Two maritime provinces declined to distribute a book to students saying it was racist and promotes stereotypes of First Nations people, but in British Columbia schools are giving it for free to students in grade one. Read more…

Two shocking revelations from Western Australia this week, both involving Freddo frogs. A Freddo frog is a small, frog-shaped, foil-wrapped chocolate bar that has been standard fare in any Aussie kid’s sugar inventory for decades. As someone who grew up on them, and recalls learning the hard economic lesson of inflation when the price went from 3 to 5 cents per frog, I was startled to learn this week that Freddo frogs now price out at 70 cents apiece. That, and a million dollars, will get you a modest bungalow in the far northwestern town of Broome, where house prices have inflated to make even Vancouver seem almost affordable. Read more…

Aboriginal and civil rights groups are calling for the public release of video showing a man being tasered by police while handcuffed on a cell floor.

"It's worse than Dziekanski," said Grand Chief Stewart Philip of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs. Read more…

Politicians, Aboriginal leaders, and community members gathered today for the first of what the Vancouver Aboriginal Transformative Justice Society hopes will be many multi-leveled discussions aimed at seeking solutions to Vancouver’s problem of aboriginal homelessness. Jenifer Brousseau, a community and prevention outreach worker for the VATJSS and one of the organizers of the event, said that she hopes the discussion forums will connect members from all sections of the community and government to work together toward actual tangible solutions. Read more…

British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell said he's sorry for the misunderstanding that led a Mi'kmaq children's choir to believe they'd been invited to perform at the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, but there's nothing he can do about it now.

“I sure am sorry if there was any misunderstanding," Campbell said. "There certainly wasn't meant to be any.” Read more…

A Mi'kmaq children's choir from Newfoundland won't sing at the Olympics unless it's at the opening ceremonies, Miawpukek First Nation Chief Saqamaw Misel Joe said in a letter to British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell today.

At a Tuesday night meeting the choir discussed the offer B.C. made Monday to perform at aboriginal cultural events after the opening, he said. “Their decision was to agree to 'nothing short of performing at the opening.'” Read more…

The British Columbia government is looking for opportunities for a Mi'kmaq children's choir to sing at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, aboriginal relations and reconciliation minister George Abbott said today.

“It appeared obviously that some expectations were created,” Abbott said. “I'm sure that the premier was very impressed by the choir when he heard it and I'm sure he was waxing enthusiastic about the choir and its potential.” Read more…

Mi'kmaq Chief Misel Joe said the children in his community need an apology from British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell after an invitation to sing at the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver was rescinded. Read more…

The invitation British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell personally made to a Mi'kmaq children's choir to sing at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games opening ceremonies has been withdrawn, according to Newfoundland media reports.

The St. John's Telegram quoted an e-mail from a community member in Conne River, Newfoundland, where the choir is based: “A part of each and every one of these children died last night.” Read more…

Members of the Tsilhqot'in Nation will demonstrate their opposition to a tailings impound proposed on their territory at the Fairmont Waterfront this evening during meetings held by the Mining Association of British Columbia.

“We are planning on getting our word out that we are opposed to mines being developed in our area. It’s a mine that will drain a lake in our territory. The lake is situated directly above the Taseko River, which is a destination for salmon,” said Loretta Williams, Mining Coordinator with the Tsilhqot’in National Government. Read more…

In an address to the legislature Tuesday, Stikine MLA Doug Donaldson took aim at Environment Minister Barry Penner.

He blamed shoddy wildlife populations statistics and diminished funding for a conflict that has left hunters “caught in the middle” between Tahltan protestors and government hunting regulations in northwestern B.C. Read more…

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has been drawn into what could be a precedent-setting case for aboriginal rights in British Columbia dealing with fish farms, sea lice and wild salmon in the Broughton Archipelago. Read more…

A woman from Beecher Bay First Nation, near Victoria, has become Vancouver Island's first H1N1 fatality, while controversy has erupted over this morning's report of an H1N1 outbreak around Tofino. Read more…

The expected "second wave" of H1N1 flu has hit on the west coast of Vancouver Island, according to the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Read more…

The New Democratic Party has so far had one person, first nations educator and conference organizer Edith Loring-Kuhanga, declare she is seeking the party's nomination in Saanich-Gulf Islands. Read more…

Vancouver city councillors are calling on the city to support the recommendation of a coroner’s inquest into the death of Curtis Brick this summer.

“The main things that were asking for is that council endorse the Union of BC Indian Chiefs and the various groups who are asking for a coroners inquest. So we’re asking that we endorse that call,” city councillor Kerry Jang told the Tyee. Read more…

The crash of this summer's sockeye run has become a federal political issue, and two B.C. MPs are calling for an "emergency summit" to rescue wild salmon. Read more…

The Union of BC Indian Chiefs is supporting the family of a deceased First Nations man in requesting a coronor’s inquest into his death, which the UBCIC says was the result of “systemic racism.”

“The UBCIC is not going to step down or step away from these tragic circumstances. We’re absolutely outraged that yet another aboriginal man has died as a direct consequence of the failure an in sensitivities of the emergency services,” said UBCIC Grand Chief Stewart Phillip today at a press conference. Read more…

An international organization is appealing to Norway's King Harald V to help save B.C.'s wild salmon from the impact of Norwegian-owned fish farms. Read more…

The Union of BC Indian Chiefs has called upon the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to close the chinook sports fishery on the Fraser River to reduce the number of sockeye being caught in the crossfire.

“We want to be clear that we take issue with this in terms of the overall health of wild salmon stocks. It’s bigger than our constitutionally enshrined right to fish. We’re talking about the survival of the salmon fishery itself, and I think all parties have a responsibility to withdraw,” said UBCIC Chief Stewart Phillip. Read more…