Latest news with #Anishnaabe


CBC
4 days ago
- General
- CBC
Northern Ontario city hires its first Indigenous policy advisor
Sault Ste. Marie created a brand new position this year: Indigenous policy and process renewal advisor (or Anishnaabe E-Wiidookaage in Anishinaabemowin). It's a long title with an even longer list of priorities - and we'll hear from Kaitlyn Neveu, the woman taking on the challenge. Kaitlyn Neveu is the City of Sault Ste. Marie's first ever Anishnaabe E-Wiidookaage. That's the Indigenous policy and process renewal adviser in Anishinaabemowin. In her new role, Neveu is tasked to make sure the northern Ontario city meets its commitments to reconciliation by applying the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada calls to action that relate to municipal governance. "The City of Sault Ste. Marie has taken a huge step forward and that I really, truly hope that more municipalities take on this responsibility and put into force the connections and the relationships that are needed between our Indigenous communities," she told CBC's Up North. Neveu said she works with nearby Indigenous communities and leaders, including elders and knowledge keepers to help the city meet its commitment to reconciliation. "This position is certainly a privilege to me," she said. "I'm represented both as a trusted voice for our Indigenous communities and a skilled advisor capable of navigating government structures." Neveu said the city recently approached her about developing a policy around smudging, which she sees as a success. Smudging is a cultural practice that involves burning sacred herbs, such as sage, for purification and cleansing. Before taking on her current role, Neveu said she worked in the child welfare system. "I just realized that we need so much change, and that change starts with education and knowledge," she said. Neveu added that her role lets her connect with non-Indigenous people and help educate them on where Indigenous people "are coming from." "This position allows me to speak our voice," she said.


Hamilton Spectator
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
10 of the most promising theatre productions this summer outside of Toronto, Stratford and Shaw
The Toronto theatre season might be winding down, but that doesn't mean there's nothing happening on stages this spring and summer. And I'm not talking about the Stratford and Shaw festivals, which should obviously already be on your to-do list. Just a couple of hours from the GTA you'll find plenty of entertaining plays and musicals, including a few world premieres. Here's a roundup of some buzzy shows in Ontario that, combined with a picnic lunch or B&B stay, would make a perfect day trip or weekend escape. Who: Emma Donoghue Where: Blyth Festival in Blyth The Dublin-born and now London, Ont.-based Emma Donoghue is best known as the author of the bestselling novel 'Room,' which was made into an Oscar-winning film and adapted for the stage several years ago. Now she's debuting a folk musical about Henry and Jane Johnson, a real-life couple who left the Great Irish Famine of the 1840s to settle in Southwestern Ontario. Landon Doak ('Peter Pan,' 'Alice in Wonderland') and Shelayna Christante (Bad Hats Theatre's 'Narnia') star as the couple, and both will sing traditional songs and Irish ballads in this poignant work, directed by Blyth's artistic director, Gil Garratt. From June 26 to Aug. 12. Visit for details. Who: Cale Crowe and Genevieve Adam Where: Capitol Theatre in Port Hope Toronto theatregoers will recognize writer/actor Genevieve Adam from her historical dramas 'Dark Heart,' 'Heartless' and 'Deceitful Above all Things.' Now she's teamed up with Anishnaabe singer/songwriter Cale Crowe for 'Rez Gas,' a musical about a man (John Wamsley from '1939' ) who leaves his reservation to pursue a music career, only to return home. Young People's Theatre's Herbie Barnes directs a cast that includes Cheri Maracle, Jonathan Fisher and Dillan Chiblow. From Aug. 22 to Sep. 7. Visit for details. Who: Rebecca Northan Where: Here for Now Theatre in Stratford Is there anything Rebecca Northan can't do? The Dora Award-winning creator of international hit 'Blind Date,' alum of both Stratford and Shaw festivals, and one-third of the recent Toronto Theatre Critics' Award-winning ensemble for 'Goblin:Macbeth' now presents a new comedy. 