National Indigenous News July 9

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 look at your National Indigenous News. I'm Daryl Stranger. Whitehorse City Council has committed itself to considering more mineral exploration in the copper belt. On Tuesday night, a majority of council members voted to send the issue through the bylaw process. Gladiator Metals continues to lobby the city to allow it to search for high-grade copper in the municipality's western fringe. To do that, the company proposed amending the official community plan. The three tracks the company has identified are currently designated as green space under the land use policy. This would mean converting them to what the city calls future planning areas. To allow for limited mineral exploration, the municipality would also need to create a new policy. Most of the 12 delegates who spoke at the meeting are opposed to the proposal. A common denominator among them is that the city should follow the existing official community plan, which took years to develop and rounds of at times intense public consultation. The sites in question, the delegates said, are green space for a reason, and they need to remain that way, protected. Residents said these areas help sustain vital habitat for fish and wildlife, including caribou, who they say are finally returning to the area. Another central focus for delegates who spoke Tuesday was the city's proposed mineral framework, which pitches a tiered system that would place checks and balances on mining activities. That includes setting time limits, remediation standards, and inspections. The last time the Copper Belt saw an operating mine was in the early 1980s. The framework could be adopted by council as soon as this fall, and in November, the city will decide whether to amend the official community plan. In southern Alberta, the Sutina Nation will be collaborating with home development company Qualico Communities Calgary to develop 971 hectares of land north of the community. According to a news release, the former site of Elbow View Lands, which is located along Highway 8 west of Calgary, will establish a new community and expand housing opportunities in and around the 283 square kilometer reserve. If completed, the project would also connect surrounding communities on Soutina Land as well as establish a premier destination for residential and economic growth. The project aims to not only provide more housing, but allow more room for business and cultural opportunities in the area. This is far from Soutina Nation's first venture of this nature. It also developed the Redwood Meadows, which was the first indigenous-operated town site to be recognized by the province of Alberta in 2020. Sutena Nation also developed Taza, another mixed-use community located on the land, which stands as one of the largest and most progressive First Nation real estate developments in North America, according to the nation. The project is in its initial stages and will begin community engagement sessions with members of the nation, as well as those in surrounding communities, over the next few weeks. Officials in Timmins, Ontario say homelessness across the region has more than doubled since 2023, with nearly 500 people at the end of 2025 experiencing homelessness. Community members are now working to address the issue. The recently created community leadership table, led by Mushkegawak Council, includes First Nations leaders, municipal representatives, and regional service providers working to address homelessness, housing instability, and wellness. The initiative follows Mushkegawak Council's declaration of a state of emergency last November. Deputy Grand Chief Natasha Martin said the partnership is focused on Indigenous leadership while working alongside municipalities in the region. The goal is to move beyond fragmented responses and create a regional plan that reflects how people access housing and services across the district. The coalition will continue its work through the summer, with leaders expected to meet again in the fall following the municipal election to map out long term solutions. That's a look at your National Indigenous News.