Tag Archives: #Canada

History, Law, Language,Rosethorn, Library

History of the Metis Nation

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There is a missing chapter in the narrative of Canada’s Indigenous peoples—the story of the Métis Nation, a new Indigenous people descended from both First Nations and Europeans

Their story begins in the last decade of the eighteenth century in the Canadian North-West. Within twenty years the Métis proclaimed themselves a nation and won their first battle. Within forty years they were famous throughout North America for their military skills, their nomadic life and their buffalo hunts.

The Métis Nation didn’t just drift slowly into the Canadian consciousness in the early 1800s; it burst onto the scene fully formed. The Métis were flamboyant, defiant, loud and definitely not noble savages. They were nomads with a very different way of being in the world—always on the move, very much in the moment, passionate and fierce. They were romantics and visionaries with big dreams. They battled continuously—for recognition, for their lands and for their rights and freedoms. In 1870 and 1885, led by the iconic Louis Riel, they fought back when Canada took their lands. These acts of resistance became defining moments in Canadian history, with implications that reverberate to this day: Western alienation, Indigenous rights and the French/English divide.

After being defeated at the Battle of Batoche in 1885, the Métis lived in hiding for twenty years. But early in the twentieth century, they determined to hide no more and began a long, successful fight back into the Canadian consciousness. The Métis people are now recognized in Canada as a distinct Indigenous nation. Written by the great-grandniece of Louis Riel, this popular and engaging history of “forgotten people” tells the story up to the present era of national reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

metisNation_ENGDownload

In 1993, the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) was established through the will of Métis people and Métis communities coming together throughout Ontario to create a Métis-specific governance structure. Prior to 1993, Métis had been involved in pan-Indigenous lobby groups and organizations. The MNO was not created to represent all individuals and communities that claim to be Métis, but those individuals and communities that are a part of the Métis Nation.

https://archive.org/details/metisnation-self-government

#Metis Nation; #Canada; #history, Info; #Self Government;

Uncategorized

Skilled Trades Ontario- Apprenticeship Program

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How apprenticeships work

What is an Apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a structured form of trades training where you learn by doing. Instead of just reading or listening, you get hands-on experience. Most of the time (about 80%), you work and learn on the job from skilled professionals—and you get paid while you learn!

The remaining time (about 20%) is spent in classroom-based learning, which might take place at a college, a union training center, or another learning space

Apprenticeships take 2 to 5 years, depending on the trade.

Typically, you work for a year or more, then take 8-12 weeks of classroom training.

This cycle continues until you complete the program.

Certificates you can earn

  • Certificate of Apprenticeship – Issued by Skilled Trades Ontario when you officially complete your apprenticeship program.
  • Certificate of Qualification – If your trade has a certifying exam, you can take it to get a Certificate of Qualification to prove you have all the skills needed for the job.
  • Red Seal Endorsement – If your trade is part of the Red Seal program, passing the exam means you have demonstrated the knowledge required for the national standard in the trade.

Why choose an apprenticeship?

#Skilled Trades; #Ontario; #Apprenticeship Program;

History, Law

Mock Jury Duty – Information

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This mock jury selection exercise is designed to
help you understand the process of establishing
an impartial jury. While many of us understand the
process of how jurors collaborate and deliberate on
a case, the selection process is not often discussed
or well understood. Many movies and television
shows demonstrate how lawyers persuade jurors
when presenting an argument; however, few media
sources show the process of forming jury panels and
selecting jury members for individual trials.
This simulation will assess jury selection in
hypothetical scenarios. When incorporated into a
lesson, this task will simulate the entire process of
jury selection. The re-enactment of this task requires
students to play the role of lawyers, a judge, a
registrar, prospective jurors, and the accused.

