What’s new in Indigenous Watchdog? Updates: Mar 1 – Mar. 31, 2023

230 Total Updates

69 Positive Actions vs 114 Current Problems

Calls to Action (C2A) Status: March 31, 2023

Not Started	Stalled	In Progress	Complete
14	21	46	13
14.9%	22.3%	48.9%	13.8%



Status	Legacy Calls to Action (1-42) + 50-52, 62-65	Reconciliation Calls to Action (43-94)
Not Started	2, 9, 26, 34, 42, 51, 52, 64	45, 46, 47, 55, 56, 89
Stalled	6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 29, 30, 32	58, 62, 71, 77, 78, 87, 92, 93
Complete	13, 15, 41	49, 59, 67, 68, 70, 80, 83, 84, 85, 94

Legacy Calls to Action include “Equity for Aboriginal People in the Legal System” (50-52) and “Education for Reconciliation (62-65) in order to keep all “Justice” and “Education” Calls to Action in one location

See also “Perspectives” post for a complete 6-page colour-coded document summarizing all 94 Calls to Action

Indigenous Watchdog Updates

They following presents a year-to-date statistical snapshot of stakeholder actions across ALL themes that are either advancing reconciliation (Legacy and Reconciliation C2As and Government Commitments) or creating roadblocks (Current Problems)

Section	2020	2021	2022	Jan. 31	Mar. 1	Mar. 31	Apr. 30	YTD
Current Reality	26	47	50	4	1	3		8
Current Problems	189	213	315	58	83	114		255
Legacy C2As	96	159	188	26	20	33		79
Reconciliation C2As	55	88	117	3	11	21		35
Govt. Commitments	–	–	48	3	2	5		10
Total	366	507	718	94	117	176		387
Other Issues	–	–	78	13	16	10		29
Indigenous Success Stories	–	–	65	9	5	3		14

Notes:

• Current Reality includes ALL 94 Calls to Action and Other Issues
• Legacy C2As, Reconciliation C2As, Government Commitments and Other Issuesrepresent positive steps that advance reconciliation
• Current Problems includes all “Calls to Action” plus “Other Issues” and “Government Commitments to Truth and Reconciliation
• “Other Issues” presents information on Drinking Water Advisories, Food Insecurity, Urban Commitments to Reconciliation, Housing, Environment and Treaties and Land Claims

NOTE: Some actions/problems have multiple entries that are only counted once; also Background Content sections have multiple entries to provide additional context to a particular Theme and/or C2A

New Sections

Section	Call to Action Theme	Where located
Indigenous Education Resources	Education	Home Page – Background Content
Working Group on Review of Laws and Policies	Royal Proclamation	C2A # 45: Home Page – Background Content
Indigenous Response to Vatican Repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery	Settlement Agreement Parties and UNDRIP	C2A # 49 – Home Page -Background Content
Church Repudiation of Doctrine of Discovery	Settlement Agreement Parties and UNDRIP	Home Page – Explore problems by Theme
Emergency Management in First Nations Communities	Environment	Home Page: Background Content

Government Commitments to Truth and Reconciliation

Government Commitments

Jurisdiction	Date	Indigenous Group	Comment
Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan	Feb. 24	Métis	Crown-Indigenous Relations signs self-government with three Métis Nations
Federal	Mar. 8	Métis	Métis National Council at crossroads as it marks 40-year anniversary
Federal & Newfoundland and Labrador	Mar. 14	Inuit	Budget 2023-24: Charting a course towards growth and sustainability
Federal	Mar. 24	Inuit	Joint message from ITK President Naten Obed and Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu on World Tuberculosis Day
Ontario	Mar. 27	First Nations	Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare responds to the tabling of the 2023 Ontario Budget

Current Problems with Government Commitments to Truth and Reconciliation (18)

Update to “Métis”: Ontario

Feb. 26: Long overdue for federal government to recognize Ontario Métis

Update to “Métis”: Federal

Mar. 7: Métis Nation BC in court after feds say it doesn’t qualify as ‘Indigenous governing body’

Update to “First Nations, Métis, Inuit“: Federal

Mar. 8: Governor-General shares abusive comments she received through social media

Update to “First Nations, Métis”: Saskatchewan

Mar. 16: “Saskatchewan First Act” passes in front of gallery full of First Nations and Métis people opposed to the Bill Mar. 18: Indigenous groups signal upcoming legal battle over “Saskatchewan First Act”

Update to ‘First Nations, Inuit”: Québec

Mar. 16: Petition presented to the National Assembly: the Québec government invited to recognize the existence of systemic racism and discrimination in Québec

Update to “Inuit”: Federal

Mar. 24: Northerners should be at the table for NORAD discussions, says Nunavut premier

Update to “First Nations”: Manitoba, Federal

Mar. 23: 11 northern Manitoba First Nations declare state of emergency to urge government intervention

Update to “Métis”: Saskatchewan

Mar. 22: Court of Appeal rejects Saskatchewan’s “misconceived” legal attack against Métis Nation -Saskatchewan

