First Nations

Helping or harming? Ontario gambling expansion and First Nations

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation is modernizing. And that means expansion, new casinos and licensed gaming facilities in yet untapped markets across the province. It also means an aggressive public relations campaign extolling the virtues of OLG's community involvement.

You may have seen the TV ads: OLG claims to have rejuvenated Brantford, Windsor, Sault Ste. Marie. But what about Ontario's First Nations communities? What has OLG done for them, and how will they be impacted by the planned expansion?

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Ontario First Nations Ontario Politics gambling gambling expansion Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation

Adding insult to injury: The budget and Indigenous relations

Daniel Wilson

| March 22, 2013

The Government of Canada is trumpeting $626 million in new investment for Indigenous peoples in yesterday's budget. Let's just say that's a slight exaggeration.

Here's a closer look at the four "investment" areas.

“Supporting First Nations fishing enterprises”

Surprisingly, the largest single-year investment in the 2013 budget for a program aimed at Indigenous people at $33 million. Like much of what was “announced” yesterday however, it is an extension of an existing program, not new investment.

Redeye

Cree youth walk from northern Quebec to Ottawa

March 19, 2013

| Six young men set off from Whapmagoostui in mid-January. They will reach Ottawa on March 25. Matthew Mukash talks about why the men decided to do this walk of 1300 kilometres.

Length: 13:37 minutes (12.47 MB)

Big-picture thinking needed to protect nature

David Suzuki

| March 19, 2013

Few places on Earth have been untouched by humans, according to a study in the journal Science. Satellite images taken from hundreds of kilometres above the planet reveal a world that we have irrevocably changed within a remarkably short time.

Peoples and their people: Examining collective and individual rights

Daniel Wilson

| March 19, 2013

Question: "What do you know about First Nations?"

Answer: "I'm married to one."

Much to my chagrin and amusement, this was part of a real conversation today.

I'm guessing the woman who answered the question isn't really married to an entire First Nation. She likely meant that she is married to a person of First Nation identity or ancestry, or even a citizen of a First Nation.

People aren't always as careful with language as they should be.

Working in defence of Indigenous rights, I have heard the rebuttal far too often that Indigenous people "fail to take personal responsibility" for their circumstances.

in her own words

The turtle must lead, anything else is false solidarity

Bill C-45 ignited Idle No More, both the moment in time and movement afterward. The moment that Idle No More signifies, though, represents a point or blip in a very long history of Indigenous people struggling to get Canada to respect Indigenous people's rights to land and water, live up to their treaty responsibilities and find their true humanity. Think about it, Pontiac’s rebellion took place in the 1700s. My ancestors have been doing their work for a long long time. Enough said on this.

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Indigenous rights First Nations solidarity indigenous issues Idle No More

Redeye

Supreme Court of Canada to hear Tsilhqot'in title claim

February 15, 2013

| The Supreme Court will hear a title claim by the Tsilhqot’in to their traditional lands in the Cariboo region of B.C. This is the latest stage in a court battle that began more than 20 years ago.

Length: 11:11 minutes (10.24 MB)

Redeye

White supremacy in U.S. prison system

February 15, 2013

| Prisons in both Canada and the United States are filled with people of colour. In Canada, a fifth of all prisoners are First Nations. In the U.S., almost half the people in jail are Black.

Length: 13:47 minutes (12.63 MB)

Senator Brazeau perfect example of failed process, not person

Tariq Jeeroburkhan

| February 8, 2013

The senator Patrick Brazeau was removed from Conservative caucus this past week and I ask myself where did this go wrong.

To understand what pressures have been placed on Patrick Brazeau, you first have to understand what he could have possibly created and how he was seen by Canadians, whether he felt that way about himself or not.

Columnists

Chief Theresa Spence's exceptional accomplishments

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In media time, it's been light years since Attawapiskat chief Theresa Spence ended her 44-day fast last week. But beyond the dismissive attention span of Canada's mainstream body politic, there are different ways to count time.

In the near term, Spence has been shockingly belittled and underestimated because she spoke to the country in a new language, and I don't mean Cree, though that is also true.

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Indigenous rights First Nations Harper government Chief Theresa Spence Idle No More

First Nations

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