Teresa Wright

As many settler Canadians gain greater awareness of the dark and disturbing truths about the country's mistreatment of Indigenous populations, political leaders struck conciliatory tones in recognizing National Indigenous People's Day on Monday, June 21, 2021.

The plan released Thursday — the second anniversary of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls' final report — was branded as the long-promised "national action plan." However, the document is something of a preliminary framework that some Indigenous leaders said fell short of the urgent action needed. 

A new poll by Leger and the Association of Canadian Studies suggests the country is divided over plans to send athletes from Canada to the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo as Japan grapples with climbing COVID-19 cases.

Many Indigenous communities are struggling to cope with dual states of emergency, thanks to the pandemic and its effects on those with mental illness and addictions.