Inuit leader sees opportunities in the new faces of Mark Carney's government
'The federal government writ large, whether or not we're talking about a political party or the institution itself, has never shown itself to be trustworthy to Inuit,' Obed said in an interview with the Star on Friday.
Following a closed-door meeting on Thursday with Prime Minister Mark Carney, nearly a third of Carney's cabinet and other Inuit leaders about the Liberals' major projects law and other priorities, Obed said new faces can sometimes lead to new opportunities.
'I would say that we have a lot of really trustworthy people at the table, and that came through quite clearly,' he said, naming cabinet newcomers like Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty, Northern and Arctic Affairs Minister Rebecca Chartrand and Crown-Indigenous Affairs Minister Rebecca Alty as the members of Carney's front bench responsible for the relationship between Inuit and the Crown.
Obed also said he was satisfied by Carney's assurances that modern treaties, and the processes tied to those agreements, will be respected following the rushed passage of the Building Canada Act, which allows Ottawa to temporarily bypass certain environmental laws and regulations to fast-track 'nation-building' projects like ports and pipelines.
'That is a statement that's powerful and one that we have chosen to trust the prime minister on, and we really hope that he lives up to his word on it,' Obed said.
The ITK president co-chaired a meeting Thursday of the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee — a group that convenes Inuit leaders and the federal cabinet three times a year — with the prime minister, as part of a series of summits Carney is holding with Indigenous leaders after the controversial law prompted backlash for its potential to steamroll Indigenous rights and environmental protections.
At the gathering in Inuvik, N.W.T., Carney announced the appointment of Nunavut's Virginia Mearns as the country's official Arctic ambassador. She now has a mandate to liaise with Arctic and non-Arctic partners and protect Arctic sovereignty.
Other challenges raised in the meeting included the health and social disparities experienced across Inuit Nunangat, the Inuit homeland that spans four regions in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, northern Quebec and northern Labrador.
'The prime minister himself said that these issues would not be left behind,' said Obed, who also spoke with Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne about his expectations for this fall's federal budget.
'We talked about … our budget submission, and our hopes for this budget, especially in regards to health, education, infrastructure, housing,' he said. 'And I hope that we can find a common path where we can make the proper investments and still build our communities at the same time, and be incredibly supportive and work on these nation-building projects as well.'
Last month, Obed warned the Senate that it is 'Canada's weakness that it pats itself on the back for being a great champion of Indigenous Peoples, an upholder of the rule of law and respect for Indigenous Peoples' rights, while at the same time acting very differently through its legislation and practices.'
He was speaking to senators about the 'unintended consequences' of the proposed law, then known as Bill C-5, including potential infringements on Inuit-Crown treaties.
'Not only does this not live up to Canada's obligation to respect rights, but it creates the possibility of national interest projects ending up before the courts, with litigation causing significant delays in the national interest projects moving forward,' Obed said at the time.
He told the Star that Inuit groups looked at 10-year infrastructure needs and identified 79 projects, which they discussed with ministers on Thursday with the goal of drawing up a shorter list of feasible goals.
'Our communities are saying we still need essential infrastructure. We need roads. We need ports. We need the ability to land on runways that have lights, or that are paved. We still have essential concerns around health and education, around food security,' he said. 'And so these national projects are a part of a larger whole.'
He named several projects, like the Grays Bay Road and Port project, a transportation corridor to Arctic shipping routes, and the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link project, which would connect part of Nunavut to Manitoba's power grid, as Inuit-led initiatives that would benefit Canada's economy.
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So that's part of the next step, is to really co-ordinate as best we can, not only with our communities, but also with public governments to ensure that the listed projects under C-5, meet the needs of Inuit, meet the needs of public governments, and are in the national interest.'
