Shows
InvestigatesRetrospectives: Dennis Ward on Standing Rock, ten years laterIt's been 10 years since Standing Rock, a historic gathering of land and water protectors resisting the Dakota Access pipeline that captured international attention. On Retrospectives, Dennis Ward joins host Brittany Guyot to discuss CLASH AT STANDING ROCK—the first of his two APTN Investigates episodes reporting from the front lines in North Dakota. • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: https://aptnnews.ca Hear more APTN News podcasts: https://www.aptnnews.ca/podcasts/
2026-04-2206 min
APTN News InFocusCanada's AI data centre race and how Indigenous Peoples fit inOn this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens examines Canada's push to build AI data centres in the name of sovereignty. The federal government is injecting over $2 billion for national AI infrastructure, while Bell has announced a 300-megawatt data centre near the Rural Municipality of Sherwood, Sask. As projects expand in proximity to Indigenous lands, questions remain about environmental impacts and whether Indigenous sovereignty is part of Canada's AI vision. Associate professor in the Department of Film and Media at Queen's University Mél Hogan and Animikii Indigenous Technology CEO Jeff W...
2026-04-1741 min
Face To FaceAPTN's Face to Face with Dennis Ward hits 300-episode milestoneThis week's Face to Face marks a special occasion as it marks the 300th episode of the show over the last 12 years. From former host Michael Hutchinson to our very own Dennis Ward and a few guest hosts in between, we highlight just a few moments to look back on. Face to Face has featured 300 hardworking First Nations, Inuit and Métis people across a wide range of entertainment, sports, advocates and politicians. Including the late Joye Braun, one of the few to be on the show twice. • • • APTN National News, our stories told ou...
2026-04-1525 min
APTN News InFocusIs B.C. putting Indigenous rights on hold?On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens examines British Columbia's plan to suspend parts of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). Premier of British Columbia David Eby outlined his plan during a meeting between leaders, according to the Canadian Press. Robert Phillips of the First Nations Summit joins the show to discuss what was said and what changes are being considered. • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: https://aptnnews.ca Hear more APTN News po...
2026-04-1027 min
APTN News InFocusThe Native Extremism Program and decades of surveillanceOn this episode of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens examines the RCMP's decades-long surveillance of Indigenous Peoples. A CBC Investigates report reveals how the Native Extremism Program infiltrated Indigenous organizations and monitored leaders like George Manuel. Journalist Brett Forester joins the show to break down the investigation and what the findings reveal about state surveillance. • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: https://aptnnews.ca Hear more APTN News podcasts: https://www.aptnnews.ca/podcasts/
2026-04-0332 min
Face To FaceAward winning reporter Kathleen Martens reflects on 35 years in journalismAfter 35 years of journalism, retirement hasn't come easy to award winning reporter Kathleen Martens. She still receives calls from people asking her to write stories. On this week's episode of Face to Face, she talks with Dennis Ward about retirement, journalism and how the APTN newsroom differs from others she worked at during her career. • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: https://aptnnews.ca Hear more APTN News podcasts: https://www.aptnnews.ca/podcasts/
2026-04-0128 min
APTN News BriefAPTN News podcast playlist: Our Relatives (Life on the Streets)With the Brief's brief break wrapping up, our final highlight from other APTN News podcasts shares an extended excerpt from Our Relatives: Life on the Streets, a six-episode series offering a unique take on who is homeless and why—as told by those living it every day. And in the episode "Unsafe," host Kathleen Martens explores why some Indigenous women choose to stay away from Winnipeg homeless shelters. Warning: portions of this episode discuss disturbing subject matter
2026-03-3008 min
InvestigatesTaxing SovereigntyFor decades Mohawk tobacco manufacturers have been playing cat and mouse with law enforcement, making big profits while fending off charges over selling tax free cigarettes. But now a Mohawk tobacco entrepreneur has turned the tables: he's suing Quebec for seizing his products, and is giving APTN Investigates a peek behind the curtain of how his industry works. APTN Investigates: Taxing Sovereignty by Jeff Dorn, Tom Fennario and Savanna Craig • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: https://aptnnews.ca Hear more AP...
2026-03-2824 min
APTN News InFocusWhy Indigenous stories in French matterOn this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens takes listeners inside a weekly APTN broadcast and the team bringing stories to French-speaking audiences across the country. APTN Nouvelles nationales Host Kim Sullivan shares the vision behind creating space for Indigenous stories in French and why language matters. • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: https://aptnnews.ca Hear more APTN News podcasts: https://www.aptnnews.ca/podcasts/
2026-03-2722 minAPTN News BriefAPTN News podcast playlist: InFocusWith the Brief off this week, we showcase other podcasts in the APTN News line-up. And in this excerpt from InFocus—expert interviews and meaningful conversations about stories and issues affecting Indigenous peoples—host Cierra Bettens speaks with photojournalist Amber Bracken about her arrest during an RCMP raid, and what it signifies about press freedom in Canada.
