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Global News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Global News
FSIN says First Nations were left out of the first ministers meeting in Saskatoon
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) says the exclusion of Saskatchewan's 74 First Nations from the federal-provincial meeting Monday represents a breach of constitutional obligations. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The FSIN says the discussion will undoubtedly impact First Nation communities, and their jurisdiction. Global's Nicole Healey has the full story in the video above.
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Doctors face prison after 'selling babies' in twisted £500K plot
Eight doctors and senior clinic officials have been detained in Russia after being accused of orchestrating a sinister scam which saw embryos arranged for birth - for the purpose of selling them abroad A chilling baby-trafficking ring has been exposed in Russia, with eight doctors and senior clinic officials detained for allegedly selling newborns to foreign buyers in a scheme worth more than half a million pounds. The scandal, centred in the Primorsky region, involves at least 13 babies being trafficked abroad - though prosecutors warn the real number could be far higher. Among those arrested are three chief physicians, accused of orchestrating a sinister operation which saw infants sold for profit under the guise of infertility treatments. According to explosive evidence presented by state prosecutors, the group raked in approximately £510,000 through the illegal trade. 'A group of doctors illegally issued medical documentation containing knowingly false information about the infertility of buyers and genetic parents,' read a damning official statement. 'Using assisted reproductive technologies under the guise of infertility treatment, the defendants carried out actions to cultivate embryos and arrange the subsequent birth of children for the purpose of their sale and movement abroad.' The IVF baby scandal centres on private clinics in Vladivostok. The country or countries where the babies were sold has not been disclosed, nor were details given about alleged surrogate mothers. The scam involved six women and two men - doctors, chief physicians, and the owner of a chain of private clinics, according to reports. In total, at least 13 children were sent abroad, flouting Russian laws. The sales happened between 2018 and 2020 but have only come to light now. It is as yet unclear if Russia will seek to repatriate the illegally sold children - now aged between around five and seven. The defendants have not been named. They face up to 15 years in jail for alleged child trafficking, according to prosecutors, with the case due to be heard by the Frunzensky District Court of Vladivostok. It comes just weeks after a Russian psychiatrist was caught running a "torture conveyor belt" at a prison hospital, where more than 20 patients died. Dr Anastasia Potorochina is now hoping to avoid jail by being sent to Vladimir Putin 's war as a medic. The 32-year-old illegally tied inmates to their beds for weeks or months, and injected them with mind-altering 'psychotropic drugs'. A total of 21 patients died on her 'torture conveyor belt' at notorious Interregional Tuberculosis Hospital No. 19, part of Putin's Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN). Some 43 prisoners were tortured, according to the closed-doors court case where she was convicted and sentenced to five years behind bars. One orderly, Artem Pechersky, accused her of being a 'sadist'. He said: 'She liked that patients could be tied up for a long time. She would say: 'That's what they deserve', 'Let them lie there'. She made mean jokes. She believed that they deserved to be tied up'.
CBC
16-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Indigenous leaders call on new Pope to return thousands of artifacts
The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) is calling for the Vatican to return sacred First Nation artifacts taken from Indigenous communities during the residential school era. The FSIN, which represents Saskatchewan's First Nations, has previously formally requested the repatriation of items including sacred pipes, medicine bundles, ceremonial regalia and other cultural objects currently housed in the Vatican Museums in Vatican City. FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron has renewed that request in light of Pope Leo XIV's recent appointment as head of the Catholic Church. "Every single one of those artifacts are sacred items there, crucial for the healing journey for many residential school survivors," Cameron said in an interview Wednesday. Indigenous leaders from Saskatchewan were part of a delegation that went to the Vatican in 2022 to meet Pope Francis. For that visit, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops arranged for a group of First Nations, Métis and Inuit delegates to meet Francis at the Vatican, and see some of the artifacts during private tours of the Vatican Museums. They included an Inuvialuit kayak still held at the Vatican Museums, along with thousands of other Indigenous artifacts. Cameron said every item put back in the hands of Indigenous people would go a long way in the healing journey of residential school survivors. He said there may even be pictures of children whose families never saw them again. "There were many that were tortured and beaten to death and never made it home, just totally vanished. But we know what happened. They were murdered," he said. Floyd Favel, curator of the Chief Poundmaker Museum and Gallery on Poundmaker First Nation, about 175 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon, said in an interview that the artifacts are living objects that are part of Indigenous people's legacy. "They hold our history. They hold our culture," Favel said. "It does strengthen our link with the past. And we need that more these days because our languages and our cultures, they're very much threatened." The Catholic Church previously justified colonization of Indigenous people through its Doctrine of Discovery, a legal concept backed by 15th-century papal bulls. Pope Francis repudiated the Doctrine of Discovery in 2023 after decades of advocacy by Indigenous Peoples worldwide. "We lost our culture, and it's in a fragile state. When you bring back these objects, it will awaken people because these objects are living entities. You could say spiritual energies, living art," Favel said. Victoria Pruden, president of the Métis National Council, said in a statement to CBC that she is asking the Vatican to work with Métis knowledge-keepers to identify which items in the collection belong to the Métis and to return them. "These artifacts were taken during eras of profound injustice. Their return is an essential step in advancing reconciliation and repairing the deep harms caused by colonial policies, including the role the Church played in the residential school system," she said. It's a message she'll take to Rome as she attends Pope Leo's inaugural mass on Sunday.
