First Nations

Flags are flying at half-mast outside Williams Lake city hall including a Sécwépemc flag in acknowledgement of the announcement by Williams Lake First Nation Tuesday, Jan. 25 regarding 93 possible human burials at the former site of St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Williams Lake flags flying at half-mast in honour of St. Joseph’s Mission findings

Mayor Walt Cobb said city’s thoughts are with affected families, communities

 

Takla First Nation shared the announcement of the loss of Carmelita Abraham late Friday, Jan. 14. (Facebook photo)

Investigation into missing Indigenous woman leads to homicide charge against Quesnel man

Carmelita Abraham, 33, had been missing since late December

 

Williams Lake First Nation has postponed releasing the findings of its preliminary investigation at the site of the former St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

WLFN postpones release of St. Joseph’s Mission investigation findings until new year

Originally a press conference was slated for Friday, Dec. 10

 

The investigation continues at the site of the former St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School near Williams Lake and on Dec. 10 Williams Lake First Nation will release preliminary results. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Preliminary results from St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School investigation to be released

Williams Lake First Nation will hold closed chiefs meeting, media conference Dec. 10

The investigation continues at the site of the former St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School near Williams Lake and on Dec. 10 Williams Lake First Nation will release preliminary results. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
Scientists Chloe Immonen and Curran Crawford with the University of Victoria-based Pacifical Regional Institute for Marine Energy Discovery stand with their group’s state-of-the-art wind measurement buoy, Nov. 10 in Victoria. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Plan to replace diesel with wind energy buoy launched by University of Victoria

Data collected from buoy could help shift rural, Indigenous communities away from diesel

Scientists Chloe Immonen and Curran Crawford with the University of Victoria-based Pacifical Regional Institute for Marine Energy Discovery stand with their group’s state-of-the-art wind measurement buoy, Nov. 10 in Victoria. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb reads a written statement at council Nov. 2. (Angie Mindus photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Williams Lake mayor ‘seriously sorry’ for sharing offensive post about residential schools

Mayor Walt Cobb apologizes for offending, but says WLFN open letter was a ‘personal attack”

Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb reads a written statement at council Nov. 2. (Angie Mindus photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb reads a written statement at council Nov. 2. (Angie Mindus photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Williams Lake City Council admonishes mayor, stops short of asking him to resign

Mayor Walt Cobb apologizes for offending, but says WLFN open letter was a ‘personal attack”

Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb reads a written statement at council Nov. 2. (Angie Mindus photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
Ulkatcho First Nation (UFN) council Anthony Jack Simms, from left, Corinne Cahoose, Laurie Vaughan, Chief Lynda Price, Councillors Mabelene Leone and Harvey Jack are working with UFN administration to develop a team which will be led by a drug, alcohol and opioid crisis emergency health care team leader. (Photo submitted)

Ulkatcho First Nation declares state of emergency due to alcohol, drug, opioid deaths

So far eight people in the community have died due to addictions in 2021

Ulkatcho First Nation (UFN) council Anthony Jack Simms, from left, Corinne Cahoose, Laurie Vaughan, Chief Lynda Price, Councillors Mabelene Leone and Harvey Jack are working with UFN administration to develop a team which will be led by a drug, alcohol and opioid crisis emergency health care team leader. (Photo submitted)
The water off Port Renfrew could be threatened without a federally-funded search and rescue and environmental response service in Port Renfrew, says the Pacheedaht First Nation. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

B.C. First Nation wants feds to expedite plans for marine rescue centre

Vancouver Island’s Pacheedaht chief says talks stalled on $22-million project for Port Renfrew

The water off Port Renfrew could be threatened without a federally-funded search and rescue and environmental response service in Port Renfrew, says the Pacheedaht First Nation. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
Chief Roger Jimmie was a strong advocate for Indigenous forestry rights. In a 1990 Observer article he was demanding Kluskus be allowed to log their own land. (Quesnel Observer File Photo - 1990)

‘Fearless’ Lhoosk’uz Dené Nation chief remembered after death

Roger Jimmie passed away last week

Chief Roger Jimmie was a strong advocate for Indigenous forestry rights. In a 1990 Observer article he was demanding Kluskus be allowed to log their own land. (Quesnel Observer File Photo - 1990)
Saik’uz First Nation held a news conference Friday, Oct. 15 declaring forest management in its territory must change immediately. (Saik’uz First Nation Facebook screen grab)

Saik’uz First Nation makes swift changes to forest management in its territory

“When you look out in our territory all I see is devastation,” said Chief Priscilla Mueller

