National Indigenous News July 14

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. First Nations chiefs and other leaders from communities across the country have some heavy issues to talk about at the Assembly of First Nations 2026 Annual General Assembly. They've gathered in Ottawa for the next three days and dealing with a packed agenda, including 53 resolutions brought forward by Chiefs. Resource development is expected to be a hot topic since Prime Minister Mark Carney turned his focus to economic resilience, sovereignty, and nation building in response to international trade challenges. Many First Nations are impacted by projects forwarded to the Federal Major Projects Office for consideration to be fast-tracked for development, the largest of which are two pipeline proposals, one to the West Coast from Alberta and one heading east. Other priorities for the Chiefs will include lawmaking jurisdiction of First Nations on things like child welfare. The Chiefs and Assembly will also discuss the First Nations Clean Water Act, Bill C thirty seven. Gaps in First Nations addictions treatment and access, as well as mental wellness strategies for men and boys, are also up for discussion, alongside talks around safe housing and infrastructure. The annual General Assembly will wrap up on Thursday. A Nova Scotia judge has dismissed a lawsuit launched by a commercial fishing group that argued Sabanga Nagati First Nations fishery in the province's southwest was unlawful and wanted the court to declare the ban does not have a treaty right to commercial lobster fishing. In a ruling last week, Nova Scotia Supreme Court Justice Ann Smith said the statement of claim filed by the not-for-profit United Fisheries Conservation Alliance, or UFCA, is fatally flawed and refused the group's request to rule on the treaty right. The UFCA filed a lawsuit in 2024 after several years of what it has argued is unauthorized fishing in St. Mary's Bay that has harmed lobster stocks and been detrimental to commercial fishermen and local communities. Sabaginagity conducts its fishery in the summer and fall outside of federal regulations. It has asserted its members have a treaty right to catch and sell lobster without commercial licenses and are not restricted to the periods mandated by the federal government. The fishery is contentious, facing opposition from commercial fishermen, and the band has accused federal fisheries officers of seizing traps. Smith said while she recognized the commercial fishing group had legitimate concerns about the impact of the Sabaginagati fishery, it had no standing and the court could not hear the case. She said the UFCA was not seeking to challenge any legislation or argue that its rights were being breached. Instead, she said it's clear it wanted the court to declare the Fisheries Act and its regulations do not violate any Sabaginagity rights. The president of the UFCA said in a statement that the group disagrees with the judge's conclusions and its lawyers are exploring the possibility of an appeal. Construction on Nunavut's first addictions and trauma treatment center is nearing the finish line. The federal and territorial governments and NTI first signed an agreement to build the center in 2019. Construction on the 24-bed facility started in 2023 with a price tag of $83.7 million from the Government of Canada, Government of Nunavut, and Nunavut Tungavik Inc. Construction was expected to finish in December of 2025 before being pushed to spring of 2026 and now the summer. The builders of the project said construction is expected to be done by the end of this summer, and that the delay has been caused by challenges in getting materials for the project and supply chains disrupted by tariffs with the United States. Nunavut's Department of Health couldn't give an exact opening date, saying it will depend on final preparations and readiness rather than a fixed date. That's a look at your National Indigenous News.