Update to First Nation: New Brunswick

Mar. 2: New Brunswick needs to improve Indigenous engagement

Update to “First Nations”: Manitoba

Mar. 10: Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs responds to provincial budget announcement

Update to “First Nations”: Saskatchewan

Mar. 23: Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) condemns Saskatchewan government funding reduction for First Nations

Update to “First Nations”: Federal

Mar. 27: Ottawa’s slow rollout of internet to First Nations creating economic rift, Auditor-General says

Update to “First Nations, Métis, Inuit“: Federal

Mar. 27: Amnesty International report pans Canada’s record on Indigenous rights

Update to “First Nations, Métis, Inuit“: Federal

Mar. 27: Indigenous groups hope for infrastructure dollars and economic development in budget

Update to ‘First Nations”: Federal

Mar. 28: Budget 2023 continues ‘repetitive injustice’ of underfunding First Nations, says national chief

Update to “First Nations“: New Brunswick

Mar. 30: Higgs pitches First Nations on up to $1.6B in revenue with possible shale gas expansion

Update to “First Nations”: Saskatchewan

Mar. 30: First Nations lay claim to all critical minerals and rare earth elements in Saskatchewan

Update to ‘First Nations”: Federal

Mar. 31: National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA) response to 2023 federal budget (expresses disappointment)

Legacy Calls to Action

CHILD WELFARE

Home Page – Current Problems

Update to “Court Challenges”: BC

Mar. 7: Métis Nation BC in court after feds say it doesn’t qualify as ‘Indigenous governing body’ Mar. 24: Métis Nation B.C. starts a judicial review against the Minister of Indigenous Services

Update to: “Government and Institution Issues“: Ontario

Mar. 8: ‘A better way’: An Indigenous alternative to Ontario’s faltering child welfare system

Update to: “Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRT)”

Mar. 9: Stop the discrimination and prevent it from re-occurring: Updates on the CHRT case – First Nations Child and Family Caring Society

Update to “Court Challenges”: Nunavut

Mar. 13: Years of abuse in Cambridge Bay group home went ignored, lawsuit alleges

Update to “Court Challenges”: Federal

Mar. 14: First Nations sue Canada over child-welfare system’s destruction of culture, language

Update to “Court Challenges”: Federal

Mar. 17: Gitxsan family wins full custody over child in controversial case

Update to: “Government and Institution Issues“: Manitoba

Mar. 15: Changes needed to cutoff age for Child and Family Services support, Manitoba youth advocacy network says

Update to: “Government and Institution Issues“: Saskatchewan

Mar. 21: Saskatchewan First Nation comes to B.C. to talk about taking over child welfare

Update to ” Child and Youth Advocate Reports”: Alberta

Mar. 28: This deadly overdose crisis impacting younger children, Alberta children and youth advocate warns (14 of 18 youth who died of overdoses were Indigenous)

Call to Action # 1

Federal, provincial, territory governments commit to reducing the number of Aboriginal children in care

Update to “Government Actions to Reduce Overrepresentation”: BC

Mar. 17: Two First Nations in B.C. share child welfare agreement – and salmon

Call to Action # 4

Federal government to enact Indigenous Chid Welfare legislation

Update to: Provincial, Territory Commitments to Child Welfare: B.C., Federal

Mar. 24: Splatsin, Canada and B.C. sign historic coordination agreement for First Nation children and families

EDUCATION

Home Page – Current Problems

Update to “Indigenous Identity”: Ontario

Feb. 27: Métis Nation of Ontario’s future at stake as members vote on fate of thousands Mar. 1: Métis Nation of Ontario votes to boot members with incomplete files

Update to “Indigenous Identity”: Saskatchewan

Mar. 3: University of Saskatchewan launches website aimed at rooting out Indigenous identity fraud

Update to “Indigenous History”: National

Mar. 4: Canadian History was overdue for a rewrite

Update to “Indigenous Identity”: BC

Mar. 9: Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafonde speaks out after award revoked over heritage

Update to “Indigenous Identity”: Newfoundland and Labrador

Mar. 13: Memorial University President Vianne Timmons apologizes, takes temporary leave, as Mi’kmaw claims scrutinized

Home Page – Background Content

Update to “Indigenous identity”

Mar. 25: The term ‘Indigenous’, in its current use, might be doing us all a disservice

NEW SECTION: Indigenous Education Resources: Saskatchewan

Mar. 4: Saskatoon high school students use coding to remix Indigenous music, learn about history, reconciliation

Call to Action # 11

Federal government to provide funding to end backlog for First Nations post-secondary education

Update to “Government Commitments to Indigenous Post-Secondary Education: Northwest Territories

Mar. 6: R.J. Simpson: Aurora College Board of Governor’s selected

Call to Action #12

Federal, provincial and territory governments to develop culturally appropriate early childhood education programs

Update to “Government Commitments to Early Childhood Education (ECE)”: Federal, Northwest Territories

Mar. 29: New daycare in Fort Smith, NWT opens with focus on culture and life skills

EDUCATION FOR RECONCILIATION

Call to Action # 62

Federal, provincial and territory governments to consult on Indigenous education reform: curriculum content, funding

