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UNCEDED ALGONQUIN TERRITORY, Ottawa-During the May visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla to Canada, the Assemblies of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak was honored to welcome them upon their arrival at the Ottawa International Airport. During Woodhouse Nepinak's time with the king, she noted, "I was also honored to explain the significance of the Treaty 2 Medallion gifted to my great-great-grandfather Chief Richard Woodhouse in 1871 to commemorate the sacred obligations entered into by the...
WASHINGTON, D.C—The Department of the Interior recently announced that the Bureau of Indian Education reached its highest graduation rate in its history, reflecting sustained reforms and accountability measures. Student graduation rates at Bureau of Indian Education-funded high schools increased from 51 percent in 2015 to 79 percent in 2025. These gains surpass pre-pandemic levels and continue despite national declines in student outcomes following the COVID–19 pandemic. “Th...
Wounded Knee, S.D.—In mid-December, the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act, was signed into law. "It has been almost 135 years to the day of the tragedy that unfolded at Wounded Knee and [now], the president signed my bill into law to preserve the land where hundreds of lives were lost," said U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), who sponsored the bill. "I am grateful the Oglala and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribes will be able to hold this land in p...
Langdon, Alb.—Intertribal Life Ministries is thrilled to announce that Council Fire devotionals are now available in podcast form, and www.councilfire365.org went live on January 1, 2026. A new podcast is published daily, not only online, but also on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, and anywhere podcasts are presented. You will find links on www.councilfire365.org. Over the past two years, more than 30,000 printed copies of Council Fire daily devotionals, written exclusively by I...
Phoenix, Ariz.-Seven days a week, 365 days a year, the StrongHearts Native Helpline provides care and services for Indigenous people experiencing domestic violence. On Sept. 24, it earned the title of National Indigenous Domestic Violence Hotline with new direct funding from the federal government. The StrongHearts line was first established in 2017. The National Indigenous Women's Resource Center and the National Domestic Violence Hotline collaborated on its creation after...
Langdon, Alb.—On November 1, 2025, Intertribal Life Ministries (ILM) hosted a Dessert Night fundraiser at The Meeting Place in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This Dessert Night replaced the annual fall fundraising banquet and offered a plethora of desserts, music, fellowship, and testimonies for 170 attendees. The event featured the music of the Elias Family Band. Kevin and Kim Elias and their four sons travel extensively, sharing the love and grace of God through energetic, b...
Ottawa, Ont.-On behalf of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), General Jennie Carignan, chief of the defence staff, and Chief Warrant Officer Bob McCann recently apologized for racial discrimination and harassment Indigenous members and other people of color have faced while serving in the CAF. "For way too long, First Nations, Inuit, Métis, Black, Asian and other racialized members of the CAF faced systemic barriers that limited their ability to serve, contribute and thrive as...
If you're attending these events, come by and meet us! If you would like ILM to participate in your event, contact Todd at director@intertriballife.org. Sept. 26–28: THUNDER BAY GOSPEL JAMBOREE, Thunder Bay, Ont., www.nefc.ca Oct. 3–4: STEER CONFERENCE, Bismarck, N.D., www.steerinc.org. Stop by and meet ILM staff! Nov. 1: ILM CELEBRATION, Winnipeg, Man, www.intertriballife.org. Hosted by ILM staff! Oct. 2: CHIEF hosts CELEBRATE CHICAGO, Midwest Bible Church, htt...
WASHINGTON, D.C.-The Department of the Interior's Victim Assistance Program has partnered with the U.S. Department of Justice's National Indian Country Training Initiative, U.S. Indian Police Academy, FBI, DEA and ATF to curb violent crime in Indian Country. Through this partnership, several federal agencies have joined forces to offer a comprehensive training series aimed at improving how law enforcement and service providers respond to violent crime and enhance support for...
SANTA FE, N.M.—In August, the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts hosted the Santa Fe Indian Market in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Advertised as the largest and most prestigious Indigenous art market in the world, the event celebrated it's 103rd year. The event annually brings together more than 1,000 Native artists representing more than 200 tribal nations from across the U.S. and Canada. The three-day event features not only vendor booths, but other activities. A f...
WINNIPEG, Man.—Intertribal Life Ministries has announced plans to host a Dessert Night fundraiser on November 1 at The Meeting Place in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This Dessert Night replaces the annual fall fundraising banquet and will offer a plethora of desserts, music, fellowship, and testimonies. The event will feature the music of the Elias Family. Kevin and Kim Elias and their four sons travel extensively, sharing the love and grace of God through energetic, bluegrass-infused m...
MONTREAL, Que.—Thanks to students from Concordia University and the Cree Nation, in mid-August, Canada experienced the first space launch in more than 25 years. The mission, with the rocket launching from a base camp about 250 kilometres north of Mistissini, in northern Quebec, was a collaborative effort between the Space Concordia Rocketry Division and members of the local Cree community. The rocket, named Starsailor, broke records as the first of its size to be launched b...
