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National Indigenous News August 24 · National Indigenous Newscasts

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_01: This is a look at your National Indigenous News.
• 0:02
  SPEAKER_01: I'm Daryl Stranger.
• 0:03
  SPEAKER_01: The Yukon government says it's reviewing its land lottery system after the territory's ombudsman found that people were cheating the system to boost their chances of obtaining a building lot in Whitehorse.
• 0:14
  SPEAKER_01: Ombudsman Jason Pedler said the issue is a well-known secret even among territorial officials who apparently felt powerless to enforce the rules.
• 0:22
  SPEAKER_01: The territorial government periodically holds lotteries of new building lots for residents who are looking to build a home.
• 0:27
  SPEAKER_01: Under territorial legislation, only people who intend to build and live on a lot are qualified to enter a lottery to purchase the land.
• 0:34
  SPEAKER_01: Pedler said people have been flouting the rules by using proxies to enter land lotteries on their behalf and thereby increase their chances of success.
• 0:41
  SPEAKER_01: He described it as a relatively common practice with people asking friends, family, or employees to enter a land lottery on their behalf.
• 0:49
  SPEAKER_01: The trouble, Pedler said, is that the Territory's Lands Act doesn't allow that.
• 0:53
  SPEAKER_01: He said that territorial officials have long known what was going on but would simply turn a blind eye.
• 0:57
  SPEAKER_01: Pedler said that even though he was aware of the issue for a number of years, he couldn't look into it as ombudsman until he received a formal complaint from someone.
• 1:05
  SPEAKER_01: That happened last year when a resident came into his office complaining about the use of proxies.
• 1:09
  SPEAKER_01: Pedler's investigation report issued this month includes several recommendations for the government to make the land lottery system more fair, including better vetting and screening of applicants to make sure they are qualified to enter a lottery, or changing territorial legislation to make it an offense to enter a land lottery as a proxy.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_01: The report also recommends that no land lotteries be held until the government can show it's taken reasonable measures to demonstrate that it is meeting its legal obligations for the administration of lot lotteries under the lands regulation, as well as the intention of the legislation.
• 1:39
  SPEAKER_01: In a written statement, the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources Ted Laking, said the government accepts the recommendations in the report and is determining what to do next.
• 1:49
  SPEAKER_01: In Alberta, an indigenous screenwriting residency in Banff is currently accepting applications until the fall.
• 1:55
  SPEAKER_01: Benjamin Giroud is here from the writer's room with more.
• 2:43
  SPEAKER_00: And so as part of it, it's about taking agency over our representation in stories that come in film and having a voice as to what we see our future like as Indigenous people.
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_02: More info and full clips with Janine can be found on our website.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_02: In Bayamf, I'm Benjamin Giroud.
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_01: In Ontario, an agreement between the city of Brantford and neighboring Hoden Ashone community, Six Nations of the Grand River, could result in six nations sharing in economic benefits from the development of lands on the city's edge and will help the communities rebuild trust and respect.
• 3:19
  SPEAKER_01: The two parties announced that Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis and Sherry Lynn Hill, elected chief of Six Nations, had signed a memorandum of understanding related to what's known as the boundary lands, nestled up against the Brantford's existing urban area.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_01: The MOU establishes a framework for collaboration and shared prosperity related to the development of the just over 3,000 hectares of land transferred from Brant County to the city in 2016 to accommodate future residential, employment, and economic growth.
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_01: The agreement will give Six Nations a say in how the land is developed and a share in the financial benefits collected from a levy on projects such as new homes.
• 3:54
  SPEAKER_01: The levy's details will be set out in the final agreement between the two parties.
• 3:57
  SPEAKER_01: In a media release, the elected council said the MOU does not sell, surrender, or transfer any Six Nations lands, rights, or interests.
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_01: The council also stressed the MOU is not a final agreement and that before any formal agreement is signed, community consultation will take place.
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_01: That's a look at your national indigenous news.