Update to: “Indigenous Education Resources”: Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta, Ontario

Mar. 16: Classroom of First Nation students that don’t have teachers: Teach for Canada – Gakinaamaage witnessing unprecedented rates of First Nations hiring needs, urges leaders and policy makers to help bridge the education gap

Call to Action # 65

Federal government through SSHRC to establish a National Research Program for reconciliation with multi-year funding

Update to Background Content: “University Actions towards Indigenous Research Practices“

Mar. 21: Research booklet created with Inuit knowledge maps ice routes changing with the climate

Update to Background Content: “University Actions towards Indigenous Research Practices“

Mar. 24: New autonomous ethics board a first for non-Indigenous post-secondary institutions in Canada

LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

Home Page – Current Problems

Update to “Inuktitut Language Issues”: Nunavut

Mar. 3: NTI Inuit Language rights lawsuit survives Government of Nunavut motion to strike it down

Update: Cultural Appropriation”

Mar. 12: Why tackling the global industry of fake Indigenous art is like playing ‘whack-a-mole’?

Update to “Cultural Issues”: Saskatchewan

Mar. 30: ‘Part of my culture’: Cree women refused services at Saskatchewan bar for traditional face tattoo

Home Page – Background Content

Update to “Indigenous Cultural Success”: Newfoundland and Labrador

Feb. 27: The Building: Labrador’s striking new cultural centre

Update to “Indigenous Cultural Success”: Ontario

Mar. 7: More than 350 years in the making: Moose Factory in Omushkego Aski from time immemorial to 1673 -2023

Update to “Indigenous Cultural Success”: Québec

Mar. 24: Québec Cree launch knowledge festival to explain culture, history to non-Indigenous world

Update to “Indigenous Cultural Success”: Alberta

Mar. 29: Sacred Indigenous site opens in Edmonton’s river valley

Call to Action # 13

Federal government to acknowledge that Indigenous rights include Indigenous language rights

Update to “Government Actions to Support Indigenous Languages”: Federal

Mar. 31: Joint statement by Ministers Rodriguez, Miller, Hadju, Vandal on the National Indigenous Languages Day

Call to Action # 14

Federal government to enact an Indigenous Education Languages Act

Update to “Govt. Actions to Indigenous Languages”: Québec

Mar. 5: Kindergarten Mi’kmaw immersion program aims to keep the language strong in Listugui, Québec

Call to Action # 17

Federal, provincial and territory governments to enable residential school survivors to reclaim Indigenous names

Update to “Governments Response to Reclaiming Indigenous Names: BC

Mar. 30: Parents win battle to have son’s Kwak̓wala name on his BC birth certificate

HEALTH

Home Page – Current Problems

Update to “Systemic Racism”: Alberta

Mar. 5: ‘Really worrisome’: Survey suggests some Alberta doctors have anti-Indigenous biases

Update to “Systemic Racism”: Alberta

Mar. 27: Alberta has 8 Métis settlements. None of them have full-time doctors

Update to “Systemic Racism”: Alberta

Mar. 24: An Rx against racist behaviour in Alberta emergency departments

Update to “Ongoing Health Crisis”: Manitoba

Mar. 5: Family, community mourn 2 teens found dead in Northern Manitoba Mar. 7: ‘Our people are dying’: Manitoba First Nation declares state of emergency Mar. 10: ‘It’s hard to comprehend’, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs says more resources needed after girls freeze to death in St. Theresa Point

Update to “Ongoing Health Crisis”: Nunavut

Mar. 17: Nunavut declares tuberculosis outbreak in hamlet of Pond Inlet

Update to “Ongoing Health Crisis”: Northwest Territories

Mar. 23: Northwest Territories wants to contract an Indigenous-led treatment facility, but none are bidding for the work

Update to “Ongoing Health Crisis”: Yukon

Mar. 16: First Nations calls for check stops, more police in Mayo, Yukon to deal with opioid crisis Mar. 30: ‘It’s going to take the community’: Yukon faces Canada’s worst toxic drug death rate

Update to “Ongoing Health Crisis”: BC

Mar. 23: Northern BC First Nations say they need more resources to deal with the illicit drug crisis

Update to “Ongoing Health Crisis”: BC

Feb. 13: Indigenous advocates call for more culturally informed addictions treatment in BC

Home Page – Background Content

Update to “Bringing Reconciliation to Health Care”: BC

Feb. 18: Reclaiming Body Sovereignty: A Haíɫzaqv woman is planning the 1st birth in her home territory in 21 years

Call to Action # 18

All levels of government to recognize and implement health care rights of Indigenous peoples

Update to “Government Recognition of Indigenous Rights to Health: Federal

Mar. 2: Working in partnership to deliver high-quality health care for indigenous people

Update to “Government Recognition of Indigenous Rights to Health: Federal

Mar. 22: The Society of Rural Physicians of Canada launches funding for training to improve health care access in rural centres

Update to “Government Recognition of Indigenous Rights to Health: Federal

Mar. 24: Joint message from ITK President Naten Obed and Indigenous Services Canada Minister Patty Hajdu on World Tuberculosis Day

