This week in Indian Country was a study in contrasts. Federal ministers announced billions for child welfare and Inuit programs even as communities coped with tuberculosis outbreaks, missing persons and wildlife raids. Activists celebrated a court order protecting endangered salmon, athletes broke records and film festivals and Mardi Gras floats showcased Indigenous artistry. Meanwhile, border‑crossing rights and offensive political language sparked national conversations. Our weekly news recap pulls together these stories to highlight the courage, creativity and complexity of Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island. Read on to learn about policy changes, cultural milestones and the voices behind them.
Contents
Government funding and policy highlights
Jordan’s Principle renewed:
The federal government renewed its commitment to Jordan’s Principle, promising CA$1.55 billion to keep the program running through March 31 2027. Named after Jordan River Anderson of Norway House Cree Nation, the program ensures First Nations children can access health, social and educational services when jurisdictions dispute payment responsibility. The new funding extends supports that have been mandated by human‑rights tribunal orders and court rulings, which found Canada had discriminated against First Nations children. However, advocates continue to push for reforms after an internal policy bulletin restricted the definition of primary caregivers, making it harder for some families to be reimbursed for travel and therapy. Critics say such restrictions violate human‑rights rulings and undermine the program’s spirit.
Inuit programs investment:
Ottawa announced CA$228.7 million for Inuit initiatives: CA$115 million for the Inuit Child First Initiative, CA$27 million over five years to fight tuberculosis, CA$6.7 million for a Northern Isolated Community Initiatives Fund to bolster food security, CA$30 million for Nutrition North Canada and CA$50 million to develop an Inuit Nunangat University. Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami President Natan Obed said investing in a university will strengthen language revitalization and cultural transmission.
Regulatory collaboration in the Northwest Territories:
At the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention in Toronto, Crown‑Indigenous Relations Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Regulatory Coordination. The MOU aims to make impact assessments and permitting processes clearer and more predictable by working closely with Indigenous governments and co‑management boards. Ministers Rebecca Chartrand and Jay Macdonald said the agreement reinforces commitments to modern treaties and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, ensuring that development respects Indigenous rights.
Conservation funding for NWT:
The Our Land for the Future trust announced CA$21.6 million for 20 Indigenous governments in the Northwest Territories, part of a $375 million federal/private fund dedicated to conservation. Chair Danny Yakeleya said the funding will support research, species monitoring and youth language camps while creating jobs and training opportunities. Trust vice‑chair Dahti Tsetso added that the initiative integrates elders’ knowledge and youth skills to ensure land stewardship endures.
Tłı̨chȯ–Rio Tinto agreement:
As the Diavik diamond mine prepares to cease production, the Tłı̨chȯ Government signed a historic closure agreement with Rio Tinto. The 25‑year plan covers safe reclamation and socio‑economic mitigation, promising employment, training and business opportunities for Tłı̨chȯ citizens. Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty emphasized that the mine had provided jobs, scholarships and community investments, and that the agreement ensures continued benefits while addressing concerns about post‑closure employment.
Wildlife raid sparks outrage:
An aggressive wildlife raid in the Innu community of Ekuanitshit, Quebec, shocked leaders across the region. On February 27, wildlife officers and provincial police stormed an elder’s cabin, searching for a woodland caribou carcass. During the raid an elder was injured by broken glass and video footage shows officers pushing a local man. The Assembly of First Nations Quebec‑Labrador demanded an investigation and reaffirmed that hunting rights and food sovereignty must be respected. Leaders like Ghislain Picard of the AFNQL said the raid violated principles of respect and called for better coordination with Innu authorities.
Missing Lubicon Lake man:
Families and RCMP continued searching for Carter Rodgers, a 25‑year‑old from Lubicon Lake First Nation, after his burnt‑out vehicle was found near O’Chiese First Nation. Rodgers left home February 23 for a road trip; his bank account has seen no activity and he rarely uses social media. The RCMP major crimes unit is investigating and the family is organizing search parties. The case underscores persistent challenges in missing person investigations in Indigenous communities.
Border‑crossing controversy:
The Jay Treaty Border Alliance expressed disappointment after Canada updated its travel advice recommending that First Nations individuals carry passports when entering the United States. The 1794 Jay Treaty allows Indigenous people born in Canada to freely cross the border, but the government’s advisory sparked fears that mobility rights were being eroded. Regional Chief Abram Benedict argued that requiring passports undermines inherent rights, and Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepenak called on Ottawa to consult Indigenous leaders and uphold free movement. (See our educational feature on the Jay Treaty in Blog 3 for historical background.)
Offensive remark triggers backlash:
Conservative MP Jamil Jivani faced criticism after stating that his party was “going off the reservation.” Chiefs and scholars explained that the phrase is rooted in colonial control and has been used to justify violence against Indigenous people. Chief Kelly LaRocca of Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation said the comment was offensive and demanded accountability. Activist Russell Diabo added that such language trivializes the trauma of forced confinement on reserves. Jivani later apologized but the incident sparked renewed calls for cultural sensitivity in political discourse.