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Hamilton Spectator
6 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Inuit leader sees opportunities in the new faces of Mark Carney's government
OTTAWA — Trust is not something Natan Obed, president of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, often associates with Ottawa. 'The federal government writ large, whether or not we're talking about a political party or the institution itself, has never shown itself to be trustworthy to Inuit,' Obed said in an interview with the Star on Friday. Following a closed-door meeting on Thursday with Prime Minister Mark Carney, nearly a third of Carney's cabinet and other Inuit leaders about the Liberals' major projects law and other priorities, Obed said new faces can sometimes lead to new opportunities. 'I would say that we have a lot of really trustworthy people at the table, and that came through quite clearly,' he said, naming cabinet newcomers like Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty, Northern and Arctic Affairs Minister Rebecca Chartrand and Crown-Indigenous Affairs Minister Rebecca Alty as the members of Carney's front bench responsible for the relationship between Inuit and the Crown. Obed also said he was satisfied by Carney's assurances that modern treaties, and the processes tied to those agreements, will be respected following the rushed passage of the Building Canada Act, which allows Ottawa to temporarily bypass certain environmental laws and regulations to fast-track 'nation-building' projects like ports and pipelines. 'That is a statement that's powerful and one that we have chosen to trust the prime minister on, and we really hope that he lives up to his word on it,' Obed said. The ITK president co-chaired a meeting Thursday of the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee — a group that convenes Inuit leaders and the federal cabinet three times a year — with the prime minister, as part of a series of summits Carney is holding with Indigenous leaders after the controversial law prompted backlash for its potential to steamroll Indigenous rights and environmental protections. At the gathering in Inuvik, N.W.T., Carney announced the appointment of Nunavut's Virginia Mearns as the country's official Arctic ambassador. She now has a mandate to liaise with Arctic and non-Arctic partners and protect Arctic sovereignty. Other challenges raised in the meeting included the health and social disparities experienced across Inuit Nunangat, the Inuit homeland that spans four regions in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, northern Quebec and northern Labrador. 'The prime minister himself said that these issues would not be left behind,' said Obed, who also spoke with Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne about his expectations for this fall's federal budget. 'We talked about … our budget submission, and our hopes for this budget, especially in regards to health, education, infrastructure, housing,' he said. 'And I hope that we can find a common path where we can make the proper investments and still build our communities at the same time, and be incredibly supportive and work on these nation-building projects as well.' Last month, Obed warned the Senate that it is 'Canada's weakness that it pats itself on the back for being a great champion of Indigenous Peoples, an upholder of the rule of law and respect for Indigenous Peoples' rights, while at the same time acting very differently through its legislation and practices.' He was speaking to senators about the 'unintended consequences' of the proposed law, then known as Bill C-5, including potential infringements on Inuit-Crown treaties. 'Not only does this not live up to Canada's obligation to respect rights, but it creates the possibility of national interest projects ending up before the courts, with litigation causing significant delays in the national interest projects moving forward,' Obed said at the time. He told the Star that Inuit groups looked at 10-year infrastructure needs and identified 79 projects, which they discussed with ministers on Thursday with the goal of drawing up a shorter list of feasible goals. 'Our communities are saying we still need essential infrastructure. We need roads. We need ports. We need the ability to land on runways that have lights, or that are paved. We still have essential concerns around health and education, around food security,' he said. 'And so these national projects are a part of a larger whole.' He named several projects, like the Grays Bay Road and Port project, a transportation corridor to Arctic shipping routes, and the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link project, which would connect part of Nunavut to Manitoba's power grid, as Inuit-led initiatives that would benefit Canada's economy. ' So that's part of the next step, is to really co-ordinate as best we can, not only with our communities, but also with public governments to ensure that the listed projects under C-5, meet the needs of Inuit, meet the needs of public governments, and are in the national interest.'
Hamilton Spectator
7 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
What does no politics in the classroom mean? Ford government's directive has created fear and confusion, say parents and teachers
A temporary ban on students sharing their family's culture in class. A parent-organized Pride event moved outside school hours. Teachers afraid to answer students' questions around the Israel-Hamas war . Over the past academic year, Toronto parents and teachers say activities and discussions that would typically be normal to have in the classroom have suddenly become a source of fear and confusion — and they pin the blame on an edict dropped by the Ontario government last September. Ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks, then-education minister Jill Dunlop issued a memo to Ontario school boards to keep 'political biases' out of the classroom to ensure these spaces remain 'safe, inclusive and welcoming for all students and staff.' It came as the Toronto District School Board and other boards asked for guidance on addressing hate and geopolitical tensions in schools amid a rise in antisemitism, Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian discrimination since October 2023. But the ministry's memo doesn't define what it considers 'political biases' — nor would the ministry provide a definition when asked directly by the Star — and many worry the lack of specificity will affect how Toronto's public schools handle certain topics, as administrators and educators try to figure out what is and isn't allowed. Can civic lessons on who is prime minister continue as normal? What about sex-ed lessons on different genders and sexualities? Class discussions around race? 