Latest news with #Mi'kmaw
CBC
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Calling all Indiginerds: Elsipogtog First Nation set to host first ever comic-con event
For the first time ever, Elsipogtog First Nation in New Brunswick will host Elsi-Con — its very own comic convention. The event promises something for everyone and was developed by Susan Levi-Peters, who came up with the idea while supporting her daughter, a digital artist. "People are really excited about this," said Levi-Peters. For years, Levi-Peters and her family have sold crafts and art at East Coast Comic Expo, a comic convention based in Moncton, N.B., to help fuel her daughter's creative passion. Through attending these events, Levi-Peters found herself inspired by the welcoming and creative community. "It'd be two days of us forgetting about everything and enjoying life," she said. "I wanted our whole community to experience the comic convention in Moncton, instead I brought it home." The result is Elsi-Con, a historic full day event packed with excitement hosted in Elsipogtog, a Mi'kmaw community 90 kilometres north of Moncton. Levi-Peters said she believes the cosplay aspect will be a big hit in Elsipogtog. "The most popular day in Elsipogtog is Halloween because Indians just love to dress up, people in Big Cove [Elsipogtog], anyway," said Levi-Peters. "I know they're gonna go all out." To help bring this vision to life, Levi-Peters connected with Scott Tingley and Brad MacDonald, two organizers of East Coast Comic Expo, during the show this past June. Tingley said lot of ideas with different organizations have come and gone, with nothing coming to fruition. But mere hours after mentioning the idea in June, Levi-Peters had the venue, Chief Young Eagle Hockey Arena, and security already booked. "The fact that it's the first time being done here was the selling feature for us," explained MacDonald. "That's historic." The duo said their Moncton-based expo draws in crowds of thousands to the area, and hope Elsi-Con will be the same. Support comes in East Coast Comic Expo is helping Elsipogtog organizers with the basics in organizing with the hope that the community will be able to grow this event in the future and become self-sufficient. "We absolutely don't have all the answers, but we know a lot of the right questions," said Tingley. Kylie Francis, Elsipogtog's recreation manager, is being trained in skills like hiring talent, organizing vendors, organizing artists and managing finances. "Everything is just falling into my lap," said Francis. "They're training me to continue [Elsi-Con]." Francis said she is especially excited to showcase talented artists from Elsipogtog, who haven't had the opportunity to take part in something like this before. "We're really excited to get them to come out and open up their vendor booths or just to show their art and their creativity," said Francis. "This is a space where they can feel safe and have fun." Susan Levi-Peters, said because of her community's support, she is confident the day-long event will go well. "Once they know how it is, they're gonna love it," she said. Elsi-Con is slated for Sat., Aug. 23 and is open to all. Organizers say they are still accepting vendor and sponsorship applications.
CBC
6 days ago
- CBC
Parrsboro sharing its past to help grow local tourism
News Duration 3:06 The Mi'kmaw, Merchants, Missionaries and Mariners walking tour started in the town this summer and gives tourists a history lesson on the area. Luke Ettinger went along for a walk.