INTRODUCTION TO JURY DUTY
Jury duty is one of many responsibilities that
Canadian citizens are required to carry out. A jury is
a group of individuals that makes a decision about
a court hearing in an impartial manner. By being
impartial, jurors are required to reach a decision
based on the evidence presented in court, and reach
a decision without any biases. In order to ensure
that jurors are not biased, a series of steps occurs in
the jury selection process to ensure that qualified
and impartial jurors are selected to participate
on juries.


The jury selection process is a critical process for
the parties involved in a legal matter because the
jury will ultimately decide the outcome of the trial.
Therefore, it is important for both sides to have an
impartial jury.


THE JURIES ACT
The legislation governing the rules and regulations
related to juries in Ontario is called the Juries Act. 1
It outlines the laws related to the eligibility of jurors,
the preparation of jury rolls, the preparation of
jury panels, the drawing of juries during a trial, and
bringing challenges against potential jurors on the
grounds that they might be biased or otherwise
unsuitable to act as a juror.


ELIGIBILITY OF JURORS
According to s. 2 of the Juries Act, in order to be eligible
to act as a juror in Ontario, one must:
(1) reside in Ontario,
(2) be a Canadian citizen,
(3) be at least 18 years of age at the beginning of
the year in which the jury is selected, and
(4) be able to speak, read, and understand English
or French.
A person may be ineligible to serve as a juror
depending on their occupation, their connection
with the court matter that they are a potential juror
for, the recency of their previous jury service, or any
personal circumstances that may

https://archive.org/details/mock-jury-selection-final

Biology/Health, History, Law

Progress, pushback and Indigenous Rights – David Suzuki

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The Kebaowek First Nation’s legal challenge against Canadian Nuclear Laboratories over a proposed nuclear waste facility near the Ottawa River illustrates how progress on Indigenous rights often meets resistance. In a landmark ruling, Justice Julie Blackhawk affirmed that Canada’s commitments under the UNDRIP must meaningfully inform federal decision-making. Canadian Nuclear Laboratories appealed the decision, arguing against application of the UN Declaration Act and the requirement to obtain free, prior and informed consent from Indigenous nations.

Uncertainty is also being used by opponents of Indigenous-led marine protected areas. They promote and leverage the fears and uncertainties of concerned small businesses while also opposing the interests of other small-scale operators, including recreational fishers, that support MPAs.

It’s a familiar refrain: Those with established power seek to prevent change, hiding behind the concerns and doubts of community members, but quickly turn on them when it’s in their interest to do so.

In Manitoba, pushback against a Parks Canada initiative to establish corridors to maintain or restore ecological connectivity is rooted in scare tactics about Indigenous governance, among other fears. At a standing committee on environment and sustainable development meeting in 2024, a policy adviser for the hunting and fishing advocacy group the Manitoba Wildlife Federation said, “When you turn management over to Parks Canada, to Indigenous protected areas or to different control mechanisms that are not by elected officials, how is there any accountability?”

For the entire article you may follow the LInk:

https://davidsuzuki.org/story/progress-pushback-and-indigenous-rights/?utm_source=mkto-none-smSubscribers-readOnline-body&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=scienceMatters-enviroPushback-en-03apr2026&mkt_tok=MTg4LVZEVS0zNjAAAAGg8fubvP7OIsH8gpPu0DeVSvGTWkRshQIMnzBsbgpy_SOJmuWRlZLYmLIvfCsFikdxG2N6XIVukty0es57Is5Ix9WCLIxBrj0RDhd1JWaJvoKY2w&fbclid=IwY2xjawRHVxNleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFzZXRyRXZMSHVFUFpRbERZc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHnyZopg4CvdvFtFdJA_SNVKj6BWhDCSsRgYRrqK75Tk9AKtg8NXoU1PuMGN-_aem_l2hSM7UBH1zf07Z_7B0vDQ

#Native, #indigenous, #Rights, Land, #Industrial Development, #Canada, #David Suzuki

History, Law

Every Child Matters – Truth and Reconciliation ~Canada

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Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and
Reconciliation (also known as Orange Shirt Day) as a response to
Call #80


