InFocus: Recent Episodes
APTN
InFocus advances the latest news stories. Join Host Melissa Ridgen as she puts issues into perspective and provides in-depth analysis. Informational and educational, InFocus provides a detailed examination of the issues affecting our communities.
It's been almost one year since The Cowichan Tribe won a landmark decision recognizing Aboriginal Title to land owned by the Crown and the City of Richmond.
On today's show, we wanted to share another episode from APTN News: Answers – where Savannah Kelly and Jesse Andrushko dive in to figure out what the court decision actually means and what is at stake.
Find more episodes here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQMAaAkeXW_QkVhC71uJAYvrZlYle-U9g&si=ELv_Z6DZbIRtyFs_
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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On this episode of APTN News InFocus, we're bringing you the latest edition of the Truth & Politics podcast.
Each week on APTN National News, our Truth & Politics panelists sit down with our hosts Dennis Ward to discuss important topics affecting Indigenous Peoples in the news.
On this episode, the Assembly of First Nations annual general assembly has now come to an end after a busy couple of days.
As we've been reporting, major projects, residential school denialism and the wildfire situation were among the big topics.
Joining Dennis Ward to discuss are Niigaan Sinclair with the Winnipeg Free Press and Alessia Passafiume, an Anishinaabe Parliament Hill reporter with the Canadian Press.
Listen to more episodes and follow the podcast here: https://podfollow.com/truth-and-politics
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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Homeless. Houseless. Shelterless. In Winnipeg, they're hard to miss. People sleep on sidewalks, in bus shelters, down alleyways, in tents and in abandoned buildings. But who are they?
That's the question former APTN web reporter Kathleen Martens explores in the award-winning podcast series Our Relatives: Life on the Streets.
As Winnipeg and communities across Canada continue to grapple with the toxic drug crisis and homelessness, we're sharing the first episode of this powerful limited series, called Homeless Karaoke.
Find Our Relatives: Life on the Streets on your favourite player, or click here for the full series: https://podfollow.com/our-relatives
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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No taxes, free housing, and free tuition? You've probably seen those claims online about Indian Status—but are they actually true?
InFocus is taking a break for the summer, so while we're away, we're sharing some of our other work with you. Jesse Andrushko and Savannah Kelly launched a new YouTube series called APTN News Answers, where they break down questions, current events, and issues affecting Indigenous peoples.
According to the latest Census, more than 830 thousand First Nations people in Canada are registered under the Indian Act. There are plenty of misconceptions about what that status does and doesn't provide. So they dug into the facts.
Here's that episode of APTN News Answers.
Find the whole series here: https://www.aptnnews.ca/ourstories/answers/
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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On this edition of APTN News InFocus, guest host Dennis Ward examines the ongoing controversies surrounding the Thunder Bay Police Service, a force that has faced numerous independent investigations over alleged discrimination against Indigenous Peoples.
Journalist Jon Thompson joins the show to discuss his decades of reporting on policing issues in Thunder Bay, concerns about how missing persons investigations continue to be handled in the city and the relationship between police and the media.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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Talal Dakalbab was only named the commissioner of the Correctional Service in Canada in March but says he's already reaching out to communities to integrate them with prison programs to help rehabilitate inmates.
Dakalbab, who takes over the position from Anne Kelly, joins guest host Mark Blackburn to talk about how he plans to revamp a prison system many see as outdated and unable to change.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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On this edition of APTN News InFocus, guest host Karyn Pugliese speaks with federal NDP leader Avi Lewis about rebuilding the party and his political vision.
This interview originally aired on APTN Nation to Nation. Find full episodes here: https://www.aptnnews.ca/nationtonation/
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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The Quewezance sisters have spent decades fighting to clear their names after being convicted of a murder they say they did not commit. More than 30 years after their conviction and four years after their case was sent for review, they are still waiting for answers.
On this episode of APTN News InFocus, guest host Leanne Sanders examines the lengthy delays facing people seeking justice after a wrongful conviction.
Leanne speaks with Senator Kim Pate, Toronto Star investigative reporter Kevin Donovan, legal expert Kent Roach and Mi'kmaq lawyer Suzanne Patles.
Read Leanne's story here: https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/still-waiting-quewezance-sisters-case-still-under-review-after-four-years/
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens examines Canada's ecological footprint and the push for solutions through conservation and Indigenous-led stewardship.
York University researcher Eric Miller breaks down new findings showing humanity is consuming resources at a rate equivalent to 1.7 Earths per year and explains what Canada must do to reduce its impact.
Then, Seal River Watershed Alliance executive director Stephanie Thorassie joins the show to discuss the proposal to protect northern Manitoba's Seal River Watershed as an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens looks at calls to rewrite Canada's Cannabis Act.
Former senator Dan Christmas told a House of Commons committee the law has failed to recognize First Nations jurisdiction and does not align with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
APTN News reporter Jesse Staniforth joins the show from Montreal to explain how the Cannabis Act is affecting Indigenous communities and what changes are being proposed.
Read Jesse Staniforth's story here: https://www.aptnnews.ca/featured/amid-nova-scotia-raids-senators-hear-calls-for-indigenous-sovereignty-over-cannabis/
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens speaks with Nunavut Premier John Main about the territory's priorities as the Arctic draws more attention.
Elected in fall 2025, Main says northern leaders are still advocating for basics like housing and food security – needs many in southern Canada take for granted.
He joins the show to discuss Arctic sovereignty and what Nunavummiut need from Ottawa now and in the years ahead.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens looks at Canada's changing trade relationship with the United States.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has warned about relying too heavily on the U.S., even as Ottawa works to maintain ties and expand trade elsewhere.
Tabatha Bull is the president of the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business and a member of Carney's revamped economic advisory council. She joins the show to discuss the future of key agreements and what it means for Indigenous businesses.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens marks a major milestone for APTN's interview series Face to Face.
The show is celebrating its 300th episode after more than a decade of in-depth conversations with First Nations, Métis and Inuit changemakers.
Since taking over as host in 2017, Dennis Ward has brought Face to Face to communities across Turtle Island, including early interviews on the ground at Standing Rock, while continuing to expand the show's reach with in-studio performances and French-language episodes.
Dennis Ward joins the show to reflect on some of his favourite moments and what the future holds for the series.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens examines Canada's push to build AI data centres in the name of sovereignty.
The federal government is injecting over $2 billion for national AI infrastructure, while Bell has announced a 300-megawatt data centre near the Rural Municipality of Sherwood, Sask.
As projects expand in proximity to Indigenous lands, questions remain about environmental impacts and whether Indigenous sovereignty is part of Canada's AI vision.
Associate professor in the Department of Film and Media at Queen's University Mél Hogan and Animikii Indigenous Technology CEO Jeff Ward join the show to discuss what AI data centres could mean for Indigenous Peoples.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens examines British Columbia's plan to suspend parts of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA).
Premier of British Columbia David Eby outlined his plan during a meeting between leaders, according to the Canadian Press.
Robert Phillips of the First Nations Summit joins the show to discuss what was said and what changes are being considered.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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On this episode of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens examines the RCMP's decades-long surveillance of Indigenous Peoples.
A CBC Investigates report reveals how the Native Extremism Program infiltrated Indigenous organizations and monitored leaders like George Manuel.
Journalist Brett Forester joins the show to break down the investigation and what the findings reveal about state surveillance.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens takes listeners inside a weekly APTN broadcast and the team bringing stories to French-speaking audiences across the country.
APTN Nouvelles nationales Host Kim Sullivan shares the vision behind creating space for Indigenous stories in French and why language matters.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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Protests are a familiar sight across the country and journalists are often there documenting what unfolds. But what happens when police ignore their credentials?
On this episode of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens examines growing concerns around press freedom in Canada. Photojournalist Amber Bracken shares her arrest on Wet'suwet'en territory while covering an RCMP raid.
The episode also features Indigenous journalist Brandi Morin, who reflects on reporting from the front lines and the risks journalists face.
Sonya Fatah of the Canada Press Freedom Project breaks down national trends, while independent journalist Rachel Gilmore speaks about harassment and threats tied to her reporting.
From reporting on the ground to backlash online, we're taking a look at the state of press freedom today in Canada.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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On Feb. 26, APTN News hosted a panel examining Métis identity and the ongoing controversy surrounding the Métis Nation of Ontario. The discussion also explored modern treaties and self-government agreements.
Host Dennis Ward was joined in studio by Scott McLeod, Lake Huron regional chief for the Anishinabek Nation, Celeste Pedri-Spade, an associate professor at McGill University and Will Goodon, minister of identity protection and inter-Indigenous relations with the Manitoba Metis Federation.
On this episode of APTN News InFocus, we bring you that full panel discussion.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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Every winter, the Canadian Armed Forces runs Operation Nanook-Nunalivut, a military training exercise focused on Arctic defence.
This year's operation was the largest to date. Up to 1,300 members were deployed across Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, alongside allies from the United States, Belgium, France and Denmark.
The exercise has been running for nearly 20 years. But with rising geopolitical tensions, it is taking on new meaning.
APTN video journalist Charlotte Morrit-Jacobs travelled to the training camp in Edzo, about 100 kilometres west of Yellowknife, for a two-part report from the ground.
On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens speaks with Morrit-Jacobs about what she saw at Operation Nanook and how the Canadian Armed Forces are preparing for the North.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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Canada is wrapping up its Indian Day School digitization project.
Since 2022, Library and Archives Canada has digitized more than six million records from 699 Indian day schools that operated between the 1860s and 2000. An estimated 200,000 First Nations, Inuit and Métis children attended.
On this edition of APTN News InFocus host Cierra Bettens speaks with Beth Greenhorn, a manager with the Day School Project, about how the records were digitized and how they may support survivors. Jackson Pind, author of Students by Day and a professor at Trent University, also joins the podcast to discuss the importance of the project and share what kind of stories the records tell.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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APTN Investigates is going behind the scenes of its latest documentary, War on the Land.
Reported by APTN Investigates journalist Kenneth Jackson, the story focuses on a former explosives plant in Nobel, Ont., about 250 kilometres north of Toronto. The factory helped supply two world wars. But decades after closing in 1985, contamination concerns remain.