'Stick Around' is about a woman in her mid-40s who seeks life advice from her mother, who's been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Directed by Kevin Kruchkywich, the play is loosely inspired by Northan's own personal experience during the last eight weeks with her mother. So expect a mix of laughter and tears when the play helps inaugurate the company's brand new venue. From May 28 to June 8. Visit for details. Who: Norm Foster Where: Orillia Opera House in Orillia Back in the early aughts, Norm Foster — considered Canada's most prolific and most produced playwright — wrote 'The Love List,' about two middle-aged men who were searching for the ideal woman. Now Foster is creating gender parity in 'A Woman's Love List,' a new comedy about two women who write down all the qualities they want in a man … and he suddenly appears. From July 3 to 18. Visit for details. Who: Megan Murphy Where: 4th Line Theatre in Millbrook Audiences at the outdoor 4th Line Theatre know to expect works that draw on the history and heritage of the rural region just southwest of Peterborough. Megan Murphy's 'Wild Irish Geese' tells the story of Irish people who left poverty in the old country (see also 'The Wind Coming Over the Sea,' above) to settle in Scott's Plains, later renamed Peterborough. The company's managing artistic director, Kim Blackwell, directs this premiere production. From July 29 to Aug. 30. Visit for details. Who: Robert Harling Where: Capitol Theatre The film adaptation is a beloved classic, so why doesn't Robert Harling's comedy drama — about a group of women in the American South — get more professional revivals? Well, never you mind. Just take the 401 to Port Hope to see Courtney Ch'ng Lancaster's production, featuring Raquel Duffy, Belinda Corpuz, Carolyn Fe, Brenda Robins and — as the play's mother/daughter combo — Deborah Drakeford and Charlotte Dennis, who are mother and daughter in real life. Remember to bring tissues. From July 18 to Aug. 3. Visit for details. Who: Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice Where: Huron Country Playhouse in Grand Bend and Hamilton Family Theatre in Cambridge Even if you caught the recent 50th-anniversary revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's groundbreaking musical, you might want to check it out again in this Drayton Theatre production. Especially with stars like Stratford leading man Robert Markus as Jesus, Shaw Fest vet Emily Lukasik as Mary Magdalene and original 'Come From Away' Broadway cast member Lee MacDougall as Pontius Pilate. They're joined by Christopher Ning (a standout in the recent off-Mirvish production of 'Titanique' ) and Jade McLeod ('Jagged Little Pill' North American tour). From June 11 to 28 and July 3 to 27. Visit for details. Who: Mark Crawford Where: Thousand Islands Playhouse in Gananoque Like Foster, prolific actor/writer Mark Crawford's comedies are hugely popular yet rarely get produced in Toronto. (The only professional production we've seen is 'Bed & Breakfast' at Soulpepper .) So it might be worth the trek east to the gorgeous Thousand Islands area to see this side-splitting comedy about the lead-up to a wedding, with a cast that includes Shaw regular Emily Lukasik, Amelia Sargisson ('Red Velvet') and 'Come From Away' actor Kyle Brown, all directed by the Dora-winning Cherissa Richards. From Aug. 22 to Sept. 14. Visit for details. Who: Annabel Fitzsimmons, Alison Lawrence and Mary Francis Moore Where: County Stage Company in Prince Edward County I was a huge fan of Annabel Fitzsimmons, Alison Lawrence and Mary Francis Moore 's play 'Bittergirl' when it premiered way back in 1999. The show, about finding the humour in getting dumped, was turned into a book several years later and then, eventually, a musical featuring songs from the 1960s and '70s. Even the Mirvishes helped develop it. The show has been produced across the country, but never in Toronto. Prince Edward County isn't too far from the GTA. So grab your besties, order tickets and hope you don't run into your exes during intermission or at the neighbouring wineries. From July 18 to Aug. 13. Visit for details. Who: Anne Chislett Where: Blyth Festival Anne Chislett's moving drama set in a small Amish community on the eve of the Second World War premiered at the Blyth Festival in 1981 and won the Governor General's Award two years later. Productions of this Canadian classic are rare, so don't miss this opportunity to see it performed at the festival's atmospheric outdoor Harvest Stage, directed by Severn Thompson and with a cast headed by two of stalwarts of the theatre scene, Randy Hughson and Michelle Fisk. From July 3 to Aug. 23. Visit for details.


