Indigenous Alberta

OTTAWA — An Indigenous political organization representing 39 Ontario First Nations says it is "confounded" by a federal decision to hire an international organization to provide advice on unmarked graves.

OTTAWA — The head of an international organization Ottawa hired to give advice on identifying possible remains in unmarked graves at former residential schools said Wednesday that its coming work should be given a chance.

“We hope the impact is that Indigenous youth feel comfortable accessing space in their communities,” said Jennifer MacPherson, Spirit North regional director.

OTTAWA — An NDP member of Parliament is asking the federal government to establish a system that would send the public a phone notification when an Indigenous woman goes missing.

EDMONTON — A woman from Saddle Lake Cree Nation was in Federal Court Tuesday fighting for her right to vote in band elections.

TORONTO — Century old artifacts belonging to a 19th century Plains Cree chief who was known as a peacekeeper were returned to his descendants in a repatriation ceremony at the Royal Ontario Museum.

A chief in Saskatchewan who became well-known after his First Nation found what are believed to be 751 unmarked graves at the site of a former residential school will lead a new committee for sharing documents connected to the institutions.

PORT ALBERNI, B.C. — A Vancouver Island First Nation has announced the detection of 17 suspected unmarked graves at the site of a former residential school, in an emotional event that combined science and ceremony on Tuesday.

MONTREAL — Two artifacts sacred to some of Canada's Indigenous peoples are now back on home territory after a Swiss museum returned them to the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) confederacy this month.

BELLA COOLA, B.C. — A totem pole that was taken from a First Nation more than 100 years ago has been welcomed home to Bella Coola on the British Columbia central coast in an elaborate ceremony filled with dance, songs and speeches.