Indigenous

Dr. Jean Polfus presents her research to a classroom. Behind Dr. Polfus is an illustration created to capture discussions from community consultations about caribou recovery strategies

Biologists turn to indigenous languages to help conserve and recover at-risk Caribou populations

December 27, 2024 by Jesse Wentzloff

Researchers with the Canadian Wildlife Service are hard at work on the conservation and recovery of British Columbia’s Southern Mountain population of Woodland Caribou, and are turning to a time-tested source of information about the iconic ungulates: indigenous languages, knowledge and perspectives.

Dr. Jean Polfus is a Senior Species at Risk Biologist with the Canadian Wildlife Service – Pacific Region, a division of Environment and Climate Change Canada. He is leading the work to re-vamp the recovery strategy with a focus on the deep connection between caribou and Indigenous identity, language, and knowledge.

CJSF’s Jesse Wentzloff spoke with Dr. Polfus after her presentation “Indigenous Voices in Conservation: Language as a foundation for collaboration in a caribou recovery process” at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby.

[Photo Credit – Jesse Wentzloff, CJSF 90.1FM, Burnaby]

photo of the Stoney Nakoda Health Centre by Keith Driver

Alberta’s medical assistance in dying under public review

December 20, 2024 by William Baliko

The Government of Alberta is inviting Albertans to share their perspectives on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) through an online survey. MAID provides eligible individuals the opportunity to receive assistance from a medical practitioner in ending their life. There are specific criteria to be met for eligibility, and the approval of multiple medical professionals is required.

At the federal level, the Canadian government has halted any expansion of MAID until spring 2027, while a series of reviews are conducted nationwide. The Alberta survey includes questions regarding oversight, regulations, and protections, and is open until December 20, 2024.

Jeanette Wildman, Cultural Liaison at Stoney Health Services, emphasizes the need for the government to enhance education around this sensitive topic and better inform the public.

Additionally, Wildman highlighted the significance of incorporating spirituality into these discussions, as it has been largely absent from the conversation surrounding this complex issue.

Women standing next to a piece of exhibit

Prince Edward County Museums accepts 2024 provincial award

December 4, 2024 by Brenda Little

The County Museums recently accepted the 2024 Ontario Museum Association Award of Excellence in Special Projects for the exhibit A Path Forward. In partnership with Tsi Tyónnheht Onkwawėn:na Language and Cultural Centre and the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, the exhibit explores truth and reconciliation in Prince Edward County. It focuses on the shared past , present and future of indigenous and non-indigenous people in the area while promoting education about truth and reconciliation.

A Path Forward is housed in the Macauley Church Museum in Picton and is part of the Macauley Heritage Park that features many historic points of interest. The interactive exhibit highlights contemporary works of art by more than 20 indigenous artists yet mixes with historical facts encouraging visitors to learn and reflect guiding the path forward. There are plans for expansion of the exhibit and a digital platform will be coming in 2025.

CJPE has more

Six people are sitting on chairs, each of them smiling. The person on the far left is holding a microphone. The heads of people from the crowd are out of focus in the foreground. The group of six people are sitting in front of four flags. The flag furthest to the left is the Trans Pride Flag, and the other three are the newly unveiled Two-Spirit Pride Flag. The flag is white with two feathers in a circle in the centre, with dots of various colours along horizontal columns.

New Two-spirit pride flag, documentary and curriculum marks major milestone in Two-Spirit visibility and celebration

November 22, 2024 by Ryan Funk

A massive step in the visibility and celebration of the Two-Spirit community was made in Winnipeg, MB, this week with the unveiling of the first Two-Spirit Pride flag, a Two-Spirit documentary, and a Two-Spirit curriculum for educators, students, and community groups to explore the commonly used pan-Indigenous concept that reflects the diverse gender identities, roles, and spiritual significance recognized within many Indigenous cultures across North America.

It was fitting the announcement was made in Winnipeg, where the term was first coined almost 35 years ago at the annual Intertribal Native American/First Nations Gay and Lesbian Conference.

In the current political climate, where diverse experiences and identities are being questioned and attacked, Day of Pink pushes against these narratives, inviting community members, students, and educators to this momentous event to learn about 2SLGBTQIA+ activists, to become a part of Reconciliation, to embrace themselves and their identities, and how to become advocates for human rights.