Update to “Government Recognition of Indigenous Rights to Health“: Alberta

Mar. 17: Province fronts cash for Indigenous seniors’ home

Call to Action # 21

Federal government to provide funding for existing and new Aboriginal Healing Centres

Update to “Investments in Indigenous Healing Centres”: Federal

Mar. 23: Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc to receive $12.5 M in funding for new healing centre

Call to Action # 22

Federal, provincial and territory governments and healthcare leaders to recognize value of Indigenous healing practices and use

Update to ” Indigenous Healing Practices”:

Mar. 9: New campaign highlights importance of culture in First Nations harm reduction practices

Update to “Investments in Indigenous Healing Practices”: Manitoba

Mar. 27: Traditional healing program will help combat intergenerational harm, Southern Chiefs’ Organization says

Call to Action # 23

Federal, provincial and territory governments to increase the hiring and retention of Indigenous healthcare workers

Update to “Commitment to Aboriginal Health Care Workers”: Québec

Mar. 14: Preclinical internships in First Nations and Inuit communities and organizations

Update to: “Indigenous Healing Practices”

Mar. 18: Improve health of Indigenous people and culture by decolonizing tobacco, says Cree doctor

JUSTICE

Home Page – Current Problems

Update to “Systemic Racism in RCMP”: BC

Mar. 9: Watchdog opens probe into RCMP unit that polices resource standoffs in B.C. Mar. 10: Documents’s reveal ‘Rural Policing’ moneys going to the RCMP’s Community-Industry Response Group (C-IRG)

Update to “Systemic Racism in RCMP”: BC

Mar. 11: The B.C. solicitor-general ordered a probe of alleged RCMP misconduct in Prince George. Here’s why Indigenous leaders say it’s flawed

Update to “Systemic Racism in RCMP”: BC

Mar. 14: Delayed court hearings for RCMP officers charged with manslaughter

Update to “Systemic Racism in RCMP”: BC

Mar. 29: BC RCMP make arrests at pipeline protest site following alleged ‘swarming incidents’

Update to “Legislative and Institutional Barriers”: BC

Mar. 16: RCMP won’t agree to respect Gitxsan chiefs’ ban on ‘militarized’ response group

Update to “Targeted Indigenous Groups”: Manitoba

Mar. 7: RCMP told Ottawa it could offer advice to Winnipeg police on landfill search, documents show

Update to “Targeted Indigenous Groups”“: Federal

Mar. 8: Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief highlights MMIWG at UN on International Women’s Day

Update to “Systemic Racism”: Alberta

Mar. 8: Alberta’s mandatory oath of allegiance is systemic discrimination

Update to “Court Challenge”: Manitoba

Mar. 30: Ex-priest, 93, acquitted of indecent assault at Manitoba residential school

Update to “Court Challenges”: Saskatchewan

Mar. 26: My visit with Odelia Quewezance – jailed for a murder she says she didn’t commit – stirs up hope but opens old wounds Mar. 27: Saulteaux sisters jailed for nearly 30 years to be conditionally released

Update to “Systemic Racism”: Manitoba

Mar. 29: Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) expresses concern over First Nations over-incarceration rates

Update to “Supreme Court”: Alberta

Mar. 16: In Brief: Jim Shot Both Sides etal v. His Majesty the King (provincial limitation periods)

Update to “AFN-Canada MOU on Joint Priorities: Policing”: Saskatchewan

Mar. 24: Who pays for First Nations policing and who benefits? Saskatchewan’s struggles point to problems with funding models

Update to “AFN – Canada MOU on Joint Priorities: Policing”: Manitoba

Mar. 24: Confidence lost in RCMP, says First Nation calling for external investigation into deaths of 2 girls

Update to “AFN-Canada MOU on Joint Priorities – Policing”: Saskatchewan

Mar. 27: Saskatchewan Indigenous groups sound alarm on crime wave crisis

Home Page : Background Content

Update to “Thunder Bay Inquest”: Ontario

Mar. 21: Thunder Bay Police Service appoints new chief as it grapples with major challenges

Call to Action # 26

Federal, provincial and territory governments to review and amend their respective Statute of Limitations

Update to “Actions Against Statutes of Limitations”: Alberta

Mar. 16: In Brief: Jim Shot Both Sides etal v. His Majesty the King (provincial limitation periods)

Call to Action # 29

Federal Government and Parties to IRSSA to reach settlement agreements for those excluded from the TRC process

Update to “Settlements for Parties Excluded from the IRSSA: Métis

Mar. 6: Île-à-la-Crosse,, Sask. boarding school survivers push for recognition in their lifetimes

Update to “Settlements for Parties Excluded from the IRSSA: Indian Day Schools

Mar. 9: ‘Historic’ $2B class-action Indigenous court settlement approved

Update to “Settlements for Parties Excluded from the IRSSA: Sixties Scoop

Mar. 24: From Île-à-la-Crosse, to Brighton, England, 60s Scoop survivors map journey of reconnection

Call to Action # 30

Federal, provincial and territory governments commit to eliminate overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in custody

Update to “Govt. Actions to Reduce Overrepresentation: Saskatchewan

Mar. 8: Collaboration with Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) enhances police oversight

