Ontario First Nations say it’s ‘now or never’ to stand up to resource extraction bills. Legal experts warn laws are undemocratic and unconstitutional, while leaders call for a united front to defend lands and rights. New from @jonthompson.bsky.social: ricochet.media/indigenous/l... #onpoli

“This is the kind of power that dictators give themselves. I think people in Canada have just become so distracted by so much noise and information out there, because I don’t know why every Canadian isn’t jumping up and down, mortified by this" - Lawyer Kate Kempton from Woodward & Company LLP

Nishnawbe Aski Nation chiefs voted unanimously to demand that Canada and Ontario meet with them over the law-defying Bill C-5 and Bill 5. But it's clear they see this as existential. If it's not met at the table, it will be met in the courts and on the land. ricochet.media/indigenous/l...

When Canada delivers its budget Tuesday, will it "get out of the way" on the proposed Ring of Fire environmental assessment, as Ontario Premier Doug Ford requested last week? Canada's not telling. I've been requesting since Oct. 29, daily contact with the Privy Council office, but still no answer.

Say what you will about Thunder Bay, it’s a perfect place to put a city.

When Canada delivers its budget Tuesday, will it "get out of the way" on the proposed Ring of Fire environmental assessment, as Ontario Premier Doug Ford requested last week? Canada's not telling. I've been requesting since Oct. 29, daily contact with the Privy Council office, but still no answer.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Marten Falls First Nation and the family of Corey Belesky appeal to the public for information about his murder on its third anniversary. They also call for Thunder Bay Police Service to increase officer resources to the case.

Prior to Doug Ford's re-election, First Nations near the proposed Ring of Fire mine development called his government's strategy, "divide and conquer." ricochet.media/indigenous/t... Ford was re-elected on the Ring of Fire as "protecting Ontario." ricochet.media/politics/dou... Now this...

‘History repeating itself’: Ontario First Nations vow resistance as Doug Ford accelerates Ring of Fire mining. Some First Nations say the province’s rush to develop is undermining rights and deepening divisions. New from @jonthompson.bsky.social: ricochet.media/indigenous/h... #onpoli #landback

I think this week's lasting impact will be how it's something of a coming out party for Indigenous minister Greg Rickford's interpretation of Ontario's responsibility to First Nations, which he calls "economic reconciliation." ricochet.media/indigenous/h... facebook.com/reel/1879242906005086/

Ontario is commissioning a feasibility study to build a pipeline that would carry “Canadian oil and gas from Alberta and Saskatchewan to new and established refineries in southern Ontario and new ports on James Bay, Hudson Bay and the Great Lakes.” news.ontario.ca/en/release/1...

OPINION: As the Ford government ushers in rules for special economic zones in Ontario — where laws are lifted in the name of economic development — it is ignoring global examples where this tradeoff went wrong. thenarwhal.ca/ontario-spec...

Taykwa Tagamou Nation has dropped its lawsuit against Discovery Silver Corp., which had sought development costs of over 110 years, arguing lacking consultation and accommodation. ricochet.media/indigenous/t...

For anecdotal consideration on how the political turn might be so sharp that those who worked in corporate DEI only a couple of years ago are no longer being hired. financialpost.com/fp-work/job-...

We are talking about bail here. So by “violent criminals,” I’m sure the prime minister means citizens alleged to have committed violent crimes.

Nishnawbe Aski Police Service has lifted a shelter-in-place advisory at Brunswick House, where a man was shot on Sunday. Police have not located the alleged gunman but according to the release, "police now believe there is no ongoing threat to public safety..."

20hrs after Thunder Bay police chief Darcy Fleury refused to answer media questions on a CBC piece alleging a new Satan's Choice chapter, TBPS now says there's no evidence. Why wouldn't you tell us yesterday? "Yesterday we were here for a purpose, which was the announcement we wanted to make..."

Thunder Bay police chief Darcy Fleury refused to answer questions at a press conference today re: this CBC report that Satan's Choice is re-establishing itself in the northern Ontario centres of Thunder Bay and Sudbury, among other places. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... That's for a presser tomorrow.

Since we published this story, police has issued another shelter-in-place advisory for an armed gunman still at large who has shot someone, this time in Brunswick House First Nation. The last one was Thursday in Ginoogaming First Nation where two men have been arrested for second-degree murder.

Nishnawbe Aski Police Service is requesting members of Brunswick House First Nation to shelter in place on Sunday night. It’s the 2nd time this week police has called for a NAN community to shelter in place due to armed individuals at large. ricochet.media/indigenous/w...

According to Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, Doug Ford & Greg Rickford have yet to contact Ginoogaming First Nation following the shooting death of a local man & apprehension of two Brampton men following a two-day, shelter-in-place incident leaders say was drug-related.

I’ve been lucky to have done a lot of things in my life. I’ve been a lot of places and I’ve met a lot of people. I’ve never, ever encountered a New York Rangers fan.

I'm told by sources I consider to be reliable that OPP has apprehended two suspects in the shooting death of a Ginoogaming First Nation man. OPP has yet to respond to my request for confirmation. OPP lifted the two-day, shelter-in-place order on Ginoogaming and neighbouring Longlac at 3:30.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler issues state of emergency across NAN territory over drugs, gang violence. He on Canada & Ontario to meet & resource it. “It has come to the point in some cases where our chiefs and council feel they’re losing control,” he says.

I don't know about you, but Canada's 25 Most Wanted Fugitives is the horse-race media stunt that most makes me want to smash that button and turn my big red chair around.