It is a day to honour and remember the children taken from their
families, those who never returned home, and the individuals, families
and communities still living with the lasting impacts and trauma caused
by the residential school system in Canada. Public commemoration
of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential
schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.
—Government of Canada


People wear orange shirts on this
day because of Phyllis Webstad’s
story. On her first day at residential
school, her shiny new orange shirt,
that was bought by her grandmother,
was taken away from her as a sixyear old girl.
—Orange Shirt Day Society

TRC Poster Call #80 (1) (2)Download

#Truth #Reconciliation, #Canada, Every #Child #Matters, #Native, #Children;

Biology/Health

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

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Indigenous women and girls make up less than 5% of the Canadian
population but represent approximately 24% of all homicide victims. They are 12x more likely to be murdered. Over 60% of Indigenous women experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.

A Statistics Canada report showed that 56% of Indigenous women experience intimate partner violence, more than double the rate for non-Indigenous people.
—Amnesty International

https://archive.org/details/missing_202604

THE MEANING OF THE RED DRESS

The MMIW Red Dress Project is a symbol of awareness and remembrance for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) epidemic that has plagued indigenous communities across North America. This powerful movement began in 2010 with Canadian artist Jaime Black’s installation, which featured red dresses hung in public spaces to draw attention to the staggering rates of violence against Indigenous women and girls. Since then, it has become a global movement advocating for justice, recognition, and action to address this crisis.

The choice of red dresses as the central motif of this project holds deep significance. Red symbolizes both the bloodshed and the resilience of Indigenous women and girls who have been victimized and marginalized. The dresses tell the story of a missing sister, mother, daughter, or friend whose absence leaves a void in their communities. By placing red dresses in public spaces, the project demands that these stories be seen and heard, challenging society to confront the systemic issues that perpetuate violence against Indigenous women and girls.

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) is a silent phenomenon. These women and girls not only disappear physically, but their experiences with violent victimization are often absent from data and media reports.

May 5 marks the National Day of Awareness and Action for MMIWG. In commemoration, UNCW annually provides a platform to raise awareness about this silent crisis and gender-based violence, both inside and outside the classroom. (US)

Since 2021, UNCW’s awareness-raising events have included the Red Dress Project, panel discussions to empower Indigenous women to speak out against gender-based violence, and solidarity walks and candlelight vigils to foster healing, education, and justice. Students also develop research and documentation projects around the stories of victims and survivors, contributing to a growing body of work and understanding of this issue.

MissingDownload

#Missing; #murdered; #Indigenous; #Native; Women; Flyer Designer~ Nadia Ahmed;

Biology/Health, Geography

Drax stop burning wood Pellets – saving forests

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Drax to stop burning B.C. wood pellets for U.K. energy: A significant milestone for the climate

March 12, 2026

səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) and Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Territories (Vancouver, B.C.) — International energy giant Drax has begun to phase out burning forest biomass from British Columbia at its power station in the United Kingdom. As reported by The Guardian, Drax will stop burning “controversial” wood from forests in Canada at its North Yorkshire power station within the next year.

This is a significant milestone. It demonstrates that burning forest biomass to generate energy at utility-scale is untenable and sends a warning signal to all governments and investors currently supporting the global biomass industry: this dirty form of energy is a weak economic proposition.

B.C.’s failure to properly protect old growth and enact a biodiversity law have been exposed on the international stage. As other countries examine their wood pellet supply chains, the facts are clear – there is no sustainable way to source biomass for export from forests in B.C.

This move by Drax follows years of political controversy and public outcry in the U.K. over the company’s Canadian sourcing practices. Most recently, a Stand.earth investigation confirmed that Drax purchased whole logs cut from old growth forests in 2024, and very likely in 2025. This conclusive finding adds to an existing body of evidence in reports, documentaries, and whistleblower testimony.