Update to “Government Actions to Reduce Overrepresentation: Québec

Mar. 14: Improving access to legal supports and services for Indigenous people in Montreal

Call to Action # 31

Federal, provincial and territory governments to provide stable funding to implement alternatives to imprisonment

Update to “Indigenous-led Restorative Justice Programs”: Yukon

Mar. 23: Yukon First Nation aims to develop alternative justice system for some crimes

Call to Action # 41

Federal government to appoint a public inquiry into MMIWG

Update to “Government Commitments to Preventing Violence Against Indigenous Women”: Federal

Mar. 5: National Inuit organization, RCMP start work to prevent human trafficking

Update to “Government Commitments to Preventing Violence Against Indigenous Women”:New Brunswick

Mar. 1: Act intended to help law enforcement find missing people

Update to “Government Commitments to Preventing Violence Against Indigenous Women: Nova Scotia

Mar. 8: Increased funding for organizations that support women

Update to “Government Commitments to Preventing Violence Against Indigenous Women: Nunavut, Yukon, NWT

Mar. 16: MP Michael McLeod announces over $1 Million in funding for the Arctic Indigenous Wellness Foundation and the Northern Mosaic Network

Update to “Government Commitments to Preventing Violence Against Indigenous Women: Manitoba

Mar. 16: Indigenous-led safe space for vulnerable women receives over $1.5M in funding from Manitoba government Mar. 20: Manitoba government announces $2.1 million for provincewide integrated missing persons response

Update to “Indigenous Responses to Final Report”: Manitoba

Mar. 8: Southern Chiefs Organization to create MMIWG2S+ Unit

Call to Action # 42

Federal, provincial and territory governments to commit to recognize and implement Aboriginal Justice Systems

Update to “Indigenous Cultural Success”: Saskatchewan

Mar. 5: Indigenous smudging protocol introduced to Saskatchewan provincial courts brings some peace of mind amid tragedy

Reconciliation Calls to Action

CANADIAN GOVERNMENTS AND THE UNITED NATIONS DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

Home page – Current Reality

Update to “Current Reality”

Mar. 30: Northwest Territories introduces bill to implement UNDRIP

Home Page: Current Problems

Update to “UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”

Mar. 2: Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) to UN Special Rapporteur: The genocide against Indigenous WG2STGD+ people continues with little progress made

Update to “UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”

Mar. 10: ‘Appalling’ legacy of residential schools tops UN Indigenous Rights Rapporteur’s early findings

Update to “UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”

Mar 13: BC First Nations highlight human rights concerns to UN Special Rapporteur on Rights of Indigenous Peoples, seeking resolution through UN mechanisms

Call to Action # 43

Federal, provincial and territory governments to fully adopt and implement UNDRIP as the framework for reconciliation

Update to”Why In Progress?”: Northwest Territories

Mar. 30: Northwest Territories introduces bill to implement UNDRIP

Update to “Government Commitments to UNDRIP”: Northwest Territories

Mar. 30: Northwest Territories introduces bill to implement UNDRIP

Call to Action # 44

Federal government to develop national action plan and strategies to achieve UNDRIP goals

Update to “Working Group on Review of Laws and Policies”: Federal

Mar. 1: Next phase launched on consultation and cooperation with Indigenous people on non-derogation clauses

ROYAL PROCLAMATION AND COVENANT OF RECONCILIATION

Home Page – Current Reality

Update to “Current Reality”

Mar. 30: The Vatican (Catholic Church) formally repudiates the Doctrine of Discovery

Home Page – Background Content

Update to “What is the Doctrine of Discovery?

Aug. 22, 2022: Why Pope Francis faces calls to revoke the Doctrine Discovery? Mar. 2: 200 Years of Denial: Johnson vs M’Intosh and the Doctrine of Discovery (First Peoples Law Report) Mar. 31: Johnson vs M’Intosh: 200 years of legal misery for Native people (ICT)

Update to “Government and institution Issues”: Federal

Mar. 19: Simon pauses Indigenous diplomacy

Call to Action # 45

Federal government to develop with Indigenous peoples a Royal Proclamation of Reconciliation

NEW SECTION: Working Group on Review of Laws and Policies

Mar. 1: Recent Developments in Aboriginal Law

Call to Action # 47

Federal, provincial, territory and municipal governments to repudiate Doctrine of Discovery and terra nullius

Update to Background Content: “What is the Doctrine of Discovery?”

Mar. 2: 200 Years of Denial: Johnson vs M’intosh and the Doctrine of Discovery

SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT PARTIES AND UNDRIP

Home Page: Current Reality

Update to “Current Reality”

Mar. 30: Catholic Church repudiates Doctrine of Discovery

Home Page: Current Problems

NEW SECTION: ‘Church Repudiation of Doctrine of Discovery”

Mar. 30: Vatican’s disavowal of Doctrine of Discovery a good step but ‘fundamental change’ still needed, Manitoba elder Mar. 30: First People’s Law Report comment on Catholic Church regarding the Doctrine of Discovery Mar. 31: Mixed feelings for Vatican regarding ‘laws of colonization’

Home Page – Background Content

Call to Action # 49

All religious denominations and faith groups to repudiate Doctrine of Discovery and terra nullius

Update to “Why Complete?”

