First Nations Forward | Canada's National Observer: Climate News

Special report

First Nations Forward

Produced in collaboration with the Real Estate Foundation of BC, I-SEA, Vancouver Foundation, Vancity, Catherine Donnelly Foundation, Donner Canadian Foundation, Clayoquot Biosphere Trust, North Foundation, Willow Grove Foundation, Canadian Center for Journalism, Victoria Foundation, and the Port Moody Foundation. National Observer retains full editorial control over the topics and the reporting.

115 Articles

First Nations, partners launch consultation for development of Vancouver's Jericho Lands

Centuries ago, the Jericho Lands were home to large cedar plank longhouses, where thousands of people from up and down the Pacific Coast would gather. Today, their descendants are gathering to decide what to build there now.

First Nations Forward

By

Tracy Sherlock

News

March 6th 2019

Inuit leader says Trudeau government's new language bill imposes a 'colonial' system

The national Inuit organization in Canada says the Trudeau government’s new Indigenous languages bill has failed to address Inuit rights.

First Nations Forward

By

Carl Meyer

February 5th 2019

The Dzawada’enuxw First Nation files lawsuit against Canada on fish farms dispute

The Dzawada’enuxw First Nation filed an 'Aboriginal rights' lawsuit against the government of Canada, challenging the federal permits that allow Atlantic farmed salmon farms in their traditional territories. Chiefs, artists and community members traveled to Vancouver Thursday for a press conference and art exhibit at night to kick off the Nation's legal action.

First Nations Forward

By

Emilee Gilpin

January 10th 2019

Support for Wet’suwet’en drives Trudeau to delay speech, change venues

Anger at Canada’s support for fossil fuel expansion boiled over Tuesday, forcing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to physically change venues before giving a speech to Indigenous leaders in Ottawa — where he failed to mention a blockade in British Columbia that had spurred a nationwide solidarity movement.

First Nations Forward

By

Carl Meyer

January 8th 2019

Clean energy, court victories and historic firsts

Reporter Emilee Gilpin takes a look back at 2018.

First Nations Forward

By

Emilee Gilpin

December 24th 2018

Indigenous journalists talk about the past, present and future of journalism

Indigenous journalists do the job differently, and they always have. That's what Tristan Ahtone, Simon Moya-Smith, Angela Sterritt, Candis Callison and Julian Noisecat told National Observer's Emilee Gilpin when she asked about their experiences in the industry and their predictions for the future of a steadily shifting media landscape in North America. Here's what they had to say.

First Nations Forward

By

Emilee Gilpin

December 11th 2018

Native author Tommy Orange on Trump, the power of fiction and supermassive black holes

Tommy Orange, an Oakland-based author, was surprised his first novel 'There There' hit The New York Times best seller list, 11 weeks in a row. In an interview with National Observer, Orange told reporter Emilee Gilpin about rarely reading as a kid, the important role of fiction in society, and how the success of his first novel rode a strange parallel to Donald Trump's presidency.

First Nations Forward

By

Emilee Gilpin

November 13th 2018

Justin Trudeau exonerates chiefs and learns to do business 'the Tsilhqot'in way'

The Tsilhqot'in people have gained a new story to pass down to generations to come, after members gathered as a mass force for Prime Minister Trudeau's visit to Tsilhqot'in title land, to engage in ceremony and apologize to the community "the Tsilhqot'in way" for the betrayal and killings of war chiefs in 1864.

First Nations Forward

By

Emilee Gilpin

November 5th 2018

Two communities take reconciliACTION into their own hands

Jatinder Singh never imagined that a street sign in Victoria's Cook Street village would take him on a journey that stretched back to 1864.

First Nations Forward

By

Emilee Gilpin

October 30th 2018

Poetry, pipelines and politics: An interview with Indigenous author Eden Robinson

Reporter Emilee Gilpin sat down with award-winning author Eden Robinson at the beginning of her newest book launch to discuss nothing less than her success, dating life and the latest LNG pipeline project in her territory.

First Nations Forward

By

Emilee Gilpin

October 16th 2018

Asia Youngman and Trevor Mack on their new film

Emerging Indigenous directors Asia Youngman and Trevor Mack premiered their short documentary 'In the Valley of Wild Horses' at the Vancouver International Film Festival. Their showings sold-out, highlighting an increased interest in community-based story-telling.

First Nations Forward

By

Emilee Gilpin

October 12th 2018

The woman who bought a plane and started an airline dedicated to Indigenous women

Teara Fraser dreamed of becoming a pilot and had her license in hand one year later. Fifteen years later, she bought a plane and launched an Indigenous woman-owned airline that will commence service next year.

First Nations Forward

By

Emilee Gilpin

September 26th 2018

These five Indigenous tattoo artists are reawakening cultural practices

Inking up can be good medicine, according to five Indigenous tattoo artists whose work is featured in a new Vancouver exhibit.

First Nations Forward

By

Emilee Gilpin

August 23rd 2018

The Tla-o-qui-aht Nation demonstrates clean energy alternatives

As politicians squabble over bitumen, First Nations demonstrate clean energy alternatives. Using old pipeline materials to create clean energy and pushing forward an historic tribal parks program, this coastal British Columbia Nation is a force to be reckoned with.

First Nations Forward

By

Emilee Gilpin

May 15th 2018

After thousands of years of history, Chief Ian Campbell wants to be the first Indigenous mayor of Vancouver

Hereditary Chief Ian Campbell of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) officially announced he will run for mayor of Vancouver with Vision Vancouver. If successful, he would be the first Indigenous mayor in Vancouver.

First Nations Forward

By

Emilee Gilpin

May 14th 2018