However, the broader problems with the biomass export industry in Canada continue. While the company will no longer burn biomass from B.C. in the U.K., Drax continues to hold a near-monopoly on wood pellet production in the province, and is likely to continue sourcing from old growth and primary forests to supply customers in Asian and European countries.

Drax to stop burning B.C. wood pellets for U.K. energy: A significant milestone for the climate

#Saving Forest; #stop; #burning wood pellets; #British Columbia; #Canada,

Biology/Health, Geography, History, Law

Native Canadians – or Genocide Narratives

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Native people of Canada – or First Nations people – represent 5 percent of Canadian people (with different rates within different provinces)- with a rate of population growth; however – what exactly happened with the other 95 percent?!Excluding the Land possession – Doesn’t this sound like Genocide to anyone with a brain the size of a mustard grain?!

According to the 2021 Census, there were 1.8 million Indigenous people, representing 5.0% of the total Canadian population, up from 4.9% in 2016.

Genocide is the intentional destruction of a particular group through killing, serious physical or mental harm, preventing births and/or forcibly transferring children to another group. The term has been applied to the experiences of Indigenous peoples in Canada, particularly in the final reports of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (see also Residential Schools) and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls inquiry.

National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day are opportunities to learn more about the unique cultures, traditions and experiences of First Nations people, Métis, and Inuit. This is also a time to honour the history, achievements, and resilience of Indigenous peoples, who have been living on this land since time immemorial and whose presence continues to impact the evolution of the country. Using 2021 Census of Population data, let’s shed some light on these populations (https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/genocide-and-indigenous-peoples-in-canada)

Forced Living in Reserves without the Right to Leave – Historical Facts

  1. From 1885 into the 1940s, a pass system controlled Indigenous people’s movement, requiring those living on reserve to get written permission from an “Indian agent” (government officials) when needed to leave their community.

Reserves Today

Reserves are still vital land bases for Indigenous people across Canada, which continue to be classified as federal land but as self-governed by Indigenous people of their community.

Some reserves have the most concerning conditions in Canada, such as isolated communities with high poverty rates, substance addiction, suicide, unemployment, and mortality.

It is widely acknowledged that the cultural genocide and social disruption over generations by displacements, discriminatory legislation, and political neglect results in long-term hardships and hinder the re-establishment of social networks and stable communities.

UnSafe Driking Water – Boil Water Adisories

https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1614387410146/1614387435325;

https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1614387410146/1614387435325

More than 1.8 million Indigenous people

According to the 2021 Census, there were 1.8 million Indigenous people, representing 5.0% of the total Canadian population, up from 4.9% in 2016.

However, this growth was not as fast as in previous years. For example, from 2011 to 2016, the Indigenous population grew by 18.9%, more than double the 2021 growth rate.

For the first time, the Census enumerated more than 1 million (1,048,405) First Nations people living in Canada.

The Language Issues:

English and French are the two “Offiicial” languages of Canada, enjoying equal status, rights, and privileges in all federal government institutions, parliament, and courts. Established by the Official Languages Act (1969) and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982), this policy guarantees Canadians the right to receive federal services in either language

Isn’t it Strange that No Native Languages are official Languages – also Colonization Effect – and again every person may speak their Language – and I guess we use English for convenience; but then again technically speaking Canada should have a goverment language – which may happen to be English – due to colonization – and no official language as technically speaking – Canada and US have majority immigrant populations – so the majority of populations in major urban centers speak a Different language at home.