Cision Canada
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Cision Canada
Canada invests $2.2 million to support families of missing and murdered Indigenous people in Nova Scotia
TRURO, NS, July 16, 2025 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is investing $2.2 million over five years to help Nova Scotia support more families of missing and murdered Indigenous people. This funding will enhance the province's Family Information Liaison Unit and expand community outreach efforts through the Nova Scotia Native Women's Association. The announcement was made today by Jaime Battiste, Member of Parliament for Cape Breton–Canso–Antigonish, on behalf of Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, at the Nova Scotia Native Women's Association. Nova Scotia will use the funding to hire a full-time case coordinator for Victim Services, improving how families are supported through every step of the process. The Nova Scotia Native Women's Association will also hire a full-time community outreach worker to help connect families with culturally grounded support and services. The Family Information Liaison Unit works directly with families using a trauma-informed and culturally grounded approach. It helps gather answers from across government systems and connects families with Elders, cultural advisors, and other local supports. Units like this exist across Canada, supported by the Government of Canada in collaboration with provinces and territories. Quotes "For many families, getting information about a missing or murdered loved one is an essential part of the healing process. This support will help more families in Nova Scotia get the answers they deserve. It means more staff on the ground to guide families, stronger outreach in Mi'kmaw communities across Nova Scotia, and services that are grounded in culture, compassion, and trust." The Honourable Sean Fraser, P.C., K.C., Member of Parliament for Central Nova Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency "Families of missing and murdered Indigenous people have experienced unimaginable pain. They deserve more than words. They deserve real support. This investment in Nova Scotia's Family Information Liaison Unit will help families get the help they need to find answers, honour their loved ones, and begin to heal. It also responds to recommendations from the National Inquiry, like better coordination, cultural support, and services that put families first." Jaime Battiste, Member of Parliament for Cape Breton–Canso–Antigonish "Through Nova Scotia Victim Services, we strive to provide culturally appropriate and easy-to-use supports so that people can access justice and move towards healing. The Family Information Liaison Unit is an important resource for Indigenous families, and I am very pleased to see that it continues and expands." Becky Druhan, Attorney General and Minister of Justice "Too many Mi'kmaq families in Nova Scotia have faced barriers when searching for answers about their loved ones. This funding will help ensure that they are received with compassion, understanding and culturally appropriate care when it matters most." Leah Martin, Minister of L'Nu Affairs "We are committed to empowering women, girls, and Two-Spirit people and providing them with vital resources and safe spaces to thrive. This new funding is critical in our work to improve safety, implement preventative measures, and raise awareness of the FILU program. The addition of an outreach and prevention worker will also allow us to provide direct support and resources to MMIWG2S families and survivors." Dawn McDonald Executive Director, Nova Scotia Native Women's Association Facts Quick Facts The Government of Canada is investing $2.2 million over five years (2025–2030) to support families of missing and murdered Indigenous people in Nova Scotia. This funding will allow Nova Scotia to hire a full-time case coordinator for Victim Services and support the Nova Scotia Native Women's Association in hiring a community outreach worker. The Family Information Liaison Unit helps families gather information about their missing or murdered loved one and connects them to cultural, emotional, and legal support. Units like this exist across Canada and are supported by the Government of Canada in collaboration with provinces and territories. This initiative responds to key recommendations from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, including the need for family-focused, culturally respectful, and trauma-informed services. Associated links Justice Canada's Victim Fund Federal Victims Strategy Family Information Liaison Units Stay connected SOURCE Department of Justice Canada
Global News
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Global News
N.S. opposition call government out over withholding environmental racism report
Nova Scotia's provincial opposition parties are criticizing the government for continuing to keep a year-old report on environmental racism out of the public eye. Their comments came after Becky Druhan, minister responsible for the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism Initiatives, told reporters Thursday that government has requested a meeting with the environmental racism panel that created the report to 'discuss with them before sharing any additional information.' The report was completed by an eight-member panel appointed in June 2023 to look at how racism affects a community's natural environment in Nova Scotia. Environmental racism is a form of systemic racism where environmentally hazardous activities like landfills, trash incinerators, coal plants and toxic waste facilities are set up near Black and racialized communities or Indigenous territories. The report was delivered to the province about a year ago. 'In this instance, the (panel's) mandate didn't include a public report. The mandate was advice to government. So we want to respect the parameters of that,' Druhan said after a cabinet meeting when asked if she will release the report. Story continues below advertisement The panel members included community leaders with expertise in subjects such as Mi'kmaw and African Nova Scotian history, law, health and environmental sciences. