First Nations

Hereditary Chiefs Aaron Hans, Jeffery Snow and Snuxyaltwa (as known as Deric Snow) visit the Royal B.C. Museum in Victoria which houses family poles. (Mercy Snow photo)

Totem pole returning to Bella Coola, Nuxalk territory, after decades in Victoria museum

The plan is to load the pole onto a truck on Feb. 13 in Victoria

 

The Quarterdeck beer and wine store had this old sign hanging up stating it would not accept Indigenous status cards as ID, and it was promptly taken down by new management after it went viral online. (Jozi Child - Facebook photo)

Sign denying status cards as ‘suitable’ ID at Port Hardy liquor store sparks uproar

Liquor store apologizes and removes sign after photo goes viral on social media

 

Blueberry River First Nations, located 70 kilometres north of Fort St. John, and the provincial government have signed what both sides call an historic agreement after a 2021 court decision. (BRFN photo)

B.C. government, Blueberry River First Nations reach land management agreement

Agreement includes restoration fund of $200 million by 2025

 

Richard Nelson, who belonged to the Nisga’a Eagle Clan, will be remembered as a loving brother by his family and as a father figure by the Terrace homeless community. (Submitted photo/Diana Guno)

His last words were ‘I love you’: Sister mourns brother found dead in northern B.C. tent

Richard Nelson, a Tsimshian and Nisga’a man living on the streets of Terrace, found dead in -20 weather

Richard Nelson, who belonged to the Nisga’a Eagle Clan, will be remembered as a loving brother by his family and as a father figure by the Terrace homeless community. (Submitted photo/Diana Guno)
Mabel Charles, of the Semiahmoo First Nation, seen here with Mayor Megan Knight at White Rock council inauguration ceremonies on Nov. 7, passed Tuesday (Dec. 20).

Semiahmoo First Nation elder Mabel Charles passes

SFN’s most senior elder, who was 94, passed away on Tuesday

Mabel Charles, of the Semiahmoo First Nation, seen here with Mayor Megan Knight at White Rock council inauguration ceremonies on Nov. 7, passed Tuesday (Dec. 20).
Coquitlam RCMP are asking for help identifying the thief of a Kwikwetlem First Nation totem pole, who took off with the carving in a U-Haul on Oct. 12. (Images courtesy of Coquitlam RCMP)

Totem pole stolen from Kwikwetlem First Nation

Man took off with it using a U-Haul on Oct. 12, according to surveillance footage

Coquitlam RCMP are asking for help identifying the thief of a Kwikwetlem First Nation totem pole, who took off with the carving in a U-Haul on Oct. 12. (Images courtesy of Coquitlam RCMP)
A coal mining operation in Sparwood, B.C., is shown on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016. Indigenous communities on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border are trying to build an alliance with Congress and the Biden administration in hopes of pressuring Ottawa into a bipartisan effort to confront toxic transborder mining runoff. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Get tough with Canada over cross-border mining contaminants, First Nations tell U.S.

Coal mining in Elk Valley impacting watersheds

A coal mining operation in Sparwood, B.C., is shown on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016. Indigenous communities on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border are trying to build an alliance with Congress and the Biden administration in hopes of pressuring Ottawa into a bipartisan effort to confront toxic transborder mining runoff. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Left to Right, in regalia designed and crafted by Lillian and Alver Tait: Brian McMillian, Wilps Wisin Xbil’tkw (Gisk’aast) representing subcrest owl, Markell Gosnell, Wilps Ksim Xsaan (Ganada) representing subcrest Ganada, Donaldo McNeil, Wilps La’ay (Laxsgiik) representing beaver, Deon Pierre, Wilps Duuk (Laxgibuu) representing subcrest bear. (Michael Bramadat-Willcock/Terrace Standard).

PHOTOS: Northern B.C. fashion show brings Nisga’a talent into the light

Models sported a striking blend of colourful and more sombre tones that reflected the theme of the evening: ‘from darkness to light’

Left to Right, in regalia designed and crafted by Lillian and Alver Tait: Brian McMillian, Wilps Wisin Xbil’tkw (Gisk’aast) representing subcrest owl, Markell Gosnell, Wilps Ksim Xsaan (Ganada) representing subcrest Ganada, Donaldo McNeil, Wilps La’ay (Laxsgiik) representing beaver, Deon Pierre, Wilps Duuk (Laxgibuu) representing subcrest bear. (Michael Bramadat-Willcock/Terrace Standard).
Doug White, chairman of the B.C. First Nations Justice Council, will join the premier’s office at Special Counsel on Indigenous Reconciliation. (Black Press Media file photo)

Coast Salish lawyer Doug White joining B.C. premier’s office to speed reconciliation

White will work on issues held up between multiple government ministries

Doug White, chairman of the B.C. First Nations Justice Council, will join the premier’s office at Special Counsel on Indigenous Reconciliation. (Black Press Media file photo)
Traevon Desjarlais-Chalifoux, 17, was found dead in a closet of an Abbotsford group home in September 2020 after being reported missing four days earlier. His mother testified on the first day of a coroners’ inquest into his death on Nov. 28, 2022. (Credit: GoFundMe)

