Latest news with #Gladue
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Oilers faithful Superfan Magoo hits TV screens on The Amazing Race Canada
When Blair Gladue and his wife Skylene 'Nipîy' Gladue were asked to join this season's cast of The Amazing Race he had one big worry. 'I looked at the schedule and I was like, 'oh, no, you know what? If we do this, I'm going to miss the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs,'' says Gladue, known best in Oiler fandom and Edmonton at large as Superfan Magoo. 'Then, if we lost any of those first two rounds, it's going to be on me.' Thankfully the Oilers made it past those two playoff encounters for Gladue, who runs Magoo Crew Entertainment when he isn't leading chants and beating on a drum at Rogers Place games. Gladue and his five associates host youth workshops across the country, focusing on hoop and traditional dancing, rapping and break dancing as they dispense their message about suicide awareness and anti-bullying. Gladue's wife Skylene is also an entertainer; she's unavailable for the interview due to prior commitments as part of the touring cast of Bear Grease, which is currently enjoying an Off-Broadway run at the Theater at St. Luke's in Manhattan. With no way to check in on McDavid and crew from mid-April to mid-May, Gladue was forced to stay in the moment as he competed against 11 teams representing cities from across Canada. This year, five contestants were drawn from Alberta: Jesse Harink of Sherwood Park (teamed with Ontario's Jonathan Braun) plus Calgary brothers Osas and Esosa Igbinosun battling with the Gladues for provincial glory. Gladue, who says that he's watched a number of seasons in the past, admits that he wasn't quite prepared for what he and his wife went through. 'It was insane, amazing, and crazy,' says Gladue, 'Emotions were running wild, adrenaline was flowing. It's nothing like when you're watching it on TV. It's, in fact, 10 times harder than what you see on TV. This was a life-changing experience for sure.' The reality show, which features teams in competition with each other across the country, kicks off Tuesday (July 8) at 9 p.m. MT on CTV, and the CTV app, with streaming available the next day on Crave. Episodes after that run every Tuesday until the still-to-be-announced final entry. Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton was the starting point, but the competition sees the teams moving through Red Deer, Prince George, the Northwest Territories and beyond. The pace is hectic, the physical toll punishing. That being said, Gladue insists that if anyone gets the opportunity to do it, they should snap it up immediately. 'But make sure, before you do it, that you do a lot of running and a lot of walking,' he cautions. 'Work out and eat well, because you're going to need all of that; it's not easy. I'm a high-energy guy, always moving, and my wife is the one who works out every morning, goes to the gym. But after the show, I'm like, 'You know what? Man, I need this.' I need to work out more, so I stretch and work out every morning, seven days a week.' Gladue and his wife can't speak to anything that happened during their month-long competition, but Blair does speak fondly of the friends he made. We'll just have to keep up with episodes as they roll in to see who wins season 11, with its attendant prizes of two 2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS, a trip around the world, and a $250,000 cash prize. If the Gladues win it all, they promise to use some of that cash money for good, just as they promised at the very beginning to represent Indigenous people and the youth. 'Except that on our clothing, it said 'fer the youth,' not 'for the youth,'' he explains. 'That's youth slang. We're getting the message out there, representing our people, our community, you know, but also representing our Oiler fans!' Whyte Avenue Art Walk celebrates 30 years: bigger, bolder than ever before New Edmonton hot spot Bar Trove provided chef too good an opportunity to pass up You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun.