Saik’uz First Nation held a news conference Friday, Oct. 15 declaring forest management in its territory must change immediately. (Saik’uz First Nation Facebook screen grab)
Hundreds gathered to honour the inaugrual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Thursday, Sept. 30. They walked nearly four kilometres to bring awareness and healing to residential school survivors and victims. (Adam Louis/Observer)

VIDEO: ‘We are all brothers and sisters’ Sts’ailes chief imparts words of healing, hope on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Hundreds of people walked with the Sts’ailes First Nation to remember residential school victims

Hundreds gathered to honour the inaugrual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Thursday, Sept. 30. They walked nearly four kilometres to bring awareness and healing to residential school survivors and victims. (Adam Louis/Observer)
Bernie Baptiste, from Ulkatcho First Nation has been located. (Facebook photo)

Update: Mushroom picker located in West Chilcotin

Bernie Baptiste went mushroom picking in the Anahim Lake area Sunday, Sept. 26

Bernie Baptiste, from Ulkatcho First Nation has been located. (Facebook photo)
BC Hydro plans to remove the Wilsey Dam and Shuswap Falls Powerhouse along the Shuswap River as part of a restoration project to help salmon access to historical spawning habitat. (BC Hydro photo)

Splatsin: BC Hydro decision to remove Shuswap River dam disregards title and rights

Utility to provider to decommission 92-year-old Wilsey Dam, improve access for salmon

BC Hydro plans to remove the Wilsey Dam and Shuswap Falls Powerhouse along the Shuswap River as part of a restoration project to help salmon access to historical spawning habitat. (BC Hydro photo)
Phyllis Webstad, founder of Orange Shirt Day. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Phyllis Webstad, truth and reconciliation champion

Residential school survivor continues to help the country understand the residential school legacy

Phyllis Webstad, founder of Orange Shirt Day. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
People gathered for a solidarity rally in Smithers after hereditary chiefs served Coastal GasLink with an eviction notice from a worksite on traditional Wet’suwet’en territory near Houston. (File photo)

Progress on Wet’suwet’en rights and title slower than parties would have liked

Murray Rankin said the pandemic and the complexities of the negotiations are behind the slow progress

People gathered for a solidarity rally in Smithers after hereditary chiefs served Coastal GasLink with an eviction notice from a worksite on traditional Wet’suwet’en territory near Houston. (File photo)
Charlene Belleau, former chief of Esk’etemc and former chair of First Nations Health Council, and present First Nations liaison with the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, addresses GeoScan’s Will Meredith, Peter Takacs and Adam Czecholinski during a ceremony at the former St. Joseph’s Mission Indian Residential School site where GeoScan will be doing ground penetrating radar analysis of the grounds. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Ceremony held as investigation of St. Joseph’s Residential School grounds gets underway

The residential school operated from 1886 to 1981

Charlene Belleau, former chief of Esk’etemc and former chair of First Nations Health Council, and present First Nations liaison with the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, addresses GeoScan’s Will Meredith, Peter Takacs and Adam Czecholinski during a ceremony at the former St. Joseph’s Mission Indian Residential School site where GeoScan will be doing ground penetrating radar analysis of the grounds. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
Juggernaut Exploration Ltd. has been given an eviction order by the Nuxalk First Nation for drilling it is doing near Bella Coola. (Juggernault Exporation photo)

B.C.’s central coast Nuxalk First Nation issue eviction order to mining exploration company

Juggernault Exploration has two drilling sites in Nuxalk territory near Bella Coola

Juggernaut Exploration Ltd. has been given an eviction order by the Nuxalk First Nation for drilling it is doing near Bella Coola. (Juggernault Exporation photo)
Williams Lake First Nation Chief Willie Sellars is pretty stoked about the pre-sales of his newest children’s book - Hockey with Dad - slated to be released in September 2021. (Caitlin Press image)

Williams Lake First Nation Chief excited about pre-sales of his newest children’s book

Hockey with Dad will be released on Sept. 10, 2021

Williams Lake First Nation Chief Willie Sellars is pretty stoked about the pre-sales of his newest children’s book - Hockey with Dad - slated to be released in September 2021. (Caitlin Press image)
A woman screams in frustration at Campbell River RCMP members during the procession. Photo by Marc Kitteringham / Campbell River Mirror

VIDEO: Family of slain Indigenous man confront RCMP in Campbell River

‘I’ll never see my son’s face again’ — Lowndes’ mother

A woman screams in frustration at Campbell River RCMP members during the procession. Photo by Marc Kitteringham / Campbell River Mirror