Cision Canada
22-05-2025
- Health
- Cision Canada
Canadian Journalism Foundation Announces Inaugural Indigenous Health Journalism Fellow Français
TORONTO, May 22, 2025 /CNW/ - The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) is proud to announce that award-winning Anishnaabe journalist Lenard Monkman is the inaugural recipient of the CJF Indigenous Health Journalism Fellowship in partnership with the Canadian Medical Association (CMA). This is the first year of a groundbreaking three-year initiative, aimed at fostering expert reporting on critical health issues affecting Indigenous communities in Canada. Open to Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) journalists with a minimum of five years of professional experience. This prestigious Fellowship provides an annual research stipend of $100,000 plus additional expenses. "We are thrilled to name Lenard Monkman as our inaugural CJF Indigenous Health Journalism Fellow," says CJF President and Executive Director Natalie Turvey. "Lenard first participated in our CJF Indigenous Journalism Fellowship program in 2017 as an emerging journalist, and it's been remarkable to witness his growth in Canadian journalism since then. His deep connections to Indigenous communities and his commitment to impactful storytelling make him the ideal journalist to launch this important fellowship. His proposed project examining HIV rates among Indigenous communities addresses a critical public health issue that demands greater attention and understanding. This fellowship represents our ongoing commitment to supporting excellence in journalism, elevating diverse perspectives and fostering important conversations in the public interest." For his Fellowship, Monkman will collaborate with CBC Indigenous to research and produce an interactive journalistic piece, along with an accompanying video documentary, by the end of 2026 on HIV rates among Indigenous people in Western Canada from a harm-reduction perspective and explore related healthcare-system issues. Manitoba is second, only behind Saskatchewan, (both of which have high Indigenous populations) in HIV cases per 100,000 people in Canada. He intends to examine multiple perspectives when it comes to HIV rates and harm reduction including, but not limited to, people who are directly impacted, First Nations' leaders, frontline service and harm reduction workers, as well as public healthcare leaders—both provincially and in First Nations. His research will also consider the jurisdictional issues that affect Indigenous people seeking healthcare and harm reduction services. "The ongoing HIV crisis in First Nations' communities is a critical health issue that needs further investigation, so Lenard's reporting has the potential to be a vital piece of public interest journalism," says selection committee chair Connie Walker. "Overall, it was good to see such diversity in terms of ideas and projects that were proposed for the inaugural year of this fellowship." The CJF, in partnership with the CMA, acknowledges that Oshki Annishinabe Nigaaniwak (Winnipeg), where Monkman lives and works, is on Treaty 1 Territory. His work will take place in the Traditional Territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg, Anishininewuk, Dakota Oyate, Denesuline and Nehethowuk Nations Territory, the Homeland of the Red River Métis and lands that were and are Inuit ancestral lands. Monkman is a member of Lake Manitoba First Nation who says his Winnipeg upbringing has helped shape his work. A former CJF-CBC Indigenous Journalism Fellow, Monkman has held a number of roles at CBC Indigenous since beginning his career there in 2015, including reporter, radio host and creative producer. He currently works as a producer with CBC Kids. Over the years, he has worked on numerous Indigenous-content related projects, including news stories, panel discussions, video games and online/TV segments. In 2019, he received a RTDNA Award for Excellence in Innovation for CBC's "Beyond 94" project, an immersive and interactive website measuring progress on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 Calls to Action. For its part, CMA President Dr. Joss Reimer says: "Our support for this fellowship reflects our promise to uphold Indigenous practices and amplify Indigenous voices and storytelling to influence government and policymakers to advance Indigenous health and well-being. We appreciate the diligence of the esteemed selection committee to make this decision and look forward to learning from Lenard's impactful work and to further strengthening