Shawanaga First Nation is now calling on the prime minister to ensure the site is cleaned up.
On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens speaks with Jackson about how he uncovered the story and whether the land can ever be reclaimed.
War on the Land is available now at aptnnews.ca.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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British Columbia has ended its drug decriminalization pilot program.
Launched in January 2023, the exemption allowed adults to carry small amounts of certain illicit drugs in an effort to reduce stigma and address the toxic drug crisis. But on Jan. 31, the province let the pilot expire, saying it did not deliver the results hoped for.
The move has sparked mixed reaction. Some, including Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, call it a setback for harm reduction. Others, like Haisla Nation member and outreach worker James Harry, say the crisis on the ground has only worsened.
On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens speaks with Vancouver-based video journalist Tina House and Harry about what led to the decision and what it means for communities moving forward.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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Indigenous activism has long shaped Minneapolis.
In 1968, the American Indian Movement was founded there, marking a turning point in the fight for Indigenous rights.
More than 50 years later, AIM members are back on the streets, responding to fears of racial profiling and unlawful detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE.
On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens explores how Minneapolis' history of Indigenous activism connects to today's Native-led response to ICE.
She is joined by Heather Bruegl, a public historian, activist and a citizen of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin.
Clip courtesy Minnesota Historical Society | Storied 1968: American Indian Movement – Find it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLh3gw0kVhQ
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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It has been ten years since the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruled that Canada discriminated against First Nations children on reserve by underfunding child welfare services.
Yet children and families are still waiting for the system to be fixed.
There are now plans in place to end the discrimination.
On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens speaks with Indigenous Services Canada Minister Mandy Gull-Masty and Cindy Blackstock of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society about why the proposed plans to end discrimination in First Nations child welfare has taken so long and what needs to happen next.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens honours the life and legacy of Dan David, the father of APTN.
David, a Mohawk journalist, spent 45 years transforming how Indigenous stories are told in Canada and around the world. From reporting for CBC and producing for TVOntario and VISION TV, to rebuilding newsrooms in South Africa, his work set the foundation for Indigenous journalism. In 2000, he co-launched InVision News, now APTN National News.
On January 12, David passed into the spirit world at the age of 73 after living with cancer. To reflect on his life and impact, Cierra is joined by two of his close friends and former colleagues: APTN producer Bruce Spence and Nation-to-Nation host and senior online reporter Karyn Pugliese. Together, they share his vision for Indigenous media and the mark he leaves behind.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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APTN's true crime documentary series Taken is back after a seven-year hiatus.
The series first put a national spotlight on the case of Tanya Nepinak, a 31-year-old mother who went missing in Winnipeg in 2011.
Nearly a decade after Taken aired her story, Manitoba announced plans to search the Brady landfill for her remains, renewing calls for justice from her family.
On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens looks at the legacy of Taken and its impact on cases involving Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit people.
She is joined by Dinae Robinson, head of content at Eagle Vision and an executive producer of Taken, for a preview of the newly launched fifth season.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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People in a small community in Nunavik are devastated after another shooting involving police in late December.
But police shootings in the Inuit territory in northern Quebec are nothing new.
Between 2016 and 2018, Nunavik police killed or seriously injured someone at a rate 55 times higher per capita than Montreal police.
Some say part of the problem is that only three of the 155-person force are Inuit.
On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens speaks with Tom Fennario, a correspondent with APTN Investigates, about the problems with the Nunavik Police Service.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens is joined by Karyn Pugliese, APTN's senior online reporter and host of Nation to Nation, and Dennis Ward, host of APTN National News and Face to Face, for a year in review.
We break down the biggest stories of the year, from Justin Trudeau's resignation and the evolving Liberal government under Prime Minister Mark Carney to the appointment of Canada's first Indigenous minister of Indigenous Services and the debate around Bill S-2.
We also look at Jordan's Principle, tensions within Indigenous organizations and what reporters will be watching closely in the year ahead.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens looks at the state of child welfare in Nunavut and why advocates say the territory is falling behind.
Child and youth representative Jane Bates has been raising the alarm for years. In her latest report she says the territory is making little progress in the areas most critical to keeping young people safe. She joins us to talk about what has to change and why she says Nunavut needs action not explanation.
We also hear from the minister of Family Services on how she plans to address the concerns raised by Bates and the auditor general.
Before that, APTN's Justin Hardy checks in from Iqaluit with a look at the new legislature and the work ahead for Premier John Main and his cabinet.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens looks at the debate over the second-generation cut-off in the Indian Act.
The Senate's Indigenous Affairs committee is reviewing Bill S-2, proposed legislation from the government that ends some discrimination against women in the Indian Act - but not all.
The committee also wants to add an amendment to end what is called the second-generation cutoff and replace it with a one-parent rule for status entitlement.
Lawyer and professor Pam Palmater joins us to share what's at stake for families like hers and talk about the fact and fiction in the information being shared.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens speaks with Canada's outgoing Correctional Investigator, Ivan Zinger, about why he's leaving the job early after eight years.
In his final annual report, he called for an overhaul of mental health services in federal corrections, arguing that they're ill-equipped to provide long-term care.
The minister of Public Safety and the commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada did not make themselves available for an interview.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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On this episode of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens takes a closer look at the B.C. court decision that recognized Aboriginal title rights for Cowichan Tribes and the misinformation that followed.
Some residents of Richmond, B.C., now fear they'll lose their homes, despite clear public statements from Cowichan leadership that private landowners are not being targeted.
Vancouver-based lawyer Kate Gunn from First Peoples Law joins the show to walk us through the legal context of the ruling and what it could mean for future title cases.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens breaks down what Budget 2025 means for First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has called it a "generational budget" – a bold, nearly $90-billion in new spending plan he says charts a new path forward for Canada. But what makes this budget bold? And who does it leave behind?
Joining the show is Nation to Nation host and APTN's online correspondent in Ottawa Karyn Pugliese with analysis of the 493-page document and what it signals for Indigenous communities.
Also on the show, Lisa Gue from the David Suzuki Foundation weighs in on the budget's climate commitments and whether they live up to Carney's environmental promises.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens explores how Canada's proposed bail reform bill is stirring debate.
Justice Minister Sean Fraser says the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act is meant to restore public confidence in a system he admits is no longer working for many Canadians. But critics warn the bill could do more harm than good.
Among them is Sen. Kim Pate, who has spent over four decades advocating for people criminalized by the system. She shares her concerns about what she calls a "politicized" approach to reform and what real change would look like.
Also on the show, criminal defence lawyer Rheana Worme from Kawacatoose First Nation weighs in on how the bill could disproportionately impact Indigenous peoples, especially youth.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens examines why the Trump administration is attempting to erase Indigenous Peoples from U.S. history.
On Oct. 9, former president Donald Trump signed a proclamation restoring Columbus Day, calling the explorer "a true American hero" and suggesting that "every citizen is eternally indebted to his relentless determination".
To dig into the implications, Cierra talks with Brett Chapman, a Ponca and Pawnee lawyer based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His ancestor, Chief Standing Bear, was a civil rights activist.
Today, Chapman continues that legacy by defending Native American sovereignty in the courts. He shares his thoughts on what the Trump administration's policies mean for Indigenous Peoples in the United States.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens explores why food insecurity in Nunavut has hit a breaking point.
In a territory where climate change and inflation are making food more expensive and harder to access, many families struggle to put healthy meals on the table. For some, even country foods like seal and caribou are out of reach.
A pediatrician working in the community says Nunavut's crisis is the worst she's seen. In 2022, Statistics Canada reported that 79 per cent of children under 14 in the territory lived in food-insecure households.
APTN News correspondent Jesse Staniforth recently published an in-depth article on the issue.
With demand at Iqaluit's food centre expected to hit 70,000 meals this year, Cierra talks with Jesse about what's happening and what needs to change.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens looks at a new law in Nova Scotia that could threaten Mi’kmaq treaty rights.
Land protectors at Hunters Mountain in Unama’ki have prevented logging and construction for more than a month. But the Protecting Nova Scotians Act could give the province power to remove their checkpoint and jail those who refuse to leave.
APTN video journalist Angel Moore shares what she’s seen on the ground and Veldon Coburn joins to explore how laws like this, along with Bill C-5 and Ontario’s Bill 5, are raising concerns about the future of Indigenous rights across the country.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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This week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens examines the growing threat of residential school denialism in Canada.
Once confined to the internet’s fringes, denialism has entered the mainstream with public speeches, book deals and online followings that continue to grow. Some deny the racist and genocidal legacy of residential schools, others call unmarked grave findings a hoax.
Survivors like Jennifer Wood say denialism is nothing new, it’s something they’ve lived with for decades.
But a new generation is pushing back.
Benjamin Kucher, a Métis archaeology graduate student at the University of Alberta, is one of the them speaking out. Alongside Métis activist Tracey Leost, he’s calling on Ottawa to treat residential school denialism as hate speech and take concrete steps to stop its spread.
Kucher joins us to talk about their calls to action and why confronting denialism is critical to reconciliation.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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As summer winds down - hosts, producers and reporters at APTN News are ramping up.
On this edition of APTN News InFocus, we get a first look at what’s coming up this season from three of our award-winning shows: Face to Face, Investigates and Nation to Nation.
Face to Face Host Dennis Ward joins us to talk about the upcoming 300-episode milestone and what he’s got planned for the season opener on Sept. 30.
Then, APTN Investigates producer Cullen Crozier gives us a preview of the show’s 17th season. The team is back with hard-hitting stories across the country.
And in Ottawa, long time journalist Karyn Pugliese takes the helm of Nation to Nation. She shares what it's like to be just blocks from Parliament Hill and how she’ll be covering the political landscape.
From truth-seeking journalism to political deep dives, this season of current affairs shows is one to look forward to.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens explores one Red River Métis family’s mission to help save the Michif language.