Shannon MacKay of the UNBC First Nations Centre (right) and Stephanie Jack of the College of New Caledonia’s Aboriginal Resource Centre (left) prepare for Louis Riel Day acknowledgement events. Shannon prepares keychains for a hands-on finger weaving activity. She wears a black top and wears a smile. Stepahine Jack grins while wearing a traditional Metis sash. Photo Credit - Ian Gregg

Louis Riel Day Gains Traction in Prince George Lheidli T’enneh

November 15, 2024 by Ian Gregg

Louis Riel Day has likely been celebrated each November 16th in Prince George since the city’s inauguration, but in recent years it’s visibility has been low. This year multiple entities worked together to change that, putting on events at both of Prince George’s post-secondary campuses.

Louis Riel day marks the untimely death of the Metis insurrectionists at the hands of the Canadian Government, but celebrates his legacy and Metis heritage in general. Over at CNC our community’s inaugural screening of We Are Metis took place Thursday Nov 14th. Meanwhile at UNBC on Friday November 15th opportunities to practise traditional art alongside musical performance take place.

This year increased media attention reflected both events. Shannon MacKay at UNBC’s First Nations Centre agreed that persistence was paying off, but so was collaboration with multiple community partners. CNC, UNBC, Metis Nation BC, Metis charter community members, and the annual Inspiring Women Among Us conference all participated and shared resources.

Three Tŝilhqot’in women, dressed in a mix of traditional and modern attire, sit smiling in a field holding qatŝ’ay (coiled root baskets), with the sun seting over distant mountains in the background

Tšilhqot’in National Government and Museum of Vancouver Partner to Repatriate Ancestral Belongings

November 1, 2024 by Jesse Wentzloff

Over 60 ancestral belongings have been returned to Tŝilhqot’in territory in British Columbia through a partnership between the Tŝilhqot’in National Government and the Museum of Vancouver. This round of repatriation is the culmination of a long process, and the repatriated items are much more than artifacts to the Tŝilhqot’in people.

Sharon Fortney, the Senior Curator of Indigenous Collections at the Museum of Vancouver, says that repatriation of artifacts is a key part of the Museum’s mission, representing a shift in philosophy for this and other museums with collections of indigenous artifacts.

Many of the items returned to Tŝilhqot’in custody can now be viewed at the Tŝilhqot’in National Government Dasiqox office in Williams Lake, and the Tŝilhqot’in National Government and the Museum of Vancouver will continue their partnership by developing an exhibit showcasing the process as an example of successful collaboration surrounding the repatriation of ancestral belongings.“Celebrating Tsilhqot’in Repatriation” will be part of an exhibition titled, The Work of Repair: Redress and Repatriation at MoV, which is scheduled to open in the spring of 2025.

Purple, pink, and blue fireworks in dark sky

Bicentennial bash in Guelph has funding pulled from draft budget

October 23, 2024 by Arlene Dowell

The city of Guelph has been planning for their bicentennial celebration for years with discussions beginning about 7 years ago. Now it appears the city is ready to pull the funding for the event, $900,000 over three years, from the budget.

Currently, the funding is to be taken from reserves and spent on the bicentennial, but those funds are proposed to be withdrawn entirely according to the confirmation draft budget because of the need to cut costs in the budget overall.

Danna Evans, General Manager of Culture and Recreation for the City of Guelph, says if the funding is pulled, plans would need to pivot and the only costs that would be covered by the city would be the use of some existing staff and resources.

One on one With Conservative candidate Kiel Giddens for PG-Mackenzie riding

October 16, 2024 by Ian Gregg

CFURadio dialled in for a one on one with Kiel Giddens, the BC Conservative Party’s candidate for the Prince George–Mackenzie riding, a riding also contested by James Steidle of the Green party, the NDP’s Shar McCrory, and Rachael Weber running as an independent.

In this conversation, Giddens addressed his advocacy and lobbying for TC Energy off the bat, emphasizing the benefit of large industrial projects in our region as tax payers and drivers of economic growth. He describes a turning-point for our healthcare system, UNDRIP reform, views on disability support, and the difficulties associated with producing a costed platform as an opposition party.