our collective resolve to foster reconciliation in healthcare." Monkman will be honoured at the CJF Awards ceremony on June 12 at the Royal York Hotel, Toronto. For tickets, tables and sponsorship opportunities, see contact information below or visit the CJF Awards page. The CJF Indigenous Health Journalism Fellowship selection committee are: Chair – Connie Walker, Pulitzer- and Peabody Award-winning journalist; Karyn Pugliese, aka Pabàmàdiz, online journalist, APTN News; Cheryl McKenzie, Executive Director, News and Current Affairs, APTN; Julian Brave NoiseCat, Writer and Oscar-nominated filmmaker, champion powwow dancer and student of Salish art and history; and Andre Picard, Health Reporter and columnist, The Globe and CJF is grateful for the partnership of the Canadian Medical Association. CIBC is the presenting sponsor of the 2025 CJF Awards. The 2025 CJF Awards are also supported by Google News Initiative, Labatt Breweries of Canada, McCain Foods, Intact, TD Bank Group, CBC/Radio-Canada, Aritzia, BMO Financial Group, CTV News, Canada Life, Sobeys, Scotiabank, RBC, FGS Longview Communications, KPMG, Canadian Bankers Association, Canadian Medical Association, Accenture, Aga Khan Development Network, Apple Canada News, Bennett Jones LLP, Blakes, Canadian Women's Foundation, CPP Investments, Loblaw Companies Ltd., Maple Leaf Foods, OLG, Rishi Nolan Strategies, TD Securities, Uber, WSP. In-kind sponsorship is provided by Beehive Design, The Canadian Press, Bespoke Audio Visual, MLSE and Porter Airlines. Cision is the exclusive distribution partner of the CJF. About the Canadian Journalism Foundation Established in 1990, The Canadian Journalism Foundation promotes, celebrates and facilitates excellence in journalism. The foundation runs a prestigious annual awards and fellowship program featuring an industry gala where news leaders, journalists and corporate Canada gather to celebrate outstanding journalistic achievement and the value of professional journalism. Through monthly J-Talks, a public speakers' series, the CJF facilitates dialogue among journalists, businesspeople, academics and students about the role of the media in Canadian society and the ongoing challenges for media in the digital era. The foundation also fosters opportunities for journalism education, training and research. About the Canadian Medical Association The Canadian Medical Association leads a national movement with physicians who believe in a better future of health. Its ambition is a sustainable, accessible health system where patients are partners, a culture of medicine that elevates equity, diversity and wellbeing, and supportive communities where everyone has the chance to be healthy. It drives change through advocacy, giving and knowledge sharing – guided by values of collaboration and inclusion.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Canadian Journalism Foundation Announces Inaugural Indigenous Health Journalism Fellow
TORONTO, May 22, 2025 /CNW/ - The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) is proud to announce that award-winning Anishnaabe journalist Lenard Monkman is the inaugural recipient of the CJF Indigenous Health Journalism Fellowship in partnership with the Canadian Medical Association (CMA). This is the first year of a groundbreaking three-year initiative, aimed at fostering expert reporting on critical health issues affecting Indigenous communities in Canada. Open to Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) journalists with a minimum of five years of professional experience. This prestigious Fellowship provides an annual research stipend of $100,000 plus additional expenses. "We are thrilled to name Lenard Monkman as our inaugural CJF Indigenous Health Journalism Fellow," says CJF President and Executive Director Natalie Turvey. "Lenard first participated in our CJF Indigenous Journalism Fellowship program in 2017 as an emerging journalist, and it's been remarkable to witness his growth in Canadian journalism since then. His deep connections to Indigenous communities and his commitment to impactful storytelling make him the ideal journalist to launch this important fellowship. His proposed project examining HIV rates among Indigenous communities addresses a critical public health issue that demands greater attention and understanding. This fellowship represents our ongoing commitment to supporting excellence in journalism, elevating diverse perspectives and fostering important conversations in the public interest." For his Fellowship, Monkman will collaborate with CBC Indigenous