Indigenous

The Vatican on Thursday responded to Indigenous demands and formally repudiated the “Doctrine of Discovery,” the theories backed by 15th-century “papal bulls” that legitimized the colonial-era seizure of Native lands and form the basis of some property law today.

Since Grey Owl a century ago, people of European descent have falsely claimed to be Indigenous for personal gain or a sense of absolution, but one Métis legal expert says it would take a psychiatrist to try to fully answer, "why?"

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.

From legislative chambers to classrooms, and on the radio and TV, Indigenous languages are spoken and heard every day across the North thanks to dedicated elders, teachers, translators and broadcasters.

For a long time, Indigenous Peoples remained isolated and disempowered in the “straitjacket” of nation states, but because of global Indigenous organizing, there's been change.

For the first time in over 100 years, Kukpi7 (Chief) Hillary Adam of the Stswecem'c Xget'tem First Nation can now walk freely across a vast swath of his people's traditional territory.

In 2002, investigators started a massive search of Robert Pickton's pig farm in British Columbia and eventually found the remains of several women. 

It's unclear if free, prior and informed consent or Indigenous rights and title will make it into the final text at COP15. Either way, Indigenous Peoples will continue to do the work that makes biodiversity thrive.

An energy-focused think tank says Indigenous energy sovereignty in Canada's North is "absolutely critical and fundamental" to addressing climate change, but more support is needed. 

Efforts to protect nature at COP15 will fail without Indigenous people, leaders say

Over the next week of negotiations, battles remain over targets around Indigenous sovereignty and self-governance, and free prior and informed consent. Will the message of the march be heard by COP negotiators?

Indigenous nations remain outside of formal COP15 negotiations. It's a parallel to how nation states take from Indigenous lands without consent and consultation. But Indigenous nations are clear: they want the land back.

Biodiversity thrives under Indigenous protection, but will Indigenous rights and title play a key part in negotiations at the COP15 biodiversity conference in Montreal — or will these issues remain at the margins?

Membertou First Nation, located in Unama'ki, has partnered with Oceans North, a marine focused charity, to switch the lobster boats off fossil fuels.

The federal government is spending 3.5 times more responding to climate emergencies in remote Indigenous communities than preventing them, an auditor general report found.