The Okanagan Nation Alliance has filed a legal challenge

First Nations are saying tactics are being employed to

The Canadian Press reports that federal officials were

Superstar actor Leonardo DiCaprio visited Fort Chipewyan

The Alberta Serious Incident Response team will

Celebrated Namgis First Nation carver Beau Dick was only days from the end of his long journey home from Parliament Hill when his caravan heard the news in Calgary: the Mount Polley mine tailings dam had breached in B.C.’s Cariboo region, dumping nearly 15 million cubic metres of toxin-laden sludge into the Fraser River ecosystem.

Only days before, the Vancouver Island elder and his group had broken apart large copper shields at the doors of Canada’s government, a traditional ceremony of shaming after a breach of law or protocol.

Members of Grassy Narrows First Nation, along with several hundred supporters, marched through downtown Toronto on July 31. To simulate a wild river, people carried fish cutouts and 1,500 meters of bright blue fabric rippling in the wind. They stopped traffic along University Avenue as they made their way to Queen’s Park. Grassy Narrows Chief Roger Fobister Sr., wearing a traditional headdress, led the walkers.

The march was one of several activities held during the week to garner support for the First Nation’s ongoing fight for the protection of their waters and homelands.

The T’Sou-ke First Nation continues to implement its 100-year vision for its 250-member community with a new business. Three greenhouses are growing wasabi seedlings over the next 15 months. The Pacific Coast Wasabi enterprise will help the community achieve economic self-sufficiency. T’Sou-ke Nation is located on 67 hectares near Victoria on Vancouver Island. T’Sou-ke has been going green in its operations, moving to solar power and electric vehicles. Profits from the wasabi farm will expand an organic community garden and fund an oyster farm project in the Sooke Basin.

A small piece of land located in the Grange Harbour at Salt Spring Island is causing big headaches  to the developers of Grace Islet. First Nations want it protected because it is a burial place, but the private property owner has begun constructing a home there. “First Nations heritage sites, burial site and sacred sites continue to be desecrated and destroyed,” said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs.

Nuxalk Chief Wally Webber is happy that a traditional mask that was used as a Super Bowl wager by the Seattle Art Museum will be used in Bella Coola for a potlatch in September. It’s only a temporary visit back to the community, however. The ceremonial mask was used for the wager in January, because it was reminiscent of the Seattle Seahawk’s logo, said the museum. Depending on the outcome of the game, the SAM would trade the piece to a Denver museum for limited display. The concept of using the mask in this way offended the Nuxalk and the wager was rescinded.