APTN News InFocus

On this edition of APTN News InFocus: Why discussions surrounding the Indian Act seemingly came out of the blue. Chair in Indigenous Governance at Toronto Metropolitan University Pam Palmater and McGill Indigenous Relations Initiative Faculty chair Veldon Coburn join the show to discuss Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew's push to abolish the act, how the proposal came to dominate discussions at the First...

On this edition of APTN News InFocus: the U.S. midterm elections and what the results could mean for Indigenous communities. Pawnee and Ponca lawyer Brett Chapman and Shoshone-Bannock journalist and ICT founding editor Mark Trahant join the show to discuss the record number of Indigenous candidates running for office, the Trump administration's impact on tribal communities and press freedom, and w...

On this edition of APTN News InFocus, Cierra Bettens looks back at Alberta's referendum on separation from Canada and what the results mean for First Nations in the province. APTN News video journalist Charlotte Morritt-Jacobs joins the show to share what she heard from voters on the ground, the efforts by First Nations to mobilize voters and concerns over ballot shortages at some polling stations...

On this edition of APTN News InFocus, guest host Dennis Ward looks at the early election call in British Columbia and what's at stake for voters. Candidates Leah Ballantyne of the NDP, Anna Mary McKenzie of the Green Party and Conservative incumbent Aaliya Warbus, join the show to discuss their parties' platforms, Indigenous rights, climate change and the issues shaping the campaign. • • • APTN Na...

On this edition of APTN News InFocus, Cierra Bettens looks at the growing talk of separation in Alberta and what it could mean for First Nations in the province. Red River Métis journalist Danielle Paradis is the co-producer of the podcast Separation Anxiety: The Alberta Referendum and joins the show to discuss the roots of Alberta's separatist movement and how Indigenous people are responding. AP...

On this edition of APTN News InFocus, guest host Dennis Ward looks at residential school denialism and the ongoing spread of misinformation about residential schools and survivors. University of Manitoba professors Sean Carleton and Niigaan Sinclair join the show to discuss their new book, Truth Before Reconciliation, along with why denialism persists, questions surrounding the anomalies found at...

On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens looks at Canada's ongoing opioid crisis and its disproportionate impact on First Nations. Since APTN first reported on fentanyl in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside in 2016, the opioid crisis has continued to claim lives across the country. APTN News journalist Karyn Pugliese and Raven Brascoupe join the show to discuss their new project that l...

On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens looks at Canada's wildfire preparedness and the importance of the boreal forest. A recent Senate committee report found that wildfire preparedness and response responsibilities are spread across different levels of government, creating challenges with coordination. Arnold Lazare, interim CEO of the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council, j...

It's been almost one year since The Cowichan Tribe won a landmark decision recognizing Aboriginal Title to land owned by the Crown and the City of Richmond. On today's show, we wanted to share another episode from APTN News: Answers – where Savannah Kelly and Jesse Andrushko dive in to figure out what the court decision actually means and what is at stake. Find more episodes here: https://youtube....

On this episode of APTN News InFocus, we're bringing you the latest edition of the Truth & Politics podcast. Each week on APTN National News, our Truth & Politics panelists sit down with our hosts Dennis Ward to discuss important topics affecting Indigenous Peoples in the news. On this episode, the Assembly of First Nations annual general assembly has now come to an end after a busy couple of days...

Homeless. Houseless. Shelterless. In Winnipeg, they're hard to miss. People sleep on sidewalks, in bus shelters, down alleyways, in tents and in abandoned buildings. But who are they? That's the question former APTN web reporter Kathleen Martens explores in the award-winning podcast series Our Relatives: Life on the Streets. As Winnipeg and communities across Canada continue to grapple with the to...

No taxes, free housing, and free tuition? You've probably seen those claims online about Indian Status—but are they actually true? InFocus is taking a break for the summer, so while we're away, we're sharing some of our other work with you. Jesse Andrushko and Savannah Kelly launched a new YouTube series called APTN News Answers, where they break down questions, current events, and issues affectin...

