Truth & Politics

The controversy continues after Manitoba's minister of accessibility blocked the entire APTN News editorial team on social media. The block followed reporting on Minister Nahanni Fontaine's comments about an American Sign Language interpreter at a public event. In a statement from the minister on Wednesday, Nahanni Fontaine said, "immediately upon learning that journalists were blocked on my socia...

The fallout continues after comments made by Manitoba's minister of accessibility about an American Sign Language interpreter. Caught on camera at a graduation ceremony, Nahanni Fontaine said the interpreter was distracting and shouldn't have been on stage. That's on this week's Truth and Politics panel, along with a look at Canada Day and the ongoing infighting at the Métis Nation–Saskatchewan. J...

Can you be sued for saying someone isn't Indigenous? That's the title of recent report by Michelle Cyca for The Walrus, where she outlines two cases before the courts where someone accused of being a pretendian has sued their accuser. One of those court cases wrapped up this week. That is one of our topics on this week's Truth & Politics panel. Joining host Dennis Ward are Jennifer Laewetz, CEO of...

The debate over fast-tracking legislation for so-called national interest projects is heating up. One First Nations leader is promising a long, hot summer if the federal government passes Bill C-5. Others are criticizing the national chief for her involvement in the so-called consultation process. Meanwhile, Ontario Premier Doug Ford is apologizing after saying he treats First Nations "like gold"...

A new poll conducted for the Association of Canadian Studies finds a majority of Canadians reject the idea that they live on stolen Indigenous land. Fifty-two per cent of those polled in May 2025 say they do not live on stolen land – that number climbs to 60 per cent in Alberta. Among youth, however, half of students surveyed believe they do live on stolen land. Also this week, Manitoba Premier Wa...

The Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act – or Bill 5 – has now passed, despite concerns raised by First Nations. It's the latest in a wave of legislation provincial governments are pushing forward as jurisdictions across the country look to launch development projects in part, in response to the Trump-era tariffs. Our Truth and Politics panel joins host Dennis Ward to weigh in. Jennifer L...

King Charles made a whirlwind visit to Canada, delivering the speech from the throne and meeting with leaders of the Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and the Métis National Council. In Saskatchewan, Glenn McCallum has been re-elected as president of the Métis Nation–Saskatchewan. And in Manitoba, a state of emergency has been declared. The military has been called in to help evac...

Plenty of developments on the federal political scene this week. Former chief and now Member of Parliament Billy Morin has been appointed the Conservative opposition critic for Indigenous Services. The recently elected Liberal government says it won't present a new budget until the fall. And lawyers for the federal government say they're done negotiating child welfare reform with the Assembly of F...

This week, Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled his new cabinet. Three Indigenous members of Parliament will be part of his inner circle. One of the most notable appointments is Mandy Gull-Masty, a former grand chief of the Grand Council of the Crees in Quebec. She becomes the first Indigenous person to lead Indigenous Services Canada. Our Truth and Politics panel is here, joining guest host Tiar W...

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...