Grant, Ben and Aynsley Anderson are the creators of Save Michif, a project developed through funding from Heritage Canada and the Manitoba Métis Federation. The father, son and daughter trio from Manitoba are using digital tools and Elder-led recordings to help revitalize their ancestral tongue.
Michif, which blends French nouns with Cree verbs and structure, has just a handful of fluent speakers left. Among them is Elder Norman Fleury, who lends his voice to the Andersons’ flashcard sets and learning materials.
Grant and Ben Anderson join us to talk about the urgency of language preservation and how they’re working to ensure future generations can carry Michif forward.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens looks at the record number of Indigenous films featured at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, also known as TIFF.
Among the eight Indigenous films premiering this year is Ni-Naadamaadiz: Red Power Rising, a documentary from Shane Belcourt and Tanya Talaga on the 1974 occupation of Anicinabe Park.
Also featured is Nika and Madison, by Walpole Island First Nation director Eva Thomas, which follows two estranged friends brought back together by a police encounter.
All eight films are supported by the Indigenous Screen Office’s Story Fund, which invested $3.5 million to bring Indigenous stories to the screen this year.
Melanie Nepinak Hadley, the ISO’s vice-president of industry partnerships and growth, joins us to talk about how the film festival landscape has evolved to welcome more Indigenous voices.
Courtesy: Ni-Naadamaadiz: Red Power Rising Trailer OV
NIKA & MADISON Clip | TIFF 2025
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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This week on APTN News InFocus, guest host Jesse Andrushko speaks with Ottawa correspondent Karyn Pugliese about what came out of the Assembly of First Nations Annual General Assembly in Winnipeg.
National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak opened the gathering with concerns about the One Canadian Economy Act, the law Ottawa says will fast-track projects in the national interest. Chiefs also debated child welfare, with Chief Pauline Frost speaking on behalf of the National Children’s Chiefs’ Commission. And Chief Mark Arcand shared a personal story during discussions on the opioid crisis.
Karyn breaks down what happened at the meeting and whether chiefs are any clearer on how to respond to Ottawa.
• • •
APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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This week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens continues her conversation with veteran journalist and outgoing APTN web reporter Kathleen Martens.
With more than 35 years in the industry, Kathleen reflects on the lessons she’s learned like what it takes to build trust with sources and adapt in a fast-changing media landscape.
She also shares insights for emerging journalists navigating the profession, and what she hopes for the future of Indigenous-focused news coverage.
Read more of Kathleen’s reporting at http://aptnnews.ca/ and find the Our Relatives podcast here: https://aptnnews.ca/ourrelatives
• • •
APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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This week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens sits down with veteran journalist and APTN web reporter Kathleen Martens.
When Kathleen joined APTN 15 years ago as a writer and researcher, she already had two decades of newsroom experience. But as a non-Indigenous journalist working for an Indigenous news outlet, she says the role reshaped her understanding of truth, trust and storytelling.
From courtrooms to bus shacks, Kathleen has interviewed thousands of people, reported on the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit people and exposed predatory lawyers targeting residential school survivors. In 2023, she created Our Relatives, a podcast sharing the stories of people experiencing homelessness in Winnipeg.
As she heads into retirement, Kathleen reflects on her 35-year career and the changes she’s witnessed in the industry.
Read more of Kathleen’s reporting at http://aptnnews.ca/ and find the Our Relatives podcast here: https://aptnnews.ca/ourrelatives
• • •
APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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This week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens takes a closer look at the wildfires reshaping summers across the country.
For the four Island Lake First Nations in northern Manitoba, 2025 has been a season of evacuations, loss and displacement. Anisininew Okimawin Grand Chief Alex McDougall joins us from Garden Hill First Nation to share how fires have uprooted communities and why leaders are calling for a national fire strategy that includes Indigenous voices at the table.
With thousands forced from their homes and experts warning that climate change will only make fire seasons longer and more destructive, we explore how Canada can shift its focus from emergency response to prevention and preparedness.
• • •
APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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This week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens takes you behind the scenes of APTN’s exclusive interview with Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Carney recently joined hundreds of First Nations leaders in Gatineau, Que., for a summit on Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act. The new law promises to fast-track development projects, but critics warn it could sideline Indigenous rights and environmental protections.
APTN National News Host Dennis Ward travelled to Carney’s hometown of Fort Smith, N.W.T., to speak with the prime minister about the bill and his commitments to Indigenous Peoples. Ward joins us from our Winnipeg studio to explain how it all went down.
Catch the full interview here.
• • •
APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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This week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens sits down with Dylan Cloud, a former APTN News intern and recent media grad, to talk about his healing journey and growth as a storyteller.
Cloud, who joins us from Long Plain First Nation, shares how he went from incarceration and addiction to sobriety, reconnecting with his culture, enrolling in college and building a future for himself and his children.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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This week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens is joined by Mohawk activist, artist and filmmaker Ellen Gabriel.
During the 1990 siege at Kanehsatà:ke, Gabriel was chosen by the People of the Longhouse to speak for the community during a 78-day standoff with the Canadian military. Thirty-five years later she continues to speak out, not only for her own people, but for others facing colonization and occupation.
She now focuses part of her advocacy on Gaza, where she sees parallels in the violence, displacement and media narratives.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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This week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens digs into the growing push from provinces to fast-track major infrastructure projects, even if it means sidelining environmental protections and Indigenous rights.
Ontario and Alberta have signed a new agreement aimed at building more pipelines and rail lines, calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney to scrap legislation they say stands in the way.
APTN’s Leanne Sanders, who first reported the story, joins us to break down what’s at stake as provinces push for rapid development.
While governments work to reshape the country’s infrastructure, another story highlights what’s possible when Indigenous Peoples lead the way.
July 9 is Nunavut Day, a day to honour the signing of the Nunavut. This year marks 32 years since that historic moment.
APTN’s Creeson Agecoutay speaks with Nunavut MP Lori Idlout to reflect on its legacy and what lies ahead.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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This week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens revisits Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, which became law on June 26. The legislation promises to remove interprovincial trade barriers and fast-track development projects deemed to be in the national interest.
But critics say that promise comes at a steep cost.
Indigenous leaders across the country have raised serious concerns that Bill C-5 could sideline treaty rights and pave the way for environmentally destructive projects. While Prime Minister Mark Carney pledged to hold summits with First Nations, Inuit and Métis leaders, sources say no formal invites have been issued.
APTN’s Parliament Hill reporter Karyn Pugliese joins us to unpack what the new law means for Indigenous communities and how Ottawa is, or isn’t, following through on its promises.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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This week on APTN News InFocus, guest host Mark Blackburn looks at what it means to live in the shadow of heavy industry.
Factories and refineries are a familiar sight along roads and highways. They make the products we use every day. But for people living nearby, they are more than just part of the view. In places known as ‘sacrifice zones’, chemical leaks, strong odours and long-term health risks are part of daily life.
Journalists Angela Belleau and Tom Fennario join the show to talk about their new APTN Investigates documentary, Sacrifice Zones. They explain the link between microplastics and industrial pollution, and share what they learned from communities like Aamjiwnaang First Nation and Kahnawake.
We ask what’s being done to protect people who live near industry and what happens if nothing changes. Watch the full APTN Investigates episode here: https://youtu.be/QeNaT2GMpTM
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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This week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens looks at what’s at stake for Indigenous communities as governments across Canada move to accelerate energy and resource projects.
In Nova Scotia a ban on uranium mining and fracking has been reversed. Quebec is proposing changes that could make it easier for companies to clear-cut forests. Manitoba is talking about a pipeline and Ontario’s Bill 5 aims to create ‘special economic zones’ for development in the Ring of Fire.
At the federal level Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, proposes a powerful new office to select projects of national interest. Karyn Pugliese covers Parliament Hill for APTN News online and explains what it all means.
We also hear from Sol Mamakwa, Ontario NDP deputy leader, who shares his concerns about the province’s Bill 5 and what it could mean for Indigenous Peoples.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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Tattoos can be badges of pride or painful reminders of the past. For some, especially those impacted by gangs, incarceration or violence, their body art tells a story they no longer want to carry.
APTN’s Tamara Pimentel joins Cierra Bettens this week on APTN News InFocus to share the story behind Skin Deep, an APTN Investigates episode that looks at Mother Ink, a Winnipeg-based tattoo removal service helping people erase ink tied to trauma.
Tamara talks about what she learned, the people she met and what tattoo removal can mean for reclaiming your story.
Watch Skin-Deep here: https://youtu.be/yvvnuSJ3J4M?si=4KPzIyAd4HUHR1MJ
This episode was produced by Mark Blackburn and edited by Jesse Andrushko. Charmaine Straker is the executive producer of APTN News InFocus.
If you’re enjoying the show, let us know my leaving a rating and review. If you have any comments or ideas, email us at infocus@aptn.ca
• • •
APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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This week on APTN News InFocus, we’re celebrating a milestone: 25 years of APTN News.
From mailing tapes to digital transformation and award-winning journalism, APTN has grown into a network of Indigenous reporters telling Indigenous stories on their own terms.
Guest host Karyn Pugliese is joined by Dan David, Bruce Spence, Todd Lamirande and Charmaine Straker, some of the key people who helped build APTN News from the ground up. They share stories from the early days, reflect on major reporting moments and talk about how far Indigenous journalism has come and where it needs to go.
It’s a look back and a look ahead, as we honour the voices and stories that shaped APTN News.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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This week on APTN News InFocus we go to the High Arctic, where climate change, sovereignty and survival intersect.
We’re featuring the first episode of The Place That Thaws, a six-part podcast from APTN News and Danielle Paradis, recently nominated for a Canadian Association of Journalists award.
Set in Resolute Bay and Grise Fiord, the series shares powerful stories from Inuit adapting to a warming world, where hunting seasons are shrinking and polar bears are staying ashore longer.
With Arctic sovereignty back in the spotlight and wildfires sweeping the country, The Place That Thaws is more relevant than ever.
Find the full series on your favourite podcast platform or listen here: https://www.aptnnews.ca/ourstories/theplacethatthaws/
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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This week on APTN News InFocus, guest host Kathleen Martens looks at treaty rights and the Alberta separatist movement.