2026-03-2711 minAPTN News BriefAPTN News podcast playlist: Nation to NationAs the Brief's break continues, we feature another podcast in the APTN News line-up—Nation to Nation, a weekly look at the politics affecting Indigenous peoples in Canada, connecting you with the decision-makers in Ottawa and across the country. In this excerpt, political journalists rate and discuss Mark Carney's first year as the Liberal prime minister. Extro music: 'Pay It Forward' by 1000 Handz (CC BY)
2026-03-2608 minAPTN News BriefAPTN News podcast playlist: Truth & PoliticsWith the Brief taking a short break from all-new episodes, we instead feature other podcasts in the APTN News line-up. Today, it's our 'Truth & Politics' panel, our regular expert breakdown of what's making headlines. In this excerpt, a discussion of Manitoba's sudden pause on what would have been Canada's first Indigenous-led supervised consumption site. Extro music: 'Pay It Forward' by 1000 Handz (CC BY)
2026-03-2510 min
Face To FaceConservative MP Billy Morin opens up about his first year in OttawaIt's been almost one year since he was first elected as a Conservative member of Parliament and Billy Morin is ready to talk. In his first appearance on APTN News since becoming an MP, there was plenty to discuss; floor crossings, efforts to end the second-generation cut-off, Alberta separatism and what he would like to accomplish in the House of Commons. • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: https://aptnnews.ca Hear more APTN News podcasts: https://www.aptnnews.ca/podcasts/
2026-03-2425 min
InvestigatesCrisis at Cross LakeA lengthy power outage ravages homes and infrastructure in Pimicikamak Cree Nation, triggering a state of emergency, a boil water advisory and a community exodus. Crisis at Cross Lake examines how, why and what's next. APTN Investigates: Crisis at Cross Lake by Christopher Read. • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: https://aptnnews.ca Hear more APTN News podcasts: https://www.aptnnews.ca/podcasts/
2026-03-2124 min
APTN News InFocusIs journalism under fire in Canada?Protests are a familiar sight across the country and journalists are often there documenting what unfolds. But what happens when police ignore their credentials? On this episode of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens examines growing concerns around press freedom in Canada. Photojournalist Amber Bracken shares her arrest on Wet'suwet'en territory while covering an RCMP raid. The episode also features Indigenous journalist Brandi Morin, who reflects on reporting from the front lines and the risks journalists face. Sonya Fatah of the Canada Press Freedom Project breaks down national trends, while independent journalist Rachel...
2026-03-201h 23
APTN News InFocusMétis identity and the controversy in OntarioOn Feb. 26, APTN News hosted a panel examining Métis identity and the ongoing controversy surrounding the Métis Nation of Ontario. The discussion also explored modern treaties and self-government agreements. Host Dennis Ward was joined in studio by Scott McLeod, Lake Huron regional chief for the Anishinabek Nation, Celeste Pedri-Spade, an associate professor at McGill University and Will Goodon, minister of identity protection and inter-Indigenous relations with the Manitoba Metis Federation. On this episode of APTN News InFocus, we bring you that full panel discussion. • • • APTN National News, our stories told our...
2026-03-1323 min
APTN News InFocusOperation Nanook: Inside Canada's largest Arctic training exerciseEvery winter, the Canadian Armed Forces runs Operation Nanook-Nunalivut, a military training exercise focused on Arctic defence. This year's operation was the largest to date. Up to 1,300 members were deployed across Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, alongside allies from the United States, Belgium, France and Denmark. The exercise has been running for nearly 20 years. But with rising geopolitical tensions, it is taking on new meaning. APTN video journalist Charlotte Morrit-Jacobs travelled to the training camp in Edzo, about 100 kilometres west of Yellowknife, for a two-part report from the ground. On...
2026-03-0631 min
InvestigatesAshes to AshesThe 2025 Manitoba wildfires devastated many communities – including one in danger of falling through jurisdictional cracks. Tamara Pimentel travels to the small northern town of Leaf Rapids to assess the damage as community members are left sifting through the ashes. APTN Investigates: Ashes to Ashes by Tamara Pimentel • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: https://aptnnews.ca Hear more APTN News podcasts: https://www.aptnnews.ca/podcasts/
2026-03-0125 min
APTN News InFocusIndian Day School records go digitalCanada is wrapping up its Indian Day School digitization project. Since 2022, Library and Archives Canada has digitized more than six million records from 699 Indian day schools that operated between the 1860s and 2000. An estimated 200,000 First Nations, Inuit and Métis children attended. On this edition of APTN News InFocus host Cierra Bettens speaks with Beth Greenhorn, a manager with the Day School Project, about how the records were digitized and how they may support survivors. Jackson Pind, author of Students by Day and a professor at Trent University, also joins the podcast to discuss the i...
2026-02-2730 min
InvestigatesA Kingcome's RansomFor 45 years a tiny remote First Nation has been at odds with a conservation group to get land back it believes was illegally appropriated in the 1800s. Members of the Dzawada'enux First Nation believe Nature Trust of BC puts the wellbeing of Grizzly Bears over the needs of their people. They say it's a dispute that may lead to direct action if a solution is not found. APTN Investigates: A Kingcome's Ransom by Rob Smith • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: https://aptnnew...
2026-02-2224 min
APTN News InFocusA town in Canada where explosives were just part of growing upAPTN Investigates is going behind the scenes of its latest documentary, War on the Land. Reported by APTN Investigates journalist Kenneth Jackson, the story focuses on a former explosives plant in Nobel, Ont., about 250 kilometres north of Toronto. The factory helped supply two world wars. But decades after closing in 1985, contamination concerns remain. Shawanaga First Nation is now calling on the prime minister to ensure the site is cleaned up. On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens speaks with Jackson about how he uncovered the story and whether the land...
2026-02-2033 min
InvestigatesInto the NightAfter winning a million dollars on a scratch ticket, Joshua Saulteaux vanished from his family's property in Alberta. Blood was found inside his trailer, but no trace of him has ever been recovered. Investigators say he walked away into the night, but his family believes something far more troubling happened. APTN Investigates: Into the Night by Brittany Guyot • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: https://aptnnews.ca Hear more APTN News podcasts: https://www.aptnnews.ca/podcasts/
2026-02-1524 min
APTN News InFocusIs ending drug decriminalization the right move for B.C.?British Columbia has ended its drug decriminalization pilot program. Launched in January 2023, the exemption allowed adults to carry small amounts of certain illicit drugs in an effort to reduce stigma and address the toxic drug crisis. But on Jan. 31, the province let the pilot expire, saying it did not deliver the results hoped for. The move has sparked mixed reaction. Some, including Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, call it a setback for harm reduction. Others, like Haisla Nation member and outreach worker James Harry, say the crisis on...
