Truth & Politics

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she isn't calling for Alberta to separate, but she's moving ahead with legislation that would make it easier. First Nations leaders are calling her rhetoric insanity and an attack on their rights. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that King Charles will make a rare visit to open the 45th Parliament of Canada. And in a historic first, a pope from No...

The election is behind us and Mark Carney is now the elected prime minister of Canada with a slim minority. There are now questions about how long his government will last. Meanwhile, Jagmeet Singh resigned as leader of the NDP on election night after his party was decimated and he lost his own seat. The Conservatives increased their numbers, but Pierre Poilievre also lost his seat and the premier...

Pope Francis will be laid to rest this weekend, days after his death at the age of 87. The head of the Catholic Church visited Canada in 2022 to apologize for its role in the residential school system. His passing comes during the final stretch of a federal election campaign that has only recently begun to engage with Indigenous issues. Our Truth and Politics panel joins host Dennis Ward to discus...

We're more than two weeks into the federal election campaign and efforts are underway to get out the Indigenous vote. The Assembly of First Nations says First Nations could be the deciding factor in 36 ridings across the country. But Indigenous issues have been absent from the political discourse. Will that keep voters from heading to the polls? For more, our Truth and Politics panel joins host De...

Natural resources are a hot topic this federal election — in part because of U.S. President Donald Trump's shifting tariffs on Canadian imports. Oil and gas came up when Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre met with chiefs in Edmonton at an event hosted by the Indian Resource Council. Photos from the meeting sparked backlash, with some band members saying they didn't support what appeared to be an...

It's come to light this week that Prime Minister Mark Carney's father was the principal of a Federal Indian Day School. Will this have an impact on Carney's run this federal election? And what is Carney's track record on Indigenous issues in this election campaign so far? For more on this, our Truth and Politics panel joins host Dennis Ward. Niigaan Sinclair, columnist with the Winnipeg Free Press...

The identity of Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe — Buffalo Woman — has been revealed more than three years after she was killed by a Winnipeg serial killer. Ashlee Shingoose's remains are believed to be in the Brady Road landfill, south of the city. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has committed to the family that a search will happen. For more on this, our Truth and Politics panel joins host Dennis Ward. Jennifer...

The search of a Winnipeg-area landfill for Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran has been a success – but unfortunately, politics played a role throughout the fight to get the search done. For more on this, host Dennis Ward is joined by Jennifer Laewetz, CEO of Paskwâw Harbour Strategies, and Niigaan Sinclair, a columnist with the Winnipeg Free Press. • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way....

Donald Trump's shifting tariff policies are affecting businesses on both sides of the border. How will Indigenous communities in Canada be impacted? Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says all pipeline projects are pre-approved. What does that mean for First Nations rights? With food prices expected to rise, how can families prepare? And as First Nations leaders head to Las Vegas next week for a summi...

On Wednesday afternoon, the province of Manitoba announced that human remains may have been found at the Prairie Green Landfill, where the search for the remains of two First Nations women has been underway since December. The families of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran spoke to the media on Thursday about the discovery. For more on this, host Dennis Ward is joined by Jennifer Laewetz, CEO of Pas...

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is "giving back" Aboriginal title of Haida Gwaii to the Haida Nation—but what does that actually mean? We break down the details and implications of this historic announcement. We're also looking at the federal funding cuts impacting residential school Survivors and searches for unmarked burials. What's at stake, and how are communities responding? And aft...

The federal government is imposing new restrictions on Jordan's Principle in response to accusations of mis-spending. Meanwhile, the fallout continues after Buffy Sainte-Marie had her Order of Canada revoked, raising questions about her legacy. On Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation, the community is mourning a tragic quadruple homicide. Police have called it a targeted attack, yet nearly two weeks lat...