Edmonton Journal
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Edmonton Journal
Oilers faithful Superfan Magoo hits TV screens on The Amazing Race Canada
Article content When Blair Gladue and his wife Skylene 'Nipîy' Gladue were asked to join this season's cast of The Amazing Race he had one big worry. Article content 'I looked at the schedule and I was like, 'oh, no, you know what? If we do this, I'm going to miss the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs,'' says Gladue, known best in Oiler fandom and Edmonton at large as Superfan Magoo. 'Then, if we lost any of those first two rounds, it's going to be on me.' Article content Article content Thankfully the Oilers made it past those two playoff encounters for Gladue, who runs Magoo Crew Entertainment when he isn't leading chants and beating on a drum at Rogers Place games. Gladue and his five associates host youth workshops across the country, focusing on hoop and traditional dancing, rapping and break dancing as they dispense their message about suicide awareness and anti-bullying. Gladue's wife Skylene is also an entertainer; she's unavailable for the interview due to prior commitments as part of the touring cast of Bear Grease, which is currently enjoying an Off-Broadway run at the Theater at St. Luke's in Manhattan. Article content Article content With no way to check in on McDavid and crew from mid-April to mid-May, Gladue was forced to stay in the moment as he competed against 11 teams representing cities from across Canada. This year, five contestants were drawn from Alberta: Jesse Harink of Sherwood Park (teamed with Ontario's Jonathan Braun) plus Calgary brothers Osas and Esosa Igbinosun battling with the Gladues for provincial glory. Gladue, who says that he's watched a number of seasons in the past, admits that he wasn't quite prepared for what he and his wife went through. Article content Article content Article content 'It was insane, amazing, and crazy,' says Gladue, 'Emotions were running wild, adrenaline was flowing. It's nothing like when you're watching it on TV. It's, in fact, 10 times harder than what you see on TV. This was a life-changing experience for sure.' Article content Article content The reality show, which features teams in competition with each other across the country, kicks off Tuesday (July 8) at 9 p.m. MT on CTV, and the CTV app, with streaming available the next day on Crave. Episodes after that run every Tuesday until the still-to-be-announced final entry. Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton was the starting point, but the competition sees the teams moving through Red Deer, Prince George, the Northwest Territories and beyond. The pace is hectic, the physical toll punishing. Article content That being said, Gladue insists that if anyone gets the opportunity to do it, they should snap it up immediately.
Hamilton Spectator
23-06-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Indigenous identity misuse: Manitoba Métis minister Will Goodon slams court ruling on Oshawa fraudster's sentencing
A Métis cabinet minister has criticized the sentencing of a convicted fraudster after she received time off her sentence by claiming Métis heritage, despite there being 'no Indigenous identifiers for any known ancestors'. 'We're the ones who get to decide who's us,' said Will Goodon, the minister of housing and property management for the Manitoba Métis Federation. '(Being Indigenous is) not about just standing up in the middle of a crowd and saying 'I'm Métis.'' His comments come after Ashley Gallie was sentenced to a combined six years in two separate cases — including 18 months for trafficking and gun crimes, plus four years and six months for fraud and possession for the purpose of trafficking. Gallie, 40, originally of Oshawa, was nabbed by Toronto police on Oct. 15, 2022 after they conducted a search warrant in a motel room. During the search, investigators allegedly discovered Gallie with drugs, including crack and fentanyl, along with a gun, ammunition and more than $10,000 in cash. In the other case, she was accused of stealing thousands worth of OxyContin pills from two Toronto pharmacies, totalling a street value of up to $194,000, court documents state. In the aftermath of her multiple arrests, the mother of three lost the custody of her child who is under three years old. During her first trial, in regards to fraud and theft from the pharmacies, Gallie said she was of Indigenous descent, claiming Mi'kmaq heritage. She told the author of her pre-sentence report she had her Métis status card, of The Painted Feather of the Woodland Tribe. However, the court indicated the tribe was a 'for-profit organization' in Bancroft and not recognized by the Manitoba Métis Foundation, the Métis Nation of Ontario or the Government of Canada. 'The letter indicates that payment of a fee is required to be a member of that organization,' court documents read. 