2026-02-1327 min
Nation to NationRussian expats warn of familiar signs as U.S. democracy faces strainAs democratic institutions face pressure in the United States, some are pointing to Russia as a warning. After a brief democratic opening, freedoms were rolled back when Vladimir Putin took power in 1999. Free press does not exist. Indigenous climate activist Daria Egereva was jailed after speaking at the United Nations. Cultural Survival is calling for her release. Why are those who lived through Russia's backslide sounding the alarm now? On this episode of APTN Nation to Nation, we speak with an Indigenous activist who fled Russia and journalist Pavel Kanygin, who now runs...
2026-02-1325 min
InvestigatesWar on the LandReporter Kenneth Jackson investigates a toxic legacy left by wartime government and industry in a small Ontario town, and meets a First Nation chief demanding the land back, but only after the damage is undone. APTN Investigates: War on the Land | By Kenneth Jackson • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: https://aptnnews.ca Hear more APTN News podcasts: https://www.aptnnews.ca/podcasts/
2026-02-0825 min
APTN News InFocusAIM, ICE and the history of Indigenous activism in MinneapolisIndigenous activism has long shaped Minneapolis. In 1968, the American Indian Movement was founded there, marking a turning point in the fight for Indigenous rights. More than 50 years later, AIM members are back on the streets, responding to fears of racial profiling and unlawful detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE. On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens explores how Minneapolis' history of Indigenous activism connects to today's Native-led response to ICE. She is joined by Heather Bruegl, a public historian, activist and a citizen...
2026-02-0622 min
APTN News InFocusWill discrimination against First Nation kids in care finally end?It has been ten years since the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruled that Canada discriminated against First Nations children on reserve by underfunding child welfare services. Yet children and families are still waiting for the system to be fixed. There are now plans in place to end the discrimination. On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens speaks with Indigenous Services Canada Minister Mandy Gull-Masty and Cindy Blackstock of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society about why the proposed plans to end discrimination in First Nations child welfare has...
2026-01-3032 min
APTN News InFocusHow Dan David transformed Indigenous journalismOn this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens honours the life and legacy of Dan David, the father of APTN. David, a Mohawk journalist, spent 45 years transforming how Indigenous stories are told in Canada and around the world. From reporting for CBC and producing for TVOntario and VISION TV, to rebuilding newsrooms in South Africa, his work set the foundation for Indigenous journalism. In 2000, he co-launched InVision News, now APTN National News. On January 12, David passed into the spirit world at the age of 73 after living with cancer. To reflect on his life...
2026-01-2343 min
Nation to NationGreenland fears ripple across the ArcticAPTN's reporter in Iqaluit says U.S. President Donald Trump's continued threats to annex Greenland is having a direct effect on the people of Nunavut. Aside from proximity, Greenland and Nunavut are both northern and remote territories that have small populations, the majority of which are Inuit. Both are also of high interest to both Western and Eastern superpowers because of their locations in terms of strategic global defense. • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: https://aptnnews.ca Hear more APTN N...
2026-01-2328 min
Face To FaceHost of APTN's Red River of Gold, Ross Pambrun, says he's 'living his best life'On this episode of Face to Face: Ross 'Memphis' Pambrun One of the hardest things about growing up as a self-described "army brat" is having to start over with new friends in a new community says Ross 'Memphis' Pambrun. Pambrun is quick to tell people "he's living his best life" and when people ask him how they too can live their best life, he tells them that's for you to discover. The Métis business leader is a musician, decorated fire captain, podcaster, sought-after speaker and one of the hosts of the television s...
2026-01-2125 min
APTN News InFocusTaken returns as search for Tanya Nepinak renews calls for justiceAPTN's true crime documentary series Taken is back after a seven-year hiatus. The series first put a national spotlight on the case of Tanya Nepinak, a 31-year-old mother who went missing in Winnipeg in 2011. Nearly a decade after Taken aired her story, Manitoba announced plans to search the Brady landfill for her remains, renewing calls for justice from her family. On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens looks at the legacy of Taken and its impact on cases involving Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit people. ...
2026-01-1614 min
Truth & PoliticsProfanity laced voicemails and ICE arresting Native AmericansAn elected official with the Métis Nation—Saskatchewan was caught on tape leaving a series of profanity-laced voicemail messages. APTN National News obtained the recordings from the sister of the man who says he left them on her phone. We begin this week's podcast by listening to one of those messages and unpacking what it means for accountability and leadership. We also look at how U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is arresting Native Americans south of the Medicine Line and the growing concern this is raising in Indigenous communities. Joining the discussion are Jen...
2026-01-1617 min
Face To FaceRetirement isn't on the horizon for Alanis Obomsawin, even at 93On this episode of Face to Face: Alanis Obomsawin Meeting Alanis Obomsawin in the theatre that bears her name at the National Film Board's head office felt both natural and fitting, especially since she still makes a point of coming into the office a few days a week. Over the years, she has credited work for keeping her young. However, sitting down here with APTN News, Obomsawin added that children are what keeps her going. Before being a documentary filmmaker, Obomsawin sang. This brought her into classrooms around the country. She always requested...