Matthew Wildcat, an assistant professor and director of Indigenous governance in the Faculty of Native Studies at the University of Alberta, explains why treaty rights could block Alberta’s push to leave Canada. He unpacks the province’s Sovereignty Act, Bill 54 and what it means for First Nations.
We also hear from Gina Starblanket, associate professor at the University of Victoria and a member of the Star Blanket Cree Nation. She weighs in on how separation challenges treaty law and what history can teach us.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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This week on APTN News InFocus, we’re looking ahead to wildfire season and asking if our communities are any better prepared than in years past.
Wildfires are already burning. Forests are going up in flames. People are being forced from their homes.
Guest host Leanne Sanders sits down with Arnold Lazare, interim executive director of the Indigenous Fire Safety Council. He joins us from Kahnawake to talk about what’s working and what isn’t.
We also hear from Michelle Vandevord, director of Saskatchewan First Nation Emergency Management. She says most communities are ready, but weather remains the wildcard.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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This week on APTN News InFocus we look behind the scenes of debunking a police investigation.
In 2015, Matty Fairman and Tyler Maracle from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory were found dead in the Bay of Quinte. Police said the men drowned after stealing fish and overloading their boat.
Their families never believed it. Now, neither does APTN Investigates reporter Kenneth Jackson.
In the fourth chapter of his series Secrets of the Bay, Jackson challenges the police version of events with a boat that refuses to sink.
Guest host Karyn Pugliese sits down with Jackson to talk about how the story unfolded.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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This week on APTN News InFocus, we break down the results of the April 28 federal election.
The Liberals remain in power and the Conservatives will form the official opposition. The Bloc Québécois lost seats and the NDP dropped to just seven—losing official party status in the process.
Twelve First Nations, Inuit and Métis candidates were elected across party lines. One of them is Mi’kmaw Liberal MP Jaime Battiste, now the most senior Indigenous member in the party. He speaks with APTN National News host Dennis Ward about what’s next.
We also take a closer look at what the NDP’s losses could mean for Indigenous issues in Parliament. Political scientist Paul Thomas joins us to talk about what’s at stake.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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This week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens checks in as the federal election campaign hits its final stretch.
For more than a month, party leaders have been making promises about prosperity, wealth and good governance—but what’s in it for Indigenous Peoples?
Dennis Ward, host of APTN National News, and Jennifer Laewetz, political commentator and panelist on APTN’s Truth and Politics panel, return to weigh in.
We also head to Onigaming First Nation in northwestern Ontario. Our Parliament Hill correspondent Karyn Pugliese brings us a story about the community’s concerns—and what federal promises mean on the ground.
Recorded Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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This week on APTN InFocus, host Cierra Bettens explores the growing movement for Indigenous data sovereignty.
In a TED Talk, British investigative journalist Carole Cadwalladr warns we may already be “living inside the architecture of totalitarianism,” referring to the predatory ways big tech companies harvest, use and sell data.
Data holds a lot. It holds stories, histories, languages — all the information that defines who we are and where we come from.
It’s also a resource — and like other resources, it can be exploited by corporate and colonial interests.
To unpack what Indigenous data sovereignty means and how it’s being put into action, Cierra is joined by Jeff Ward, founder and CEO of Animikii. His Indigenous tech company has launched Niiwin, a platform designed to help communities manage and protect their data on their own terms.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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This week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens unpacks the latest controversy over Métis identity in Ontario.
The Métis National Council released a report suggesting the existence of seven historic Métis communities in the province—a claim swiftly rejected by the Manitoba Métis Federation, Métis Nation–Saskatchewan, Métis Nation British Columbia and the Chiefs of Ontario.
To make sense of the report, Cierra is joined by Jean Teillet, a retired Métis lawyer, author and the great-grandniece of Louis Riel.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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This week on APTN InFocus, host Cierra Bettens explores what Arctic sovereignty really means for Inuit in the North.
As federal leaders call for more military infrastructure - from bases in Iqaluit to new fleets of fighter jets - questions are being raised about who these efforts protect, and at what cost.
Journalist David Pugliese from the Ottawa Citizen joins Bettens to break down Canada’s defence strategy and what’s driving the push for control in the region. Also, former APTN reporter Danielle Paradis reflects on her 2023 podcast The Place That Thaws, which revisits the forced relocation of Inuit in the 1950s—an earlier attempt by Canada to assert sovereignty.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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This week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens takes a closer look at where Indigenous issues stand as federal parties ramp up their campaigns.
The five main political parties have been working the campaign trail since March 23. Threats from the United States and other foreign powers are, so far, dominating the campaign.
But what have candidates been saying about Indigenous issues—from housing to water to free, prior and informed consent?
APTN National News host Dennis Ward and Jennifer Laewetz, CEO of Paskwâw Harbour Strategies and panelist on APTN’s Truth & Politics podcast unpack what’s being said—and what’s being left out.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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This week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens takes a closer look at policing in Canada and its impact on Indigenous Peoples.
In the final months of 2024, 15 Indigenous people died after interactions with police—some were shot, others beaten to death or run over by cruisers. Their deaths have reignited calls for a national inquiry into systemic racism in policing, the focus of Inside Policing, a three-part series from APTN Investigates. Reporters Tamara Pimentel, Rob Smith and Tom Fennario join us to discuss their findings.
Police interactions with journalists are also under scrutiny. Reporters have been arrested for covering protests and police actions, including APTN reporter Savanna Craig, who was taken into custody while covering a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Montreal. She shares her experience and what it says about press freedom in Canada.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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This week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens examines the years-long fight to search the Prairie Green landfill and the delays that kept families waiting.
In December 2022, Cambria Harris stood on Parliament Hill, pleading for a search of the landfill where her mother, Morgan Harris, and others were believed to be. Despite her calls for action, it took two more years for the search to begin.
APTN News senior online journalist Kathleen Martens joins us to break down the timeline and the latest developments.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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This week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens examines the mercury crisis in Grassy Narrows and the community’s ongoing fight for justice and healing.
In the 1960s and '70s, the Dryden paper mill dumped nearly nine tonnes of mercury into the English-Wabigoon River system, devastating the downstream community of Grassy Narrows. Today, an estimated 90 per cent of the community has symptoms of mercury poisoning.
On March 5, officials gathered for the ground breaking of a long-awaited health centre dedicated to mercury poisoning care—five years after the deal to build it was signed.
APTN Investigates reporter Brittany Guyot joins us to discuss her documentary Something in the Water, the ongoing impact of mercury poisoning, and the community’s fight for accountability.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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This week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens examines the impact of the looming trade war between Canada and the U.S. and what it means for Indigenous businesses.
As U.S. President Donald Trump plans to move ahead with 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian exports, companies across the country are scrambling to adapt. But for Indigenous businesses, many of which already face barriers, the economic uncertainty is especially challenging.
Shane Prevost, vice president of Bison Modular, is looking to a centuries-old agreement for solutions. The Jay Treaty, signed in 1794, grants Indigenous Peoples the right to trade and travel freely across the Canada-U.S. border. Could this be a game-changer for Indigenous businesses caught in the crossfire of a trade war?
Join us as we put Indigenous trade InFocus.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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In this episode, we’re putting Jordan’s Principle InFocus.
For nearly 20 years the federal government has been running a program called Jordan’s Principle.
The program is supposed to provide First Nations children living on reserve with the same services children living off-reserve could receive.
It’s named after Jordan River Anderson – a boy from Norway House Cree Nation who was born with multiple health issues in a Winnipeg hospital.
Throughout his short life, Canada and the province of Manitoba argued over who would pay for his at-home care.
In the end, Jordan never made it home.
Twenty years after his death, the program is in shambles—and it seems no one knows what is and isn’t covered.
APTN’s Parliament Hill reporter Karyn Pugliese joins host Cierra Bettens to unravel what is going on.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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In this episode, host Cierra Bettens explores the efforts to revitalize Indigenous languages across Turtle Island.
February is I Love to Read month, and APTN reporter Tiar Wheatle is leading Mother Tongue Teachings—a new series featuring language speakers sharing a phrase of the day. Tiar joins us to discuss the series, her language journey, and the role of journalists in language revitalization.
We also hear from Adam Garnet-Jones, APTN’s director of TV content, who takes us behind the scenes of the new APTN Languages channel, which airs programming in over 18 Indigenous languages.
Listen in as we put Indigenous language revitalization InFocus.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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In this episode, we put the Liberal leadership race InFocus. Five candidates are competing to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, each making promises and presenting their vision for Canada. Several challenges lie ahead, including housing, immigration, foreign relations—and dealing with U.S. President Donald Trump. However, little has been said about issues impacting Indigenous Peoples.
From clean water to treaty rights, where does reconciliation fit in the candidates' platforms?
APTN’s Parliament Hill reporter Karyn Pugliese joins host Cierra Bettens to break it down.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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In this episode, we put drug trafficking InFocus. From coast to coast, First Nations are grappling with the impacts of drug trafficking. Outside dealers are preying on vulnerable community members—but many nations are mobilizing to push back.
Award winning APTN Investigates journalist Kenneth Jackson joins us to discuss his report, The Great Change, which shines a light on big-city drug dealers profiting off trauma. He shares how First Nations in Ontario are taking action—and why true change begins with Canada respecting Indigenous law.
We also look at a new initiative in northern Manitoba. In June 2023, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc. (MKO) launched a two-year pilot project with the RCMP and the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, empowering the RCMP to enforce and prosecute bylaws in MKO communities. Chief Michael Yellowback’s community, Manto Sipi Cree Nation, was the first to implement the protocol.
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APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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In this episode, we put the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge InFocus. Gwich'in leaders like Chief Pauline Frost explain why this sacred land is vital to their people. But corporate interests, backed by politicians, have eyed it for oil and gas drilling. Despite challenges, President Trump’s declaration of a “national energy emergency” keeps his push for drilling alive.
Reporter Sara Connors joins us to discuss what Trump’s second presidency could mean for the future of the refuge and how Indigenous communities are responding.
• • •
APTN National News, our stories told our way.
