APTN News Brief

Our lead story: Nakota Rayne Pooyak, 31, of the Sweetgrass First Nation in Saskatchewan now stands charged with second-degree murder in the Sept. 2024 shooting deaths of 66-year-old Brent Peters and adult sons Matthew and Brennan Peters.  

Our lead story: outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden commutes the life sentence of American Indian Movement member Leonard Peltier after nearly a half-century behind bars. However, news of the clemency triggers disappointment for the family of fellow AIM activist Anna Mae Aquash, who allege Peltier was “complicit” in her 1975 murder.

Our lead story: a MMIWG advocate says it's about time Vancouver police officers were held accountable after news the Police Complaints Commission is looking into neglect of duty allegations in the case of the late 24-year-old Chelsea Poorman.

Our lead story: the province of Manitoba denies responsibility in the wrongful convictions of Anishinaabe men Allan Woodhouse and Brian Anderson almost 50 years ago, arguing it’s the fault of the city and its police force that the men were sent to prison. - - - - - - - Interstitial: zapsplat.com  

Our lead story: following Canada’s move to negotiate child welfare reform with Ontario First Nations only, the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society files a motion with the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. 🖸 Premiers meet to strategize over U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's threatened 25% tariff on Canadian goods. 🖸 Excluded from federal tables for years, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples struggles to restore the group’s former prominence.  🖸 Climate experts in B.C. once again urge greater government action to ensure extreme weather events don’t get worse. - - - - - - - - Interstitial: zapsplat.com    

Our lead story: Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak urges parents to be vigilant after someone allegedly tries to lure the 6-year-old child of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation Chief Angela Levasseur outside a Thompson, MB school. ∎ The trial in a multi-million dollar lawsuit against some prominent Métis figures begins this week in Toronto. ∎ A man is dead, and another under arrest, following a stabbing last week on the Saddle Lake Cree Nation in Alberta.  ∎ A Métis woman accuses a RCMP officer in Hay River, N.W.T. of assault. - - - - - - - - Interstitial: zapsplat.com

Our lead story: with the fate of Bill C-61, the First Nations Clean Water Act, now sealed due to last week’s proroguing of Parliament, the Liberals and NDP each blame the other for its demise. - - - - - - - - -  Interstitial: zapsplat.com

Our lead story: reaction to the recent revelation that leaks from tar sands tailing ponds have gone under-reported by the Alberta Energy Regulator.

Our lead story: Montreal’s plummeting temperatures and inadequate resources see a growing number of people without shelter turn to the city ERs. - - - - - - -  Interstitial: zapsplat.com

Our lead story: land defenders at Lemay Forest continue to stay put at a site on Winnipeg’s outskirts, despite a court injunction and repeated attempts by the property’s owner and developer to access the area. . . . . . . . .  Interstitial: zapsplat.com

Our lead story: Indigenous leaders in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia react to this week’s news that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will step down. . . . . . . . interstitial: zapsplat.com

Our lead story: following months of turmoil within his own party, Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces his intent to resign and asks Governor-General Mary Simon to suspend Parliament until March 24.

Our lead story: resistance to the development of a privately-owned forested area on the outskirts of Winnipeg—including a site used for ceremony for decades—is met with a court injunction against the land defenders.

Our lead story: a recent homicide victim in Winnipeg has now been identified as 50-year-old Byron Moose, a man from the O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation in northern Manitoba.  - - - - - - -  Interstitial: zapsplat.com

Our lead story: just days after an alleged altercation between a lone First Nations man and as many as five Winnipeg Police Service officers, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs hire a law firm to look into systemic racism within the force.  

Our lead story: after losing a pair of ministers to resignation, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shuffles his Cabinet, prompting many to speculate as to what the future holds for his government and his leadership. . . . . . . . .  Interstitial: ZapSplat.com  

Our lead story: the Southern Chiefs' Organization announces a return date for its Grand Chief. 

Our lead story: First Nations leaders gathered in Winnipeg to discuss the alarming backlog of Jordan’s Principle cases. 

Our lead story: A First Nations man from Cold Lake dies during an interaction with law enforcement. He is the 15th Indigenous person in Canada confirmed to have died during or immediately following an interaction with police since late August. 

Our lead story: A day of political turmoil–including the resignation of two cabinet ministers–unfolds in Ottawa.