'Nothing is neutral,' said Carl James, a professor and the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora at York University. 'The curriculum cannot be seen as outside of providing and producing a way of seeing things.' The Star has previously reported on incidents when the TDSB has used the ministry's directive to block certain field trips and movie screenings , and censor parts of high school yearbooks . These cases involved matters related to Palestine — along with activities and discussions around Israel and Tibet — reflecting broader concerns the province's directive has largely been used to shut down conversations on the topic. For its part, the TDSB said in an emailed statement to the Star that 'The Ministry directive applies broadly to any school or classroom activity, outside the established curriculum.' But, the board said it does not have a 'specific definition' for what constitutes a political bias. The Star spoke with several TDSB parents and teachers, many of whom did not want their names published due to fears of reprisal from the board and other parents. They recounted stories over the past year of their children feeling afraid or being reprimanded for bringing up certain topics, and educators feeling unable to fully support their students in the classroom. Not everyone is opposed to the directive, however, with some saying the classroom is not a place for discussions around international politics, with one parent in support of the edict adding that educators could still teach students about civics, queer issues and Indigenous history without bringing up politics. When a public speaking competition was coming up at the elementary school of Zoë Wool's child this past year, the west-end parent said students were invited to write a short speech on an important issue. But when Wool's child wanted to talk about Palestine, she said they were told it was 'not a good idea.' Wool said the incident came around the same time the school's principal allegedly put a blanket ban on students sharing their culture in class — but that the ban was later lifted after the principal met with parents. Neither Wool nor her child is Palestinian (they are Jewish), but she worries about the impact the ministry's memo will have on those who are. 'Palestinian families are being given the message by the Ministry of Education that there is something wrong or dangerous or problematic about their very identity and history and that acknowledging their existence puts other kids at risk,' Wool said. If students don't feel safe in the classroom, they become disengaged and less interested in learning, according to Todd Cunningham, a psychology professor at the U of T's Ontario Institute for Studies of Education. This is particularly true if a student feels their identity is being ignored or brushed aside. 'If you are fearful that what you talk about or if you bring up your lived experience in class is going to evoke a negative reaction, then you go quiet or you go defensive,' he said, adding students might experience more anxiety in these situations. Palestinian teachers who spoke to the Star said they, too, felt constrained by the province's edict, even when students ask them questions about their heritage. The watermelon and Palestinian flag pins on the Palestinian teacher's fanny pack. The elementary school educator said she's afraid to answer student questions around the pins. 'I'm too scared,' said a Palestinian TDSB elementary teacher, who explained how she doesn't answer her young students' questions on what the Palestinian flag and watermelon pins attached to her fanny pack represent. The Star agreed to not name the teacher due to her fears of being reprimanded by the TDSB. 'It's truly awful that in a learning environment, I can't freely talk about a country,' she continued. In its emailed statement to the Star, the TDSB said it respects the identities of all its students and staff, and also adheres to the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. 'Creating inclusive and supportive learning environments for all students of all identities continues to be our priority,' the board wrote, adding that any concerned parents or caregivers should contact their school's principal. The Ministry of Education did not answer a list of specific questions sent by the Star, instead sending a previous statement defending its edict. 'Schools should be focused on educating students and helping them graduate with strong reading, writing and math skills that lead to good-paying jobs,' Emma Testani, press secretary for Education Minister Paul Calandra, wrote in the emailed statement. Meanwhile Josh Landau, Ontario's director for government relations at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, voiced support for the directive, pointing to a recent report from the federal government on growing concerns of antisemitism in Ontario's K-12 schools. 'When bias goes unchecked, it directly impacts the safety and security of all students,' Landau wrote in an emailed statement. However, those critical of the directive believe the vague language around what constitutes a bias could end up harming students, particularly those from marginalized communities. One such critic, elementary school parent Alice Romo, pointed to the fact that a parent-organized Pride event at her child's school last month felt derailed by the ministry's directive. The event, held every June, typically involves parents bringing in chalk for students to draw art and write LGBTQ-friendly messages on the pavement during class. Rainbow freezie pops are also involved — a treat that the kids always look forward to and that add to the end-of-year excitement, according to Romo. But this year the event was held outside of school hours. 'It did feel like we had to strategically manoeuvre around policies,' Romo said. (She noted that the school's principal said the day after the event that the chalk art could stay, even though it was unclear to her if the event violated the directive at all.) Although students are off on summer break, Romo still worries the ministry's directive will continue to affect her child's learning, pointing to lessons around Canada's colonial history for National Day of Truth and Reconciliation in September. 'Are we going to have to be watering things down and maybe not talk about things as explicitly as we would previously?' she said. 'It feels like we're taking a step backwards.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Fox Sports
