APTN News InFocus

On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens explores how Canada's proposed bail reform bill is stirring debate.

Justice Minister Sean Fraser says the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act is meant to restore public confidence in a system he admits is no longer working for many Canadians. But critics warn the bill could do more harm than good.

Among them is Sen. Kim Pate, who has spent over four decades advocating for people criminalized by the system. She shares her concerns about what she calls a "politicized" approach to reform and what real change would look like.

Also on the show, criminal defence lawyer Rheana Worme from Kawacatoose First Nation weighs in on how the bill could disproportionately impact Indigenous peoples, especially youth.

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APTN National News, our stories told our way.

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On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens examines why the Trump administration is attempting to erase Indigenous Peoples from U.S. history.

On Oct. 9, former president Donald Trump signed a proclamation restoring Columbus Day, calling the explorer "a true American hero" and suggesting that "every citizen is eternally indebted to his relentless determination".

To dig into the implications, Cierra talks with Brett Chapman, a Ponca and Pawnee lawyer based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His ancestor, Chief Standing Bear, was a civil rights activist.

Today, Chapman continues that legacy by defending Native American sovereignty in the courts. He shares his thoughts on what the Trump administration's policies mean for Indigenous Peoples in the United States.

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APTN National News, our stories told our way.

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On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens explores why food insecurity in Nunavut has hit a breaking point.

In a territory where climate change and inflation are making food more expensive and harder to access, many families struggle to put healthy meals on the table. For some, even country foods like seal and caribou are out of reach.

A pediatrician working in the community says Nunavut's crisis is the worst she's seen. In 2022, Statistics Canada reported that 79 per cent of children under 14 in the territory lived in food-insecure households.

APTN News correspondent Jesse Staniforth recently published an in-depth article on the issue.

With demand at Iqaluit's food centre expected to hit 70,000 meals this year, Cierra talks with Jesse about what's happening and what needs to change.

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APTN National News, our stories told our way.

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On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens looks at a new law in Nova Scotia that could threaten Mi'kmaq treaty rights.

Land protectors at Hunters Mountain in Unama'ki have prevented logging and construction for more than a month. But the Protecting Nova Scotians Act could give the province power to remove their checkpoint and jail those who refuse to leave.

APTN video journalist Angel Moore shares what she's seen on the ground and Veldon Coburn joins to explore how laws like this, along with Bill C-5 and Ontario's Bill 5, are raising concerns about the future of Indigenous rights across the country.

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APTN National News, our stories told our way.

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This week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens examines the growing threat of residential school denialism in Canada.

Once confined to the internet's fringes, denialism has entered the mainstream with public speeches, book deals and online followings that continue to grow. Some deny the racist and genocidal legacy of residential schools, others call unmarked grave findings a hoax.

Survivors like Jennifer Wood say denialism is nothing new, it's something they've lived with for decades.

But a new generation is pushing back.

Benjamin Kucher, a Métis archaeology graduate student at the University of Alberta, is one of the them speaking out. Alongside Métis activist Tracie Leost, he's calling on Ottawa to treat residential school denialism as hate speech and take concrete steps to stop its spread.

Kucher joins us to talk about their calls to action and why confronting denialism is critical to reconciliation.

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APTN National News, our stories told our way.

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As summer winds down - hosts, producers and reporters at APTN News are ramping up.

On this edition of APTN News InFocus, we get a first look at what's coming up this season from three of our award-winning shows: Face to Face, Investigates and Nation to Nation.

Face to Face Host Dennis Ward joins us to talk about the upcoming 300-episode milestone and what he's got planned for the season opener on Sept. 30.

Then, APTN Investigates producer Cullen Crozier gives us a preview of the show's 17th season. The team is back with hard-hitting stories across the country.

And in Ottawa, long time journalist Karyn Pugliese takes the helm of Nation to Nation. She shares what it's like to be just blocks from Parliament Hill and how she'll be covering the political landscape.

From truth-seeking journalism to political deep dives, this season of current affairs shows is one to look forward to.

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APTN National News, our stories told our way.

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On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens explores one Red River Métis family's mission to help save the Michif language.

Grant, Ben and Aynsley Anderson are the creators of Save Michif, a project developed through funding from Heritage Canada and the Manitoba Métis Federation. The father, son and daughter trio from Manitoba are using digital tools and Elder-led recordings to help revitalize their ancestral tongue.

Michif, which blends French nouns with Cree verbs and structure, has just a handful of fluent speakers left. Among them is Elder Norman Fleury, who lends his voice to the Andersons' flashcard sets and learning materials.

Grant and Ben Anderson join us to talk about the urgency of language preservation and how they're working to ensure future generations can carry Michif forward.

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APTN National News, our stories told our way.

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On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens looks at the record number of Indigenous films featured at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, also known as TIFF.

Among the eight Indigenous films premiering this year is Ni-Naadamaadiz: Red Power Rising, a documentary from Shane Belcourt and Tanya Talaga on the 1974 occupation of Anicinabe Park.

Also featured is Nika and Madison, by Walpole Island First Nation director Eva Thomas, which follows two estranged friends brought back together by a police encounter.

All eight films are supported by the Indigenous Screen Office's Story Fund, which invested $3.5 million to bring Indigenous stories to the screen this year.

Melanie Nepinak Hadley, the ISO's vice-president of industry partnerships and growth, joins us to talk about how the film festival landscape has evolved to welcome more Indigenous voices.

Courtesy: Ni-Naadamaadiz: Red Power Rising Trailer OV

NIKA & MADISON Clip | TIFF 2025

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APTN National News, our stories told our way.

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This week on APTN News InFocus, guest host Jesse Andrushko speaks with Ottawa correspondent Karyn Pugliese about what came out of the Assembly of First Nations Annual General Assembly in Winnipeg.

National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak opened the gathering with concerns about the One Canadian Economy Act, the law Ottawa says will fast-track projects in the national interest. Chiefs also debated child welfare, with Chief Pauline Frost speaking on behalf of the National Children's Chiefs' Commission. And Chief Mark Arcand shared a personal story during discussions on the opioid crisis.

Karyn breaks down what happened at the meeting and whether chiefs are any clearer on how to respond to Ottawa.

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APTN National News, our stories told our way.

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This week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens continues her conversation with veteran journalist and outgoing APTN web reporter Kathleen Martens.

With more than 35 years in the industry, Kathleen reflects on the lessons she's learned like what it takes to build trust with sources and adapt in a fast-changing media landscape.

She also shares insights for emerging journalists navigating the profession, and what she hopes for the future of Indigenous-focused news coverage.

Read more of Kathleen's reporting at http://aptnnews.ca/ and find the Our Relatives podcast here: https://aptnnews.ca/ourrelatives

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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/podcasts/