Photo: In her closing remarks, AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak thanked those who contributed to the success of #AFNSCA2025, the dedication of Chiefs and delegates, and emphasized the importance of unity, collaboration, and continued advocacy for First Nations. (Courtesy Assembly of First Nations / Facebook)

The final day of the special chiefs meeting of the Assembly of First Nations was on Thursday. And there was continued push back to the notion of a new pipeline to Canada’s west coast, and the lifting of a tanker ban along that coast.

As Dan Karpenchuk reports, three federal cabinet ministers took the stage to address the chiefs.

The cabinet ministers included Rebecca Alty, Minister of Crown Indigenous Relations, Mandy Gull Masty of Indigenous Services, and Finance Minister Francois-Phillippe Champagne.

They were there to push the prime minister’s agenda of major nation building projects and they stressed that they needed First Nations as economic partners.

The main issues that continued to dominate discussion is likelihood of a lifting of the oil tanker ban on the west coast to support a new pipeline.

Eldon Yellowhorn is an Indigenous Studies expert at Simon Fraser University. He says Native leaders have good reason to fear a lifting of the tanker ban. 

“Driving by fears of an oil spill the tanker ban. For good reason the Exxon Valdez disaster in 1989 is still has its mark on the land and the sea around Alaska. And there’s very real fears here that something similar could happen. It could wipe out entire coastal communities and their livelihoods. So, there’s a real fear about that particular resolution.”

The key minister helping to advance the major projects agenda was not present for the final day.

He had run into trouble last week when he brushed off concerns from coastal First Nations after he failed to meet with them before the signing of the pipeline agreement with Alberta. He did eventually meet with those First Nations, but some have said they weren’t satisfied with what they heard.

Many chiefs say the proposals for developing resources are an attack on First Nations rights. Some however have expressed an openness to pipeline ownership.

Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne told the meeting that Indigenous partnership was key to speeding up major projects, boosting economic growth, and strengthening Canada’s position at home and abroad.

A scene from the “Navajo Highways’ holiday special. (Courtesy “Navajo Highways”)

A Navajo children’s television show is returning with a holiday special on Friday, December 5.

Reporter Jill Fratis from our flagship station KNBA has more.

The “Navajo Highways” special is titled “Yáʼátʼééh Késhmish,” which is “Merry Christmas” in Navajo.

It’s the show’s first full holiday-themed episode.

The creator of the series, filmmaker and musician Pete Sands, says the show teaches Navajo language and culture.

“Parts of it is my childhood, and part of it is how I wish my childhood was. It’s a balance of both, and I think shining positivity on Indigenous cultures is important to do.”

The series blends puppetry, storytelling, and Navajo humor, all set along the winding highways of the Navajo Nation.

Sands says that a memory he had of a teacher using puppets to help children listen, gave him the idea to use them in his show.

“Seen a teacher friend of mine who was trying to tell her first grade students to clean up, but they wouldn’t listen to her, so she reached into her desk and she pulled out a hand puppet and started talking to her class, and they listened to her, through the puppet actually, and a lightbulb went off in my head like ‘wait, maybe there’s something to this. Maybe I can use this.’”

The holiday episode highlights traditional winter teachings, including family gatherings, gratitude, and the meaning of giving.

Season two of the series begins production next year.

Sands says there will be new puppets and new locations, but says the heart of the show remains the same – teaching children simple Diné words and phrases through everyday scenes and conversations.

The “Navajo Highways“ holiday special and season one is now streaming on the First Nations Experience (FNX) platform.

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