First Nations

Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation master carver Joe Martin orchestrates the raising of a new totem pole for Opitsaht on July 1, 2022. (Nora O’Malley photo)

Truth-speaking Vancouver Island totem pole unveiled on Canada Day

July 1 ceremony on the shores of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations village of Opitsaht near Tofino

 

Various First Nations groups including the Tsilhqot’in National Government are coming to the defense of AFN National Chief Roseanne Archibald who was suspended on June 17. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Tŝilhqot’in voices support for AFN National Chief RoseAnne Archibald amid complaint probe

TNG said it stands with Archibald’s call for a forensic audit, fundamental reform at AFN

 

Fish fragments unearthed from the villages of Ts’ishaa and Huu7ii in Barkley Sound, B.C. (Dylan Hillis/University of Victoria)

Ancient Vancouver Island fish bones may hold lessons for adapting to climate change

5,000-year-old bones show how Indigenous people worked with warming oceans

  • Jun 22, 2022

 

The City of Quesnel and Lhtako Dené Nation announced the renaming of Ceal Tingley Park on Tuesday, June 21. (Rebecca Dyok photo — Quesnel Observer)

Lhtako Dene Park new name of Quesnel park

Ceal Tingley Park was renamed on National Indigenous Peoples Day

The City of Quesnel and Lhtako Dené Nation announced the renaming of Ceal Tingley Park on Tuesday, June 21. (Rebecca Dyok photo — Quesnel Observer)
Autumn Cooper, right, of the Stz’uminus First Nation speaks about her experiences learning her traditional language, at an event announcing provincial funding for Indigenous language, art, culture and heritage revitalization at the legislature June 14. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

B.C. commits $35M to continue revitalization of Indigenous languages, arts, culture

First Peoples’ Cultural Council learning initiatives to be funded

Autumn Cooper, right, of the Stz’uminus First Nation speaks about her experiences learning her traditional language, at an event announcing provincial funding for Indigenous language, art, culture and heritage revitalization at the legislature June 14. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)
By wrapping residential school survivors in blankets the community is showing support and respect for them. (Michael Bramadat-Willcock/Terrace Standard)

Honouring our children event marks Kamloops 215 anniversary in Terrace

First Nations and allies honour lost children at Terrace City Hall on anniversary of Kamloops 215 announcement

By wrapping residential school survivors in blankets the community is showing support and respect for them. (Michael Bramadat-Willcock/Terrace Standard)
Dr. Barney Williams. Submitted photo/ Coast Mental Health

Renowned B.C. First Nations therapist recognized for resilience

Dr. Barney Williams receives 2022 Courage To Come Back Award in the Addictions category

Dr. Barney Williams. Submitted photo/ Coast Mental Health
Horses from the community of Esk’etemc race down the slope in a traditional annual roundup which brings the horses back from winter range to the reserve. (Georgina Chipman photo)

PHOTOS: Indigenous Cariboo horse roundup a time-honoured tradition

Horses returned from winter range in Esk’etemc thanks to leadership of Bill Chelsea

Horses from the community of Esk’etemc race down the slope in a traditional annual roundup which brings the horses back from winter range to the reserve. (Georgina Chipman photo)
Williams Lake First Nation councillor Chris Wycotte, left, Chief Willie Sellars and councillor Shae Chelsea outside WLFN’s new farm-to-gate cannabis facility during its grand opening Friday, May 6. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo- Williams Lake Tribune)

B.C. First Nation opens province’s first farm-to-gate cannabis operation

Sugar Cane Cannabis in Williams Lake also first such operation on First Nations land in Canada

Williams Lake First Nation councillor Chris Wycotte, left, Chief Willie Sellars and councillor Shae Chelsea outside WLFN’s new farm-to-gate cannabis facility during its grand opening Friday, May 6. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo- Williams Lake Tribune)
B.C. Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Preparedness Jennifer Rice. (Norman Galimski/Black Press)

B.C. rolls out emergency preparedness funds for First Nations and municipalities

Funding will go toward capacity building for emergency support in those communities

B.C. Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Preparedness Jennifer Rice. (Norman Galimski/Black Press)
An architectural rendering of the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology campus and Urban Native Youth Association Centre at Commercial Drive and East Hastings in Vancouver. (Submitted photo)

B.C. funds concept plan of new urban Indigenous education centre

Province will contribute $2.5 million in funding for the business case development of the project