2026-01-1425 min
APTN News InFocusPeople in Nunavik say change is needed after another police involved shootingPeople in a small community in Nunavik are devastated after another shooting involving police in late December. But police shootings in the Inuit territory in northern Quebec are nothing new. Between 2016 and 2018, Nunavik police killed or seriously injured someone at a rate 55 times higher per capita than Montreal police. Some say part of the problem is that only three of the 155-person force are Inuit. On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens speaks with Tom Fennario, a correspondent with APTN Investigates, about the problems with the Nunavik Police...
2026-01-0914 min
APTN News InFocusFrom Trudeau's resignation to Jordan's Principle: A year in review and what lies aheadOn this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens is joined by Karyn Pugliese, APTN's senior online reporter and host of Nation to Nation, and Dennis Ward, host of APTN National News and Face to Face, for a year in review. We break down the biggest stories of the year, from Justin Trudeau's resignation and the evolving Liberal government under Prime Minister Mark Carney to the appointment of Canada's first Indigenous minister of Indigenous Services and the debate around Bill S-2. We also look at Jordan's Principle, tensions within Indigenous organizations and...
2025-12-1942 min
APTN News InFocusCan Nunavut fix its child welfare crisis?On this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens looks at the state of child welfare in Nunavut and why advocates say the territory is falling behind. Child and youth representative Jane Bates has been raising the alarm for years. In her latest report she says the territory is making little progress in the areas most critical to keeping young people safe. She joins us to talk about what has to change and why she says Nunavut needs action not explanation. We also hear from the minister of Family Services on how she plans t...
2025-12-1247 min
InvestigatesDismantling DenialismIn Canada, the histories of residential school survivors are being challenged by a surge of denialism. Dismantling Denialism confronts those attempts to rewrite history — and explores what it will take to defend truth and reconciliation. APTN Investigates: Dismantling Denialism | By Christopher Read • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: https://aptnnews.ca Hear more APTN News podcasts: https://www.aptnnews.ca/podcasts/
2025-12-0724 min
APTN News InFocusWho gets status? Inside the fight over the second-generation cut offOn this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens looks at the debate over the second-generation cut-off in the Indian Act. The Senate's Indigenous Affairs committee is reviewing Bill S-2, proposed legislation from the government that ends some discrimination against women in the Indian Act - but not all. The committee also wants to add an amendment to end what is called the second-generation cutoff and replace it with a one-parent rule for status entitlement. Lawyer and professor Pam Palmater joins us to share what's at stake for families like hers and t...
2025-11-2834 min
InvestigatesRetrospectives: Rob Smith looks back on his series about disappearances in the BC interiorThis week on APTN Investigates Retrospectives, we look back at DARK VALLEY—Holly Moore and Rob Smith's 2018 story on a series of disappearances in the BC interior. With multiple updates since the story first aired, Rob Smith joins host Brittany Guyot to talk about what it was like on the ground. Dark Valley | Originally aired October 19, 2018: https://youtu.be/g1CP2tyToys?si=tkyngL_cUGJzuXZk • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: https://aptnnews.ca Hear more APTN News podcasts: https://www.aptnne...
2025-11-2507 min
APTN News InFocusIvan Zinger: Why Canada's prison watchdog is leaving earlyOn this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens speaks with Canada's outgoing Correctional Investigator, Ivan Zinger, about why he's leaving the job early after eight years. In his final annual report, he called for an overhaul of mental health services in federal corrections, arguing that they're ill-equipped to provide long-term care. The minister of Public Safety and the commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada did not make themselves available for an interview. • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: https://aptnnews...
2025-11-2136 min
InvestigatesRetrospectives: Kathleen Martens looks back at her series on the Independent Assessment ProcessIn a special edition of APTN Investigates Retrospectives, recently-retired APTN reporter Kathleen Martens looks back at her groundbreaking series on the Independent Assessment Process (IAP). Martens spoke with many residential school survivors who felt that they were once again being taken advantage of – and sought accountability at the highest levels of Canadian bureaucracy. Complaints lead to IAP investigation - Originally aired Nov 28, 2011: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctuCKRSn_vE IAP Follow-Up - Originally aired March 9, 2012: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe5LqOCccqQ Abuse of Process - Originally aired April 19, 2013: ht...
2025-11-1625 min
APTN News InFocusThe Cowichan win and what it really means for Richmond, B.C. residentsOn this episode of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens takes a closer look at the B.C. court decision that recognized Aboriginal title rights for Cowichan Tribes and the misinformation that followed. Some residents of Richmond, B.C., now fear they'll lose their homes, despite clear public statements from Cowichan leadership that private landowners are not being targeted. Vancouver-based lawyer Kate Gunn from First Peoples Law joins the show to walk us through the legal context of the ruling and what it could mean for future title cases. • • • APTN National News...
2025-11-1413 min
InvestigatesPipe Dreams: The Water Crisis in NunavikThe population of Puvirnituq, QC is booming… but their water infrastructure is breaking. For years the Inuit community in Nunavik has had water shortages, and documents obtained by APTN Investigates show that a permanent solution might be a pipe dream. Pipe Dreams: The Water Crisis in Nunavik | By Tom Fennario • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: https://aptnnews.ca Hear more APTN News podcasts: https://www.aptnnews.ca/podcasts/
2025-11-1125 min
APTN News InFocusBudget 2025: How it affects Indigenous PeoplesOn this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens breaks down what Budget 2025 means for First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. Prime Minister Mark Carney has called it a "generational budget" – a bold, nearly $90-billion in new spending plan he says charts a new path forward for Canada. But what makes this budget bold? And who does it leave behind? Joining the show is Nation to Nation host and APTN's online correspondent in Ottawa Karyn Pugliese with analysis of the 493-page document and what it signals for Indigenous communities. Also on the...