Oak Flat copper mine opposition:
The battle to protect Oak Flat—a sacred Apache site in Arizona—gained momentum as a poll by the Center for Biological Diversity found 67 % of Arizona voters opposed the proposed Resolution Copper mine. The mine, backed by Rio Tinto and BHP, would create a two‑mile‑wide crater and produce billions of pounds of copper. San Carlos Apache Chairman Terry Rambler emphasised that the site is sacred and that the federal government has a trust obligation to protect it. Representative Adelita Grijalva reintroduced the Save Oak Flat from Mining Act to prevent the land transfer necessary for the mine.
Health and environment
Nunavik’s health authorities called in the Red Cross as tuberculosis rates surged. The region has experienced record TB cases for consecutive years, and health leaders say overcrowded housing and limited provincial support hamper containment efforts. Infectious disease lead Yassen Tcholakov explained that controlling latent TB infections is difficult when people lack adequate housing and face long wait times for diagnostic tests. Inuit leaders added that housing shortages and insufficient provincial resources contribute to rising cases.
Court‑ordered dam operations change:
In a major win for salmon recovery, U.S. District Court Judge Michael Simon ordered federal agencies to increase water spill over eight dams on the Columbia and Snake Rivers. The order aims to help juvenile salmon and steelhead migrate past turbines and to prevent extinction. Yakama Tribal Council fish committee chair Jeremy Takala said the ruling will “help more young salmon survive this migration season”. Earthjustice attorney Amanda Goodin noted that the decision affirms treaty obligations and trust responsibilities. The court stopped short of lowering reservoir levels or mandating dam repairs, but conservationists hailed the ruling as progress in the decades‑long struggle to restore salmon runs.
Eye on the Arctic profiled Sophia Johnston, a 15‑year‑old from Rankin Inlet, Nunavut who maintains her own dog team to preserve Inuit traditions. Johnston feeds and trains her dogs at 5 a.m. every day, balancing schoolwork with mushing. She and her father‑in‑law Harry Towtongie described how sled dogs were historically essential for travel and hunting, but government policies led to the slaughter of more than 1,000 dogs between 1950 and 1975; Canada apologized in 2025. Johnston hopes to inspire other youth to reconnect with their culture.
Marine‑debris cleanup:
Native America Calling highlighted community efforts to remove marine debris along Alaska’s western coast after Typhoon Merbok in 2022. Cup’ik project manager Richard Tuluk and Kānaka ʻŌiwi technician Grant Ka’ehukai Goin described federal funding that supports Indigenous communities in recovering nets, ropes and boats to make waterways safe for people and marine life. The program combines Indigenous knowledge with state and federal resources, illustrating the importance of local leadership in environmental remediation.
Culture, sports and arts
Iditarod 2026: A musher on a mission:
Han Gwich’in musher Jody Potts‑Joseph is preparing for the 975‑mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, which begins March 7. Potts‑Joseph operates a 29‑dog kennel and serves as president of the Gwich’yaa Zhee Village Corporation and a board member for Doyon, Ltd. She told ICT that she sleeps just a few hours each night because she balances dog care, activism and film productionictnews.org
ictnews.org. Potts‑Joseph frames mushing as cultural preservation rather than competition and recalls how snowmachines replaced dogs in the 1950s; the Iditarod was created to preserve the tradition
ictnews.org. She also highlighted climate‑induced permafrost thaw and declining Yukon River salmon runs, noting that her community hasn’t fished salmon for six years
ictnews.org.
Haskell women’s basketball champions:
Haskell Indian Nations University defeated Georgia Gwinnett College 66–56 to win the Continental Athletic Conference championship on March 1. Senior point guard Myona Dauphinais scored 28 points and 7 rebounds. The team shot 42.5 % from the field and 70 % from the free‑throw line while holding their opponents to 22.9 %. Coach Adam Strom (Yakama) said his players understood the “win or go home” moment and executed accordingly. The win sends Haskell to the NAIA National Tournament later in March.
Northern Plains Indigenous Film Festival announced:
Fargo, North Dakota will host the inaugural Northern Plains Indigenous Film Festival on April 17. Co‑founders Joseph Williams (Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate) and Anna Johnson (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa) said the festival will showcase narrative, documentary and short films and provide workshops on storytelling and career development. Submissions are open until March 30, and the festival aims to build sustainable careers for Indigenous filmmakers.
First Nations Mardi Gras float promotes climate action:
In Sydney, Australia, the queer First Nations collective Yamurrah presented a Mardi Gras float titled “Mother Earth, you better work.” Social worker Locky Bygrave said the float sought to highlight how queer Indigenous communities are affected by climate change and to call for collective responsibility. Participants wore earthy colours and remixed the song “It’s Raining Men” to emphasize the message. The float demonstrates how Indigenous voices contribute to global climate activism.
Reflections and outlook
This week’s news shows the breadth of issues facing Indigenous peoples: securing funding for child and Inuit programs, advocating for rights at international borders and sacred sites, tackling health crises and environmental challenges, and celebrating achievements in sport and art. The resilience displayed in these stories underscores the importance of Indigenous‑led solutions. Whether it’s a musher training for the Iditarod, a community rallying to stop a mine, or a film festival amplifying new voices, Indigenous peoples continue to shape their own narratives. Stay informed by following Indigenous media outlets, supporting policy changes that respect rights, and celebrating the wins along the way. For more stories like these, sign up for our newsletter or email [email protected]