#Canada ; #genocide; #history; #Colonization; #boiling water advisories; #sucide rates; #poverty; #forced Sterilizations, #Language Issues and #History;

Islam, Religion

Muslim Welfare Center

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In 1993, the pioneering efforts of Major Muhammad Abbas Ali (1921-2009) and his wife, Sarwar Jahan Begum (1928-2013) launched the Muslim Welfare Centre and its Halal Food & Essential Items Bank. From the very beginning, the food bank has provided individuals and families with non-perishable food items and halal meat. Additionally, essential household items, clothing, footwear and winter gear are provided, based on availability. There has always been a special focus on children and so we provide backpacks at the start of the school year, as well as presents during the holiday season. We have a database of over 9,900 registered families who rely on our food bank to supplement their food requirement. In 2014, our food bank received over 11,400 family visits. Clients are served in Scarborough, Mississauga and Montreal, Quebec. The following groups can access our food bank: The Unemployed Social Welfare Assistance Recipients Employment Insurance Recipients Refugees New Immigrants Anyone in real need Please note clients are permitted to access the food bank once monthly, however special circumstances can be discussed with our staff. Please note valid ID must be presented for registration and on each visit. Acceptable forms of Identification include: SIN Card Passport Immigration ID Driver’s License Proof of Income or Rent Monday to Thursday and Saturday (Including Holidays) – 2:00 – 4:00 pm Registration is done by appointment only. For more information or to register, please call 416-335-9994. Facebook

Homepage Ramadan
Biology/Health, History, Law

The Relationship between Water Availability and First Nations Sucide Rates

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ansloos-water-insecurity-suicide-May-2023Download

Abstract

First Nations experience disproportionate rates of suicide when compared to the general population. Various risk factors are identified to increase understanding of the prevalence of suicide among First Nations, but environmental dimensions of suicide are understudied. This study asks whether water insecurity, as reflected by long-term drinking water advisories (LT-DWA), has any bearing on the distribution of suicide in First Nations across Canada, and specifically in Ontario. To assess this, we established the proportion of First Nations with LT-DWAs in Canada and in Ontario that have had suicides occur between 2011 and 2016 through a review of media archives. This proportion was compared to census data on the proportion of First Nations with suicides in Canada and in Ontario between 2011 and 2016, and statistical significance of difference was determined through chi-square goodness of fit test. Overall, the findings were mixed. Nationally, there was no significantly difference of proportion of First Nations with LT-DWAs with combined (confirmed and probable) reported suicides occurring when compared to census proportions; however, at the provincial level, findings had significant differences. The authors conclude that water insecurity in First Nations, as indicated by the presence of a LT-DWA in First Nations across may be an important environmental dimension of suicide, contributing to enhanced risk for suicide in First Nations.

https://www.nccih.ca/634/Is_Suicide_a_Water_Justice_Issue__Investigating_Long-Term_Drinking_Water_Advisories_and_Suicide_in_F….nccih?id=4561&col=4

Ansloos, J., & Cooper, A. (2023). Is suicide a water justice issue? Investigating long-term drinking water advisories and suicide in First Nations in Canada. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(5), 4045.

1. Introduction

Suicide is one of the most urgent issues facing First Nations in Canada, with suicide rates approximately three times higher compared with the general population [1]. Global incident rates across a 60-year period suggest an upward trend of suicide among Indigenous peoples [2]. For First Nations in Canada, suicide is often cited as a leading cause of death for youth [3], and the leading cause of death for adults under the age of 44 [4]. Many risk factors are identified to increase understanding of the disproportionate prevalence of suicide among First Nations, but there is an urgent need to understand environmental dimensions. This exploratory study investigates one potential environmental dimension of suicide among First Nations: water insecurity.

1.1. Suicide among First Nations in Canada

As early as 1995, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples categorized suicide risk factors for First Nations, including biopsychological factors (e.g., depression, substance use disorders), situational factors (e.g., disruptions to family life due to child welfare policies, off-reserve hospitalizations), socioeconomic factors (e.g., income levels, education levels), and cultural stressors (e.g., suppression of belief systems and spirituality, racial discrimination) [5]. Since then, a range of other demographic factors, including gender, age, and geographic location, have been found to have a significant bearing on rates of suicide among First Nations. Youth aged 15 to 24, men, and those living on reserve, are at higher risk for suicide [1]. Socioeconomic factors have also been consistently associated with high rates of suicide in First Nations [6,7,8]. Recently, household income, labour force status, education, and marital status accounted for 66% of suicide risk after adjusting for risk associated with age and sex among First Nations adults [1], demonstrating that socioeconomic factors have heavy bearing on suicide rates. However, to date, environmental dimensions of suicide among First Nations have received little research.

