Mi'kmaq Matters

The Newfoundland Liberals under Dwight Ball are among the worst of any provincial administration in terms of environment, both for actions and inactions, says former civil servant and biologist Douglas Ballam.

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Victoria Neville and Bill Montevecchi, two senior members of the Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Advisory Council (WERAC), say there were mere window-dressings in a political game in which mining and other resource interests have the provincial government's ear, and conservation plans just gather dust on the desks of bureaucrats.

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Gary Metallic Sr., a member of the Listuguj First Nation band council and the hereditary tribal council, talks about the community's rail blockade in support of Wet'suwet'en, and the need to look beyond colonial structures toward Indigenous leadership.

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The Regional Chief for Newfoundland and Nova Scotia is relatively unique role in the Assembly of First Nations: She or he will serve one nation, the Mi'kmaq. This week, we ask Cheryl Maloney—whose complaints of harassment, along with others, led to the ousting of former Regional Chief Morley Googoo—about the job, future challenges, and whether she's interested in applying.

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After developing his navigational skills on the West Coast of "Newfoundland," James Cook arrived on the east coast of Australia in 1770. The 250th anniversary of that date gives special significance to this year's Invasion Day, the term Indigenous people give the government-recognized 'Australia Day'—the country's national holiday. But it's a day that, for many Indigenous Australians, marks the beginning of the violence and oppression they continue to face today. Our guest this week is pastor and Indigenous rights activist Ray Minniecon, speaking with us from Australia.

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Seki Bernard Sr. of Eskasoni is the latest fisherman to have his boat sabotaged in the power vacuum created by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans' failure to implement the 20-year-old Supreme Court decision.

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Former Qalipu Chief Brendan Sheppard reflects on the 1976 land claim, why it failed, and how to improve chances of success for a future claim.

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Oral history suggests a connection between ancient Beothuk and Mi'kmaq—so far there is no scientific proof, but that could change with the results of a genetic study commissioned by Miawpukwek First Nation. This week, we speak with Steve Carr of Terra Nova Genomics Inc. who was hired by Miawpukwek to do that very research.

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As the Mi'kmaq First Nations Assembly of Newfoundland gathers for its annual meeting, members will be lamenting the Abbott case but revving up for an appeal. They'll also be planning another crack at becoming the Newfoundland affiliate in the national organization, which represents non-status Indigenous people.

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The North American Indigenous Games in 2020 will bring 5,000 athletes to Halifax next July, and culture will be showcased along with the sports. We hear from Brendon Smithson of the organizing committee and Mike Alexander, one of the coordinators for Team Newfoundland and Labrador.

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