Filmmaker, actor, and director Shirley Cheechoo has turned to online fundraising to keep her Weengushk Film Institute afloat after being turned down by band offices and government. Cheechoo, known for her films Johnny Tootall and Moose River Crossing, says she has seen many troubled youth turn their lives around after studying at the non-profit training institute on Manitoulin Island. “While they are making a film, they are learning how to read, write, do math, leadership, how to do their resumes, and how to work as a team,” said Cheechoo.

The latest Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business research report, Community & Commerce Ontario, finds that community-owned corporations are a growing trend within Aboriginal economic development, increasingly creating wealth for both their communities and their non-Aboriginal neighbours. The strengths of AEDCs, which are community-owned businesses set up as corporations at arm’s length from chief and council, are their ability to adapt to community needs.

Serpent River First Nation Chief Isadore Day beat out two others to become the new Regional Chief for Ontario for the Assembly of First Nations. Day defeated Kettle and Stony Point First Nation Chief Tom Bressette, and Randall Phillips of the Oneida Nation of the Thames. Day didn’t wait long before taking action. He called on Canada and Ontario to work with First Nation leaders to implement the Water Declaration of the Anishinaabek, Mushkegowuk, and Onkwehone to protect the Great Lakes.

The Chiefs of Ontario and the Government of Ontario have agreed to a political accord that will guide the relationship between First Nations and the province. The accord recognizes First Nations have an inherent right to self-government and commits the province and the Chiefs of Ontario to work together on shared priorities that improve the lives of First Nations people.

A newly-released government-commissioned report says mercury levels in the sediment of Grassy Narrows’ Wabigoon River remain up to 20 times above natural levels, while fish are up to 15 times above consumption guideline levels. These findings place the river above the frequent adverse effects level—the highest risk threshold used by Environment Canada to trigger remediation in the St. Lawrence environmental risk assessment. The cause for environmental health concern was the result of 9,000 kg of mercury being dumped by a paper mill upstream in the 1960s.

Days after more than 10,000 people marched through Toronto, in part, to mark a need for action on climate, Ontario and 21 other states and regions signed the first-ever Pan-American action statement on climate change. The Climate Action Statement highlights the urgency of combatting climate change, affirms that state, provincial and municipal governments are leaders in achieving impactful global climate action, and acknowledges the need to work together to continue reducing greenhouse gas pollution.

The Kwolwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis First Nation on Vancouver Island is also creating a community energy plan to find ways to improve energy efficiency and identify clean energy opportunities and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The nation will receive $30,000 through the First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund. The remote community is “off-grid” and not connected to the BC Hydro system. Its location increases the cost of food and fuel and the community currently relies on propane gas for electricity and heat.

The Nations of the Naut’sa Mawt Tribal Council will develop community energy plans to manage energy consumption and develop strategies for future clean energy projects. The tribal council provides services to 11 First Nations in the areas of the Strait of Georgia and Strait of Juan de Fuca, and will receive $80,000 through the First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund to develop the plans. It’s hoped the plans will raise awareness about current energy consumption patterns, energy resources and infrastructure, as well as future energy needs.

The ‘Namgis First Nation is dipping into B.C.’s First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund for dollars to support an equity investment in the Kokish River run-of-river hydro-electric project, located on northeastern Vancouver Island, about 15 kilometres east of Port McNeill. ‘Namgis will own 25 per cent of the hydro facility, and Brookfield Renewable will hold 75 per cent. The $400,000 in funding supports the equity investment by the ‘Namgis in the 45-megawatt run-of-the-river hydroelectric development, which is located in ‘Namgis traditional territory.

The Environmental Assessment Certificate for Jumbo Glacier Resort has expired. In June, British Columbia’s environment minister Mary Polak said developers of the billion-dollar ski resort on top of a mountain in the East Kootenay region—challenged in court by the Ktunaxa Nation—will have to “start from scratch.” In 2010, the Ktunaxa Nation delivered the Qat’muk Declaration to the legislature in Victoria protesting construction on Jumbo. It is home of the grizzly bear spirit. The declaration outlines the spiritual significance of Qat’muk and Ktunaxa sovereignty over the territory.