This interview is a part of CFURadio’s ongoing efforts to share perspectives from as many candidates running in the three ridings overlapping Prince George – Lheidli T’enneh as possible.

A woman wearing a red leather jacket, black top, black rimmed glasses and holds a microphone addressing the crowd at an all candidates debate. Behind her, a projection is displayed. On the table in front of her are a binder of notes, to her right is a pitcher of water and a plastic red cup. Picture Credit - Ian Gregg

Independent candidate Rachael Weber shares plans and platform at UNBC All Candidates debate

October 15, 2024 by Ian Gregg

All candidates running for all three ridings intersecting the Prince George Lheidli T’enneh townsite were invited to an all candidates debate at UNBC Wednesday October 9th.

In attendance for the Prince George–Mackenzie riding were James Steidle of the Green party; BC NDP’s Shar McCrory; and current independent, Rachael Weber of the Prince George–Mackenzie riding. Kiel Giddens of the BC Conservative Party was absent.

All candidates have been invited to share their views on CFUR. Rachael Weber has not done an interview with CFUR yet — to ensure that she has had a chance to be heard on our station, we have excerpted her segments only in this program.

The event was organized by the BC chapter of Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) and UNBC students, notably Madi Tokarchuk and Tina Watters, both local participants in CPAWS’ Young Leaders in Conservation Program.

A young man sits on a bench in a modern library in front of a partially finished birchbark canoe.

Trent’s Bata Library turned into workspace for a birch bark canoe

October 10, 2024 by Edward Sweeney

During the month of October, Alex Labelle will be crafting a birch bark canoe inside Trent University’s Bata Library. The project began on Sept. 30 and is scheduled to be complete by Oct. 25.

The project was commissioned by Trent University’s First Peoples House of Learning (FPHL) after Elder and Knowledge Holder, Lorenzo Whetung, FPHL Cultural advisor, brought the idea forward.

“I’ve seen a lot of birch bark canoes hanging up, or on a shelf adorning a place, and I thought we needed one we could use,” says Whetung.

Labelle learned to build canoes with his grandfather; and Labelle recently took over the business after his grandfather’s retirement.

The build is taking place in public to encourage students to observe, participate, and learn about birch bark canoes, as part of Bata Library’s commitment to reconciliation, says FPHL Director, Dr. Dawn Lavell-Harvard.

A photo of a blue book in front of a garden. The book's cover depicts a woman standing on a snowy mountainside. The title of the book reads "North of Nowhere - Song of a Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner" by Marie Wilson.

Dr. Marie Wilson shares what she has learned from being a TRC Commissioner

October 8, 2024 by Brenda Little

Dr. Marie Wilson, one of three commissioners of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, was a guest speaker at the Picton Public Library last week. The packed room heard Dr. Wilson talk about her six years participation, as a commissioner, crisscrossing Canada documenting and listening to almost seven thousand witnesses as they shared their stories and experiences of the forced residential schools system.

The discussion was moderated by Jessica Chase, Assistant Curator of Prince Edward County Museums.

Prior to the commission, she had worked as an award winning journalist, teacher, professor and executive so extensive notes were kept during her commissioner travels. Writing helped her cope with the stress of listening to the tragic stories and motivated her to write “North of Nowhere”, a way to share her first hand experiences and to help with her own reconciliation journey.

Sara Jones is pictured in a black top and long brown hair. She smiles as she sits at a wooden table in Downtown Prince George with a wooden fence and hanging flowers in the background.

Filmmaker begins to heal by exploring her family’s 60s Scoop experience

October 2, 2024 by Ian Gregg

Between approximately 1965 and 1984, Canadian child welfare authorities forcibly removed thousands of Indigenous children from their families and communities. A belief perpetuated in mainstream society at the time was the myth that Indigenous children were ‘better off’ growing up away from their biological family, language and culture. Authorities primarily moved the children into foster care or adoptive non-indigenous families. This action later became known as the Sixties Scoop. Many families across Canada were affected by this misguided action.

Sara Jones, a resident of Prince George on Lheidli T’enneh territory, belongs to one of these affected families. She set out not only to document this personal story through her documentary “Finding Home”, but also to begin to heal. She shares the vulnerable journey of exploring her family’s story, and the exacting process of cutting it into a six episode docuseries in this interview.