Temperatures in Thunder Bay dropped 20 degrees this past couple days. Run was cold this morn'. I've got birds on my windowsill looking to set up a winter arrangement. I'm calmly sipping my coffee, listening to Cowboys From Hell, basking & connecting with their panic as "nature."

So why is Ontario's ombudsman flying into northern First Nations that are in crisis? Where is Canada's ombudsman? Oh, Canada doesn't have an ombudsman – and that's not for a lack of interest by Indigenous people or ombudsman at the provincial and territorial levels.

Apple has recognized Canadaland's podcast "Thunder Bay" that I co-produced with Ryan McMahon among its global "Series Essentials." podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t... The pressure continues on Thunder Bay & Ontario leaders to solve these serious, persistent problems hurting this city we love.

"[C]urrently no independent oversight body to deal with Indigenous people's issues." "[S]ix years since the idea arose among the Calls to Action in the 2019 Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls." "[W]e haven't heard much response." #Ontario #Saskatchewan #Canada #Genocide

So why is Ontario's ombudsman flying into northern First Nations that are in crisis? Where is Canada's ombudsman? Oh, Canada doesn't have an ombudsman – and that's not for a lack of interest by Indigenous people or ombudsman at the provincial and territorial levels.

Apple has recognized Canadaland's podcast "Thunder Bay" that I co-produced with Ryan McMahon among its global "Series Essentials." podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t... The pressure continues on Thunder Bay & Ontario leaders to solve these serious, persistent problems hurting this city we love.

Anishinaabe-kwe former pop & country star Shy-Anne Hovorka is putting on a second act — and the activism in her art has matured, backed by an orchestra. ricochet.media/indigenous/f...

In Thunder Bay, an Indigenous artist and ’60s Scoop survivor is using music and education to fight for Indigenous justice and give hope to the next generation. This is @shy-anne55.bsky.social's second act. New feature from @jonthompson.bsky.social: ricochet.media/indigenous/f... #NorthernOntario

Fascinating interpretation of “public infrastructure” in this joint statement from Northwestern and Northeastern Ontario municipal leaders today.

Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce launches window sticker campaign to show status cards are welcome. The use of status cards is, as Chamber vicce chair Ed Collins points out, "a right." www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Ontario's ombudsman found infrastructure failures and lack of equitable services in Neskantaga First Nation "unacceptable and unsafe." But when youth from across Nishnawbe Aski Nation have to leave home for services, an average of two die in Thunder Bay every year. ricochet.media/indigenous/b...

‘Bringing them home in coffins’: Ombudsman finds unsafe conditions in Fly-in First Nation. Ricochet journalist Jon Thompson accompanied Ontario’s ombudsman on a shocking tour of Neskantaga First Nation. This is what they saw. ricochet.media/indigenous/b...

I was in Neskantaga First Nation with the Ontario Ombudsman, witnessing conditions he found "unacceptable and unsafe." More coverage on Neskantaga's polycrisis & how infrastructure failures are pushing members to Thunder Bay, where shortfalls can be fatal. ricochet.media/indigenous/b...

Thunder Bay Police Service has launched a search into the city’s landfill as part of the homicide investigation into the death of Deborah Anishinabie. This will include a search for partial human remains.

I was in Neskantaga First Nation with the Ontario ombudsman this week, where he witnessed conditions he described as "unsafe and unacceptable." Neskantaga is home to Canada's longest boil-water advisory, at over 30 years. The nursing station has been shuttered since May.

Largest demonstration yet outside of Thunder Bay-Superior North MP Party Hajdu’s office this hour. “Draw The Line” is attracting around 100 who are demonstrating for climate justice, against genocide in Palestine, and opposing nuclear waste burial in Northern Ontario.

Conditions on the Neskantaga First Nation prompt Ontario ombudsman to call on federal and provincial governments to act ‘Unsafe and unacceptable:’ ombudsman demands ‘immediate action’ for fly-in community. The latest from @jonthompson.bsky.social: ricochet.media/indigenous/u... #onpoli #cdnpoli

I was in Neskantaga First Nation with the Ontario ombudsman this week, where he witnessed conditions he described as "unsafe and unacceptable." Neskantaga is home to Canada's longest boil-water advisory, at over 30 years. The nursing station has been shuttered since May.

Ricochet published the human rights complaint that Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation & IFNA filed against Ontario over what they say is the inequitable state of paramedicine in northern Ontario First Nations. This is what that looks like on the front line. ricochet.media/indigenous/n...

Ricochet published the human rights complaint that Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation & IFNA filed against Ontario over what they say is the inequitable state of paramedicine in northern Ontario First Nations. This is what that looks like on the front line. ricochet.media/indigenous/n...

In one northern Ontario First Nation, the health director doubles as the ambulance driver and the only backup is a broken van — Chronic underfunding and neglect have maintained a deadly #healthcrisis in the north. New from @jonthompson.bsky.social: ricochet.media/indigenous/n... #onpoli

Ontario is once again announcing a road to the proposed Ring of Fire, this time framing the $62M maintenance of Main Street in Geraldton (existing municipal infrastructure technically called Hwy 584) as defending Ontario, reconciliation & unlocking mineral potential. news.ontario.ca/en/release/1...

At Assembly of #FirstNations, one chief feels ‘sidelined’ by #Manitoba’s approach to development — Chief told Premier Kinew that government is fast-tracking a project through his territory without proper consultation. New from @jonthompson.bsky.social: ricochet.media/indigenous/a... #landback

Addressing the Assembly of First Nations, Cindy Blackstock raised warning that Canada may be attempting to dip back into jurisdictional questions on child welfare. She says Thunder Bay MP & then-ISC Minister Patty Hajdu sent two letters to the effect of regional approaches earlier this year.