Truth

Minister Boissonnault announces funding to support skills training for Indigenous people across Canada

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, March 7, 2024

The Skills and Partnership Fund is a project-based program supporting partnerships between Indigenous organizations and employers to provide targeted skills training for Indigenous people for in-demand jobs at the local, regional and national level.

Key Points: 
  • The Skills and Partnership Fund is a project-based program supporting partnerships between Indigenous organizations and employers to provide targeted skills training for Indigenous people for in-demand jobs at the local, regional and national level.
  • It is one of two complementary Indigenous labour market programs delivered by Employment and Social Development Canada, the other one being the distinctions-based Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program.
  • These initiatives not only address skills shortages in Canada but also contribute to the empowerment of our Indigenous peoples through meaningful employment."
  • The Skills and Partnership Fund aims to close the skills and employment gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people and to increase Indigenous participation in the labour market by ensuring that Indigenous people have improved skills and employment opportunities.

Minister Boissonnault announces funding to make post-secondary education more affordable for Indigenous youth

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 29, 2024

That is why the Government of Canada continues to make meaningful investments in youth through its comprehensive array of youth programming.

Key Points: 
  • That is why the Government of Canada continues to make meaningful investments in youth through its comprehensive array of youth programming.
  • Today, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Randy Boissonnault, announced an additional $6 million for Indspire for their Building Brighter Futures: Bursaries, Scholarships and Awards program.
  • This funding, provided through the Supports for Student Learning Program, will allow Indspire to offer scholarships and bursaries to 2,400 Indigenous students across Canada so they can pursue post-secondary training.
  • The Supports for Student Learning Program funds organizations that help students to stay in school, continue their studies, and gain new skills that will help them succeed in their education.

Minister Boissonnault announces funding to support skills training for Indigenous people

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 18, 2024

This project aims to increase the number of Indigenous people in employment or vocational training in communities and urban areas.

Key Points: 
  • This project aims to increase the number of Indigenous people in employment or vocational training in communities and urban areas.
  • SPF projects support partnerships between Indigenous organizations and industry employers to provide targeted skills training for Indigenous people for in-demand jobs at the local, regional and national level.
  • The SPF project-based program is one of two complementary Indigenous labour market programs delivered by Employment and Social Development Canada, the other one being the distinctions-based Indigenous Employment and Skills Training Program.
  • The Skills and Partnership Fund empowers more Indigenous people with the training and resources they need to shape their own career path ."

One Million Truths Assembles Scientists, U.S. Technology Giants, and U.S. Organizations for Unprecedented Research and AI-Driven Solutions to Racial Conflict

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 16, 2024

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- One Million Truths (OMT), a science-based nonprofit dedicated to building solutions to resolve racial conflict by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), today announced the launch of its two-year effort to collect 1 million-plus first-person stories around the impact of racial and ethnic conflict from Americans nationwide.

Key Points: 
  • "I thought I understood racism until I tried to help end it," says Mark Eckhardt, founder and CEO of OMT.
  • OMT is the only effort that combines the science of constructive conflict resolution with scalable technology, data, media, and production capabilities.
  • Truths in the database will undergo analysis by narrative AI to uncover commonalities and highlight trends.
  • To accelerate and make the greatest impact, One Million Truths invites individuals and organizations to bolster its fundraising campaign by becoming foundational philanthropic supporters .

Connie Senese releases 'There Is Another Way: The Awakening'

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 16, 2024

MELBOURNE, Australia, Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Introducing her debut into the world of publishing, Connie Senese unveils "There Is Another Way: The Awakening" (published by Balboa Press AU). Through the practice of channeling profound insights, Senese aims to ignite a spiritual awakening among humanity.

Key Points: 
  • Through the practice of channeling profound insights, Senese aims to ignite a spiritual awakening among humanity.
  • This book serves as a beacon, offering clarity and enlightenment to its readers.
  • Senese draws from her personal belief system, life experiences, and the wisdom she has received from Source, the Infinite Intelligence.
  • When asked about the key takeaway for readers, Senese emphasizes the timeliness of awakening.

Artists bring human richness at times of strife — and need to be allowed to speak about the Israel-Hamas war

Retrieved on: 
Sunday, January 7, 2024

As reports of military machinations and diplomatic efforts have gained attention, the art world has struggled with responses to the horrors of this war.

Key Points: 
  • As reports of military machinations and diplomatic efforts have gained attention, the art world has struggled with responses to the horrors of this war.
  • For example, controversy and calls for transparency and accountability followed the departure of Anishinaabe-kwe curator Wanda Nanibush from the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO).
  • After the Royal Ontario Museum tried to change a Palestinian American artist’s work, Jenin Yaseen staged a sit-in and others protested.

Endeavouring to speak truthfully, meaningfully

  • Rights, limits, regulation and the purpose of artists’ work are what is at stake in this discussion.
  • An investigation is underway to see how the gallery’s policies may have impacted the board’s decision-making.

People trying to create and speak truth

  • Some might suggest that artists should entertain and enlighten us but stay away from contentious issues.
  • I believe artists have a unique role, different than that of journalists, political leaders or even documentary filmmakers.

Art and our lives

  • Thinking about “art worlds” as “patterns of collective activity,” as Becker does, helps us to think about art in relationship to our social and political lives, and the conditions under which artists create.
  • Art schools, professional organizations, galleries and performance spaces all play a part in enabling some artists and their messages to shine, whether through financial support, attention or time — while constraining or even silencing others.
  • At the same time, they prescribe behaviours and actions that constrain both artists and the public perception of their work.
  • In this way, the support systems around artistic work have political implications, just as much as the art itself may have.