2025-11-0729 min
InvestigatesOut of the DarknessAPTN Investigates video journalist Rob Smith travels home to Kingcome Inlet, BC to explore how his family dealt with a year of grief and loss. What he found was a resilient clan determined to stick together through love and culture in the face of tragedies and decades of compounding trauma. A path towards healing, out of the darkness. APTN Investigates: Out of the Darkness | By Rob Smith • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: https://aptnnews.ca Hear more APTN Ne...
2025-11-0425 min
APTN News InFocusBail reform and what it means for Indigenous PeoplesOn this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens explores how Canada's proposed bail reform bill is stirring debate. Justice Minister Sean Fraser says the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act is meant to restore public confidence in a system he admits is no longer working for many Canadians. But critics warn the bill could do more harm than good. Among them is Sen. Kim Pate, who has spent over four decades advocating for people criminalized by the system. She shares her concerns about what she calls a "politicized" approach to reform and what real...
2025-10-3128 min
InvestigatesFields of ConfinementPrisoners across Canada are producing goods for crown corporations and more recently, for public consumption. Experts warn the true cost of this labour goes far beyond dollars, raising difficult questions about dignity, rehabilitation and justice. APTN Investigates: Fields of Confinement | By Brittany Guyot • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: https://aptnnews.ca Hear more APTN News podcasts: https://www.aptnnews.ca/podcasts/
2025-10-2825 min
APTN News InFocusTrump's move to scrub Indigenous Peoples from U.S. historyOn this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens examines why the Trump administration is attempting to erase Indigenous Peoples from U.S. history. On Oct. 9, former president Donald Trump signed a proclamation restoring Columbus Day, calling the explorer "a true American hero" and suggesting that "every citizen is eternally indebted to his relentless determination". To dig into the implications, Cierra talks with Brett Chapman, a Ponca and Pawnee lawyer based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His ancestor, Chief Standing Bear, was a civil rights activist. Today, Chapman continues that legacy by defending Native...
2025-10-2426 min
InvestigatesSecrets of the Bay – Chapter 5The mystery man is finally revealed. He sits down with reporter Kenneth Jackson and explains why he left Tyendinaga 10 years ago after the bodies of Tyler Maracle and Matty Fairman were pulled from the water. And has never returned. APTN Investigates: Secrets of the Bay - Chapter 5 | By Kenneth Jackson • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: https://aptnnews.ca Hear more APTN News podcasts: https://www.aptnnews.ca/podcasts/
2025-10-1925 min
APTN News InFocusWhy Nunavut is in a food crisisOn this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens explores why food insecurity in Nunavut has hit a breaking point. In a territory where climate change and inflation are making food more expensive and harder to access, many families struggle to put healthy meals on the table. For some, even country foods like seal and caribou are out of reach. A pediatrician working in the community says Nunavut's crisis is the worst she's seen. In 2022, Statistics Canada reported that 79 per cent of children under 14 in the territory lived in food-insecure households. APTN...
2025-10-1720 min
InvestigatesJustice for my SisterThe 1963 rape and murder of 18-year-old Ann Mary Dick devastated the small Kaska community of Upper Liard, Yukon. Now, more than five decades later, her siblings are seeking justice over the RCMP's mishandling of the investigation and that of another historic death in the region. APTN Investigates: Justice for my Sister | By Tamara Pimentel • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: https://aptnnews.ca Hear more APTN News podcasts: https://www.aptnnews.ca/podcasts/
2025-10-1324 min
APTN News InFocusOn the ground in Unama'ki: Land protectors sound alarm over Indigenous rights in CanadaOn this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens looks at a new law in Nova Scotia that could threaten Mi'kmaq treaty rights. Land protectors at Hunters Mountain in Unama'ki have prevented logging and construction for more than a month. But the Protecting Nova Scotians Act could give the province power to remove their checkpoint and jail those who refuse to leave. APTN video journalist Angel Moore shares what she's seen on the ground and Veldon Coburn joins to explore how laws like this, along with Bill C-5 and Ontario's Bill 5, are raising concerns...
2025-10-1041 min
Truth & Politics'Circle of favour': Leaked report alleges mismanagement at First Nations UniversityFirst Nations University of Canada in Saskatchewan is facing scrutiny after an internal investigation into its president was leaked. The report, obtained by APTN News, looks into allegations against FNU president Jacqueline Ottmann involving nepotism and mismanagement. Prepared by Deloitte Legal Canada, the report substantiated many of the claims and found the president created what it called a 'circle of favour' around her office. In a statement, the chair of the board of governors said the board reviewed the reports and voted to retain Ottmann. Joining host Dennis Ward to break...
2025-10-1014 min
Face To Face'It's relentless': New documentary highlights discrimination against Indigenous PeoplesOn this episode of Face to Face: Leena Minifie Gitxaala producer and filmmaker Leena Minifie has heard many horror stories of the discrimination Indigenous Peoples face during her more than 20 years as a journalist, film and television producer. However, even she was taken aback by some of the things she heard while working on The Good Canadian. Minifie co-directed the feature length documentary with Academy Award nominated director David Paperny. The film is described in the APTN press release as "part investigation, part real-life horror story, part national reckoning." • • •
2025-10-0826 min
APTN News InFocusConfronting residential school denialism: How a new generation is pushing back against a growing threatThis week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens examines the growing threat of residential school denialism in Canada. Once confined to the internet's fringes, denialism has entered the mainstream with public speeches, book deals and online followings that continue to grow. Some deny the racist and genocidal legacy of residential schools, others call unmarked grave findings a hoax. Survivors like Jennifer Wood say denialism is nothing new, it's something they've lived with for decades. But a new generation is pushing back. Benjamin Kucher, a Métis archaeology graduate student at t...
