National Indigenous News June 26

Darrell Stranger takes a look at some of the latest Indigenous news making headlines across the country. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

This is a look at your National Indigenous News. I'm Darrell Stranger. Three people are dead after a plane responding to a wildfire near Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories, crashed Wednesday evening. Northwest Territory's Fire said in a news release Thursday that responders went to the crash site and confirmed the deaths. The RCMP said they are helping to recover the deceased, and the Northwest Territories Coroner's office is also investigating. The plane involved was a fixed-wing TurboCommander 960 Bird Dog 104, according to RCMP. Bird Dog aircraft are small, typically single-engine planes that carry crew who direct air traffic near a fire and coordinate the air tankers. Northwest Territory's Fire said the aircraft was working on a fire identified as FS-009, a naturally caused fire 100 hectares in size, discovered Wednesday evening in the Martin Hills area near Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories. Fire and RCMP did not provide any details about the crash, but RCMP said the Transportation Safety Board is leading an investigation.

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Indigenous youth across Alberta have until June 30th to register for the 2026 Alberta Indigenous Games. The multi-sport event set for August 7th to the 15th will bring together athletes from across the province to celebrate sport, culture, teamwork, and community while competing in a variety of athletic disciplines. Jacob Hendy, CEO of the Alberta Indigenous Games, outlines the registration process athletes must complete to be eligible to compete at the 2026 Alberta Indigenous Games this August.

SPEAKER_01 1:35

We're super excited. We have our late deadlines. So those that haven't registered yet, their teams are in the athletes, uh, June 30th is our last chance deadlines. We have some sports that, depending on the numbers, will be extended a little bit past that for the divisions. But if you're wanting to bring your team to our games that are August 7th to the 15th, get them registered here right away. We're just again super excited. It's been an annual event that we're super excited. We love seeing all the youth and their teams and their families and just the communities and super excited for it.

SPEAKER_00 2:08

In Edmonton, I'm Daniel Barker Tromblay.

SPEAKER_02 2:12

The new commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada says he is focusing on establishing more healing lodges to help Indigenous inmates reconnect with their communities. Half of the women locked up in prison are First Nation Inuit or Metis, while a third are Indigenous men. This, despite the fact that Indigenous peoples make up only 5% of the population. The list of issues facing the CSC is long, and has been pointed out in dozens of reports issued by the Auditor General, House of Commons committees, and the Office of the Correctional Investigator, among others. Concerns include the overrepresentation of Indigenous inmates, the fact that they're less likely to receive early parole, and are often screened to be a high security level. The knock on the service is that it seemed to have little interest in changing unless it is forced by the government or the courts. There are currently six community-run healing lodges across the country. Another four are operated by the CSC. Not all communities are interested in having inmates back in the community, but the Correctional Service of Canada said they are investigating if other communities close would be interested. The Correctional Service of Canada added that a new Deputy Commissioner of Indigenous Corrections will be named in July. That's a look at your National Indigenous News.