Legal Aid Ontario is expanding Gladue writing services in northeastern Ontario with funding to Aboriginal Legal Services in Toronto to hire Gladue writers for Windsor, Sudbury, North Bay and Sault Ste. Marie. Gladue reports provide background on the lives of Aboriginal†people in conflict with the law. Jonathan Rudin with Aboriginal Legal Services in Toronto said hiring Gladue writers for the communities will reduce the long waiting list. “We’ve been advocating for this for a very, very long time, and we’re very pleased that Legal Aid Ontario has stepped up,” he said.

Algonquins of the Pikwàkanagàn First Nation have joined with Innergex Renewable Energy Inc to stop further development of the Nodinosi prospective wind project located near Mattawa. The Nodinosi project was located in the townships of Phelps, Olrig and Mattawan of the Nipissing District. With a proposed installed capacity of approximately 150 MW, it was in the very early stages of development. “We strongly believe in a collaborative approach to project development, because social acceptability is essential to a successful project.

The Algonquins of Barriere Lake (ABL) filed a lawsuit against the government and their current and previous third-party managing companies, Hartel Financial Management Corp. and BDO Canada. The lawsuit for $30 million in damages claims that the government and managers have harmed the community “by mismanaging and withholding funds that were to be used for the benefit of the community and its members.”†The managers currently hold the ABL’s money in a trust, according to ABL’s press release, which places ABL community’s funds out of their control.

Ontario Regional Chief Stan Beardy says Canada’s way of getting oil to market is in direct conflict with Indigenous rights and public safety. The statement comes after a second oil spill on Mattagami First Nation territory, the third CN derailment in northern Ontario in less than a month, and the second near the First Nation community within three weeks.

The Canadian Council for  Aboriginal Business (CCAB) and Sodexo Canada announced that Penticton Indian Band Development Corporation is the winner of the CCAB Aboriginal Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) Award for 2015. Penticton Indian Band Reserve is the largest reserve in the British Columbia. The Penticton Indian Band Development Corporation (PIBDC) is a for-profit corporation owned by the Penticton Indian Band and is the principal economic development, marketing and promotional organization for the band.

The Tsilhqot'in Nation has enacted its first Tsilhqot’in law, setting out the rules for how the Tsilhqot’in Nation will govern lands and manage access to the area and its resources. This falls on the heels of the first declaration of Aboriginal title in Canadian history.

The province is under fire for reneging on an agreement to appoint former Liberal cabinet minister George Abbott as chief of the B.C. Treaty Commission. After months of negotiating with First Nations groups, the B.C. cabinet decided at the 11th hour to nix the appointment, after Abbott had already begun the transition to his new job, which was to begin April 1.

The Heiltsuk First Nation on B.C.’s Central Coast wants the sac roe herring fishery in their territory closed for conservation reasons. But Fisheries and Oceans Canada opened the fishery March 22 despite concerns. Heiltsuk said the move violates their constitutional rights.

“This action shows blatant disrespect of Aboriginal rights by DFO and industry,” said Chief Councillor Marilyn Slett. And many have accused DFO of sly dealing, opening the seine fishery at 5 p.m. and only notifying the Heiltsuk a half-hour after the fishery had been opened.

that fall short of safety standards in remote reserve communities, but still have much left to do, with about 50 per cent still non-compliant. Documents show the government spent about $61 million between April 2011 and May 2014 to bring 583 tanks into compliance to prevent spills and leaks. Aboriginal Affairs would like to have 750 tanks —”approximately 50 per cent of essential tanks on reserve” — in compliance with the regulations by next year, reports the Canadian Press.

with First Nations, said Premier Brian Gallant, with the training of one person, at least, in each department on the duty to consult. Governments wait too long before beginning consultations, said Gallant. In people’s minds, it’s energy projects that require consultation, but it’s not limited to that. Any type of development, even the construction of a school, may impact a First Nation’s territory, he explained.