montreal. 

Our lead story: with federal Conservatives claiming private property rights are at risk in British Columbia—citing the Cowichan court decision recognizing Aboriginal title to lands in what's now Richmond B.C.—their related motion in the House of Commons fails. >Interstitial: zapsplat.com

Our lead story: during a debate in the Manitoba legislature over people's use of force to defend their property, Conservative MLA Josh Guenter asserts the Saskatchewan farmer who fatally shot Colten Boushie in 2016 was 'the victim' in the situation.

Our featured story: the Senate committee on human rights hears that Bill C-9's proposed amendments to the Criminal Code concerning hate crimes should include residential school denialism and ensure the protection of Indigenous cultural spaces.    

Our lead story: Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation calls for sustainable federal funding of its ongoing search for potential unmarked graves, with results so far showing several areas with high potential for human remains.  

Our lead story: the sudden passing of 45-year-old cellist Cris Derksen in a two vehicle collision in Alberta has many mourning the loss of the Juno-nominated composer and performer.  

Our lead story: last week's signing of a new pipeline deal between the feds and Alberta, one that could see construction start as early as September 2027, faces legal action from the Mikisew Cree First Nation, who claim decades of tar sands extraction has harmed their lands and people. 

Our featured story: for the second year in a row, a walk for missing and murdered Indigenous men and boys is held in Winnipeg.