CBC
16-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
FSIN calls on Vatican to return sacred Indigenous artifacts
The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations says ceremonial regalia, sacred pipes, medicine bundles and other rare artifacts are at the Vatican, and wants them returned. FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron says he will renew his demand now that Leo XIV is Pope.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Three Indigenous members of Canada's Parliament named to prime minister's cabinet
Miles MorrisseauICT It was a historic day in the Canadian government with the naming of the nation's first Indigenous Minister of Indigenous Services. Newly elected Prime Minister Mark Carney tapped Member of Parliament Mandy Gull-Masty, a former chief of the Quebec Crees, for the historic appointment. Gull-Masty, Cree, of Carney's Liberal Party, won in the northern Quebec riding of Abitibi-Baie-James-Nunavik-Eeyou, flipping a seat that had previously been won by the Bloc Quebecois. SUPPORT INDIGENOUS JOURNALISM. Congratulations from the Cree in Quebec greeted the historic news Tuesday. 'On behalf of the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee)/Cree Nation Government,' the council stated on X, formerly known as Twitter. 'We extend our congratulations to Mandy Gull-Masty on her appointment as Minister of Indigenous Services in the new federal cabinet formed this morning.' Rebecca Chartrand who won in the northern Manitoba riding of Churchill Keewatinok Aski has been named Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs. Chartrand, Anishinaabe/Inninew/Dakota/Métis, also flipped a seat for the Liberals, defeating Nikki Ashton, the long time New Democratic Party incumbent. Buckley Belanger was named to cabinet as Secretary of State for Rural Development. Belanger was victorious in the northern Saskatchewan riding of Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River. Belanger was the lone Liberal elected in the entire province of Saskatchewan. Rebecca Alty has been named as the minister responsible for Crown-Indigenous relations. Alty is non-Indigenous but represents the Northwest Territories and a significant Indigenous demographic. The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations put out a release welcoming Alty to the role of Crown-Indigenous relations and stating that the former mayor of Yellowknife 'brings valuable northern perspective and experience working with Indigenous communities.' FSIN also congratulated Gull-Masty on her historic appointment. 'The appointment of these two accomplished women to lead key Indigenous portfolios signals a positive step forward for Prime Minister Carney's government to advancing reconciliation and addressing the priorities of First Nations,' said FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron. 'We look forward to establishing strong working relationships with both ministers as we collectively work to address the needs of our community.' Métis National Council President Victoria Pruden was also encouraged with the new cabinet. 'The Métis National Council welcomes the announcement of the new federal cabinet and is encouraged by the appointment of three Indigenous Members of Parliament to key leadership role,' Pruden told ICT. 'We are particularly pleased to see the historic appointment of Mandy Gull-Masty, former Grand Chief of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee), as the first Indigenous Minister of Indigenous Services Canada. We also recognize the proud Métis citizen from Île-à-la-Crosse, Buckley Belanger, who has been named Secretary of State for Rural Development, and Rebecca Chartrand—Anishinaabe, Inninew, Dakota, and Métis—as the new Minister of Northern Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.'Pruden also stated that the council is ready to work with the new government to improve the lives of Métis people and strengthen the Métis Nation. 'We look forward to continuing to work in partnership through a government-to-government, nation-to-nation approach to advance the rights, interests, and priorities of the Métis Nation," she said. "This includes strengthening the Métis economy and addressing the cost-of-living crisis, workforce readiness, Métis climate leadership, and enhancing Métis data sovereignty and capacity.' The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs stated that the historic appointment of Gull-Masty and the appointment of Chartrand reflect the growing presence and leadership of First Nations women in federal decision-making. 'The swearing-in of Prime Minister Carney's Cabinet is a significant moment for the country, and especially for First Nations,' said Grand Chief Kyra Wilson. 'We look forward to building respectful, Nation-to-Nation relationships with this new team and ensuring that the commitments made to First Nations in the Liberal Party platform are fully implemented with clear identified timelines and deliverables. Treaty implementation will continue to be a priority for our Nations as we move ahead.' The new ministers were sworn in at Rideau Hall, the official residence of the Governor General Mary Simon, Inuk. Each Member of Parliament swears allegiance to Simon, who is the representative of the King of England. Following the swearing-in ceremony, Carney spoke to the media. 'Our new government will be a strong and reliable partner to the provinces, the territories and to Indigenous peoples,' Carney said. 'We will reinforce bridges across labor, business and civil society, and together, we will advance the nation, building investments that will support the core mission of this government, which is to create the strongest economy in the G7, an economy that works for everyone.' Carney referenced the rumblings about separation from some in the oil-rich province of Alberta who were disappointed in his election. 'Canada is only one nation, a confederation based on the union of peoples, French, English and Indigenous,' said Carney. 'Our government's approach will reflect that reality. We will govern as a cabinet constructively and collaboratively working with caucus and across parties in Parliament to deliver the change that Canadians want and desire.' Although the Liberals won the election, they will lead with a minority government, which will require support from the other parties. In the previous government of Justin Trudeau, the Liberals made a deal with the National Democratic Party to get their support and have the necessary votes in the House of Commons to pass legislation. It is still unknown what type of arrangement will be made, if any, but it is very possible that the NDP will hold some balance of power in the new government. The NDP was decimated in the recent national election, losing official party status, but their Members of Parliament could still hold influence if Carney wants to make a deal. Of the seven NDP Members of Parliament, two are Indigenous and are returning to Ottawa after successfully defending their seats. Leah Gazan, Wood Mountain Lakota Nation has held the riding of Winnipeg Centre since 2019. Lori Idlout, Inuk, held her seat of Nunavut since 2021. The Carney government will be heading back to work on May 27, when Parliament with be opened with King Charles III and Queen Camilla in attendance. Our stories are worth telling. 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