2025-10-0314 min
APTN News InFocusInsiders, investigators and inspirational figures: A look at the season ahead at APTN NewsAs summer winds down - hosts, producers and reporters at APTN News are ramping up. On this edition of APTN News InFocus, we get a first look at what's coming up this season from three of our award-winning shows: Face to Face, Investigates and Nation to Nation. Face to Face Host Dennis Ward joins us to talk about the upcoming 300-episode milestone and what he's got planned for the season opener on Sept. 30. Then, APTN Investigates producer Cullen Crozier gives us a preview of the show's 17th season. The team is back with...
2025-09-2637 min
APTN News InFocusSaving Michif: How one family is helping keep their ancestral language aliveOn this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens explores one Red River Métis family's mission to help save the Michif language. Grant, Ben and Aynsley Anderson are the creators of Save Michif, a project developed through funding from Heritage Canada and the Manitoba Métis Federation. The father, son and daughter trio from Manitoba are using digital tools and Elder-led recordings to help revitalize their ancestral tongue. Michif, which blends French nouns with Cree verbs and structure, has just a handful of fluent speakers left. Among them is Elder Norman Fleury, who le...
2025-09-1917 min
APTN News InFocusTIFF 2025: How Indigenous filmmakers are finding space and funding on screenOn this edition of APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens looks at the record number of Indigenous films featured at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, also known as TIFF. Among the eight Indigenous films premiering this year is Ni-Naadamaadiz: Red Power Rising, a documentary from Shane Belcourt and Tanya Talaga on the 1974 occupation of Anicinabe Park. Also featured is Nika and Madison, by Walpole Island First Nation director Eva Thomas, which follows two estranged friends brought back together by a police encounter. All eight films are supported by the Indigenous Screen Office's Story...
2025-09-1218 min
APTN News InFocusAssembly of First Nations: The One Canadian Economy Act, child welfare and the opioid crisisThis week on APTN News InFocus, guest host Jesse Andrushko speaks with Ottawa correspondent Karyn Pugliese about what came out of the Assembly of First Nations Annual General Assembly in Winnipeg. National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak opened the gathering with concerns about the One Canadian Economy Act, the law Ottawa says will fast-track projects in the national interest. Chiefs also debated child welfare, with Chief Pauline Frost speaking on behalf of the National Children's Chiefs' Commission. And Chief Mark Arcand shared a personal story during discussions on the opioid crisis. Karyn breaks down what happened...
2025-09-0626 min
Truth & PoliticsHollow Water First Nation mourns after fatal stabbingsAt least two people are dead, including the suspect, after multiple stabbings in Hollow Water First Nation in Manitoba. The incident occurred in the early morning hours of September 4 and resulted in eight community members suffering from stab wounds. The tragic incident conjures up memories from the mass stabbing in James Smith Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, which happened on this very day three years ago. Also on this week's episode, some of the highlights from the Assembly of First Nations Annual General Assembly in Winnipeg. Joining host Dennis Ward are Jennifer Laewetz, CEO of Paskwâw...
2025-09-0513 min
Truth & PoliticsDrugs, alcohol and violence: Calls for a First Nations-wide state of emergencyThe impacts of drugs, alcohol and violence in our communities are often in the news. Next week, a resolution is coming forward at the Assembly of First Nations that calls for a First Nations-wide state of emergency in relation to the drug, alcohol and bootlegging crisis devastating First Nations families and communities across Canada. Tiar Wheatle is filling for host Dennis Ward this week, joined by Jennifer Laewetz, CEO of Paskwâw Strategies and lawyer Leah Ballantyne. • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: ht...
2025-08-2916 min
APTN News InFocusGrowth, change and trust: A veteran journalist shares what new reporters should knowThis week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens continues her conversation with veteran journalist and outgoing APTN web reporter Kathleen Martens. With more than 35 years in the industry, Kathleen reflects on the lessons she's learned like what it takes to build trust with sources and adapt in a fast-changing media landscape. She also shares insights for emerging journalists navigating the profession, and what she hopes for the future of Indigenous-focused news coverage. Read more of Kathleen's reporting at http://aptnnews.ca/ and find the Our Relatives podcast here: https://aptnnews.ca/ourrelatives
2025-08-2821 min
APTN News InFocusTruth, trust and storytelling: Kathleen Martens reflects on 35 years in journalismThis week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens sits down with veteran journalist and APTN web reporter Kathleen Martens. When Kathleen joined APTN 15 years ago as a writer and researcher, she already had two decades of newsroom experience. But as a non-Indigenous journalist working for an Indigenous news outlet, she says the role reshaped her understanding of truth, trust and storytelling. From courtrooms to bus shacks, Kathleen has interviewed thousands of people, reported on the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit people and exposed predatory lawyers targeting residential school survivors...
2025-08-2127 min
APTN News InFocusAre we ready for tomorrow's wildfires? First Nations in Manitoba say they need help preparingThis week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens takes a closer look at the wildfires reshaping summers across the country. For the four Island Lake First Nations in northern Manitoba, 2025 has been a season of evacuations, loss and displacement. Anisininew Okimawin Grand Chief Alex McDougall joins us from Garden Hill First Nation to share how fires have uprooted communities and why leaders are calling for a national fire strategy that includes Indigenous voices at the table. With thousands forced from their homes and experts warning that climate change will only make fire seasons longer...