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We’re relaunching InFocus! Join APTN News reporter Cierra Bettens each episode as she unpacks key stories impacting Indigenous Peoples through expert interviews and fresh perspectives.
Subscribe now on your favorite podcast player.
The presence of Indigenous people on film and behind the scenes has been growing throughout the years.
On InFocus we look at those leaving their mark on the big screen.
From organizing rallies and walks to creating platforms for Indigenous people to speak out – young Indigenous youth are on the move and their actions are put InFocus.
InFocus takes a look back at the wildfire season, some of the causes of extreme weather events and what can be done to make a positive impact towards the climate crisis.
InFocus went on location to the second annual Indigenomics SHE conference in Winnipeg and caught up with women who are making their mark in the world of business and finance.
It’s an event for like-minded women to create contacts and educate others on topics that will have a positive impact in their communities.
On Sept. 30, thousands of Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous Canadians celebrated the National Truth and Reconciliation Day ceremonies across the country.
InFocus looks back at the third annual day that remembers residential school survivors and the children who never made it back home.
InFocus puts the wraps on another season with a look at the amazing people we’ve met on the show over the past few months.
On this episode, we’re putting the 2022-23 season – InFocus.
Over the course of more than two dozen shows, we’ve spoken with residential school survivors, MMIWG advocates, tourism operators, Idle No More journalists and people who officiate weddings.
The stress of not knowing and the fear of the worst-case scenario when a family member goes missing is a scene that plays out every day in Canada.
For First Nations, Inuit and Métis families, it’s more common than in other communities.
According to Statistics Canada, Indigenous women are more likely than others to experience violence, go missing, or be murdered than others.
On this episode of InFocus we talk about what families go through.
From painters to graphic designers and even tattoo artists, we’re putting Indigenous artists and their work InFocus.
We have plenty of amazing artists with beautiful works for you.
There have been a number of emergencies recently in Indigenous communities across the country. Many of them have to deal with house fires – or drug overdoses.
Whatever the emergency, the services needed to keep people safe are often sketchy – or non-existent.
On this episode, we’re focussing on emergency situations and the resources available to handle an extreme situation.
InFocus is diving into the world of Indigenous humour.
We hear from Indigenous comedians who are using their platforms to bring awareness to important issues facing First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples.
We’re examining the recurring reports and stories about the discrimination faced by Indigenous Peoples within the healthcare system on this episode of InFocus.
Join us as we discuss the underlying issues and the measures being taken to stop it.
From child welfare to First Nations policing – there are many class action lawsuits ongoing in Canada and many of them involving or impacting Indigenous Peoples.
These lawsuits can take years, even decades before a decision or settlement is reached.
On the InFocus program today, we’re looking at some of the lawsuits that affect Indigenous Peoples.
As the hockey season winds down and teams play their final regular season games before the playoffs, our Hockey Night in Cree team also put another season to bed.
What has broadcasting professional hockey in Cree done for culture and the language?
On this edition of InFocus, we’re putting reconciliation through sport in the spotlight and how hockey can help strengthen Indigenous culture.
Across Canada, there are more than 70 Indigenous languages and more than 200,000 speakers.
This week on InFocus, we look at a few of those languages including one that has been extinct.
It’s all set up for Friday which marks National Indigenous Languages Day.
There’s a lot going on around the Spring Equinox. For most of us, the clocks went ahead an hour – plus it marks the end of winter (technically) and is the road towards the summer weather.
On this edition of InFocus, we’re taking a look at the Spring Equinox and what it means to Indigenous Peoples including the traditions that mark the occasion.
With pandemic restrictions in the rear-view mirror and travel on the rise, InFocus is exploring the 2023 International Indigenous Tourism Conference in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
From an archaeological dig to dog sledding, Host Darrell Stranger is speaking with tourism operators from across the country about how they started and where they’re going.
Coming up on Friday, the APTN Investigates team is taking viewers inside correctional facilities and examining the overrepresentation of Indigenous Peoples in Canada’s justice system.
In this four-part series, APTN will bring viewers behind the walls of some of Canada’s most notorious prisons.
InFocus gets a sneak peek at Inside Corrections.
In 2018, Capt. Robyn Shlachetla and First Officer Raven Beardy took flight as a female medevac crew in Manitoba.
That same year, Brigette Lacquette, 25, suited up to play for Team Canada at the 2018 Winter Olympics. And in 2022, Col. Nicole Mann, an Indigenous female astronaut blasted off into space.
All these people have something in common – they were trailblazers – the first to do what they do as Indigenous people.
With the Sisters in Spirit marches taking place recently, missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit persons are top of mind once again.
On this InFocus, Cambria Harris talks about the killing of her mother, Morgan Harris, and the ongoing presence at a Winnipeg landfill where it’s believed there are the remains of two Winnipeg women.
On the Valentine’s Day plus one show, InFocus has a look at the stories you sent us about falling in love.
On this episode of InFocus, we're speaking about the recent announcements of searches for unmarked graves at a number of former residential school sites across the country for remains of the children who never made it home.
InFocus is taking an in-depth look into the wrongful conviction case of Odelia and Nerissa Quewezance and how advocates are getting involved.
We’re putting Indigenous Peoples on-screen InFocus.
From actors and producers to a stunt school in B.C., we'll have something for everything as we look at Indigenous people's impact in the industry.
On this episode of InFocus, we look at the longstanding issue of the unhoused population in Canada and what can be done to change things for the better.
From coast to coast to coast, Indigenous youth are doing amazing things and breaking barriers every day.
On this episode of InFocus, we’re looking at – and talking to – Indigenous youth who are making a difference in their community and breaking barriers for the next generation.
‘Tis the season to be jolly and show off your arts and crafts projects.
Indigenous artists are turning out some stunning and intricate pieces across the country.
While some make a living off their handiwork, others do it for fun and relaxation.
With the emphasis on gift-giving this week, Host Darrell Stranger puts art and craft projects InFocus.
Some shows on InFocus are more difficult to deliver than others – this episode falls into that category.
The stories we’ve heard from families across Canada have come to a head these past few weeks in Winnipeg.
That’s where police recently informed the public that homicide detectives had caught an alleged serial killer; four Indigenous women – Morgan Harris, Rebecca Contois, Marcedes Myran and a fourth APTN is calling Buffalo Woman (Mashkode Bizhiki’ikw) – are believed to be his victims; the remains of two are likely in a private landfill outside the city, and lastly, and most disturbing to many, police say they won’t search for them.
Indigenous personalities are everywhere on social media – especially TikTok.
With so many great creators across various social media platforms, InFocus speaks to a few of them about their journey in the online world.
Assembly of First Nations National Chief RoseAnne Archibald wasn’t in power long before some of the regional chiefs on the executive tried to oust her.
Do female Indigenous leaders face obstacles that their male counterparts don’t?
InFocus looks into the increasing number of Indigenous women in leadership roles and some of the hardships they face.
InFocus is back in the studio to continue the discussion on land-based education after our adventure at Camp Morning Star last week.
On this episode we're looking at land, all it has to offer and its importance to us as Indigenous Peoples.
InFocus host Darrell Stranger trades in his suit and tie for a heavy coat, boots and his trapper hat to set off into the wild.
His destination is Camp Morningstar in Hollow Water First Nation located 200 km north of the APTN studio along the eastern shores of Lake Winnipeg.
The camp was set up to help students understand resource extraction and conservation after a company proposed a mine near their territory.
On this episode, we’re learning about what land-based education means.
You can find a podcast on just about anything these days. Out in the podcast world, you’ll find a number of shows from First Nation, Inuit and Métis hosts including the Dene Yati podcast Driving While Indigenous.
This edition of InFocus is looking at how Indigenous Peoples are telling their stories through podcasts.
Pope Francis came, prayed, apologized and left. That was in July.
Debate during and ever since his visit has swirled in communities and on social media.
Was his apology sincere?
Did the Pope’s visit and words move – anger – or soothe you since that time?
That’s the question we’re asking survivors of residential schools in the latest edition of InFocus.
Pope Francis came, prayed, apologized and left. That was in July.
Debate during and ever since his visit has swirled in communities and on social media.
Was his apology sincere?
Did the Pope’s visit and words move – anger – or soothe you since that time?
That’s the question we’re asking survivors of residential schools in the latest edition of InFocus.
From refusing to pledge allegiance to the Crown to being the first Indigenous woman on a city council in the north, we have folks from all levels of government with plenty of unique stories to share.
We’re putting Indigenous politics InFocus.
It’s been more than a month since Myles Sanderson took the lives of 11 people on James Smith Cree Nation in Saskatchewan.
Since then, the community has talked about healing – and what to do next.
While leaders have commended the RCMP for its investigation of the murders, questions have also been raised about whether things would have been different if James Smith had its own police force.
What comes next for James Smith Cree Nation, and other nations across the country are examined on InFocus.
It’s been more than a month since Myles Sanderson took the lives of 11 people on James Smith Cree Nation in Saskatchewan.
Since then, the community has talked about healing – and what to do next.
While leaders have commended the RCMP for its investigation of the murders, questions have also been raised about whether things would have been different if James Smith had its own police force.
What comes next for James Smith Cree Nation, and other nations across the country are examined on InFocus.
For the last number of years, salmon numbers in British Columbia and Yukon have been on the decline.
That means some First Nations communities haven’t been able to harvest salmon for sustenance or ceremony as they normally would.
This is having an impact on their culture and way of life.
InFocus speaks with experts in the field and takes a look at why these numbers are on the way down and what is being done to bring them back up.
For the last number of years, salmon numbers in British Columbia and Yukon have been on the decline.
That means some First Nations communities haven’t been able to harvest salmon for sustenance or ceremony as they normally would.
This is having an impact on their culture and way of life.
InFocus speaks with experts in the field and takes a look at why these numbers are on the way down and what is being done to bring them back up.
A brand-new season of APTN’s Moosemeat & Marmalade is underway.
The smash hit is in its sixth season and still has bush cook Art Napoleon and classically training British chef Dan Hayes to explore western Canada.
Usually, the duo are travelling the world exploring Indigenous cuisine – but former host Melissa Ridgen was able to catch up with one of the hosts to talk about what’s in store for this season.
