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Transcript

National Indigenous News March 10 · National Indigenous Newscasts

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: This is a look at your national indigenous news.
• 0:02
  SPEAKER_00: I'm Gerald Stranger.
• 0:04
  SPEAKER_00: More than a dozen First Nations chiefs and even more band counselors and elders were at Alberta's legislature Monday calling on Premier Daniel Smith's government to stomp out the push for the province to quit Canada.
• 0:15
  SPEAKER_00: Quote, our rights are being minimized.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_00: Our people are being minimized at every level, Confederacy of Treaty Eight First Nations Grand Chief Trevor Mercerty told reporters.
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_00: The comments came after First Nations chiefs across the province unanimously called on members of the legislature to hold a non-confidence vote against the government in part for how it has handled the budding separatist movement.
• 0:34
  SPEAKER_00: Opposition NDP leader Naheed Nanshi tabled a motion to hold such a vote Monday, but it was promptly shut down by Smith's majority United Conservative Party government.
• 0:43
  SPEAKER_00: Government House Leader Joseph Shao called it a political stunt and questioned whether Nanshi believes in direct democracy.
• 0:49
  SPEAKER_00: Chiefs and other Indigenous leaders in the gallery voiced frustration before leaving, with some yelling at the politicians below to denounce separatism.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_00: Cold Lake First Nations chief Kelsey Jacko said after the non-confidence vote that it was an attempt to hold the Premier to account.
• 1:02
  SPEAKER_00: Mercury said he knew the vote wouldn't pass, but that it was important to take a stand.
• 1:06
  SPEAKER_00: Indigenous leaders have been vocally opposed to the separatist movement in Alberta.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_00: Multiple First Nations are challenging in court provincial legislation permitting citizen-led petitions that seek referendum votes, such as the ongoing campaign to put separation on a ballot.
• 1:20
  SPEAKER_00: While numerous Indigenous leaders were in Edmonton, others traveled to England, where a delegation from the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations is set to meet with King Charles.
• 1:29
  SPEAKER_00: Grand Chief Joey Pete said in a news release he plans to discuss the separation push with the king and remind him that our relationship is not with provinces or Canada, it is with the Crown.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_00: Some of those included economic development, health, and the continued recognition and advancement of Metis rights.
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_00: A newly created phone app for residents of the ONIDA Nation of the Thames in Ontario is bridging a communication gap as more people move away from social media.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_00: The app, called ONIDA Nations of the Thames on the Android and Apple App Stores, is free to download, and officials said it is already being taken up by members of the community.
• 2:44
  SPEAKER_00: The challenge First Nations administrations face when trying to stay connected with members of their communities goes beyond reaching an older demographic who may not use social media.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_00: With that in mind, the app includes messages from Chief and Council, community events, and also features safety alerts and postings for job opportunities within the First Nation.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_00: The app was created by Avia Inc., a company based out of Edmonton, Alberta, that has worked with roughly 240 First Nations throughout Canada.
• 3:10
  SPEAKER_00: That's a look at your national Indigenous news.