2025-08-1421 min
APTN News InFocusBill C-5 and beyond: Inside the prime minister's interview with APTN NewsThis week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens takes you behind the scenes of APTN's exclusive interview with Prime Minister Mark Carney. Carney recently joined hundreds of First Nations leaders in Gatineau, Que., for a summit on Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act. The new law promises to fast-track development projects, but critics warn it could sideline Indigenous rights and environmental protections. APTN National News Host Dennis Ward travelled to Carney's hometown of Fort Smith, N.W.T., to speak with the prime minister about the bill and his commitments to Indigenous Peoples...
2025-07-2915 min
APTN News InFocus'Choices and changes': Dylan Cloud's journey through healing and storytellingThis week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens sits down with Dylan Cloud, a former APTN News intern and recent media grad, to talk about his healing journey and growth as a storyteller. Cloud, who joins us from Long Plain First Nation, shares how he went from incarceration and addiction to sobriety, reconnecting with his culture, enrolling in college and building a future for himself and his children. • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: https://aptnnews.ca Hear more APTN News podcast...
2025-07-2420 min
APTN News InFocusBeyond borders: Ellen Gabriel's activism from Kanehsatà:ke to GazaThis week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens is joined by Mohawk activist, artist and filmmaker Ellen Gabriel. During the 1990 siege at Kanehsatà:ke, Gabriel was chosen by the People of the Longhouse to speak for the community during a 78-day standoff with the Canadian military. Thirty-five years later she continues to speak out, not only for her own people, but for others facing colonization and occupation. She now focuses part of her advocacy on Gaza, where she sees parallels in the violence, displacement and media narratives. • • • APTN National News, our sto...
2025-07-1719 min
Truth & PoliticsBlocked: journalists, ministers and accountabilityThe controversy continues after Manitoba's minister of accessibility blocked the entire APTN News editorial team on social media. The block followed reporting on Minister Nahanni Fontaine's comments about an American Sign Language interpreter at a public event. In a statement from the minister on Wednesday, Nahanni Fontaine said, "immediately upon learning that journalists were blocked on my social media account, I directed staff to reverse this decision." This week on Truth and Politics, we ask: is it appropriate for an elected official to block a media outlet? Joining host Dennis Ward...
2025-07-1114 min
APTN News InFocusBuild fast: Alberta and Ontario push ahead, Nunavut looks backThis week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens digs into the growing push from provinces to fast-track major infrastructure projects, even if it means sidelining environmental protections and Indigenous rights. Ontario and Alberta have signed a new agreement aimed at building more pipelines and rail lines, calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney to scrap legislation they say stands in the way. APTN's Leanne Sanders, who first reported the story, joins us to break down what's at stake as provinces push for rapid development. While governments work to reshape the country's infrastructure, another...
2025-07-1112 min
APTN News InFocusNo invites, no updates: What happened to Carney's promised summit?This week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens revisits Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, which became law on June 26. The legislation promises to remove interprovincial trade barriers and fast-track development projects deemed to be in the national interest. But critics say that promise comes at a steep cost. Indigenous leaders across the country have raised serious concerns that Bill C-5 could sideline treaty rights and pave the way for environmentally destructive projects. While Prime Minister Mark Carney pledged to hold summits with First Nations, Inuit and Métis leaders, sources say no f...
2025-07-0328 min
APTN News InFocusSacrifice Zones: the hidden impact of microplastics on Indigenous communitiesThis week on APTN News InFocus, guest host Mark Blackburn looks at what it means to live in the shadow of heavy industry. Factories and refineries are a familiar sight along roads and highways. They make the products we use every day. But for people living nearby, they are more than just part of the view. In places known as 'sacrifice zones', chemical leaks, strong odours and long-term health risks are part of daily life. Journalists Angela Belleau and Tom Fennario join the show to talk about their new APTN Investigates documentary, Sacrifice Zones. They...
2025-06-2617 min
APTN News InFocusOne Canadian economy, many Indigenous concerns: what's at stake with Bill C-5?This week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens looks at what's at stake for Indigenous communities as governments across Canada move to accelerate energy and resource projects. In Nova Scotia a ban on uranium mining and fracking has been reversed. Quebec is proposing changes that could make it easier for companies to clear-cut forests. Manitoba is talking about a pipeline and Ontario's Bill 5 aims to create 'special economic zones' for development in the Ring of Fire. At the federal level Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, proposes a powerful new office to select...
2025-06-1939 min
APTN News InFocusSkin-Deep: How tattoo removal is helping people rewrite their storiesTattoos can be badges of pride or painful reminders of the past. For some, especially those impacted by gangs, incarceration or violence, their body art tells a story they no longer want to carry. APTN's Tamara Pimentel joins Cierra Bettens this week on APTN News InFocus to share the story behind Skin Deep, an APTN Investigates episode that looks at Mother Ink, a Winnipeg-based tattoo removal service helping people erase ink tied to trauma. Tamara talks about what she learned, the people she met and what tattoo removal can mean for reclaiming your story.
2025-06-1213 min
APTN News InFocusAPTN News at 25: The stories that shaped usThis week on APTN News InFocus, we're celebrating a milestone: 25 years of APTN News. From mailing tapes to digital transformation and award-winning journalism, APTN has grown into a network of Indigenous reporters telling Indigenous stories on their own terms. Guest host Karyn Pugliese is joined by Dan David, Bruce Spence, Todd Lamirande and Charmaine Straker, some of the key people who helped build APTN News from the ground up. They share stories from the early days, reflect on major reporting moments and talk about how far Indigenous journalism has come and where it needs to...