This kicks off the new season of InFocus with our new host, Darrell Stranger.
A brand-new season of APTN’s Moosemeat & Marmalade is underway.
The smash hit is in its sixth season and still has bush cook Art Napoleon and classically training British chef Dan Hayes to explore western Canada.
Usually, the duo are travelling the world exploring Indigenous cuisine – but former host Melissa Ridgen was able to catch up with one of the hosts to talk about what’s in store for this season.
This kicks off the new season of InFocus with our new host, Darrell Stranger.
From designers who headed to Paris for Fashion Week to the online pizza craze - on the season finale of InFocus we’re sharing some updates with you on a few incredible stories we brought you over the past year.
When we look back on the past eight months of the InFocus season, it’s incredible how many issues you shared with us and tackled on the show.
We’re travelling through the time machine to look at some of the stories that made headlines.
As ridiculous as it sounds, this week's episode of InFocus has people who are extinct on the show to talk about what it’s like to be, well, extinct.
We’re putting Indigenous influencers InFocus. Join host Melissa Ridgen and guest host Savannah Kelly for a look at incredible content makers on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram.
InFocus is continuing its discussion on gender-based violence. In our own communities, women have long whispered about men to steer clear of because they’re predators or pests.
The #MeToo movement turned those whispers into yells.
Within families, communities or organizations, women aren’t always safe from sexual harassment. On this episode of InFocus, we’re taking a look at gender violence and what’s being done to fix it. Join the conversation on #MeToo.
Whether you loved it or hated it, Pope Francis apologized for the horrors committed at residential schools. On this episode of InFocus we’re talking to people with an array of perspectives on that apology - how it helps some heal while others say it wasn't enough.
More than ever, conversations are happening about how some names of places and institutions honour people who shouldn’t be.
InFocus puts names in the spotlight as colonial names are slowly being replaced by ones more meaningful to Indigenous Peoples.
We’re putting sports InFocus. From snowboarding to archery – guest host Darrell Stranger has you covered on this episode.
Darrell is sitting down with Olympic snowboarder Liam Gill, archer Waasayah Munro-Soldier, along with two Indigenous sports organizations.
Later in the show, he’ll speak with Hockey Night in Canada in Cree on APTN host Earl Wood.
We're putting harvesting rights InFocus. From lobster to eels to moose - as Indigenous harvesters fight to exercise their treaty rights, we’re sharing updates on some of their stories.
With everyone’s eyes on Ukraine, we are reminded of some shared connections.
On this episode of InFocus we’re looking at kookum scarves and a partnership between Ukrainian and powwow dancers. Later in the show, we’ll explore Indigenous women in street gangs.
On this episode of InFocus we’re introducing you to a woman who has five lawsuits in the works, all involving the child welfare system. At nine years old she was pulled into the system and has since had her four children taken away - she fears they’ll come for her fifth.
We're putting fashion and style icons InFocus. We've got beaders who are going to Paris Fashion Week where their creations will hit the runways and we’re sitting down with an Anishinaabekwe interior designer from Winnipeg.
Smartphones have made it easier than ever to capture moments, but we’re not all at the same level when it comes to taking the shot. Today we’re getting tips from people who do it incredibly.
The pandemic hit hard and tourism operators took a severe blow but there's new momentum as we look ahead with some optimism.
As many provinces are starting to re-open, we’re putting Indigenous tourism InFocus.
On this episode, we speak to a mother who took her fight with the child welfare system to social media. Tamara Malcolm eventually got her children back and is now offering advice to parents battling the system.
On this episode we're putting pizza InFocus – the delicious, mouth-watering food that everyone enjoys.
We’ll be joined by chefs from coast to coast and learn techniques to make the perfect bannock pizza.
She’s a giant in the music industry and it would be almost impossible to find someone who doesn’t know the name Buffy Sainte-Marie.
The Cree singer-songwriter has won an Oscar, written one of the best-known anti-war songs and always kept the fight up for Indigenous rights.
On this episode of InFocus, we’re looking at a gallery in Winnipeg that is now featuring another artistic side of the singer.
We’re putting the Indigenous economy InFocus. If economics isn’t for you – that’s okay because we’re boiling it down and having a conversation about it with some super smart but very down-to-earth First Nations experts.
InFocus is helping you get in the festive mood with song and dance from a multitude of Indigenous performers including a children’s choir in Cree and Ojibway, fiddling and jigging, throat singing, and much more!
There is a push from the legal community in Canada to have Saulteaux sisters Nerissa and Odelia Quewezance released from prison for good.
The two sisters from Keeseekoose First Nation have spent nearly 30 years behind bars for the 2nd-degree murder of a Saskatchewan farmer.
They have always maintained that while they were there when Anthony Dolff was killed in 1994, they weren’t responsible for his death.
InFocus hears from the reporters who have been looking into the sister’s story.
Putting child welfare back InFocus. We’re sitting down with a mother whose daughter ‘vanished’ in Manitoba's child welfare system, along with two social workers who co-authored Child and Family Dis-services.
For 13 seasons APTN Investigates has been bringing you stories that go above and beyond what makes the news headlines each day.
On this episode, they’re teaming up with InFocus to bring you updates on some of your favourite episodes over the past decade.
We’re a few weeks away from Christmas and whether you celebrate or not, many of us partake in the spirit of gift-giving this time of year…
So today we are helping you out - we have done the scouting for you and have a gift list 2021 to put InFocus for you.
We’re putting comfort food InFocus. Melissa Ridgen is sitting down with 13-year-old Brandon Charlebois who spends his weekends cooking for the less fortunate and we learn how to cook Arctic char from Inuit chef Trudy Metcalfe-Coe.
Did you know our ancestors invented sunglasses, rubber, suspension bridges and much more? On this episode of InFocus we’re talking to innovators who are carrying on the tradition.
Later in the show we’ll look at your reaction to the controversial “Tomahawk chop.”
On this episode of InFocus we’re looking at the fascinating story of Renee Acoby, we’ll discuss the supposed ending of birth alerts in Manitoba and also, a look at the reaction to the Pope announcing a “reconciliation” tour in Canada.
Silica sand and peat moss – On this episode of InFocus we’re looking at the companies looking to extract those resources and the groups opposing them, fearing the environmental impact.
We’ll also open up Saskatchewan’s plans to build a bigger remand centre.
According to a new forecast from the Royal Bank of Canada, the number of Indigenous business owners is growing at five times the rate of self-employed Canadians. It’s a $30-billion economy now according to RBC and forecast to triple to $100-billion by 2025.
What sort of businesses are in? All of them – from retail to real estate. Several Indigenous entrepreneurs who took the plunge into the business world join InFocus to share their success stories.
We’re unpacking the historical and current effects of colonialism in Canada. On our latest episode, host Melissa Ridgen sits down with APTN Investigates producer Robert J. Ballantyne to discuss, The Colonial Playbook. We’ll also discuss what comes next, ahead of the second half of the investigation, The Colonial Toolkit.
What does reconciliation mean to you? On the season premiere of InFocus host Melissa Ridgen is discussing the grief felt by Indigenous people everywhere and the awakening of non-Indigenous Canadians to the true impacts of residential schools.
It’s the season finale of InFocus and we’re leaving you on a happy note! If you are a bride-to-be, this show is for you.
Get your notepad out for some inspiration… We’re marrying culture and tradition into weddings.
It's an election year for the Assembly of First Nations. Perry Bellegarde is not running, leaving it wide open for a new leader and fresh vision.
But is fresh vision even possible? On this episode we are putting the AFN InFocus.
In this episode of InFocus we hear from police chiefs across the country about how they’re addressing systemic racism in policing and also, what changes need to happen.
It’s been a decade since First Nations in Manitoba’s Interlake region were flooded by the province in order to save Winnipeg.
On this episode of InFocus we’re digging into the lasting effects of that historic flood.
One week ago a jury convicted police officer Derek Chauvin of murder in the death of George Floyd.
The verdict is far from the end of the broader subject of police brutality - which we are putting InFocus on this episode.
On this episode we’re putting #LadyBosses InFocus - Indigenous women entrepreneurs who started up businesses that are now soaring.
We are celebrating them and also they’re sharing with you, how they did it and how you can too.
We’re putting some incredible chefs InFocus. Guest host Brittany Hobson is talking with two women competing on cooking shows and we visit the kitchen of one of Winnipeg’s busiest restaurants - Feast Bistro.
Putting child welfare InFocus – We have an update on a Brandon family, who after three days of labour, left empty-handed, escorted out by security. They’re joining us to talk about the nightmare they endured.
A headdress found at the Canada Post warehouse in Winnipeg was returned to its owner thanks to social media after being list in the mail for four months.
But should there be a protocol in place for when the federal mail service finds regalia and ceremonial items that get lost in the system, to ensure they’re cared for until returned?
On this episode of InFocus we have a sneak peek at the new Inuit art centre opening in Winnipeg.
We’ll also look at a docuseries about the Mi’kmaq fight to exert their treaty right to fish. And later in the show we will inspire your taste buds.
Sport has been an important part of Indigenous lives across Turtle Island – it continues to bring our communities together today.
APTN’s Darrell Stranger is guest hosting a special sports edition of InFocus. In this episode you’ll be hearing from former NHL head coach Ted Nolan about his experience in the league, including racism at the highest level of the game.
Canadians love to brag about healthcare, but what happens when the system is killing certain groups of people? On this episode of InFocus, we’re discussing medical racism and what needs to be done to keep people safe.
Do you think Canada has adequately implemented the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action?
On a special episode of InFocus we’re talking with the former commissioners to see what Canada has implemented or not since the report was released.
It’s no secret that many First Nations across Canada still don’t have access to clean drinking water.
On this episode of InFocus, we’re discussing First Nation water issues and talking to a national investigative team that dug deep to find out what’s going on.
We’re putting some old favorites, along with some brand new APTN programs InFocus.
On this episode, we’re joined by Moosemeat & Marmalade’s Art Napoleon, as well as Working It Out Together’s Waneek Horn-Miller.