Qualitative studies have suggested that First Nations affected by a lack of access to safe drinking water are likely to have disproportionately high suicide rates [28] and that water insecurity may be associated with mental health issues in First Nations [36], which by extension might intersect with suicide risk. Among Indigenous peoples in Canada, more broadly, it has been found that mental health outcomes associated with suicide may be affected by climate change, and in particular changes to land, ice, snow, weather, and sense of place [37,38,39]. Related to this, research has shown that environmental changes and related damages to environmental infrastructure accompanying climate change are linked to enhanced psychosocial distress, which in turn might affect suicidality [37]. In a recent study among Inuit in Nunatsiavut, climate change enhanced the likelihood of suicidal ideation [40,41].

https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/5/4045#Findings

https://archive.org/details/ansloos-water-insecurity-suicide-May-2023

Geography

Canada’s Forest Regions

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The forests of Canada are located within eight different regions:

Forest regionLocationPredominant tree species
AcadianMaritimesred spruce, balsam fir, yellow birch
BorealNorthern Canadawhite spruce, black spruce, balsam fir, jack pine, white birch, trembling aspen, tamarack, willow
Carolinian (Deciduous)southwestern Ontariobeech, maple, black walnut, hickory, oak
CoastBritish Columbiawestern redcedar, western hemlock, Sitka spruce, Douglas-fir
ColumbiaBritish Columbiawestern redcedar, western hemlock, Douglas-fir
Great Lakes–St Lawrencecentral Canadared pine, eastern white pine, eastern hemlock, yellow birch, maple, oak
MontaneBritish Columbia and AlbertaDouglas-fir, lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine, trembling aspen
SubalpineBritish Columbia and AlbertaEngelmann spruce, subalpine fir, lodgepole pine
  • An ecozone is an area of Earth’s surface representing large, very generalized ecological units. Each ecozone is characterized by a unique interplay of geologic, climatic, vegetative, wildlife and human activity factors.
  • Canada has 20 ecozones: 15 terrestrial and 5 marine. The 15 terrestrial ecozones are further divided into 53 ecoprovinces, and those in turn are subdivided into 194 ecoregions.
  • Ecozones, ecoprovinces and ecoregions are useful units for reporting and planning purposes at, respectively, the national, provincial and regional levels.

Ecozones are the broadest classification type for forests

  1. Acadian Forest RegionLocated in Quebec as well as the Maritime Provinces in Eastern Canada, and extends into the United States.
  2. Boreal Forest RegionThe largest forest region in Canada. It is located in the north and contains about one-third of the world’s circumpolar boreal forests (also sometimes referred to as a snow forest).
  3. Coast Forest RegionLocated on the west coast, this region is home to almost entirely coniferous trees such as the Douglas-fir, Sitka spruce, western hemlock, and western red cedar.
  4. Columbia Forest RegionThis region is located between the Rocky Mountains and the central plateau in British Columbia.
  5. Deciduous Forest RegionThis Canadian forest region is located between Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, and Lake Erie in southwestern Ontario.
  6. Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Forest– This region is the second-largest forest region and is located from southeastern Manitoba to the Gaspé Peninsula.
  7. Montane Forest Region – Located in the west of Canada, this region covers parts of the Kootenays, the central plateau of British Columbia, and a number of valleys close to Alberta’s border.
  8. Subalpine Forest Region– This region is located in British Columbia and Alberta.

Sources:

https://natural-resources.canada.ca/forest-forestry/sustainable-forest-management/forest-classification

#Canada, #Forest Types, #Ecozones,