An architectural rendering of the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology campus and Urban Native Youth Association Centre at Commercial Drive and East Hastings in Vancouver. (Submitted photo)
Parks Canada representative Genevieve Jones, left, hands over Chief Poundmaker's staff to Pauline Poundmaker, his great-great-granddaughter, right, after signing a transfer agreement during a ceremony at Fort Battleford National Historic Site near Battleford, Sask., on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu

Parks Canada returns Chief Poundmaker’s staff to family at Saskatchewan ceremony

Parks Canada returns Chief Poundmaker’s staff to family at Saskatchewan ceremony

Parks Canada representative Genevieve Jones, left, hands over Chief Poundmaker's staff to Pauline Poundmaker, his great-great-granddaughter, right, after signing a transfer agreement during a ceremony at Fort Battleford National Historic Site near Battleford, Sask., on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu
A drawing of the proposed development of the site near Xatśūll First Nation, north of Williams Lake along Highway 97, which will include a gas station and quick-serve restaurant. (Image submitted)

Xatśūll First Nation announces $3.8 M project to build gas station and store

Project includes training for members during construction and long-term employment during operation

  • Apr 28, 2022
A drawing of the proposed development of the site near Xatśūll First Nation, north of Williams Lake along Highway 97, which will include a gas station and quick-serve restaurant. (Image submitted)
A couple are dwarfed by old growth trees as they walk in Avatar Grove near Port Renfrew, B.C., Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

B.C. First Nations leadership unveils strategy to fight climate change

The strategy contains 27 themes, 63 objectives, and 143 strategic actions

A couple are dwarfed by old growth trees as they walk in Avatar Grove near Port Renfrew, B.C., Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Lhtako Grass will be getting a new name. The retail drive-thru-cannabis store previously operating under the laws of the Lhtako Dené Nation will reopen later this spring with a provincial license after the First Nation and the BC Government signed a cannabis agreement under section 119 of the Cannabis Control and Licensing Act. (Rebecca Dyok photo — Quesnel Cariboo Observer)

Lhtako Dené Nation and B.C. Government sign cannabis agreement

The agreement includes the option for Lhtako to operate in both production and retail sales

Lhtako Grass will be getting a new name. The retail drive-thru-cannabis store previously operating under the laws of the Lhtako Dené Nation will reopen later this spring with a provincial license after the First Nation and the BC Government signed a cannabis agreement under section 119 of the Cannabis Control and Licensing Act. (Rebecca Dyok photo — Quesnel Cariboo Observer)
Canada’s justice minister Dave Lametti was in Williams Lake recently where he met with First Nations leadership. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Justice minister visits First Nation leaders in Cariboo Chilcotin

“It was important to visit the site,” Lametti said after touring St. Joseph’s Mission site

Canada’s justice minister Dave Lametti was in Williams Lake recently where he met with First Nations leadership. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
Canada’s justice minister Dave Lametti was in Williams Lake recently where he met with First Nations leadership. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Justice minister visits First Nation leaders in Cariboo Chilcotin

“It was important to visit the site,” Lametti said after touring St. Joseph’s Mission site

Canada’s justice minister Dave Lametti was in Williams Lake recently where he met with First Nations leadership. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
The cemetery at Tl’etinqox First Nation will be part of an investigation into an historic hospital fire in the community that claimed the lives of 12 children ranging in ages of babies to 10 years old. (Photo submitted)

Historical tragic hospital fire being investigated at Tl’etinqox First Nation west of Williams Lake

12 children died in the May 1958 fire

The cemetery at Tl’etinqox First Nation will be part of an investigation into an historic hospital fire in the community that claimed the lives of 12 children ranging in ages of babies to 10 years old. (Photo submitted)
The workshops at Yunesit’in were set up in stations, where different aspects of the landscape and ecosystem were explored and incorporated into the mixed-media canvas pieces by participants. (Cindy Charleyboy photo)

Cariboo Art Beat workshops combine fire and art

Williams Lake workshops help build bridges between First Nations and government

The workshops at Yunesit’in were set up in stations, where different aspects of the landscape and ecosystem were explored and incorporated into the mixed-media canvas pieces by participants. (Cindy Charleyboy photo)
Crystal Smith (far left) and husband Raymond Shaw were unable to register their newborn son’s name because it uses Kwak’wala characters. Photo contributed

Province refuses to register B.C. baby’s First Nations name

Registrar General office says λugʷaləs K’ala’ask Shaw contravened Vital Statistics Agency standards

Crystal Smith (far left) and husband Raymond Shaw were unable to register their newborn son’s name because it uses Kwak’wala characters. Photo contributed