Mar. 30: Catholic Church formally repudiates Doctrine of Discovery

Update to Background Content: “What is the Doctrine of Discovery?”

Mar. 2: “200 Years of Denial”: Johnson vs M’intosh and the Doctrine of Discovery

Update to “Church Repudiation of Doctrine of Discovery”: Catholic Church

Mar. 30: Catholic Church repudiates some concepts used to justify oppression of Indigenous people (Doctrine of Discovery) Mar. 30: ‘A very emotional day’: Pope Francis grants Indigenous Canadians’ request, denouncing doctrine blamed for colonialism

NEW SECTION: Background Content – “Indigenous Responses to Vatican’s Repudiation of Doctrine of Discovery”

Mar. 31: National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation statement on Doctrine of Discovery Repudiation Mar. 31: Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs responds to the Vatican’s repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery Mar. 31: First Nations Leadership Council welcomes Vatican’s formal rejection of ‘Doctrine of Discovery’ Mar. 31: Inuit Tapariit Kanatami statement on repudiation of Doctrine of Discovery Mar. 31: Repudiation of Doctrine of Discovery ‘symbolic step’ with opportunity for changes, notherners say Mar. 31: Indigenous experts, leaders say Doctrine of Discovery rejection marks step forward Mar. 31: Mixed feelings from Saskatchewan indigenous people after Catholic Church repudiates Doctrine of Discovery

CHURCH APOLOGIES

Home Page: Current Problems

Update to ” Indigenous Response to Pope’s Apology”: Saskatchewan

Mar. 15: Former Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations chief unhappy with lack of progress after papal visit

Call to Action # 59

Church Parties to the Settlement Agreement to develop ongoing education strategies to teach impacts of colonization

Update to “Church Parties Commitment to Education Strategies”: Jesuits

Mar. 13: Jesuits of Canada reveal list of clerics credibly accused of sexual abuse Mar. 14: Survivors applaud move by Jesuits to publish names of abusers Mar. 16: 10 out of 27 Jesuits ‘credibly accused’ of abusing minors worked at residential schools or a First Nation

YOUTH AND RECONCILIATION

Call to Action # 66

Federal government to provide multi-year funding for community-based youth programs

Update to “Canadian Roots Exchange”

Mar. 9: CREation community grants seek Indigenous youth-led projects

MUSEUMS AND ARCHIVES

Call to Action # 67

Federal government and Canadian Museums provide funding for national review of museum policies and best practices

Update to “Repatriating Indigenous Artefacts”

Mar. 31: Canadian Museums Association (CMA) appreciates Vatican rejection of the “Doctrine of Discovery”

MISSING CHILDREN AND BURIAL INFORMATION

Home Page – Current Problems

Update to “Challenges for Special Interlocutor”

Mar. 5: ‘You’re not alone’: Guatemelan anthropologist offers suppport for unmanned graves searches

Update to “Challenges for Special Interlocutor”

Mar. 15: International commission looks to ease fears over unmarked graves contract

Update to “Challenges for Special Interlocutor”

Mar. 21: Advisor on unmarked graves says some landowners are refusing access for searches

Update to “Discoveries of Unmarked Graves”

Mar. 16: New Survivors Secretariat logo features the apples Mohawk Institute students were’nt allowed to eat

Home Page – Background Content

Update to “UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous People”

Mar. 7: Residential School survivors, advocates say UN Special Rapporteur must push for further reparations

NATIONAL CENTRE FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION

Home Page: Background Content

Update to “Residential School Centres”: Shingwauk

Mar. 17: Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre receives funding from Canadian Heritage

Call to Action # 77

Provincial, territory, municipal and community archives to collaborate with NCTR on collection of all records

Update to ” Commitments to Provide Records to NCTR”: Manitoba

Mar. 13: Manitoba signs agreement to open access to death certificates of children at residential schools

BUSINESS AND RECONCILIATION

Home Page – Current Problems

Update to “Duty to Consult”: Ontario

Mar. 2: Doug Ford government wants to speed up mining permits in Ontario Mar. 3: Lawyer says First Nations will fight Ontario government’s proposed mining changes

Update to “Individual Business Initiatives”: Ontario

Mar. 3: Lakehead University students demand school cut ties with RBC for funding fossil fuel projects

Update to “Legislative and Institutional Barriers”: B.C.

