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National Indigenous News June 2 · National Indigenous Newscasts

• 0:00
  This is a look at your national indigenous news.
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  I'm Daryl Stranger.
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  Three Indigenous Tourism organizations say they are formally withdrawing support from the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada over concerns about financial mismanagement and lack of transparency in fund allocation over several years.
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  Indigenous Tourism Ontario, Indigenous Tourism BC, and Nova Scotia Indigenous Tourism Enterprise Network have signed an MOU to establish another national tourism organization and will invite other organizations to join in the coming months.
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  Keith Henry, the president and CEO of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, last month released a statement on the ITAC website saying the organization was in crisis and he had made the decision to lay off ITAC's remaining team members while he remains on staff unpaid.
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  Henry has said ITAC's federal funding had declined over several years and that it was promised$35 million a year for seven years from a UK charity, but that funding has not yet materialized.
• 0:59
  Some indigenous governments in Fort Smith Northwest Territories are taking the lead on building housing for the community so it has room to grow.
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  For projects led by the Salt River First Nation and the Fort Smith Metis Council, construction is already underway.
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  According to a territorial needs assessment by Housing Northwest Territories, about 28% of households face housing problems, such as unsuitable housing, unaffordable housing, or housing in need of major repairs.
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  A shortage of market rental units is also leaving jobs at the college, hospital, and schools vacant.
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  The report also noted that Aurora College has identified a need for 100 new student units and 10 new staff units as part of its facilities master plan associated with its transition to a polytechnic university.
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  Salt River First Nations new subdivision being built on reserve land will have houses, an enrichment center for children, and six homes dedicated for elders with easy access to forest grounds so they can harvest from the land.
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  Across town, the Fort Smith Metis Council is building a new social housing two-bedroom duplex near the health center in partnership with Housing Northwest Territories.
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  That building is part of Housing Northwest Territories' efforts to replace and repair social housing in the territory.
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  Fort Smith has a population of around 2,500 people and has been feeling a housing crunch, and with both Salt River First Nation and the Fort Smith Metis Council building homes, they are pushing ahead to make room for more people to move to town.
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  The federal government has announced the 2026 to 2028 funding recipients for the Sport for Social Development in Indigenous Communities program.
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  Through the$22.8 million investment, Indigenous-led projects will expand access to sport and physical activity in communities across the country.
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  In Edmonton, just over$1 million will be invested in three Indigenous-led projects aimed at expanding access to sport and physical activity.
• 2:43
  $10.6 million will be distributed to the 12 provincial territorial Aboriginal sport bodies to develop sports community programming and to the Aboriginal Sports Circle to support their membership in the delivery.
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  Just over$7 million will be distributed to Indigenous governments, communities, and other not for profit Indigenous organizations to support projects that promote sport and recreation in Indigenous communities.
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  Finally,$5 million will be distributed to Indigenous governments, communities, and other not for profit Indigenous organizations that provide opportunities for Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI plus people to participate in sports.
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  That's a look at your national Indigenous News.