WASHINGTON, D.C.—In June, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. appointed Mark Cruz, as senior advisor to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). Cruz is a 35th generation Oregonian, born in Salem, and is a citizen of the Klamath Tribes. After earning his bachelor's degree in political science from Pepperdine University and a master's degree in urban education policy from Brown University, Cruz began his career in education through Teach f...
BUSBY, Alb.—On May 15–18, 2025, Intertribal Life Ministries celebrated the blessing of being a partner for the Native Youth Conference (NYC) for another year. For the event, 256 youth and their chaperones converged upon a single location, Camp Nakamun, Alberta, from 11 different communities across Alberta and Saskatchewan. This year, youth from Loon River, Loon Lake, Gift Lake, Goodfish, Sunchild, Buffalo Lake, Trout Lake, Big River, Kikino Metis Settlement, Calgary and Sam...
SANTA FE, N.M.-According to the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH), suicide rates among the state's Native American population dropped by 43% during 2022 to 2023. According to the Centers for Disease Control, American Indians and Alaska Natives experience suicide rates that are 91% higher than the general population. In New Mexico, home to 23 federally recognized tribes, from 2009 to 2018, suicide rates among the Indigenous population climbed nearly 56 percent.. During...
SASKATOON, Sask.-The Mitchison Flight Centre is hosting a Dziret'ái Pilot Training Program designed specifically to train Saskatchewan Indigenous students and women to achieve their goals of becoming pilots. The program started in September 2024, when 9 of the 105 people who applied were chosen. It is funded by several organizations, including the Indigenous-owned RiseAir airline, mining companies, governments, and First Nations. Because of organizational funding, the...
OTTAWA, Ontario-The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, recently announced the establishment of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UN Declaration Act) Action Plan Advisory Committee (APAC). The APAC is an Indigenous-led, independent body made up of 10 experts from diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis backgrounds and...
SASKATOON, Sask.—The Government of Canada has announced landmark settlements with First Nation communities regarding unfulfilled promises made in treaty agreements many decades ago. In late February, the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, announced the settlement of Agricultural Benefit Claims with the following First Nation Communities: Ahta...
Yellowknife, NWT—The government of Canada and the the Government of the Northwest Territories recently signed a ten-year funding agreement that will support nature conservation with Indigenous governments and will help advance the NWT Our Land for the Future Agreement. This agreement is expected to help build a foundation for a conservation-based economy in which sustainable jobs and communities can thrive. It also highlights the importance of continued partnerships between C...
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz.—Diné bizaad is now the official language of the Navajo Nation after Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren signed long-awaited legislation to have the Navajo language used, taught and supported by appropriations. "One of my priorities coming in as president has always been to make sure that we make Navajo cool again," he said. "It's exciting to see the work that's being done. And, so, I commend the Navajo Nation Council for doing that." The legislation to ma...
Winnipeg, Man.-On October 26, 2024, more than 150 people gathered at The Meeting Place in Winnipeg, Man. to offer praise to the Lord for the outreach and effectiveness of Indian Life Ministries. Attendees from Canada and the United States reflected on Ecclesiastes 3:1–4 and the goodness of God in every season. And the theme was carried throughout the music and message. Chris and Rochelle Creasy led the participants in worship and blessed the crowd with their music. Chris a...
LAVEEN VILLAGE-President Joe Biden, on October 25, 2024, formally apologized for the 150 years of abuse and harm suffered by Indigenous children who were put into the federal boarding school system. "I believe it is important that we do know there was [sic] generations of Native children stolen, taken away to places they didn't know, with people they never met, who spoke a language they never heard," Biden said during a visit to the Gila River Indian Community in front of an...
LANGDON, Alb.—On Saturday, October 26, Indian Life Ministries will host their annual banquet. This year's theme is "For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven." (Ecc. 3:1). "In every season, for every reason, our heavenly Father is the reason for our joy," says ILM director team, Todd and Krystal Wawrzyniak. "Regardless of the circumstances we our in, there is always a reason to praise Him." So the evening will feature praise! Some participants w...
LA RONGE, Sask.—A wrong that was committed over 100 years ago looks like it will probably be made right. The Lac La Ronge Indian Band announced it approved a whopping $601.5 million settlement with the federal government to address the "cows and plows" clause of Treaty 6. Under treaties 4, 5, 6 and 10, the Crown promised agricultural benefits-livestock, hand tools, seeds and farming equipment-to the First Nations that signed. This was meant to push First Nations people from a...
HORNBROOK, Calif.-In August, crews completed the largest dam removal project in US history by demolishing the last of the four dams on the Klamath River. For decades, tribal nations on the Oregon-California border have fought to restore the river back to its natural state. For the past 100 years, the four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River-Iron Gate Dam, Copco Dams 1 and 2, and JC Boyle Dam-have prevented the region's iconic salmon population from swimming freely along...