to research and produce an interactive journalistic piece, along with an accompanying video documentary, by the end of 2026 on HIV rates among Indigenous people in Western Canada from a harm-reduction perspective and explore related healthcare-system issues. Manitoba is second, only behind Saskatchewan, (both of which have high Indigenous populations) in HIV cases per 100,000 people in Canada. He intends to examine multiple perspectives when it comes to HIV rates and harm reduction including, but not limited to, people who are directly impacted, First Nations' leaders, frontline service and harm reduction workers, as well as public healthcare leaders—both provincially and in First Nations. His research will also consider the jurisdictional issues that affect Indigenous people seeking healthcare and harm reduction services. "The ongoing HIV crisis in First Nations' communities is a critical health issue that needs further investigation, so Lenard's reporting has the potential to be a vital piece of public interest journalism," says selection committee chair Connie Walker. "Overall, it was good to see such diversity in terms of ideas and projects that were proposed for the inaugural year of this fellowship." The CJF, in partnership with the CMA, acknowledges that Oshki Annishinabe Nigaaniwak (Winnipeg), where Monkman lives and works, is on Treaty 1 Territory. His work will take place in the Traditional Territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg, Anishininewuk, Dakota Oyate, Denesuline and Nehethowuk Nations Territory, the Homeland of the Red River Métis and lands that were and are Inuit ancestral lands. Monkman is a member of Lake Manitoba First Nation who says his Winnipeg upbringing has helped shape his work. A former CJF-CBC Indigenous Journalism Fellow, Monkman has held a number of roles at CBC Indigenous since beginning his career there in 2015, including reporter, radio host and creative producer. He currently works as a producer with CBC Kids. Over the years, he has worked on numerous Indigenous-content related projects, including news stories, panel discussions, video games and online/TV segments. In 2019, he received a RTDNA Award for Excellence in Innovation for CBC's "Beyond 94" project, an immersive and interactive website measuring progress on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 Calls to Action. For its part, CMA President Dr. Joss Reimer says: "Our support for this fellowship reflects our promise to uphold Indigenous practices and amplify Indigenous voices and storytelling to influence government and policymakers to advance Indigenous health and well-being. We appreciate the diligence of the esteemed selection committee to make this decision and look forward to learning from Lenard's impactful work and to further strengthening our collective resolve to foster reconciliation in healthcare." Monkman will be honoured at the CJF Awards ceremony on June 12 at the Royal York Hotel, Toronto. For tickets, tables and sponsorship opportunities, see contact information below or visit the CJF Awards page. The CJF Indigenous Health Journalism Fellowship selection committee are: Chair – Connie Walker, Pulitzer- and Peabody Award-winning journalist;Karyn Pugliese, aka Pabàmàdiz, online journalist, APTN News;Cheryl McKenzie, Executive Director, News and Current Affairs, APTN;Julian Brave NoiseCat, Writer and Oscar-nominated filmmaker, champion powwow dancer and student of Salish art and history; andAndre Picard, Health Reporter and columnist, The Globe and CJF is grateful for the partnership of the Canadian Medical Association. CIBC is the presenting sponsor of the 2025 CJF Awards. The 2025 CJF Awards are also supported by Google News Initiative, Labatt Breweries of Canada, McCain Foods, Intact, TD Bank Group, CBC/Radio-Canada, Aritzia, BMO Financial Group, CTV News, Canada Life, Sobeys, Scotiabank, RBC, FGS Longview Communications, KPMG, Canadian Bankers Association, Canadian Medical Association, Accenture, Aga Khan Development Network, Apple Canada News, Bennett Jones LLP, Blakes, Canadian Women's Foundation, CPP Investments, Loblaw Companies Ltd., Maple Leaf Foods, OLG, Rishi Nolan Strategies, TD Securities, Uber, WSP. In-kind sponsorship is provided by Beehive Design, The Canadian Press, Bespoke Audio Visual, MLSE and Porter Airlines. Cision is the exclusive distribution partner of the CJF. About the Canadian Journalism Foundation Established in 1990, The Canadian Journalism Foundation promotes, celebrates and facilitates excellence in journalism. The foundation runs a prestigious