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National Indigenous News May 27 · National Indigenous Newscasts

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: This is a look at your National Indigenous News.
• 0:02
  SPEAKER_00: I'm Darrell Stranger.
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  SPEAKER_00: Nearly four years after finding at least twenty-two Indigenous women that had gone through forced sterilization in Quebec, a group of researchers now says that number is much higher, and they're asking the government to take its report seriously.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_00: In 2022, researchers collected the testimonies of 35 First Nation and Inuit women as part of the first phase of a report that looks into obstetric and gynecological violence, including imposed sterilizations endured by indigenous women.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_00: The second phase covers a much longer time period, 1956 to 2023.
• 0:37
  SPEAKER_00: Including this latest phase, the research is now based on 132 testimonies, and the total of documented cases of forced sterilizations now stands at 77.
• 0:46
  SPEAKER_00: The report highlights a pattern of differential treatment between Indigenous and non-Indigenous women with very similar patterns across First Nations and regions, demonstrating the presence of systemic racism in Quebec's health and social services system.
• 0:59
  SPEAKER_00: Testimonies reveal that a power imbalance between healthcare staff and First Nations women makes it impossible for these women to provide free, prior and informed consent, according to the report.
• 1:09
  SPEAKER_00: The report includes 17 recommendations for First Nations organizations, the provincial and federal governments, as well as Quebec's College of Physicians.
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_00: It says First Nations groups should take steps to ensure women and girls are more aware of their right to report ill treatment experienced before, during, or after childbirth, or for any other reason during gynecological or medical consultations related to their pregnancy.
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_00: A deputy minister in the Yukon's Health and Social Services Department is expressing regret on behalf of the government.
• 1:39
  SPEAKER_00: Following a scathing report on the territory's child and family services in March from Canada's Auditor General, the territorial government failed to reach out to the Kwanlin Dunn First Nation about the audit findings.
• 1:50
  SPEAKER_00: That's according to a written submission made to the Legislative Assembly's Public Accounts Committee ahead of a public hearing Monday focused on the audit.
• 1:58
  SPEAKER_00: Auditors found that the territory failed to adhere to many of its own policies intended to protect children and youth.
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_00: The audit revealed gaps in the Social Services Department's response in cases of suspected harm, as well as in completing investigations and conducting follow-ups.
• 2:13
  SPEAKER_00: Monday's hearing saw the Public Accounts Committee dig into some of the report's key findings.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_00: MLAs also questioned officials from the Department and the Auditor General's office about ongoing work to address long-standing gaps across a range of services.
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_00: The Yukon's Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services agreed that a memorandum of agreement between the Kuanland First Nation and the territory means the government should have reached out to the First Nation after the audit's release.
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_00: Matt King committed to partnering with Kwanland First Nation and other Yukon First Nations to carry out the audit's recommendations and a full review of child and family services.
• 2:46
  SPEAKER_00: Monday's hearing wasn't the end of the committee's work and said that it'll continue to track the government's response to the audit.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_00: Indigenous Tourism in Alberta is getting a major boost.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_00: A renewed four-year partnership between Travel Alberta and Indigenous Tourism Alberta will see$8.2 million invested in more than 200 Indigenous-owned tourism businesses across the province.
• 3:08
  SPEAKER_00: The two organizations first entered a formal partnership agreement in 2021, which was renewed in 2023 and once again this year.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_00: The agreement will see$2.2 million in direct funding and in-kind support this year, followed by$2 million annually until 2030.
• 3:25
  SPEAKER_00: Indigenous Tourism Alberta says Indigenous tourism in the province is projected to generate$293 million annually, support more than 4,000 jobs across the province, and generate$635 million in total GDP impact this year.
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_00: That's a look at your national Indigenous News.