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REGINA, Sask.—In April, The Royal Regina Rifles (RRR) unveiled a statue honoring troops who landed on the beaches at Normandy, France on D-Day-including the quarter of the regiment who were First Nations. Of the Indigenous soldiers in the RRR, most were from the Peepeekisis First Nation. "The contributions of Indigenous veterans have really been overlooked for a long time,"historian Kelsey Loney told APTN News. "We are so proud to include the Indigenous perspective on this s...
OTTAWA, Ont.-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has appointed Manon Jeannotte, as the new lieutenant-governor of Quebec. Jeannotte is from the Mi'kmaq First Nation of Gespeg. "Manon Jeannotte has dedicated her career to advancing Indigenous peoples' well-being and making a real difference in the life of our communities," said Prime Minister Trudeau. "I am confident she will continue to make significant contributions and inspire people in Quebec and across Canada in her new role."...
TAHLEQUAH, Okla.-Keeleigh Sanders, 21, of Westville, was crowned Miss Cherokee 2023-2024 during the annual leadership competition held in Tahlequah on Saturday. The tribe also crowned a new Junior Miss Cherokee and Little Cherokee Ambassadors, all of whom will serve in their roles for the next year. As Miss Cherokee, Sanders will represent the Cherokee Nation as a goodwill ambassador to promote the government, history, language and culture of the tribe. She also received a...
When I reflect on my life, as I'm about to turn 55 on July 01, 2023, my heart and my mind keep going to the topic of wisdom. As an Indigenous man who's also from the Sixties Scoop generation, and whose mother and uncles and aunts went to residential school, I realize we were all left with what is called intergenerational trauma. As a follower of the Jesus Way who's born again and set free from sin, I'm also told in the holy scriptures from the apostle Paul that our struggle wi...
WASHINGTON-Indigenous leaders called on Congress September 20 to reverse a Supreme Court ruling that expands states' ability to prosecute crimes on tribal land, a ruling they said threatens their sovereignty and their ability to protect their citizens. Witnesses told a House Natural Resources subcommittee that the Castro-Huerta ruling tramples on 200 years of legal precedent about tribal jurisdiction and has made it harder for them to pursue cases of domestic violence or missi...
BROOKINGS, S.D.-Tashina Red Hawk was just 7 years old when her parents bought her first horse. Her mentor, Kassandra Chauncey, a Todd County Junior Division 4-H member at the time, was training her how to ride when her own horse became injured the day before the Todd County 4-H Horse Show. "The day before the 4-H county horse show I received a phone call from Kassandra asking if she could use my horse, because her horse got hurt. She needed to show my horse in showmanship,...
Washington, D.C.-Christian Native Americans are leading an effort of reconciliation and forgiveness over the U.S. Government's 230-year treatment of native peoples. "The Apology," as the movement is called, doesn't ask for the destruction of monuments or history to be rewritten. They only seek what the name implies . . . an apology. And they're willing to forgive and move on. The Christian movement has gained big allies including former United States Ambassador-at-Large for...
TUCSON-"Getting lost is the best part of trail running," Marlinda Bedonie said with a chuckle as we shielded our eyes from the morning sun, searching for our cars. We spoke on a recent morning while trekking through Tucson Mountain Park on a mostly flat, single-track loop trail. Dipping in and out of washes and brushing against the creosote along the trail, the Tohono O'odham and Navajo mother and I chatted-out of breath-as we shared our running journeys and spoke about our...
OTTAWA-Inuk leader and former ambassador Mary Simon has been chosen as the next governor general. She is the first Indigenous person ever to be appointed to the role. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that the Queen has accepted his recommendation to appoint Simon-a past president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the national Inuit organization-as the 30th governor general. Simon is an Inuk from Kuujjuaq, a village in northeastern Quebec. Her mother was Inuk and her father was a w...
PHOENIX-After winning the title of Miss Navajo Nation in September 2019, Shaandiin Parrish immediately got to work on the cultural preservation and advocacy efforts central to the role. At times, she attended five or more events in a single day, traveling across the 27,000-square-mile reservation to speak to elementary school students and attend conferences. "You really hit the ground running," Parrish recalled. "There's no event too small. There's no event too big." But in...
TAHLEQUAH, Okla.-The Cherokee Nation gave nearly half a million dollars to 136 rural Oklahoma fire departments in May during the tribe's annual Volunteer Firefighter Ceremony. Each year, rural fire departments rely on fundraisers, membership dues and the help of good Samaritans to maintain their operations. To honor them the firefighters, the Cherokee Nation provided each department with a check for $3,500, totaling $476,000, to help with equipment, fuel or other items needed...
TAHLEQUAH, Okla.-Junior Miss Cherokee Kaitlyn Pinkerton recently presented at the 35th annual National Indian Health Board's Tribal Health Conference in September, where she shared her platform of mental health awareness. "It is important to present on mental health because people need to know that they are not alone when they have a mental health disorder," Pinkerton said. "I want people to know that they have support available to them, and where to find support." At 15 years...
Winner, National and International Boxing Titles Model, CoverGirl Cosmetics Community Activist Mary Spencer, an Ojibway athlete originally from the Cape Croker First Nation began her boxing career at age 17. Although she was born in Wiarton, Ontario and lived there for a time, she also lived in Big Trout Lake, Owen Sound and Detroit before settling in Windsor, Ontario. She attended Roseville Public School where she played volleyball and soccer and was also a track and field...
The eldest of five children, Alvina Begay was born on the Navajo Indian Reservation to Alvin and Wanda Begay in Ganado, Arizona. She learned responsibility early: while her mother worked full-time, Alvina cared for her younger siblings. She used what little "down time" she had running across dirt roads of the mesas and trails of Ganado. Her goal was to one day qualify for the Olympic trials. For a dream that grand, Alvina kept her mind, body and emotions in top condition....
