APTN News Brief

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.    

Our lead story: the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs claim victory after the Manitoba Court of King's Bench agrees provincial and federal governments have breached the constitutional rights of First Nations concerning child welfare self-governance. For more stories, visit aptnnews.ca  

Our lead story: stepped-up efforts in Thunder Bay to locate Nodin Skunk, 25, and Ashlynn Bottle, 23, members of Mishkeegogamang First Nation last seen together April 26 in the city's south end. 

Our lead story: with the Manitoba and federal governments keen to see Canada's only deepwater Arctic port transformed into a global resource corridor, some in the region want more locally-driven conversations to happen first.  

Our lead story: the Liberal government says it's moving ahead with the $8.5 billion child welfare reform agreement with First Nations in Ontario, with monies set to flow as of May 29.    

Our lead story: appearing before a House of Commons committee on Bill S-2—affecting who is eligible to gain (or re-gain) Indian Status—former Montreal Canadiens star goalie Carey Price is among several witnesses urging an end to the second-generation cut-off. >Interstitial: zapsplat.com

Our lead story: record flooding in parts of northern Saskatchewan forces three First Nations—Red Earth, Shoal Lake Cree and Sturgeon Lake Cree—to evacuate some residents.  

On today's Brief: a rundown of some of the many events held across Canada to mark yesterday's annual Red Dress Day, from Parliament Hill to Iqaluit, Winnipeg to Vancouver. >Interstitial: zapsplat.com

Our lead story: just before Red Dress Day—the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people—some 400 MMIWG+ family members sign a letter calling on federal officials to re-direct funding away from national organizations to "the people most directly impacted."  

Our lead story: a New Brunswick judge finds a RCMP officer not guilty of assaulting Mi'kmaw woman Christina Gillis during a June 2024 'wellness check' requested by her mother.

Our lead story: the Manitoba government discloses the final cost of its search for the remains of two First Nations women—Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran—at the Prairie Green landfill near Winnipeg. >Interstitial: zapsplat.com

Our lead story: First Nations divided over open-net salmon farms in British Columbia travel to Ottawa to plead their respective cases to the federal government.

Our featured story: First Nations leaders in Manitoba say Bill C-21—the Red River Métis Self-Government Treaty Act—generates uncertainty concerning the protection of their treaty rights, lands, and jurisdiction.

Our featured story: the federal minister for Northern and Arctic Affairs says her office still awaits a report, due weeks ago, on the effectiveness of the Nutrition North program.

Our lead story: the recent back and forth of British Columbia politics over the province's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) has some wondering just where things stand, and for how long.

Our lead story: for the first time ever in the House of Commons, debate begins on a bill formally recognizing the Manitoba Métis Federation as a self-governing body.

Our lead story: the Supreme Court of Yukon delivers a verdict in the trial of Seth Boss, accused of the second-degree murder of Anthony Primozic in 2022.

Our lead story: charges laid in the tragic 2024 death of a six-year-old girl from The Pas, MB, after her caregivers—Ashley Morach, 39, and Joel Morach, 35—are both located by RCMP. >Interstitial: zapsplat.com    

Our lead story: scholar Darryl Leroux appeals Saskatchewan court ruling finding him guilty of defaming literature professor Michelle Coupal, partly on grounds the judge was mistaken in concluding her "claim to being Indigenous was made in good faith."  >Interstitial: zapsplat.com    

Our lead story: as calls for transparency and a public inquiry grow stronger following a media report of RCMP surveillance of Indigenous advocacy and political organizations throughout the latter half of the 20th century, some worry the practice persists.

Our lead story: chiefs in Manitoba demand transparency regarding RCMP surveillance of First Nations organizations and advocates throughout the late 60s to early 80s, as confirmed by a recent CBC investigation.

Our featured story: hailed as landmark legislation by proponents in 2019, British Columbia's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) has become something of a political football of late, as provincial efforts to suspend portions of DRIPA draw the ire of Indigenous leaders.

Our lead story: nearly six years after her killing, the family of Megan Gallagher read their final victim impact statement in a Saskatoon court this week to the last of nine people charged in connection with her death. NOTE: this report contains disturbing details.

Our lead story: with under a week 'til water levels are expected to rise, Peguis First Nation works 'round the clock to protect important infrastructure in anticipation of another year of devastating floods.    