On this edition of APTN News InFocus, guest host Dennis Ward examines the ongoing controversies surrounding the Thunder Bay Police Service, a force that has faced numerous independent investigations over alleged discrimination against Indigenous Peoples. Journalist Jon Thompson joins the show to discuss his decades of reporting on policing issues in Thunder Bay, concerns about how missing persons...

Talal Dakalbab was only named the commissioner of the Correctional Service in Canada in March but says he's already reaching out to communities to integrate them with prison programs to help rehabilitate inmates. Dakalbab, who takes over the position from Anne Kelly, joins guest host Mark Blackburn to talk about how he plans to revamp a prison system many see as outdated and unable to change. • •...

On this edition of APTN News InFocus, guest host Karyn Pugliese speaks with federal NDP leader Avi Lewis about rebuilding the party and his political vision. This interview originally aired on APTN Nation to Nation. Find full episodes here: https://www.aptnnews.ca/nationtonation/ • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more:  https://aptnnews.ca Hear more APTN New...

The Quewezance sisters have spent decades fighting to clear their names after being convicted of a murder they say they did not commit. More than 30 years after their conviction and four years after their case was sent for review, they are still waiting for answers. On this episode of APTN News InFocus, guest host Leanne Sanders examines the lengthy delays facing people seeking justice after a wro...

On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens examines Canada's ecological footprint and the push for solutions through conservation and Indigenous-led stewardship. York University researcher Eric Miller breaks down new findings showing humanity is consuming resources at a rate equivalent to 1.7 Earths per year and explains what Canada must do to reduce its impact. Then, Seal River Wat...

On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens looks at calls to rewrite Canada's Cannabis Act. Former senator Dan Christmas told a House of Commons committee the law has failed to recognize First Nations jurisdiction and does not align with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. APTN News reporter Jesse Staniforth joins the show from Montreal to explain how...

On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens speaks with Nunavut Premier John Main about the territory's priorities as the Arctic draws more attention. Elected in fall 2025, Main says northern leaders are still advocating for basics like housing and food security – needs many in southern Canada take for granted. He joins the show to discuss Arctic sovereignty and what Nunavummiut need...

On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens looks at Canada's changing trade relationship with the United States. Prime Minister Mark Carney has warned about relying too heavily on the U.S., even as Ottawa works to maintain ties and expand trade elsewhere. Tabatha Bull is the president of the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business and a member of Carney's revamped economic advisory...

On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens marks a major milestone for APTN's interview series Face to Face. The show is celebrating its 300th episode after more than a decade of in-depth conversations with First Nations, Métis and Inuit changemakers. Since taking over as host in 2017, Dennis Ward has brought Face to Face to communities across Turtle Island, including early intervie...

On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens examines Canada's push to build AI data centres in the name of sovereignty. The federal government is injecting over $2 billion for national AI infrastructure, while Bell has announced a 300-megawatt data centre near the Rural Municipality of Sherwood, Sask. As projects expand in proximity to Indigenous lands, questions remain about environ...

On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens examines British Columbia's plan to suspend parts of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). Premier of British Columbia David Eby outlined his plan during a meeting between leaders, according to the Canadian Press. Robert Phillips of the First Nations Summit joins the show to discuss what was said and what changes...

On this episode of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens examines the RCMP's decades-long surveillance of Indigenous Peoples. A CBC Investigates report reveals how the Native Extremism Program infiltrated Indigenous organizations and monitored leaders like George Manuel. Journalist Brett Forester joins the show to break down the investigation and what the findings reveal about state surveillance....

On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens takes listeners inside a weekly APTN broadcast and the team bringing stories to French-speaking audiences across the country. APTN Nouvelles nationales Host Kim Sullivan shares the vision behind creating space for Indigenous stories in French and why language matters. • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for...