When child welfare agencies keep raising the requirements to have your kids back, how do parents keep up the fight?
On this episode of InFocus, Melissa Ridgen shares one family’s story of meeting all requirements and still going home to an empty crib.
It's a bizarre phenomenon - people pretending to be Indigenous to get jobs or grants or even just attention, because it's cool to be us.
What's not funny is they are taking highly lucrative work from Indigenous people. They're teaching our histories. They're telling our stories.
On this episode, we are putting Indigenous identity fraud InFocus.
TikTok is an app giant - even if you're not on it, chances are you've seen a TikTok shared elsewhere.
On this episode we’re putting the booming community of #NativeTikTok InFocus.
Join us as we explore some of the best that Indigenous creators have to offer.
The world watched in awe as rioters stormed the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. and sent the heart of American governance into lockdown.
For some, it was the relative ease with which rioters seized the building.
For others, what struck them was the lack of police violence these criminals were met with compared to how Indigenous and Black people are often treated when they protest, occupy, or defend.
On this episode we're putting the Washington riots InFocus.
From lobster, to moose, to salmon - harvesting rights grabbed headlines throughout 2020.
On this episode, we’re putting those moments InFocus and looking at what’s in store for 2021.
Baking treats, skating on the lake, or challenging the Grinch to a dance off – how are you celebrating the holidays this year?
On this episode of InFocus we are spreading some holiday cheer and saying goodbye to the year 2020.
It’s been five years since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada released its report, outlining 94 calls to action to advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples across the country.
Half a decade later, how has Canada measured up on its promise to implement these calls to action? What progress has been made, and where have we fallen short?
On a special edition of InFocus, all three commissioners came together for the first time since the report was released in 2015.
Parents battling over custody - sometimes it results in family members being completely cut off from the kids and as it stands, the only option to sort out access is in a provincial court.
On this episode of InFocus we are looking at family court alternatives.
First Nations child welfare agencies are assuming more responsibility each year and the numbers tell us they are repeating the same mistakes – with deadly consequences.
On this episode of InFocus we continue our look at the child welfare industry.
To this day no one knows the total number of Indigenous kids in care – or how many have died.
On this episode of InFocus, we’re discussing the challenges of being trapped in a system that says it exists to help families, while families say otherwise.
Many of us are on lockdown and even those who still have some freedom - there aren't events to attend. There’s no reason to dress up - there's no where to go!
But good news - Indigenous Fashion Week kicks off and surprise, you're all invited!
We've got a jam-packed hour of InFocus for you - clothes, accessories, makeup - all by our people. And some wise words as we begin to think-shift away from how we have been clothing ourselves in recent decades and helping to kill the planet in the process.
We all have our traditional, comfort food go-to, be it salmon, or caribou, berries or soups.
On this episode of InFocus Host Melissa Ridgen, we take you on a gastronomical tour of favorites from around North America to learn and inspire.
Many of these regional foods, you can make in your own region – either old school or with a new twist.
Have you experienced the paranormal? The Other Side is back for a new season to explore some of the scariest ghost stories.
The cast and crew join Host Melissa Ridgen on this episode of InFocus to discuss their latest investigation and share what it's like to connect with spirits.
The violence towards a Mi’kmaq fishery has thrust Indigenous harvest rights into the spotlight. In this episode of InFocus we look at why inherent treaty rights are continually trampled in Canada.
Later in the episode, we’ll be looking at why fans of The Other Side are in for an epic treat this Halloween.
The violence towards a Mi’kmaq fishery has thrust Indigenous harvest rights into the spotlight. In this episode of InFocus we look at why inherent treaty rights are continually trampled in Canada.
Later in the episode, we’ll be looking at why fans of The Other Side are in for an epic treat this Halloween.
Vandalism, threats, and assault. These are just a few of the violent incidents Mi’kmaw fishers are facing in Nova Scotia.
On this episode of InFocus, we get to the heart of the issue on Mi’kmaw fishing rights and look into the rage from non-Indigenous fishers.
What is a rez dog? What makes it different from other dogs?
On this episode of InFocus we shine a light on rez dogs and the shady rescue organizations removing dogs from Indigenous communities and refusing to give them back.
The coronavirus pandemic has taken a toll on people in the eight months its had the world in its grip and First Nation, Metis and Inuit people are not excluded.
From canceled gatherings and ceremonies to feelings of panic, the grief and isolation is like nothing anyone has experienced before in this lifetime.
In our season premiere of InFocus we’re looking at the mental health and financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On the season finale of InFocus we’re discussing the importance of rez radio during this pandemic. We’ll get an update from a Brandon Manitoba couple who had their newborn taken on questionable grounds.
Later, we’ll be giving a shout-out to our 2020 grads!
With many stressed during this new normal, join us as we put pandemic grief InFocus. Later in the show, we hear from two APTN Investigates reporters on how they discovered an untold Canadian shame.
On this week’s InFocus: How COVID-19 is impacting the Navajo Nation; getting surplus food to First Nations in need; women, children and two-spirits at risk during the pandemic; an update from our doctors panel; and we meet the three Indigenous journalists who will be telling your stories in the Okanagan region.
On this week’s InFocus we have a panel of Indigenous physicians from across the country weighing in on the COVID-19 pandemic including Dr. Marlyn Cook from Misipawistik Cree Nation in Manitoba, Dr. Dan Cutfeet from Alert Bay in B.C., Dr. James Makokis from Kehewin Cree Nation in Alberta, Dr. Veronica McKinney from Northern Health Services in Saskatchewan and Dr. Lana Potts from Siksika Nation in southern Alberta.
With schools closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents have been thrust into the role of full-time teacher. On this episode of InFocus we ask how it’s going home-schooling your kids?
What tricks and resources have worked?
Imagine the COVID-19 pandemic meant you can't see your child any more.
That's the reality for many parents whose children are in foster care.
We'll talk to some including a couple who are charged with kidnapping their children from a supervised visit.
They say because they were scared to leave their children in foster care during a pandemic.
Twenty years ago this week, APTN News aired its very first newscast back then it was called InVision News.
On this episode of APTN InFocus we discuss the past two decades of the world's first national Indigenous newscast.
We're three weeks into our lockdown and while some of us are going squirrely others have found fun or productive ways to pass the time in isolation.
Today we're putting coping with COVID InFocus.
We've got some great stuff to share with you and we want to hear from you too - what are you doing to keep busy? What tips do you have for keeping the kids entertained?
This April 1 episode of InFocus got appropriately foolish with some of the funniest Indigenous folks providing us with laughter.
Guests included Ryan McMahon as Clarence Two Toes, rez-humor goddess Sherry McKay, the all-female all-Indigenous comedy troupe Manifest Destiny's Child, and up and coming comics Chad Anderson and Dakota Herbert.
The laughs kept rolling with videos by viewers, made while everyone is isolating from COVID-19.
As the COVID-19 pandemic grips the world, what’s being done in our communities to help?
We speak to women making a difference and have plenty of advice on how you and your loved ones – and communities – can stay safe whether you’re in a remote community or an urban centre.
Imagine a perfect world where your medical care is equal parts cutting-edge modern medicine and traditional cultural care.
Well it's happening. And there’s a new report in the Canadian Medical Association Journal discussing how it works, what the benefits are, and how it needs to reach more care facilities, nursing stations, clinics and urban hospitals.
We've got a team that's doing this, joining us to chat about how it works and how it could be implemented where you live.
Ashleigh Cardinal is Cree from Goodfish Lake and has spent nine years working in the oil and gas industry.
Victoria Redsun is Dene-Cree from Barren Lands who has spent much of her life fighting the oil and gas industry.
Despite coming at it from different perspectives of the industry, both fear the effects that 14 work camps associated with the CGL pipeline will have on 20 Indigenous communities in northern B.C., particularly women and girls.
That and more on this episode of APTN InFocus.
APTN InFocus discussed the arrests, the media coverage, the racism, government reaction, and the broader issues in the Wet’suwet’en conflict.
We were joined by Molly Wickham, the spokesperson for Gidimt’en Access Point; Ellis Ross, the Liberal MLA for Skeena in B.C. and a former Chief Councillor of the Haisla Nation; Dan David, a Mohawk journalist who was the first news director of APTN News; Sharlene Gale, the Chief of Fort Nelson First Nation in British Columbia; and Brett Forester, a reporter for APTN News.
It’s a news story that’s fit for a Hollywood screenplay.
A local news reporter infiltrates a hate group, finds at least one of the recruiters is a military reservist and shortly after he blows the lid off the story. Then the reservist vanishes only to surface five months later south of the border, caught up in an FBI sting involving a terrorist cell that’s plotting a violent white revolution.
Ryan Thorpe is the Winnipeg Free Press reporter who broke the story Homegrown Hate back in June 2019.
The question of who is eligible to be registered in a band – and who makes that decision is the focus of a short APTN News Perspectives series.
Correspondent Tamara Pimentel spoke to families who have children that are not included on a band’s roll for one reason or another.
There are other families who are having trouble registering their child with their bands.
Tamara shares the stories of two same sex couples who cannot get their kids registered.
After more than a decade of waiting after the residential school survivors were compensated for being forced into compensation, many Indian day school survivors can now apply for compensation.
But Ottawa has deemed only half – about 700 schools – are eligible.
The other half – some 680 schools, sanatoriums and other facilities – they said, weren’t entirely run or funded by the Government of Canada and are excluded from the settlement.
APTN InFocus sorted through what this all means.
During the past month, there has been a volley of shots fired back and forth between the Metis National Council and the presidents of the Metis Nation of Ontario, Metis Nation of Alberta, and Metis Nation-Saskatchewan.
Also: The “historic new highs” of Indigenous people incarcerated in Canada’s prison system comes as no surprise to Indigenous people or those who have been paying attention to the issue.
It was a movement like no other.
Idle No More, it would be called, was a leaderless groundswell of opposition that some say had been simmering for a while when it finally came to a boil.
In a sweeping, two-part documentary, producers, directors Tim Fontaine and Rick Harp look back on the movement; what triggered it, how it grew through social media, how it galvanized unrest, what effect it had on non-Indigenous onlookers and mainstream media, and what its legacy will be.