Our lead story: Nastania Mullin, former CEO of the Manitoba Inuit Association, faces multiple charges related to a number of historical sexual assault allegations dating back to 2003 and 2023. >Interstitial: zapsplat.com  

Our lead story: with Manitoba's Hydrologic Forecast Centre recently warning of severe floods for the Peguis  area, Chief Stan Bird says the little time left to put safeguards in place necessitates the aid of the Canadian Armed Forces.  

Our lead story: over two years since she was first reported missing in Winnipeg, the family of 32-year-old mother Leah Keeper of Sagkeeng First Nation says city police have identified her remains.

Our lead story: arguing First Nations' prior consent is required, officials with the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation in northwestern Alberta ask a Court of King's Bench judge to shut down a petition urging the province's separation from Canada.

Our lead story: The family of the late Rory Cardinal blames Alberta RCMP for his death back in February, after the Kikino Métis man fled to the woods to hide from officers, roughly the same area where his body would be located weeks later. >Interstitial: zapsplat.com  

Our featured story: Mi'kmaw First Nations block or slow traffic on major Nova Scotia highways last week following a RCMP raid on a cannabis shop, an action Mi'kmaw say violates their treaty rights. >Interstitial: zapsplat.com  

Our lead story: as members of Grassy Narrows and Wabaseemoong—First Nations hit hard by an industry-polluted river system—stage a rally at a political announcement, PM Mark Carney jokingly says he "can outlast" a mercury-affected Grassy woman calling for justice on decades of toxic dumping.    

Our lead story: after a year of deliberations, the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke decides to prohibit the local sale of cannabis and to stop providing dispensary licenses.

Our lead story: First Nations leaders celebrate the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal's approval of the "Ontario Final Agreement" on long-term reform of child and family services in the province.

With the Brief's brief break wrapping up, our final highlight from other APTN News podcasts shares an extended excerpt from Our Relatives: Life on the Streets, a six-episode series offering a unique take on who is homeless and why—as told by those living it every day. And in the episode "Unsafe," host Kathleen Martens explores why some Indigenous women choose to stay away from Winnipeg homeless shelters. Warning: portions of this episode discuss disturbing subject matter

With the Brief off this week, we showcase other podcasts in the APTN News line-up. And in this excerpt from InFocus—expert interviews and meaningful conversations about stories and issues affecting Indigenous peoples—host Cierra Bettens speaks with photojournalist Amber Bracken about her arrest during an RCMP raid, and what it signifies about press freedom in Canada.

As the Brief's break continues, we feature another podcast in the APTN News line-up—Nation to Nation, a weekly look at the politics affecting Indigenous peoples in Canada, connecting you with the decision-makers in Ottawa and across the country. In this excerpt, political journalists rate and discuss Mark Carney's first year as the Liberal prime minister. Extro music: 'Pay It Forward' by 1000 Handz (CC BY)  

With the Brief taking a short break from all-new episodes, we instead feature other podcasts in the APTN News line-up. Today, it's our 'Truth & Politics' panel, our regular expert breakdown of what's making headlines. In this excerpt, a discussion of Manitoba's sudden pause on what would have been Canada's first Indigenous-led supervised consumption site. Extro music:  'Pay It Forward' by 1000 Handz (CC BY) 

Our lead story: almost two decades after her daughter's body was found in a rural Manitoba ditch, the mother of the late 24-year-old Crystal Saunders says she won't receive justice after her killer accepts a plea bargain.  

Our lead story: the federal government announces just over $17M in support for northern Indigenous languages audio/video content from broadcasters operating above the 55th parallel.  

Our lead story: fierce criticism emerges in some scholarly circles over a Saskatchewan court ruling a well-known researcher of Indigenous ancestry claims had defamed an academic who once believed herself to be Algonquin. 

Our lead story: a Saskatchewan judge orders scholar Darryl Leroux to pay $70,000 in defamation-related damages to literature professor Michelle Coupal for alleging she'd consciously and deliberately misled others about her ancestry. >Interstitial: zapsplat.com    

Our lead story: the Kanehsatake Perimeter Response Team—a partial solution to the Mohawk community's lack of a police force since 2004—faces an uncertain future with its federal funding set to run out soon. >Interstitial: zapsplat.com