Latest news with #IndigenousLeaders
CBC
a day ago
- General
- CBC
‘We're stuck, we're trapped': Manitoba First Nations leaders speak on wildfire rescue efforts
As wildfires rage through northern Manitoba, Indigenous leaders in the province are calling on all levels of government to help rescue some 2,300 who are still stranded in the region. Local airplane, train and road access are all out of commission, leaving helicopters — which carry six people at a time — as the only way out.
CBC
a day ago
- General
- CBC
Breaking down the Ford government's controversial Bill 5
The Ford government has been receiving criticism from Ontario's opposition parties, as well as environmental and Indigenous leaders on their controversial Bill 5. CBC's Mike Crawley breaks down what you need to know about the legislation.
CTV News
a day ago
- General
- CTV News
Heiltsuk Nation ratification feast brings written constitution into force
Heiltsuk Nation Chief Marilyn Slett, right, speaks as Hereditary Chief Wigvilhba Wakas Harvey Humchitt Sr. listens during a news conference, in Vancouver, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (Darryl Dyck / The Canadian Press) First Nations leaders and delegates from around British Columbia are slated to attend a ratification feast on Friday that will officially bring the Heiltsuk Nation's written constitution into effect. Marilyn Slett, the nation's elected chief, called it a 'monumental day' that comes after two decades of development and consultation. 'It's hard to put into words how big it is. It's definitely a day of celebration and reflection on everything that brought us to the day,' Slett said of the feast, which is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. The Heiltsuk Nation approved the adoption of a written constitution for the First Nation on British Columbia's central coast in February. That followed six months of engagement with more than 2,000 Heiltsuk members in Bella Bella, Nanaimo and Vancouver. The nation said 67 per cent of the 725 people who voted on the referendum were in favour of the constitution. The constitution will help provide clarity for its own members and those it chooses to do business with, Slett said, which will clear up questions around decision-making in Heiltsuk territory that have previously been left to the courts. Slett explained that the constitution will develop 'core laws' for the nation, which will cover issues such as land management and language. The nation said in February that 'questions of paramountcy' with respect to other sets of laws would need to be worked out. Slett said the adoption of a written constitution is an act of 'reclaiming' the nation's role in its own governance. 'It's a pathway for our community to move beyond the Indian Act and move forward and grow and reach our full capacity that our ancestors always dreamed of,' Slett said in an interview ahead of the event. British Columbia's Indigenous Relations Minister Christine Boyle said in a statement that the province 'recognizes the hard work the Heiltsuk Nation community has put into a constitutional ratification.' The minister said the province will continue to work with the nation to make tangible steps toward reconciliation. 'Our shared work has set a foundation for a good path forward and we look forward to continuing this work together,' Boyle said. The ratification event will feature speeches from leaders as well as ceremonial dances, Slett said. It will be held at the nations Big House in Bella Bella, which serves as a gathering place for cultural and ceremonial activities. The nation says in a post to its website that the structure was built with funding from the federal government as a 'commitment to reconciliation.' The nation will also be hosting a three-day celebration to mark its anniversary starting Saturday. Boyle's office has confirmed she will be in attendance. Slett said Boyle is scheduled to meet with leaders as well as partake in the celebrations, which she believes is important for reconciliation. 'It's important for the minister to visit our community when we're doing this important work, and to understand our community and develop that relationship,' Slett said. This report by Brieanna Charlebois of The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2025.
CTV News
3 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Controversial B.C. ‘fast-track' bills headed for vote
Vancouver Watch MLAs are set to vote on a pair of bills that have drawn widespread condemnation from First Nations leaders.
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
King Charles hails ‘strong and free' Canada in speech to open parliament
King Charles has said Canadians can 'give themselves far more than any foreign power on any continent can ever take away' as he gave a rare speech in the country's parliament that served as a rebuke of the US president, Donald Trump, and his threats to annex the country. Charles, who serves as Canada's head of state, is the first British monarch since 1957 to preside over the opening of a new Canadian parliament. In a speech attended by lawmakers, Indigenous leaders and dignitaries, Charles, on his 20th visit, praised a country he said he loved 'so much'. 'The True North is indeed strong and free,' he said – a reference to both the Canadian national anthem and recent threats from Trump to make Canada the 51st state. The speech from the throne, typically given by the governor general, is meant to outline the government's plans for the next session. The speech is written by the prime minister's office in consultation with staff at the king's office. The king made no direct reference to Trump but his language was closely watched for implicit criticisms of the US president and his dramatic recasting of the US relationship with Canada. 'Democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, self-determination and freedom are values which Canadians hold dear, and ones which the Government is determined to protect,' said Charles, telling attenders, that by 'staying true to Canadian values', the country could 'build new alliances and a new economy that serves all Canadians'. The king alluded to efforts to ease tensions with the US. 'The prime minister and the president of the United States, for example, have begun defining a new economic and security relationship between Canada and the US, rooted in mutual respect and founded on common interests, to deliver transformational benefits for both sovereign nations.' Not every party supported the presence of Charles, however. The separatist Bloc Québécois was absent – as they typically are during the speech – in protest over the address by a 'foreign king'. 'To assert Canada's sovereignty, we seek the symbol of the fact that Canada has the King of England as its sovereign,' said leader Yves-François Blanchet in the days leading up to the speech. 'There is a complete inconsistency which seems to reflect [prime minister Mark] Carney's personal sympathies rather than a relevant reading of Quebec's sensibility.' More details soon …