Mar. 22: BC First Nations file court case against federal decision not to renew salmon farm licenses

Call to Action # 92

Update to “Individual Business Initiatives”: Ontario

Mar. 1: New leadership team heralds new era at Ring of Fire Metals

Update to “Individual Business Initiatives”: Ontario

Mar. 7: First Nations heavy-cargo port partnership in Northern Ontario

Update to “Individual Business Initiatives”: BC

Mar. 12: Resource firms move ahead with UNDRIP compliance as BC legal changes lag

Update to “Individual Business Initiatives”: BC

Mar. 14: B.C. Government approves $3B First Nation owned Cedar LNG project, bringing it one step closer to reality

Update to “Individual Business Initiatives: Alberta

Mar. 9: Primed recognizes their role in reconciliation and partners with Medical, Surgical and Safety Supplies Ltd. (MSS) and Mohawk Medbury Corporation (MMC) to support an Indigenous value-based supply chain

Update to “Individual Business Initiatives: BC

Mar. 10: Trans Mountain Corporation provides update on the expansion project

Update to “Indigenous-Led Initiatives: Saskatchewan

Mar. 21: Cowassess First Nation’s $21 million Awasis solar project is a prime example of how Indigenous communities are leading the way for green power in Canada

Update to “Indigenous-Led Initiatives: Newfoundland and Labrador

Mar. 20: A 200-MW wind project: a partnership between nine Innu communities and Boralex in the traditional territory (Nitassinan) of the Uashat Mak Mani-Utenam First Nation

Update to “Government Programs”: Ontario

Mar. 29: Ontario investing in Economic Development initiatives in First Nations communities

Update to “Government Programs: Federal

Mar. 8: Minister Wilkinson positions Canada as Supplier-of-Choice for critical minerals and clean technologies at Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC)

Home Page: Background Content

Update to “Indigenous-Led Initiatives: Nunavut

Mar. 15: First-of-its-kind Arctic Tech Forum brings Inuit together in Iqaluit

OTHER ISSUES

DRINKING WATER ADVISORIES

Hone Page: Current problems

Update to “Long-Term DWA’s”: Federal

Mar. 29: Regional Chief Cindy Woodhouse (Manitoba) calls for support of First Nations-led water priorities and realizing the human right to safe drinking water

Home Page – Background Content

Update to “Government Actions to Improve Drinking Water: Federal

Mar 2: Consultation draft shared: Next steps underway toward proposed new First Nations drinking water and wastewater legislation

FOOD INSECURITY

Home Page: Current Problem

Update to “Food Insecurity Strategies”: Inuit Nunangat (Nunavut, Québec, NWT, Nfld. and Labrador)

Mar. 28: National Inuit organization seeking $1.6B for school food program

Home page – Background Content

Update to “Inuit Reports”: Inuit Nunangat (Nunavut, Québec, NWT, Nfld. and Labrador)

Mar. 21: Report calls for a coordinated school food program across Inuit Nunangat

HOUSING

Home Page – Current Problems

Update to “Fire Prevention on Reserves”: Manitoba

Mar. 3: Shamattawa First Nation declares state of emergency

Update to “Fire Prevention on Reserves”: Ontario

Mar. 15: Remote northern Ontario Cree community to get fire truck following girl’s death

Home Page – Background Content

Update to “Indigenous Housing Reports”: B.C.

Mar. 29: Nation to engage in year-long planning process to maximize reserve lands’ financial and social value

Update to “Homelessness”: Manitoba

Feb. 28: Manitoba Government provides $126 Million to address chronic homelessness

URBAN COMMITMENTS TO RECONCILIATION

Home Page – Current Problems

Update to: “Individual Municipal Issues”: Alberta

Feb. 27: Lawsuit claims racism from an Alberta town made approved wellness centre impossible to realize

Update to: “Individual Municipal Issues”: Ontario

Mar. 16: Measuring realities of racism in northern Ontario

Home Page – Background Content”

Update to: Urban Aboriginal Strategies: Ontario

Feb. 13: The Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres (OFIFC) Federal and Provincial Pre-Budget Submission

Update to “Urban Aboriginal Strategy”: Federal

Mar. 28: Budget 2023 includes some investment but must fully address urban Indigenous realities in near future

ENVIRONMENT

Home Page – Current Problems

Update to: Specific Industry Environmental Issues: Alberta

Mar. 2: Alberta First Nation angry at Imperial’s silence while tailing pond leaked for 9 months Mar. 9: First Nation slams Premier Danielle Smith for ‘spin’ on huge oil sands project leak: ‘This is basic science’ Mar. 9: Federal environment minister condemns alleged reporting of oil sand tailings leak Mar. 15: First Nations living near Imperial Oil leak refuse to drink water from nearby reservoir Mar. 24: Northern Alberta residents demand answers from Imperial Oil after toxic leak from oil sands project Mar. 22: Northwest Territories Indigenous leaders call for investigation of oil sands’ impacts

Update to “Specific Industry Environmental Issues”: BC

Feb. 24: One fish, two fish, red fish? Feds fail to disclose Coastal GasLInk data on salmon eggs, habitat

Update to “Specific Industry Environmental Issues”: BC

Mar. 7: Indigenous chiefs fly to Ottawa in rival moves as salmon farm battles intensify

Update to “Specific Industry Environmental Issues”:

Mar. 11: ‘Sitting on a carbon bomb’: B.C.