One week after the father of Jordan River Anderson spoke out, Jordan's Principle remains in the news—either for services not being funded or for questionable services that are. Joining host Dennis Ward to discuss are Jennifer Laewetz from Paskwaw Harbour Strategies and Winnipeg Free Press columnist Niigaan Sinclair. • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: ht...

We lost a respected leader last week with the passing of Bill Wilson, a key figure in the 1980s battles over Canada's repatriated Constitution. Wilson, a hereditary chief of the Kwakwaka'wakw Nation, was also the father of Jody Wilson-Raybould, Canada's first Indigenous federal minister of justice and attorney general. Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump makes his stance on Native Americ...

To pipeline or not to pipeline? That's just one of the big questions on this week's Truth and Politics panel. Host Dennis Ward is joined by Jennifer Laewetz of Paskwaw Harbour Strategies and Winnipeg Free Press columnist Niigaan Sinclair to explore the issues. • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: https://aptnnews.ca Hear more APTN News podcasts: https://w...

Donald Trump is about to be sworn in as the next president of the United States. How are our leaders preparing and what does this mean for people living in Canada? Savannah Kelly is stepping in for Dennis Ward and Creeson Agecoutay. Joining us for this week's Truth & Politics panel are Winnipeg Free Press columnist Niigaan Sinclair and Paskwaw Strategies' Jennifer Laewetz. • • • APTN National News...

It's shaping up to be a pivotal year in Canadian politics with the resignation of Justin Trudeau, potentially marking the end of the Liberal government. His departure has triggered a leadership race, and a federal election looms on the horizon. Joining us on the first Truth & Politics panel of 2025, with guest host Savannah Kelly, are Paskwâw Harbour Strategies' Jennifer Laewetz and Winnipeg Free...

As 2024 winds down, Winnipeg Free Press columnist Niigaan Sinclair and Jennifer Laewetz of Paskwaw Strategies join us to reflect on the year that was and discuss what may lie ahead. That's on this week's edition of APTN News' Truth & Politics panel. • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: https://aptnnews.ca Hear more APTN News podcasts: https://www.aptnnews...

This week on Truth and Politics, it's an issue that never goes away. Several weeks ago, we told you the story of Jason Kennedy, who came to Winnipeg from the Bloodvein First Nation for a leg amputation. Staff at the Grace Hospital cut off the wrong leg. We also have had two recent stories about elderly hospital patients in Saskatoon and now Edmonton who had their hair cut by staff without family c...

The Assembly of First Nations Special Chiefs Assembly wrapped up on Thursday in Ottawa. There were a lot of moving parts, including a resolution calling for a national inquiry into deaths at the hands of police. Our Truth & Politics panel breaks it down. • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: https://aptnnews.ca Hear more APTN News podcasts: https://www.apt...

There is a federal by-election coming up in British Columbia on December 16. The Cloverdale—Langley City riding was held by the Liberals until the MP decided to step down and run in the recent provincial election. Small business owner Madison Fleischer is running for the Liberals but a B.C. Métis society is distancing itself from the candidate who has claimed Métis identity. Our Truth & Politics p...

It's a tumultuous week for Randy Boissonnault, Liberal MP for Edmonton Centre. The Prime Minister announced Wednesday that Boissonnault was out of cabinet so he could clear the air on his claims of being Indigenous. Our Truth & Politics panel weighs in. • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: https://aptnnews.ca Hear more APTN News podcasts: https://www.aptn...

Niigaan Sinclair is one of three Indigenous recipients of this year's Governor General's Literary Awards. He is back on our Truth & Politics panel this week along with Jennifer Laewetz to discuss the book and the significance of the awards. • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: https://aptnnews.ca Hear more APTN News podcasts: https://www.aptnnews.ca/podca...

We're expanding our Truth & Politics panel into a weekly podcast. Each episode, panelists Jennifer Laewetz and Niigaan Sinclair join APTN National News hosts Dennis Ward and Creeson Agecoutay to examine key issues affecting Indigenous Peoples across Canada. Listen every Friday.