Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 10h

I'm told by sources I consider to be reliable that OPP has apprehended two suspects in the shooting death of a Ginoogaming First Nation man. OPP has yet to respond to my request for confirmation.

OPP lifted the two-day, shelter-in-place order on Ginoogaming and neighbouring Longlac at 3:30.

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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 11h

Aroland Chief Sonny Gagnon says his members have also been sheltering in place over gun violence in Ginoogaming.

“It’s to a point where people are under their beds or have a gun handy so they don’t come into houses. It’s a very fluid situation in my community.”

Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 12h

NAN state of emergency is now up online:
www.nan.ca/news/first-n...
NAN Grand Chief Fiddler says comms mus be able to pass own laws to make sure they're safe, and justice system needs to prosecute whomever goes against those laws.

First Nations Leadership and NAN Grand Chief Declare State of Emergency on Flow of Illegal Drugs and Deaths in Communities

THUNDER BAY, ON: Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) leadership are declaring a public State of Emergency following a drug related shooting incident that unfolded in Ginoogaming First Nation. Tragically, and ...

www.nan.ca

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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 12h

Eabametoong First Nation Chief Soloman Atlookan to Ontario & Canada:
“You want our resources and you can’t even lend a hand to help us out with our crisis situation. It’s getting really bad. Please respond to us. Our young people are dying.”

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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 12h

Ginoogaming Chief Sheri Taylor says her chief and council will banish members who are responsible for illicit drug dealing and harbouring organized crime.

Says she has heard nothing from Ontario Premier Doug Ford or Indigenous minister Greg Rickford.

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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 12h

"We called a state of emergency a year and a half ago an that didn't do anything. All they did was band-aid solutions, temporary fixes."

For more: ricochet.media/indigenous/f...

Failing bridge triggers state of emergency in Northern Ontario First Nation

Ginoogaming First Nation is cut off from emergency and essential services, while various levels of government pass the buck

ricochet.media

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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 12h

"These people have been harboured in our community for years," Ginoogaming Chief Sheri Taylor says. So many issues with drugs,violence and gangs in our area. I've been working hard with the help of my council to try to resolve and bring safety in our community."

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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 12h

Ginoogaming First Nation Chief Sheri Taylor says 1 person is dead and another is in ICU folowing gun violence. Ginoogaming & the adjacent town of Longlac have been locked down since Wednesday as OPP continues a hunt for two men.

She says she expects that the stay in place order will be lifted soon.

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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 12h

Neskantaga First Nation Coun. Lashaunda Waswa says predators are targeting youth with drugs.
Says she has lost friends to drugs, some of whom haven’t died yet.
She calls on NAN, Ontario, Canada to do more and take action.

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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 12h

Ontario's ombudsman visited Neskantaga last month, calling living conditions there "unsafe and unacceptable."
ricochet.media/indigenous/b...

‘Bringing them home in coffins': Ombudsman finds unsafe conditions in Fly-in First Nation

Jon Thompson accompanied Ontario’s ombudsman on a shocking tour of Neskantaga First Nation. This is what they saw

ricochet.media

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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 12h

“There is no public safety up north.”-Neskantaga First Nation Chief Gary Quisses

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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 12h

NAN Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler says if Canada and Ontario want to extract the resources in the provincial far north, they must be able to guarantee the security of every member of Nishnawbe Aski Nation.

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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 12h

This comes as Longlac and Ginoogaming First Nations have spent two days locked down and police manhunts continue for two men.

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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 12h

Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler issues state of emergency across NAN territory over drugs, gang violence.
He on Canada & Ontario to meet & resource it.
“It has come to the point in some cases where our chiefs and council feel they’re losing control,” he says.

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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 1d

I don't know about you, but Canada's 25 Most Wanted Fugitives is the horse-race media stunt that most makes me want to smash that button and turn my big red chair around.

Toronto Star @thestar.com · 1d

A man wanted for first-degree murder in Toronto has taken the top spot on the list of Canada’s 25 most wanted fugitives, unveiled Wednesday in Vancouver.

Man wanted in Yorkdale mall murder tops list of Canada’s 25 most wanted fugitives

The nationwide Bolo (“Be on the lookout”) Program released an updated list of Canada’s 25 most wanted fugitives in Vancouver.

www.thestar.com

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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 1d

Temperatures in Thunder Bay dropped 20 degrees this past couple days. Run was cold this morn'. I've got birds on my windowsill looking to set up a winter arrangement. I'm calmly sipping my coffee, listening to Cowboys From Hell, basking & connecting with their panic as "nature."