annual awards and fellowship program featuring an industry gala where news leaders, journalists and corporate Canada gather to celebrate outstanding journalistic achievement and the value of professional journalism. Through monthly J-Talks, a public speakers' series, the CJF facilitates dialogue among journalists, businesspeople, academics and students about the role of the media in Canadian society and the ongoing challenges for media in the digital era. The foundation also fosters opportunities for journalism education, training and research. About the Canadian Medical Association The Canadian Medical Association leads a national movement with physicians who believe in a better future of health. Its ambition is a sustainable, accessible health system where patients are partners, a culture of medicine that elevates equity, diversity and wellbeing, and supportive communities where everyone has the chance to be healthy. It drives change through advocacy, giving and knowledge sharing – guided by values of collaboration and inclusion. SOURCE The Canadian Journalism Foundation View original content: Sign in to access your portfolio


Indian Express
27-04-2025
- Automotive
- Indian Express
In this American island, why horses rule and cars are banned
In the heart of the US state known for building cars, there's a peaceful little island where motor vehicles are not allowed and horses are everywhere. Mackinac Island in Michigan, often called 'the car capital of the world', has stayed true to a simpler way of life for more than a century. Located in Lake Huron, the island covers just 3.8 square km and has about 600 year-round residents and almost as many horses. Motor vehicles were banned on Mackinac Island around 1898 after a car engine backfired and scared the horses, according to local stories. The island's authorities decided it was best to keep cars away, and the ban soon spread across the whole island. 'Here, horse is king,' Urvana Tracey Morse, a local craft shop owner, told the BBC. She added, 'Part of us just like the tradition that we get around by bike, or we walk or take the horse taxi.' Today, horses are still at the heart of daily life. They deliver mail, transport goods, and even collect rubbish. And in summer, the island's population swells when about 1.2 million visitors arrive by ferry to enjoy the slow-paced lifestyle, scenic views, and famous fudge shops. Mackinac Island also has a rich Indigenous history. As BBC explains, the island was originally called Michilimackinac, meaning 'place of the great turtle' in the Anishinaabemowin language. Indigenous peoples believed the limestone bluffs and forests looked like a turtle rising from the lake. Eric Hemenway, a member of the Anishnaabe community who works to revive Indigenous history on the island, told the BBC, 'Mackinac Island is one of the most important and prominent places in Anishnaabe history and culture.' He added, 'This is one of our most sacred spots on the Great Lakes.' Visitors can explore historic sites like the old British fort where actors dress in historical clothing and fire cannons, or they can rent horses or bikes to travel around the island — since even golf carts are banned. Visitors can hike, bike or take a horse-drawn carriage to Arch Rock. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons) Mackinac's famous Grand Hotel, built 138 years ago, boasts the world's longest porch and remains a symbol of the luxurious past when wealthy families from cities like Chicago and Detroit came to spend their summers there. The Michigan governor recently suggested on social media that Mackinac would be a perfect setting for the next season of HBO's The White Lotus. Despite its beauty, locals like Morse worry about the island becoming too popular. 'You're proud of where you live; but at the same time I kind of don't want to tell people how cool it is here,' she said. Eighty per cent of Mackinac Island is now protected as state parkland. Visitors can hike or bike through forests, along cliffs like the impressive 50-foot-wide Arch Rock, or simply relax by the pebbled beaches. Roughly 1,500 bicycles are available for hire but horses still set the rhythm of life. Hunter Hoaglund, who works with a freight company serving the island, summed it up for the BBC: 'Without the horses, this place wouldn't be what it is. It's what makes you feel like you've stepped back in time.' As the lilac trees bloom and the island fills with visitors each spring and summer, Mackinac Island remains a rare place where the pace of life is set by hoofbeats, not car horns.