Mother of Cree teen who died in B.C. group home testifies at coroners’ inquest

Traevon Desjarlais found four days after reported missing in 2020

Traevon Desjarlais-Chalifoux, 17, was found dead in a closet of an Abbotsford group home in September 2020 after being reported missing four days earlier. His mother testified on the first day of a coroners’ inquest into his death on Nov. 28, 2022. (Credit: GoFundMe)
Butterflies in Spirit founder Lorelei Williams (left), UBCIC representative Louisa Housty-Jones, and BCAFN representative Melissa Moses speak at a panel on ending violence against women in Vancouver on Nov. 24, 2022. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)

UBCIC, BCAFN call on VPD to release video of officers mocking sexual harassment

Officers filmed video while uniformed and on-duty, spread it throughout department

Butterflies in Spirit founder Lorelei Williams (left), UBCIC representative Louisa Housty-Jones, and BCAFN representative Melissa Moses speak at a panel on ending violence against women in Vancouver on Nov. 24, 2022. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)
The Raincoast Conservation Foundation led a study of contaminants in the water of the Sumas Lake area following the November 2021 floods. The findings were released Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022. (Alex Harris/Raincoast Conservation Foundation)

Painkillers, pesticides and cocaine among contaminants found in Fraser Valley floodwaters

Study of water samples raises ‘fundamental questions’ about health of people and fish

The Raincoast Conservation Foundation led a study of contaminants in the water of the Sumas Lake area following the November 2021 floods. The findings were released Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022. (Alex Harris/Raincoast Conservation Foundation)
Discrimination is a near ubiquitous experience for status First Nations in B.C. when they use their status cards, a Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs-commissioned study found. (Screenshot/They Sigh or Give You the Look: Discrimination and Status Card Usage report)

Racism when using First Nations status cards a ‘near-universal experience’: UBCIC study

All but 4 survey respondents reported discrimination when using status card in B.C.

Discrimination is a near ubiquitous experience for status First Nations in B.C. when they use their status cards, a Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs-commissioned study found. (Screenshot/They Sigh or Give You the Look: Discrimination and Status Card Usage report)
Sierra Chi?ela William, right, sits with her grandmother Eileen William, after receiving her sash as a finalist for Miss Canada Petite Global. (Credit: Roger William)

B.C. woman hoping to bring Miss Canada Globe Petite title to Xeni Gwet’in Nation

Sierra Chi?ela William competes for pageant title in Toronto

Sierra Chi?ela William, right, sits with her grandmother Eileen William, after receiving her sash as a finalist for Miss Canada Petite Global. (Credit: Roger William)
A defaced road sign of a logging truck is seen near the protest site of Fairy Creek on southern Vancouver Island on Oct. 4, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

BC Supreme Court rejects old growth protesters application to combine their cases

Application called for court to join and stay proceedings due to RCMP’s “alleged systemic misconduct”

A defaced road sign of a logging truck is seen near the protest site of Fairy Creek on southern Vancouver Island on Oct. 4, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Peace Arch Provincial Park re-opened on Monday, Oct. 24 after remaining closed all throughout the pandemic. (Sobia Moman photo)

Canadian side of Peace Arch Park finally re-opened — with new changes to accessibility

The park opened Monday (Oct. 24) after more than two years of closure

Peace Arch Provincial Park re-opened on Monday, Oct. 24 after remaining closed all throughout the pandemic. (Sobia Moman photo)
Deemed as an historic milestone for conservation, it was the result fo a partnership between the provincial Spotted Owl Breeding and Release Program and Spuzzum First Nation. (BC Gov News)

Wild B.C. population of critically endangered spotted owl jumps from 1 to 4

Conservation made possible due to partnership between Spuzzum First Nation and provincial government

Deemed as an historic milestone for conservation, it was the result fo a partnership between the provincial Spotted Owl Breeding and Release Program and Spuzzum First Nation. (BC Gov News)
Mary Brown, program coordinator for the Heiltsuk Gvi’las Restorative Justice Department, is developing a new program for at-risk young women in Bella Bella using $100,000 from a human rights complaint settlement with the Vancouver Police Board. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)

Police settlement with Heiltsuk grandfather to fund new program for at-risk young women

Vancouver Police Board will contribute $100,000 to the Nation’s restorative justice department

Mary Brown, program coordinator for the Heiltsuk Gvi’las Restorative Justice Department, is developing a new program for at-risk young women in Bella Bella using $100,000 from a human rights complaint settlement with the Vancouver Police Board. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)
Alvin First Rider, an environmental technician with Blood Tribe land management, works to build a beaver dam analog in a dry creek bed on the Kainai First Nation in southern Alberta as part of work to protect grasslands and watersheds near Stand Off, Alta., on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Climate Changed: First Nation balances Western science with traditional knowledge

One method involves mimicking the work of beavers to better control the water supply

Alvin First Rider, an environmental technician with Blood Tribe land management, works to build a beaver dam analog in a dry creek bed on the Kainai First Nation in southern Alberta as part of work to protect grasslands and watersheds near Stand Off, Alta., on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Archaeology crews have discovered a roasting pit feature at the Boitanio Mall site where excavation is underway to replace a sewer pipe. (Brandon Hoffman photo)

Archaeology crews unearth fire pit, roasting pit at Williams Lake mall excavation site

‘The roasting pit is super significant because we rarely find them,’ said Whitney Spearing.

Archaeology crews have discovered a roasting pit feature at the Boitanio Mall site where excavation is underway to replace a sewer pipe. (Brandon Hoffman photo)