In this episode of APTN InFocus: An Indigenous fire management expert is teaching traditional forest management practices to hopefully prevent a disaster like the Australia from happening here.
And Dakota Elder and Sundance Chief Wanbdi Wakita talks about the warnings this world has ignored, but what we can do now to learn from the fires devastating Australia.
Also, we’ll discuss the second edition of Rogers Hometown Hockey in Cree on APTN.
Lateral violence is violence and bullying directed against one’s own people or peer group and is prevalent in First Nation, Inuit and Metis communities. In this episode of APTN InFocus, we discuss why it happens and what we can do to stop it.
In 1939, the Manitoba government and RM burned down the Metis community of Ste. Madeleine to make room for settler’s cattle to graze. In this episode, we meet descendants of this tragic history.
Sagkeeng First Nation beader Mish Daniels saw “her babies” make a TV appearance in front of millions who watch the U.S. morning talk show The View.
Host and actor Whoopi Goldberg was wearing a red beaded jingle dress medallion on Monday’s show. She’d been gifted it during a chance run-in with MMIW advocate Connie Greyeyes.
Golberg reportedly kept staring at Greyeyes’ medallion, which she bought from Daniels.
That and more in this episode of APTN InFocus.
In this episode of APTN InFocus: The province of Manitoba which has the highest rate of kids in foster care says it’s slowly changing the way the embattled system works.
According to the province, there has been a 35 per cent reduction in birth alerts issued for moms and their newborns and an 18 per cent overall reduction in the number of child apprehensions compared to 2018.
Manitoba typically has 10,000 to 11,000 kids in foster care in any given year – 90 per cent are Indigenous.
There’s been a shift in language from global warming to climate change to climate crisis – the words people are using to talk about how humans are impacting the health of the planet have become more urgent.
While there was a back and forth with the science for decades, scientists are almost unanimous now in saying climate trends over the past century are extremely likely due to human activities.
That and more on this episode of APTN InFocus.
There’s little shock that Indigenous musicians are on the rise in number, reach and influence, but even long-time industry insiders had a bit of a jaw-drop when a new study revealed just how much the industry is contributing to Canada’s economy each year.
The National Indigenous Music Impact Study is the first of its kind, and was undertaken by APTN.
That and more on this episode of APTN InFocus.
Substandard media coverage of Indigenous people or issues has been well-documented and criticized over the years but in this era of reconciliation, has it improved?
That’s the topic of this episode of APTN InFocus.
Canada has apologized to and compensated residential school survivors, and years later offered to settle with day school survivors, but thousands of former students remain excluded from both despite Canada’s insistence that it’s committed to truth and reconciliation.
On this episode of APTN InFocus, we talk to residential school survivors and their thoughts on the federal settlement.
Pipelines can be a boring and predictable back-and-forth between corporate interests and the activists that oppose them.
But what happens when the issue is tackled using elaborate pranks and hoaxes on non-Indigenous people?
That’s the tack of the satirical Indigenous Pipeline Council, whose members were guests on this episode of InFocus.
It’s the time of year we all love a good scare and there is no shortage of legends in our communities that’ll do just that.
We’re talking about little people — tiny pranksters who’ve inspired stories for millennia across Turtle Island.
Sasquatch — the large hairy primitive-man-like forest and mountain dweller.
Qalupalik — sea witches who steal children who get too close to Arctic waters.
As well as the warning – never whistle or sing under the northern lights.
Mumilaaq Qaqqaq, 25, is Nunavut’s new member of Parliament.
She won for the New Democrats – the first time that party has won the seat since Nunavut became a territory 20 years ago.
Qaqqaq has worked various government jobs in the territory including as an employment adviser and wellness specialist, but she’s also a well-known activist and public speaker.
That and more on this episode of APTN InFocus.
It's a problem that doesn't go away, government after government, generation after generation. There's a housing crisis affecting too many First Nations and the problem exists off-reserve too.
On this episode, we’re putting Housing Crunch InFocus.
Is the problem getting worse? Getting better?
On the season premiere of APTN InFocus: A Brandon Manitoba family, who is in a bitter battle with Michif CFS over their five-month-old infant son, says the system is unfairly rigged against families who are forced to comply with unreasonable demands like unwarranted supervised visits.
They say if you try to fight back, you risk losing your child for good to the system.
There are 11,000 kids in care in Manitoba.
Their baby is one.
Indigenous voters showed up in record numbers in 2015, with several First Nations communities even running out of ballots temporarily.
The result — a record 10 Indigenous MPs elected to the House of Commons –or three per cent of the 338 seats, which is proportional to the number of Indigenous adults who live in Canada.
In our season finale, we put democracy InFocus.
On this episode of InFocus we discuss child apprehension and the video of an RCMP officer interviewing an Indigenous teen after she reported a sexual assault.
On this episode of InFocus we discuss the Nazi flag flap that drew the world’s eye to Saskatchewan, the boom you might not know about in Indigenous business in Canada and a province struggling with one of the highest HIV rates in North America.
On this episode of InFocus: From the west coast to the Golden Horseshoe surrounding Toronto, there is evidence to suggest serial killers are hunting and disproportionately, Indigenous women and girls are their prey.
And those serial killers likely number far more than the average person imagines.
That’s according to Michael Arntfield, a Western University criminologist and serial killer expert who studies murder patterns for the Murder Accountability Project in the U.S.
Every year, many communities across Turtle Island near rivers and lakes brace for the possibility of a spring flood.
Often, traditional lands have become flood-prone from man-made dams or diversions or communities were moved onto flood plains by the Canadian government.
For Little Saskatchewan First Nation on Lake St. Martin, 255 kilometres north of Winnipeg, it’s meant 20 plus years of being prepared for massive spring flooding.
In this episode, we put flooded reserves InFocus.
An average family of five people who have status cards could be more than $20,000 richer each year if treaty annuity payments were based on today’s land values.
Currently, treaty people with status cards get $5 a year based on land values from the 1800s – that’s $20 if you’re a family of five.
That and more on this episode of InFocus.
Some 900 people live in Grassy Narrows and health official say 90 per cent have signs of mercury poisoning, which include vision and hearing impairment, tremors, and decreased cognitive function.
That and more on this episode of APTN InFocus.
In this episode of InFocus: Less than five per cent of the population in Canada is Indigenous, yet Indigenous men make up 28 per cent of those behind bar, Indigenous women 43 per cent and Indigenous youth 46 per cent.
And while incarceration rates are on the decline for the general population, they’re trending upwards for Indigenous people.
In this episode of InFocus: Clint Davis, the chair of the Labrador Capital Strategy Trust (LCST) says the issues facing Indigenous communities run so deep Ottawa alone will not be able to solve them. Davis says private investment will be needed too, if the economic outlook for Indigenous people is going to change.
But not everyone agreed with Davis who joined analyst Pam Palmater, Joseph Quesnel on InFocus to talk about the federal budget that was delivered Tuesday in Ottawa.
In this episode of InFocus: The phenomenon of hoarding skeletal remains and cultural artifacts of Inuit, Metis and First Nations by private collectors and institutions, flies in the face of reconciliation, say Indigenous leaders.
Many of the items are stolen from graves and sacred sites. Others are found when land is disturbed during construction or other work being done.
It’s a scandal that has rocked the Liberal government for the past month.
Canada’s first Indigenous attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould quit cabinet over what she says was pressure from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to do favors for SNC-Lavalin, an engineering giant based in vote-rich Quebec that is facing bribery, fraud and corruption charges.
In this episode we put Jody Wilson-Raybould and the SNC-Lavalin scandal InFocus.
Land acknowledgements have been growing in popularity in the past 10 years to the point they’re now at most events or gatherings.
But while they’re common, some question if they’re useful in reconciliation or simply superficial platitudes meant to give the illusion of honour and respect for Indigenous land and nations. That’s on this episode of InFocus.
With hunting and harvesting rights being attacked, and the cost of food going up, how are First Nation, Metis and Inuit people supposed to get back to traditional eating, or make healthy food choices on a tight budget?
In this episode of InFocus with Host Melissa Ridgen, we looked at the move towards country food including plants and animals consumed in a region by the people Indigenous to it.
From mould to overcrowding, we're putting the housing crisis on First Nations InFocus.
Cat Lake First Nation in northern Ontario has declared a state of emergency related to Jordan’s Principle due to mold in most homes in the community.
According to officials in the community, three children have been medevacked out of the community over the past two weeks because of illnesses.
This episode of InFocus was the last in a three-part series putting the child welfare system under the microscope.
Natasha Reimer spent her entire life bounced from foster home to foster home when she was apprehended as a young girl from an unsafe home.
While the system kept her separated from a mother who couldn’t parent, it also robbed her of a relationship with her seven younger siblings, who were also raised in care.
On the second edition of a three-part series about child and family services (CFS) on InFocus, Host Melissa Ridgen talks with parents who found themselves targets of CFS agencies and how they beat or continue to fight they system.
Stacy Owl lost her five children two years ago on the word of a tipster whom she had never met.
A woman had called CFS accusing Owl of being a “crackhead” and running a meth lab.
High apprehension rate makes families distrust child and family services (CFS) agencies.
On this first of a three-part series on CFS, Host Melissa Ridgen talked to a child advocate and a former CFS worker who shed light on how this industry works and why Indigenous families are targeted.
Indigenous people live with a lot of harsh realities – poverty, inter-generational trauma, murdered and missing loved ones, suicide, racism, displacement, cultural loss. Satire can be a distraction and sometimes poking a serious issue with a funny stick, can raise awareness, start a conversation or make an important point.
On this edition of InFocus, Host Melissa Ridgen explores Indigenous humour – how humour and satire help people deal with serious issues, and is our humor different from others?
Two spirit people have been a part of Indigenous culture long before settlers arrived in North America. Colonization brought many things with it, including a different foreign perspective on gender and sexuality.
On this addition of InFocus, Host Melissa Ridgen chatted with drag queens – the Queen of the Oil Patch and the Master of the Jig – all of whom shared what it’s like for them to be two spirited.