8 hours ago
- Fox Sports
Trump's demand for Washington NFL team name change ignores years of psychological data, experts say
Associated Press This week, President Donald Trump threatened to hold up a new stadium deal if Washington's NFL team did not restore its name to a racial slur, despite decades of psychological research showing the negative mental health impacts of Native American mascots. The president is demanding a private company change its name to something that researchers have linked to a variety of negative mental health outcomes, particularly for children, said Mark Macarro, president of the National Congress of American Indians. The organization has been pushing back on stereotypes of Native Americans since the 1950s, including Native sports mascots. 'This is a big reminder with this administration that we're going to take some backward steps,' Macarro said. 'We have our studies, we have our receipts, and we can demonstrate that this causes real harm.' More than two decades of research on Native mascots have shown they lead to heightened rates of depression, self-harm, substance abuse and suicidal ideation among Indigenous peoples, and those impacts are the greatest on children. Citing this data, the American Psychological Association has been recommending the retirement of Native mascots since 2001. The president believes that franchises who changed their names to 'pander to the Woke Left' should immediately restore their original names,' White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said in a statement to The Associated Press. 'Thanks to President Trump, the days of political correctness and cancel culture are over,' he said. Some teams change names while others resist Under pressure from decades of activism, the Washington Redskins — a racial slur and arguably the most egregious example — retired the name in 2020, eventually settling on the Commanders. Later that year, the Cleveland Indians changed its name to the Guardians. Two major league teams, the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs and the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks, continue to resist calls to change their names. The Chiefs have banned fans from wearing headdresses or face paint meant to depict Native Americans at games but has resisted prohibiting the use of the 'tomahawk chop', which critics have long called derogatory. More than 1,500 grade schools across the country — a decrease over the past few years — still use Native mascots, according to the National Congress of American Indians, using names like 'Savages' as well as the slur that Trump aims to bring back to the Washington team. Experts say Native mascots reinforce racial bias Native American people, activists, and leaders have been asking for the retirement of Native mascots for generations. Popular arguments defending the mascots have been that they 'honor' Native people or that it simply boiled down to people being 'offended," said Steph Cross, a professor of psychology and researcher at the University of Oklahoma and a citizen of the Comanche Nation. But now we have decades of data that agrees on the negative mental health impacts, she said. 'Being offended is not even really the problem. That's a symptom,' Cross said. She noted that Native mascots aren't just harmful to Indigenous peoples, they also reinforce racial prejudices among non-Natives, including people who will work directly with Native people like health care professionals and teachers. 'I think about these people who are going to be working with Native children, whether they realize that or not, and how they may unintentionally have these biases," Cross said. Stephanie Fryberg, a professor at Northwestern University, who is a member of the Tulalip Tribes and one of the country's leading researchers on Native mascots, said, 'The ultimate impact, whether conscious or unconscious, is bias in American society." Her work has also shown Native mascots increase the risk of real psychological harm, especially for young Native people. 'Honoring Native peoples means ending dehumanization in both imagery and policy," she said. "Indian Country needs meaningful investment, respect, and the restoration of federal commitments, not more distractions or excuses for inaction.' Several states pass Native mascot bans In recent years, several states — including Maine, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and New York — have passed laws or issued directives that ban or require districts to change Native mascots. A law prohibiting them in Illinois stalled this year in the state Senate. The Trump administration has interjected into other efforts to change Native mascots. This month, the U.S. Department of Education launched an investigation into a Long Island public school district working to retire its Native American-themed mascot. 'The Department of Education has been clear with the state of New York: it is neither legal nor right to prohibit Native American mascots and logos while celebrating European and other cultural imagery in schools," said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. When it comes to grade schools specifically, the negative impacts on children's mental health is compounded by the fact that U.S. history standards largely ignore Indigenous history and rarely frame Native Americans as modern people, said Sarah Shear, a professor and researcher at the University of Washington. In 2015, she was part of a study that found 87% of schools in the U.S. teach about Native Americans in only a pre-1900 context. That hasn't improved much in the decade since the study, Shear said. Most curriculum also doesn't present the arguments against harmful stereotypes, like Native Mascots. 'Just on the standards documents alone," Shear said, 'I'm not surprised that Trump and other folks continue to advocate that these mascots are celebratory when they're not.'