'There is no requirement of supporting documents to demonstrate any Indigenous ancestry of any family members. The cards are available to anyone who requests one.' A letter from Aboriginal Legal Services (ALS) explained they were unable to produce a Gladue report — a presentencing document intended to shed light on an offender's background and unique circumstances — as there 'were no Indigenous identifiers for any of the known ancestors in Gallie's family tree.' 'While there is no proof that Gallie is not Indigenous, there is no information before the court … to assist the court in how it could use her … background as a factor … on sentencing,' Justice Beverly Brown told the court in her reasons. However, in her second case, involving the alleged drug dealing and possession of a firearm and ammunition, the lack of a Gladue report did not stop Justice Brock Jones from deeming Gallie's background as a mitigating factor. 'Gallie considers herself Métis … While the letter from (ALS) indicates that the author is unable to complete a formal Gladue report, it does not question Gallie's Indigenous heritage,' the court heard. He went on to reiterate Gallie's claims that her grandfather informed her of her heritage before he passed away, not wanting to share it earlier due to his fear that his true identity would be discovered. 'That Gallie's connection to her culture was severed in the past is tragic, but sadly it is not uncommon,' he told the court. 'Her recent efforts to reconnect with that culture are meaningful and admirable.' Later in the mitigating factor section, Jones said Gallie's difficult life and 'Indigenous heritage' diminished her moral culpability to some extent. Goodon went on to say that he felt many in this day and age are trying to 'scam the system', including musicians like Buffy St. Marie and former Manitoba environment minister Kevin Klein , who was also a member of The Painted Feather of the Woodland Tribe. 'The suffering that's happened from our grandparents and their parents through the years of colonialism from actual Indigenous people gets diluted when there's folks … who try to use things like Gladue in order to give themselves a leg up,' he added. 'If you want to know who is Métis, why don't you ask the legitimate Métis governments that are out there? That's where we should be trying to end up — if you want to know who's us, ask us.' Gallie also faces a 10-year weapons prohibition and a DNA sample. 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 .
Hamilton Spectator
13-06-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
'Scam': Métis minister slams court's leniency to fraudster making dubious Indigenous claim
A Métis cabinet minister has criticized the sentencing of a convicted fraudster after she received time off her sentence by claiming Métis heritage, despite there being 'no Indigenous identifiers for any known ancestors'. 'We're the ones who get to decide who's us,' said Will Goodon, the minister of housing and property management for the Manitoba Métis Federation. '(Being Indigenous is) not about just standing up in the middle of a crowd and saying 'I'm Métis.'' His comments come after Ashley Gallie was sentenced to a combined six years in two separate cases — including 18 months for trafficking and gun crimes, plus four years and six months for fraud and possession for the purpose of trafficking. Gallie, 40, originally of Oshawa, was nabbed by Toronto police on Oct. 15, 2022 after they conducted a search warrant in a motel room. During the search, investigators allegedly discovered Gallie with drugs, including crack and fentanyl, along with a gun, ammunition and more than $10,000 in cash. In the other case, she was accused of stealing thousands worth of OxyContin pills from two Toronto pharmacies, totalling a street value of up to $194,000, court documents state. In the aftermath of her multiple arrests, the mother of three lost the custody of her child who is under three years old. During her first trial, in regards to fraud and theft from the pharmacies, Gallie said she was of Indigenous descent, claiming Mi'kmaq heritage. She told the author of her pre-sentence report she had her Métis status card, of The Painted Feather of the Woodland Tribe. However, the court indicated the tribe was a 'for-profit organization' in Bancroft and not recognized by the Manitoba Métis Foundation, the Métis Nation of Ontario or the Government of Canada. 'The letter indicates that payment of a fee is required to be a member of that organization,' court documents read. 'There is no requirement of supporting documents to demonstrate any Indigenous ancestry of any family members. The cards are available to anyone who requests one.' A letter from Aboriginal Legal Services (ALS) explained they were unable to produce a Gladue report — a presentencing document intended to shed light on an offender's background and unique circumstances — as there 'were no Indigenous identifiers for any of the known ancestors in Gallie's family tree.' 