First Nations

Summer Testawich, right, did not plan on getting into acting. Her mom, Cricket Testawich (l), agreed to share the cost of some photographs, which accidentally lead to Summer landing a lead role in a motion picture. (Photo credit: Ruth Lloyd/Williams Lake Tribune)

Accidental actress returns to birthplace for screening of her debut film

Summer Testawich is touring with the film ‘Bones of Crows’, in which she stars

 

Hereditary Chiefs Aaron Hans, Jeffery Snow and Snuxyaltwa (as known as Deric Snow) visit the Royal BC Museum in Victoria which houses family poles. The museum is preparing the return of a pole belonging to the family of Snuxyaltwa. (Mercy Snow photo)

Provincial government ‘pleased’ with pending return of totem pole to Bella Coola

Totem pole due to leave Victoria’s RBCM on Feb. 13

 

Hereditary Chiefs Aaron Hans, Jeffery Snow and Snuxyaltwa (as known as Deric Snow) visit the Royal B.C. Museum in Victoria which houses family poles. (Mercy Snow photo) Hereditary Chiefs Aaron Hans, Jeffery Snow and Snuxyaltwa (as known as Deric Snow) visit the Royal B.C. Museum in Victoria. (Mercy Snow photo)

Totem pole returning to Bella Coola, Nuxalk territory, after decades in Victoria museum

The plan is to load the pole onto a truck on Feb. 13 in Victoria

 

The Quarterdeck beer and wine store had this old sign hanging up stating it would not accept Indigenous status cards as ID, and it was promptly taken down by new management after it went viral online. (Jozi Child - Facebook photo)

Sign denying status cards as ‘suitable’ ID at Port Hardy liquor store sparks uproar

Liquor store apologizes and removes sign after photo goes viral on social media

The Quarterdeck beer and wine store had this old sign hanging up stating it would not accept Indigenous status cards as ID, and it was promptly taken down by new management after it went viral online. (Jozi Child - Facebook photo)
APTN was filming some of the work carving a totem pole by members of the Nuxalk First Nation in protest of mining exploration work going on near Bella Coola. (Snuxyaltwa photo)

Nuxalk carve totem poles for mountaintop installation around Bella Coola to oppose mining

Totem poles would symbolize Nuxalk opposition to mining within territory, said hereditary chief

APTN was filming some of the work carving a totem pole by members of the Nuxalk First Nation in protest of mining exploration work going on near Bella Coola. (Snuxyaltwa photo)
Blueberry River First Nations, located 70 kilometres north of Fort St. John, and the provincial government have signed what both sides call an historic agreement after a 2021 court decision. (BRFN photo)

B.C. government, Blueberry River First Nations reach land management agreement

Agreement includes restoration fund of $200 million by 2025

Blueberry River First Nations, located 70 kilometres north of Fort St. John, and the provincial government have signed what both sides call an historic agreement after a 2021 court decision. (BRFN photo)
Williams Lake First Nation will be releasing the second phase of it findings from the investigation into the site of the former St. Joseph's Mission Residential School on Jan. 25, 2023. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Williams Lake First Nation to reveal more St. Joseph’s Mission investigation results

A meeting with chiefs, followed by media conference will be held Jan. 25

Williams Lake First Nation will be releasing the second phase of it findings from the investigation into the site of the former St. Joseph's Mission Residential School on Jan. 25, 2023. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
Richard Nelson, who belonged to the Nisga’a Eagle Clan, will be remembered as a loving brother by his family and as a father figure by the Terrace homeless community. (Submitted photo/Diana Guno)

His last words were ‘I love you’: Sister mourns brother found dead in northern B.C. tent

Richard Nelson, a Tsimshian and Nisga’a man living on the streets of Terrace, found dead in -20 weather

Richard Nelson, who belonged to the Nisga’a Eagle Clan, will be remembered as a loving brother by his family and as a father figure by the Terrace homeless community. (Submitted photo/Diana Guno)
A coal mining operation in Sparwood, B.C., is shown on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016. Indigenous communities on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border are trying to build an alliance with Congress and the Biden administration in hopes of pressuring Ottawa into a bipartisan effort to confront toxic transborder mining runoff. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Get tough with Canada over cross-border mining contaminants, First Nations tell U.S.

Coal mining in Elk Valley impacting watersheds

A coal mining operation in Sparwood, B.C., is shown on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016. Indigenous communities on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border are trying to build an alliance with Congress and the Biden administration in hopes of pressuring Ottawa into a bipartisan effort to confront toxic transborder mining runoff. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Left to Right, in regalia designed and crafted by Lillian and Alver Tait: Brian McMillian, Wilps Wisin Xbil’tkw (Gisk’aast) representing subcrest owl, Markell Gosnell, Wilps Ksim Xsaan (Ganada) representing subcrest Ganada, Donaldo McNeil, Wilps La’ay (Laxsgiik) representing beaver, Deon Pierre, Wilps Duuk (Laxgibuu) representing subcrest bear. (Michael Bramadat-Willcock/Terrace Standard).