Update to “Specific Industry Environmental Issues”: Ontario

Mar. 6: Ontario approves environmental assessment terms of reference for 3rd and final road to Ring of Fire

Update to “Specific Industry Environmental Issues”: Ontario

Mar. 6: Ontario and two First Nations agree on terms for last of three roads into Ring of Fire Mar. 16: Ontario pledges $29M to protect boreal caribou – but the spending isn’t without criticism

Update to “Environmental Impacts”: BC

Mar. 6: A First Nation’s quest to know why their cemetery was flooded

Update to “Environmental Impacts”: Québec

Mar. 8: ‘If we lose this fight, we lose everything’: Naskapi , Innu Nations oppose Québec mining project

Update to “Environmental Impacts”: Federal, Ontario

Feb. 27: Federal government has resumed talks with Ontario about the Ring of Fire: document

Update to “Climate Change”: Federal

Mar. 20: Committee grills minister on failure to support First Nations during climate emergencies

Update to “Climate Change”: BC

Mar. 21: Why BC needs climate fund for First Nations

Update to “Forest Management”: Federal

Mar. 10: Canada, home to a massive boreal forest, lobbied to limit US, EU anti-deforestation bills

Update to “Forest Management”: BC

Mar. 16: We need to talk about Private Forest lands

Update to “Supreme Court”

Mar. 22: Supreme Court hears important federalism case without its only Indigenous member

Home Page – Background Content

NEW SECTION: Emergency Management in First Nations Communities

Mar. 21: Auditor-General released Report 8 with recommendations to improve Emergency Management Services for First Nations

Update to “Government Commitments to Environment”: B.C.

Mar. 6: Watershed strategy co-developed with First Nations, $100 million invested

Update to “Government Commitments to the Environment”: Nunavut

Mar. 28: Nunavut flips stance on caribou protection again, now supports development ban on calving grounds

Update to “Indigenous Circle of Experts (ICE): B.C.

Mar. 16: ‘Legacy of bold resistance’: how the Tea-o-qui-aht are protecting 100% of their territory

Update to “Indigenous Leadership Initiative: Guardians: BC

Mar. 31: ‘It’s so beautiful’: rare inland rain forest in BC declared Indigenous Protected Area

TREATIES AND LAND CLAIMS

Home Page – Current Problems

Update to “Aboriginal Rights and Title”: Ontario:

Mar. 2: Doug Ford government wants to speed up mining permits in Ontario Mar. 29: First Nations protesting Ontario’s accelerated mining development plans Mar. 29: First Nations leaders walk out of Queen’s Park after heated exchange over mining proposal

Update to “Aboriginal Rights and Title”: BC

Mar. 2: Land Defenders call on courts to dismiss criminal contempt charges

Update to “Aboriginal Rights and Title”: New Brunswick

Feb. 28: Some traditional lands to return to Wolastoqey Nation, agreements signed Mar. 17: Forestry companies say they’re at risk because of Wolastoqey title claim to more than half New Brunswick

Update to “Aboriginal Rights and Title”: Saskatchewan

Mar. 9: First Nations affirm treaty rights trump provincial firearm laws

Update to “Aboriginal Rights and Title“: Ontario

Mar. 14: Billions have been made on Robinson Huron treaty lands. First Nations could finally get a fair share

Update to “Aboriginal Rights and Title“: Saskatchewan

Mar. 25: Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) demands inquiry over mistreatment of First Nations after an Elder’s house was raided on the Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation.

Update to “Duty to Consult/FPIC”: Québec, Newfoundland and Labrador

Mar. 2: Indigenous leaders need to be part of the Churchill Falls discussions, say Innu Nation grand chief

Update to “Duty to Consult/FPIC”: Ontario

Mar. 7: Neskantanga First Nation says it wasn’t adequately consulted in key Ring of Fire environmental study Mar. 29: First Nations leaders walk out of Queen’s Park after heated exchange over mining proposal ADD Mar. 30: ‘No consent, No Ring of Fire’: Far north First Nations take mining battle straight to Ontario legislature

Update to “Duty to Consult/FPIC”: BC

Mar. 9: Chiefs ban RCMP’s ‘militarized’ squadron from Gitxsan lands in northern BC

Update to “Duty to Consult/FPIC“: Yukon

Mar. 16: Yukon govt. to appeal court decision quashing approval of mining project near Mayo

Update to “Land Claims”: New Brunswick

Mar. 9: Mi’kmaq land claim in New Brunswick signals Indigenous nations ‘increasingly assertive over title’

Update to “Land Claims”: Ontario

Mar. 14: Haldimand Tract litigation new website and update

Update to “Court Challenges”: Newfoundland and Labrador

Mar. 10: Crown stays charges against Innu Caribou hunters dating back to 2013

Home Page: Background Content

Update to ‘Land Back Movement”” BC

Mar. 2: Land Back is complicated. Here’s what we can learn from a BC island returned to the Saanich people

Indigenous Success Stories

Theme	Date	Indigenous Group	Comment
Education	Mar. 3	Inuit	High arctic research station offers students glimpse of life in science
Health	Mar. 10	First Nation	Dr. Kona Williams is forging a path for First Nations women in forensic pathology
Youth Programs	Mar. 25	First Nation	Ten years ago, a group of Québec Cree youths finished an epic trek from Whapmagoostui to Ottawa, the journey of Nishiyuu