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'We do know that Nova Scotians want to hear more, and we want to respect the panel and have a conversation with them before we do that,' Druhan said. Nova Scotia NDP Leader Claudia Chender and Liberal member Derek Mombourquette both said Thursday it's puzzling the province is choosing to withhold this critical information about environmental racism. 'I think they probably don't like what it (the report) says,' Chender said of the provincial government. 'We're talking about a legacy of wrongdoing and harm that this government is now complicit in, because they will not address what it was that came forward' from this panel's work, she added. The idea for the panel came from the NDP, who proposed it in an amendment to climate change legislation that was passed in the fall of 2023. Chender said it 'was no one's understanding' that this panel's work would be kept from the public. 'That report came from an amendment that was put forward by our caucus that specifically called for the establishment of a panel that would provide recommendations to the province for redress,' Chender said. 'It didn't say that it would privately provide some things that the government might consider, and then not tell anyone about it. That doesn't make any sense.' Story continues below advertisement Mombourquette agreed, saying it's 'really shameful' that the report has not yet been made public to Nova Scotians, adding that he represents a constituency that has faced environmental racism in the form of the Sydney tar ponds and coke oven sites in Cape Breton. 'I think that the government should release it immediately. I don't buy this argument that there needs to be a meeting with the panel beforehand. Release the report, let Nova Scotians see what's in it,' he said. When asked if he thinks the report ought to be made public, Premier Tim Houston did not directly answer. 'We're using that to formulate public policy. It's having a positive impact. There is a meeting being organized with a number of ministers and the panellists to talk about… the ways forward,' he said after Thursday's cabinet meeting. When pressed on if he is of the opinion that it should be public, he said 'we'll have a discussion with the panels. I think the most important thing is that the work is actually used.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 11, 2025.
CTV News
11-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
N.S. opposition call government out over withholding environmental racism report
HALIFAX — Nova Scotia's provincial opposition parties are criticizing the government for continuing to keep a year-old report on environmental racism out of the public eye. Their comments came after Becky Druhan, minister responsible for the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism Initiatives, told reporters Thursday that government has requested a meeting with the environmental racism panel that created the report to 'discuss with them before sharing any additional information.' The report was completed by an eight-member panel appointed in June 2023 to look at how racism affects a community's natural environment in Nova Scotia. Environmental racism is a form of systemic racism where environmentally hazardous activities like landfills, trash incinerators, coal plants and toxic waste facilities are set up near Black and racialized communities or Indigenous territories. The report was delivered to the province about a year ago. 'In this instance, the (panel's) mandate didn't include a public report. The mandate was advice to government. So we want to respect the parameters of that,' Druhan said after a cabinet meeting when asked if she will release the report. The panel members included community leaders with expertise in subjects such as Mi'kmaw and African Nova Scotian history, law, health and environmental sciences. 'We do know that Nova Scotians want to hear more, and we want to respect the panel and have a conversation with them before we do that,' Druhan said. Nova Scotia NDP Leader Claudia Chender and Liberal member Derek Mombourquette both said Thursday it's puzzling the province is choosing to withhold this critical information about environmental racism. 'I think they probably don't like what it (the report) says,' Chender said of the provincial government. 'We're talking about a legacy of wrongdoing and harm that this government is now complicit in, because they will not address what it was that came forward' from this panel's work, she added. The idea for the panel came from the NDP, who proposed it in an amendment to climate change legislation that was passed in the fall of 2023. Chender said it 'was no one's understanding' that this panel's work would be kept from the public. 'That report came from an amendment that was put forward by our caucus that specifically called for the establishment of a panel that would provide recommendations to the province for redress,' Chender said. 'It didn't say that it would privately provide some things that the government might consider, and then not tell anyone about it. That doesn't make any sense.' Mombourquette agreed, saying it's 'really shameful' that the report has not yet been made public to Nova Scotians, adding that he represents a constituency that has faced environmental racism in the form of the Sydney tar ponds and coke oven sites in Cape Breton. 'I think that the government should release it immediately. I don't buy this argument that there needs to be a meeting with the panel beforehand. Release the report, let Nova Scotians see what's in it,' he said. When asked if he thinks the report ought to be made public, Premier Tim Houston did not directly answer. 'We're using that to formulate public policy. It's having a positive impact. There is a meeting being organized with a number of ministers and the panellists to talk about… the ways forward,' he said after Thursday's cabinet meeting. When pressed on if he is of the opinion that it should be public, he said 'we'll have a discussion with the panels. I think the most important thing is that the work is actually used.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 11, 2025. By Lyndsay Armstrong