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Reposted by Jon Thompson

Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 7d

So why is Ontario's ombudsman flying into northern First Nations that are in crisis? Where is Canada's ombudsman?

Oh, Canada doesn't have an ombudsman – and that's not for a lack of interest by Indigenous people or ombudsman at the provincial and territorial levels.

Ricochet Media @ricochetmedia.bsky.social · 7d

How is there still no office for Indigenous rights complaints? Six years after #MMIWG Calls to Action, #Canada still has no ombudsman.

“To be honest with you, I’m kind of frustrated that we haven’t heard much response.”

New from @jonthompson.bsky.social:

ricochet.media/indigenous/m...

#onpoli

How is there still no office for Indigenous rights complaints?

Six years after MMIWG Calls to Action, Canada still has no ombudsman on Indigenous and human rights

ricochet.media

5 12

Reposted by Jon Thompson

Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 7d

Apple has recognized Canadaland's podcast "Thunder Bay" that I co-produced with Ryan McMahon among its global "Series Essentials."
podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t...
The pressure continues on Thunder Bay & Ontario leaders to solve these serious, persistent problems hurting this city we love.

Thunder Bay

Documentary Podcast · Series · Thunder Bay has been named an Apple Podcasts Series Essential. When Indigenous teens start turning up dead under suspicious circumstances, host Ryan McMahon sets out to ...

podcasts.apple.com

1 6

Reposted by Jon Thompson

Harms Committed @harmscommitted.com · 7d

"[C]urrently no independent oversight body to deal with Indigenous people's issues."

"[S]ix years since the idea arose among the Calls to Action in the 2019 Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls."

"[W]e haven't heard much response."
#Ontario #Saskatchewan #Canada #Genocide

How is there still no office for Indigenous rights complaints?

Six years after MMIWG Calls to Action, Canada still has no ombudsman on Indigenous and human rights

ricochet.media

2 7 13

Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 7d

So why is Ontario's ombudsman flying into northern First Nations that are in crisis? Where is Canada's ombudsman?

Oh, Canada doesn't have an ombudsman – and that's not for a lack of interest by Indigenous people or ombudsman at the provincial and territorial levels.

Ricochet Media @ricochetmedia.bsky.social · 7d

How is there still no office for Indigenous rights complaints? Six years after #MMIWG Calls to Action, #Canada still has no ombudsman.

“To be honest with you, I’m kind of frustrated that we haven’t heard much response.”

New from @jonthompson.bsky.social:

ricochet.media/indigenous/m...

#onpoli

How is there still no office for Indigenous rights complaints?

Six years after MMIWG Calls to Action, Canada still has no ombudsman on Indigenous and human rights

ricochet.media

5 12

Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 7d

Apple has recognized Canadaland's podcast "Thunder Bay" that I co-produced with Ryan McMahon among its global "Series Essentials."
podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t...
The pressure continues on Thunder Bay & Ontario leaders to solve these serious, persistent problems hurting this city we love.

Thunder Bay

Documentary Podcast · Series · Thunder Bay has been named an Apple Podcasts Series Essential. When Indigenous teens start turning up dead under suspicious circumstances, host Ryan McMahon sets out to ...

podcasts.apple.com

1 6

Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 10d

Anishinaabe-kwe former pop & country star Shy-Anne Hovorka is putting on a second act — and the activism in her art has matured, backed by an orchestra.
ricochet.media/indigenous/f...

From pop stardom to reconciliation songs: Shy-Anne Hovorka’s second act

The Anishinaabe-kwe artist and ’60s Scoop survivor turned her back on fame a decade ago — now she’s using music and education to fight for Indigenous justice and give hope to the next generation

ricochet.media

4

Reposted by Jon Thompson

Ricochet Media @ricochetmedia.bsky.social · 10d

In Thunder Bay, an Indigenous artist and ’60s Scoop survivor is using music and education to fight for Indigenous justice and give hope to the next generation.

This is @shy-anne55.bsky.social's second act.

New feature from @jonthompson.bsky.social:

ricochet.media/indigenous/f...

#NorthernOntario

From pop stardom to reconciliation songs: Shy-Anne Hovorka’s second act

The Anishinaabe-kwe artist and ’60s Scoop survivor turned her back on fame a decade ago — now she’s using music and education to fight for Indigenous justice and give hope to the next generation

ricochet.media

10 17

Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 13d

Yeah, for sure.

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Jon Thompson @jonthompson.bsky.social · 13d

Fascinating interpretation of “public infrastructure” in this joint statement from Northwestern and Northeastern Ontario municipal leaders today.

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