New council to advance clean energy projects in remote Indigenous communities
At least 140 rural and remote Indigenous communities rely on diesel for electricity, according to a public dataset from Natural Resources Canada.
Urban Indigenous Communities in Ottawa
Matteo Cimellaro will be covering urban Indigenous communities in and around Ottawa.
Canada's National Observer is a proud participant of the Local Journalism Initiative, which supports the creation of original civic journalism that covers the diverse needs of underserved communities across Canada.
‘These are real people’: NDP MP slams Correctional Service Canada over systemic racism
“These are real people — why is it taking so long to address what is the basic human rights of people?” NDP MP Blake Desjarlais said in a public accounts committee meeting regarding the overrepresentation of Indigenous offenders.
‘Honouring and humbling’: Award winners celebrate Arctic Inspiration Prize recognition
The 11th annual Arctic Inspiration Prize was awarded at a ceremony in Ottawa to celebrate Indigenous excellence, resilience and innovation.
Leaders slam ‘disappointing’ exclusion from first ministers meeting on health care
First Nations leaders in Ontario are demanding greater inclusion and accountability from their treaty partners in the provincial and federal governments.
Feds to fund projects to research, track faraway sources of Arctic pollution
More than $2.5 million in federal money is now available for projects seeking to research and monitor plastic pollution and contaminants in the Arctic.
‘I thought the world was coming down’: Sen. Patrick Brazeau draws on personal struggle to fight for alcohol warning labels
Sen. Patrick Brazeau is candid about his struggle with alcohol — it’s what informs his new work in the Senate on alcohol warning labels and suicide prevention.
‘What a beautiful gift’: Ottawa organization celebrates legacy of renowned Ojibwe artist Carl Beam
An exhibition of Carl Beam's Charity Works collection carried on its original spirit. In 1999, proceeds of sales from the works supported Indigenous organizations, and in 2023, the same is taking place at Wabano.
Healing lodges, designed for Indigenous inmates, are failing the people they’re meant to rehabilitate, say prison reform advocates
After a death at a healing lodge managed by Correctional Service Canada, critics are calling for the return of the original vision of the lodges that are Indigenous-led and community-managed.
Should mandatory minimum sentencing exist? Supreme Court rulings highlight ongoing debate
A trio of Supreme Court decisions Friday overturned one rule on mandatory minimum sentencing but upheld two others, highlighting Canada's ongoing debate on how to approach the contentious topic.
What if an Indigenous woman was the face of Canada’s $20 bill?
The Native Women's Association of Canada's "Change the Bill" campaign reimagines the $20 banknote with a diversity of Indigenous designs and the celebration and recognition of the contributions of Indigenous women.
Feds, First Nations settle class-action lawsuit over ‘collective harm’ of residential day schools
Ottawa will provide $2.8 billion to half of the First Nations in Canada for community wellness and language revitalization as part of the residential day school survivor settlement, otherwise known as the Gottfriedson day scholar settlement.
3 issues that got the federal NDP revved up at caucus retreat
The NDP wants to see increased funding for housing for Indigenous Peoples on and off reserve, greater accountability for MMIWG2S+, and more funding for climate resiliency.
Feds fund cultural awareness teacher, community-based services to tackle high rates of Inuit in justice system
Ottawa sends $1.16 million to the Nunatsiavut government in Labrador to help lower the overrepresentation of Inuit in the province's justice system.
‘Significant increases’ in mental health hospitalizations for First Nations youth, StatCan says
The study is the first to investigate changes in patterns of hospitalization among Indigenous children and youth over time.
After lithium mine approval, Ontario-based Cree want a seat at the table for environmental assessments of mining in the province
Cree nations in Ontario hope the province will make room for them at the table when developing environmental protections for mining development.