'While there is no proof that Gallie is not Indigenous, there is no information before the court … to assist the court in how it could use her … background as a factor … on sentencing,' Justice Beverly Brown told the court in her reasons. However, in her second case, involving the alleged drug dealing and possession of a firearm and ammunition, the lack of a Gladue report did not stop Justice Brock Jones from deeming Gallie's background as a mitigating factor. 'Gallie considers herself Métis … While the letter from (ALS) indicates that the author is unable to complete a formal Gladue report, it does not question Gallie's Indigenous heritage,' the court heard. He went on to reiterate Gallie's claims that her grandfather informed her of her heritage before he passed away, not wanting to share it earlier due to his fear that his true identity would be discovered. 'That Gallie's connection to her culture was severed in the past is tragic, but sadly it is not uncommon,' he told the court. 'Her recent efforts to reconnect with that culture are meaningful and admirable.' Later in the mitigating factor section, Jones said Gallie's difficult life and 'Indigenous heritage' diminished her moral culpability to some extent. Goodon went on to say that he felt many in this day and age are trying to 'scam the system', including musicians like Buffy St. Marie and former Manitoba environment minister Kevin Klein , who was also a member of The Painted Feather of the Woodland Tribe. 'The suffering that's happened from our grandparents and their parents through the years of colonialism from actual Indigenous people gets diluted when there's folks … who try to use things like Gladue in order to give themselves a leg up,' he added. 'If you want to know who is Métis, why don't you ask the legitimate Métis governments that are out there? That's where we should be trying to end up — if you want to know who's us, ask us.' Gallie also faces a 10-year weapons prohibition and a DNA sample. 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 .
Calgary Herald
08-06-2025
- Calgary Herald
Alberta judge rejects robber's Indigenous identity claims, proposes test for deciding who should and shouldn't get Gladue reports
An Alberta judge is proposing new guidelines for how courts handle people who say they are Indigenous during sentencing hearings, but don't have proof to back up their claims. Article content Last month, Justice Jordan Stuffco of the Alberta Court of Justice sentenced Jonathan Anthony Ninan to 33 months in prison for robbing a Leduc sports bar, after Ninan admitted to pointing a replica firearm at the bar's lone female employee and making off with $12,000 cash. Article content Article content Article content After pleading guilty to a pair of charges, Ninan requested a Gladue report, a pre-sentence document which examines the impacts of government policy towards Indigenous people on an Indigenous person's criminal conduct. Article content Article content While some offenders' claims of Indigenous identity are uncontroversial, Ninan had only the vague sense that his mother — with whom he has had almost no contact since age 10 — had 'some ancestral connection to an unspecified Indigenous community,' Stuffco wrote. Article content 'Although Mr. Ninan endured substantial childhood trauma and intergenerational harm due to abusive and neglectful biological parents, I do not find these factors are connected to Indigeneity,' wrote Stuffco, a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta. Article content 'I find Mr. Ninan is not an Indigenous offender because there was no meaningful evidence, other than self-identification, establishing Mr. Ninan as an Indigenous person.' Article content Article content The decision comes amid ongoing debate over Indigenous identity fraud, including deeper examination of Indigenous identity claims from public figures in government, pop culture and academia. Article content Article content Stuffco did not accuse Ninan of trying to mislead the court, noting the 24-year-old simply knew little about his mother 'due to his chaotic and abusive family history.' Article content Gladue reports Article content Since the Supreme Court of Canada's 1999 decision in R. v. Gladue — the first case to interpret Criminal Code amendments aimed at addressing the over-representation of First Nations, Métis and Inuit people in Canadian prisons — Indigenous offenders have been able to request pre-sentence reports examining their family histories and how government Indigenous policy may have contributed to their criminal behaviour. Article content Gladue and subsequent cases recognized Indigenous people 'endured many generations of unparalleled systemic abuse and discrimination at the hands of all levels of government,' Stuffco wrote, including residential schools, displacement from traditional lands and adoption into non-Indigenous families.