PHOTOS: Northern B.C. fashion show brings Nisga’a talent into the light

Models sported a striking blend of colourful and more sombre tones that reflected the theme of the evening: ‘from darkness to light’

Left to Right, in regalia designed and crafted by Lillian and Alver Tait: Brian McMillian, Wilps Wisin Xbil’tkw (Gisk’aast) representing subcrest owl, Markell Gosnell, Wilps Ksim Xsaan (Ganada) representing subcrest Ganada, Donaldo McNeil, Wilps La’ay (Laxsgiik) representing beaver, Deon Pierre, Wilps Duuk (Laxgibuu) representing subcrest bear. (Michael Bramadat-Willcock/Terrace Standard).
Anthony Hopkins, left, worked on a scene which included William Belleau, during filming of Killers of the Flower Moon in Vernon, B.C. The young actor has another project, The English, now streaming on Prime. (Photo submitted)

Esk’etemc actor living his dream working in film and television

William Belleau is taking it all in as he continues to land roles in big projects

Anthony Hopkins, left, worked on a scene which included William Belleau, during filming of Killers of the Flower Moon in Vernon, B.C. The young actor has another project, The English, now streaming on Prime. (Photo submitted)
Driving into the remote Xeni Gwet’in community in Nemiah Valley, the views include fencelines, forests and mountains on the horizon. (Jimmy Lulua photo)

Power, water finally reaches all homes of Xeni Gwe’tin First Nation in Chilcotin

For many, power and water were luxuries they had never had in their homes

Driving into the remote Xeni Gwet’in community in Nemiah Valley, the views include fencelines, forests and mountains on the horizon. (Jimmy Lulua photo)
Doug White, chairman of the B.C. First Nations Justice Council, will join the premier’s office at Special Counsel on Indigenous Reconciliation. (Black Press Media file photo)

Coast Salish lawyer Doug White joining B.C. premier’s office to speed reconciliation

White will work on issues held up between multiple government ministries

Doug White, chairman of the B.C. First Nations Justice Council, will join the premier’s office at Special Counsel on Indigenous Reconciliation. (Black Press Media file photo)
Traevon Desjarlais-Chalifoux, 17, was found dead in a closet of an Abbotsford group home in September 2020 after being reported missing four days earlier. His mother testified on the first day of a coroners’ inquest into his death on Nov. 28, 2022. (Credit: GoFundMe)

Mother of Cree teen who died in B.C. group home testifies at coroners’ inquest

Traevon Desjarlais found four days after reported missing in 2020

Traevon Desjarlais-Chalifoux, 17, was found dead in a closet of an Abbotsford group home in September 2020 after being reported missing four days earlier. His mother testified on the first day of a coroners’ inquest into his death on Nov. 28, 2022. (Credit: GoFundMe)
Butterflies in Spirit founder Lorelei Williams (left), UBCIC representative Louisa Housty-Jones, and BCAFN representative Melissa Moses speak at a panel on ending violence against women in Vancouver on Nov. 24, 2022. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)

UBCIC, BCAFN call on VPD to release video of officers mocking sexual harassment

Officers filmed video while uniformed and on-duty, spread it throughout department

Butterflies in Spirit founder Lorelei Williams (left), UBCIC representative Louisa Housty-Jones, and BCAFN representative Melissa Moses speak at a panel on ending violence against women in Vancouver on Nov. 24, 2022. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)
The Raincoast Conservation Foundation led a study of contaminants in the water of the Sumas Lake area following the November 2021 floods. The findings were released Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022. (Alex Harris/Raincoast Conservation Foundation)

Painkillers, pesticides and cocaine among contaminants found in Fraser Valley floodwaters

Study of water samples raises ‘fundamental questions’ about health of people and fish

The Raincoast Conservation Foundation led a study of contaminants in the water of the Sumas Lake area following the November 2021 floods. The findings were released Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022. (Alex Harris/Raincoast Conservation Foundation)
Discrimination is a near ubiquitous experience for status First Nations in B.C. when they use their status cards, a Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs-commissioned study found. (Screenshot/They Sigh or Give You the Look: Discrimination and Status Card Usage report)

Racism when using First Nations status cards a ‘near-universal experience’: UBCIC study

All but 4 survey respondents reported discrimination when using status card in B.C.

Discrimination is a near ubiquitous experience for status First Nations in B.C. when they use their status cards, a Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs-commissioned study found. (Screenshot/They Sigh or Give You the Look: Discrimination and Status Card Usage report)
A defaced road sign of a logging truck is seen near the protest site of Fairy Creek on southern Vancouver Island on Oct. 4, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

BC Supreme Court rejects old growth protesters application to combine their cases

Application called for court to join and stay proceedings due to RCMP’s “alleged systemic misconduct”

A defaced road sign of a logging truck is seen near the protest site of Fairy Creek on southern Vancouver Island on Oct. 4, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Michael Mylonas, from left, Nelson William, and Brian Finnie sit atop a peak they climbed during their trip across the Coast Mountains to the coast. (Jimmie Lulua photo)

Spiritual journey marks a return to land and tradition for Chilcotin’s Xeni Gwet’in

Members of Xeni Gwet’in hike across the Coast Mountains to reclaim historic trade route

Michael Mylonas, from left, Nelson William, and Brian Finnie sit atop a peak they climbed during their trip across the Coast Mountains to the coast. (Jimmie Lulua photo)
Banchi Hanuse, on left, Season 6: Episode 5 and 6 of Moosemeat & Marmalade director, stands with Art Napoleon, producer and host of the show, during filming in Bella Coola, Nuxalkulmc. (Olivia Vanderwal, photo).

Moosemeat & Marmalade episodes filmed in Bella Coola showing on APTN

The docuseries filmed two episodes in Nuxalkulmc last year, both directed by Banchi Hanuse

Banchi Hanuse, on left, Season 6: Episode 5 and 6 of Moosemeat & Marmalade director, stands with Art Napoleon, producer and host of the show, during filming in Bella Coola, Nuxalkulmc. (Olivia Vanderwal, photo).