Discipline via funding

  • As I examined in my doctoral research, the Summerworks Theatre Festival briefly lost funding from Canadian Heritage in 2011 after staging playwright Catherine Frid’s controversial play Homegrown.
  • This was after a high-profile 2006 RCMP investigation saw 18 Muslim individuals accused of terrorism.
  • (Charges against seven people were stayed or dropped, while four people were convicted).

What do we want from our artists?

  • People around the world face what some scholars and activists have called a “polycrisis.” Artists represent and reflect this social and political upheaval.
  • Theatres across the world stage performances or screenings — like The Gaza Monologues — to try to represent Palestinian voices.
  • And we should be mindful of desires to discipline the art world at a time when its voices are so deeply needed.


Lowell Gasoi does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Canada’s Nature Agreement underscores the need for true reconciliation with Indigenous nations

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 4, 2024

The agreement stressed the full collaboration of Indigenous Peoples in alignment with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Key Points: 
  • The agreement stressed the full collaboration of Indigenous Peoples in alignment with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
  • The Nature Agreement follows a series of historic federal investments in nature conservation over the past several years.
  • Like the previous announcements, the 2023 Nature Agreement includes funding for Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas, or IPCAs.

Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas

  • Unlike regular parks and protected areas in Canada, IPCAs are established and maintained by First Nations, Métis and Inuit governments.
  • Indigenous governments establish IPCAs under their own Indigenous laws, while some also choose to pursue protection under Canadian law.
  • IPCAs are varied, but typically support ecological restoration or protection and local economic development while centring Indigenous cultures, languages, knowledge and laws.

Roadblocks to reconciliation

  • Canadian governments continue to grant tenures and licences to companies for logging, mining, fish farms and other impactful activities inside IPCAs against the wishes of Indigenous nations.
  • These actions go against the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and its foundational principle of free, prior and informed consent.
  • Indigenous governments are sometimes forced to compensate companies by buying out tenures to ensure protection of their IPCAs.
  • This assertion is in spite of the Canadian government’s own guidance for reconciliation and legal pluralism — including the recognition of Indigenous rights and building equal relationships with Indigenous Peoples.

Systemic change will advance reconciliation

  • The challenges IPCAs surface can be embraced as catalysts for reconciliation.
  • It is the kind of transformative work that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission called for in all sectors of society.
  • As such, how Canadian governments and the conservation sector respond to the roadblocks encountered by Indigenous governments advancing IPCAs is crucial.
  • Only by assisting these initiatives can we build meaningful and lasting IPCAs which not only restore and protect ecosystems but also advance reconciliation through Indigenous governance, laws, and knowledge systems.
  • Justine Townsend received funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada for her doctoral research.
  • Robin J. Roth receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (#895-2019-1019) and is the principal investigator and co-lead of the Conservation Through Reconciliation Partnership.

One of 2023's Most Inspirational and Must Read Memoirs Is 'I've Seen Jesus' by Author Shadeen Anglin

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 14, 2023

(Genesis - Revelation) app, has announced the release of her inspiring memoir, I've Seen Jesus: Details of a Divine Call to Intimacy and the Supernatural .

Key Points: 
  • (Genesis - Revelation) app, has announced the release of her inspiring memoir, I've Seen Jesus: Details of a Divine Call to Intimacy and the Supernatural .
  • This compelling firsthand account chronicles Anglin's redemption through Jesus and calls other lost, misled souls to the light of His love.
  • I've Seen Jesus is more than just a personal account of one woman's relationship with God.
  • Shadeen Anglin is a minister, author, and spiritual leader with a passion for helping others discover the profound joy of a deep, intimate relationship with God.

Indigenous Advisory Council for CN Resigns

Retrieved on: 
Monday, December 11, 2023

Council urges CN to acknowledge history with Indigenous Peoples and commit to transformative change

Key Points: 
  • Winnipeg, Manitoba--(Newsfile Corp. - December 11, 2023) - The resignation of all 12 members of the CN Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC), was submitted to CN's Board of Directors and is effective December 31, 2023.
  • During their time, the IAC commissioned a 51-page 2022 IAC Impact Report that included tangible and meaningful recommendations for CN to improve their relationships with Indigenous Peoples.
  • Regardless of who was in charge, CN played a role in the oppression of Indigenous Peoples and there is no path forward without that acknowledgement."
  • The CN Indigenous Advisory Council was formed in 2021 and is co-chaired by Ms. Roberta Louise Jamieson, OC, Kanyen'kehà:ka and the Hon.

The BC First Nations Justice Council and First Nations Leadership Council Congratulate Honourable Leonard Marchand, Jr.’s Appointment as Chief Justice of the B.C. Supreme Court and the Yukon Court of Appeal

Retrieved on: 
Monday, December 11, 2023

Okanagan Syilx Territory, Westbank BC, Dec. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The BCFNJC and FNLC Congratulate Honourable Leonard Marchand, Jr.’s Appointment as Chief Justice of the B.C.

Key Points: 
  • Okanagan Syilx Territory, Westbank BC, Dec. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The BCFNJC and FNLC Congratulate Honourable Leonard Marchand, Jr.’s Appointment as Chief Justice of the B.C.
  • Supreme Court and the Yukon Court of Appeal
    Okanagan Syilx Territory, Westbank BC: The BC First Nations Justice Council (BCFNJC) and the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) celebrate the Honourable Leonard Marchand, Jr.’s appointment as Chief Justice of the British Columbia Supreme Court and Chief Justice of the Yukon Court of Appeal.
  • In 2021 Chief Justice Marchand became the first First Nations person appointed to the B.C.
  • Court of Appeal, in 2017 Chief Justice Marchand was appointed as the first First Nations Justice to the B.C.