National Indigenous News July 7

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

Transcript

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This is a looky or National Indigenous News. I'm Daryl Stranger. Sioux Valley Dakota Nation in Manitoba has declared a state of emergency as concerns swell over rising flood waters in the western Manitoba community and surrounding areas. Chief Jennifer Bones says emergency management staff in the First Nation, located about 40 kilometers west of Brandon, are monitoring water levels and weather forecasts while keeping in regular communication with the provincial and federal governments. The chief said the ground is already saturated with water in some flood-prone parts of the community near the Assiniboine River. The water is expected to crest on July 9th. While the community is not under a mandatory evacuation order, Bones said nearly 190 residents who live in flood-prone areas have been asked to prepare in case they need to leave. Residents in areas at risk of flooding received notices this weekend and sandbags have since been piling up around homes. Community members who got evacuation standby notices have been asked to prepare for changing conditions by packing enough clothing, medication, and necessary personal items to last at least three days. Local emergency management staff are preparing transportation, reception, and emergency support services in case they're needed. Bones said the First Nation is taking many proactive measures ahead of any possible flooding. The Nunavut Planning Commission says it accepts the reasons for the rejection of the territory's land use plan, which has been in the works for nearly two decades. On Friday, the three signatories, Nunavut Tungavik Inc., or NTI, and the territorial and federal governments, released a 200-page document outlining their reasons for rejecting the recommended draft plan, which was released in 2023. As one of the largest plans of its kind in the world, it sets out which areas of the territory are open for development and which are protected. It also tells developers where projects, like mines, will be allowed and under what conditions. This is the fourth draft since work on the plan began in 2007. In a news release Monday, the commission said it recognizes Nunavumiu to have waited a long time for an approved land use plan, and it notes the three signatories provided significant direction and recommendations about the need to listen to different regional Inuit perspectives and finding a balance between conservation and economic development opportunities. The three signatory parties believe the recommended plan's one-size-fits-all approach fails to consider the distinct challenges facing each of the territory's three regions. NTI also criticized what it considers a lack of a balanced approach between social development, conservation, and sustainable economic development. The Nunavut government wants to see restrictions in some sensitive bird habitat areas lifted to allow for marine infrastructure development like ports and cable projects. The land use plan also has exceptions for planned projects that haven't completed regulatory approval, such as the Grays Bay Road and Port and the Kivalik Hydrofiber Link. The federal government said the routing for those corridors could still change and it wants the plan to reflect that fluidity. Two indigenous communities in Ontario will receive a surplus fire truck from the Hamilton Fire Department to help better protect their residents. The National Indigenous Fire Safety Council and the Independent First Nations Alliance will each receive a surplus fire truck from the Hamilton Fire Department after a ceremony was held Monday. The two surplus trucks being donated, Ladder 90 and Pump 27, have reached the end of their 25-year life cycle within the Hamilton Fire Department fleet. They both, however, remain operational and ready to serve and are valued at between $15,000 and $30,000 each. Hamilton City Council approved the donation on June 4th as part of the city's ongoing commitment to supporting Indigenous communities and advancing truth and reconciliation. That's a look at your national Indigenous News.