2025-06-0534 min
APTN News InFocusIntroducing The Place That Thaws: Climate and Sovereignty in the North This week on APTN News InFocus we go to the High Arctic, where climate change, sovereignty and survival intersect. We're featuring the first episode of The Place That Thaws, a six-part podcast from APTN News and Danielle Paradis, recently nominated for a Canadian Association of Journalists award. Set in Resolute Bay and Grise Fiord, the series shares powerful stories from Inuit adapting to a warming world, where hunting seasons are shrinking and polar bears are staying ashore longer. With Arctic sovereignty back in the spotlight and wildfires sweeping the country, The Place That...
2025-05-2936 min
APTN News InFocusAlberta separatism: Why the movement threatens treaty rightsThis week on APTN News InFocus, guest host Kathleen Martens looks at treaty rights and the Alberta separatist movement. Matthew Wildcat, an assistant professor and director of Indigenous governance in the Faculty of Native Studies at the University of Alberta, explains why treaty rights could block Alberta's push to leave Canada. He unpacks the province's Sovereignty Act, Bill 54 and what it means for First Nations. We also hear from Gina Starblanket, associate professor at the University of Victoria and a member of the Star Blanket Cree Nation. She weighs in on how separation challenges treaty...
2025-05-2233 min
APTN News InFocusWildfire season: Are Indigenous communities ready?This week on APTN News InFocus, we're looking ahead to wildfire season and asking if our communities are any better prepared than in years past. Wildfires are already burning. Forests are going up in flames. People are being forced from their homes. Guest host Leanne Sanders sits down with Arnold Lazare, interim executive director of the Indigenous Fire Safety Council. He joins us from Kahnawake to talk about what's working and what isn't. We also hear from Michelle Vandevord, director of Saskatchewan First Nation Emergency Management. She says most communities are ready, but...
2025-05-1522 min
APTN News InFocusWhy this boat won't sink and what that says about a police investigationThis week on APTN News InFocus we look behind the scenes of debunking a police investigation. In 2015, Matty Fairman and Tyler Maracle from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory were found dead in the Bay of Quinte. Police said the men drowned after stealing fish and overloading their boat. Their families never believed it. Now, neither does APTN Investigates reporter Kenneth Jackson. In the fourth chapter of his series Secrets of the Bay, Jackson challenges the police version of events with a boat that refuses to sink. Guest host Karyn Pugliese sits down with...
2025-05-0841 min
APTN News InFocusDecision 2025: What the results mean for Indigenous Peoples and the NDPThis week on APTN News InFocus, we break down the results of the April 28 federal election. The Liberals remain in power and the Conservatives will form the official opposition. The Bloc Québécois lost seats and the NDP dropped to just seven—losing official party status in the process. Twelve First Nations, Inuit and Métis candidates were elected across party lines. One of them is Mi'kmaw Liberal MP Jaime Battiste, now the most senior Indigenous member in the party. He speaks with APTN National News host Dennis Ward about what's next. We al...
2025-05-0129 min
APTN News InFocusDecision 2025: Are Indigenous issues still on the sidelines this election?This week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens checks in as the federal election campaign hits its final stretch. For more than a month, party leaders have been making promises about prosperity, wealth and good governance—but what's in it for Indigenous Peoples? Dennis Ward, host of APTN National News, and Jennifer Laewetz, political commentator and panelist on APTN's Truth and Politics panel, return to weigh in. We also head to Onigaming First Nation in northwestern Ontario. Our Parliament Hill correspondent Karyn Pugliese brings us a story about the community's concerns—and what...
2025-04-2434 min
APTN News InFocus#DataBack: Indigenous data sovereignty in the age of Big TechThis week on APTN InFocus, host Cierra Bettens explores the growing movement for Indigenous data sovereignty. In a TED Talk, British investigative journalist Carole Cadwalladr warns we may already be "living inside the architecture of totalitarianism," referring to the predatory ways big tech companies harvest, use and sell data. Data holds a lot. It holds stories, histories, languages — all the information that defines who we are and where we come from. It's also a resource — and like other resources, it can be exploited by corporate and colonial interests. To unpack what Indi...
2025-04-1718 min
APTN News InFocusWho is Métis?: The identity battle and report stirring backlashThis week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens unpacks the latest controversy over Métis identity in Ontario. The Métis National Council released a report suggesting the existence of seven historic Métis communities in the province—a claim swiftly rejected by the Manitoba Métis Federation, Métis Nation–Saskatchewan, Métis Nation British Columbia and the Chiefs of Ontario. To make sense of the report, Cierra is joined by Jean Teillet, a retired Métis lawyer, author and the great-grandniece of Louis Riel. • • • APTN National News, our stories told our...
2025-04-1033 min
APTN News InFocusCanada's Arctic: Sovereignty, security and the legacy of relocationThis week on APTN InFocus, host Cierra Bettens explores what Arctic sovereignty really means for Inuit in the North. As federal leaders call for more military infrastructure - from bases in Iqaluit to new fleets of fighter jets - questions are being raised about who these efforts protect, and at what cost. Journalist David Pugliese from the Ottawa Citizen joins Bettens to break down Canada's defence strategy and what's driving the push for control in the region. Also, former APTN reporter Danielle Paradis reflects on her 2023 podcast The Place That Thaws, which revisits the forced...
2025-04-0322 min
APTN News InFocusDecision 2025: The promises and oversights affecting Indigenous PeoplesThis week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens takes a closer look at where Indigenous issues stand as federal parties ramp up their campaigns. The five main political parties have been working the campaign trail since March 23. Threats from the United States and other foreign powers are, so far, dominating the campaign. But what have candidates been saying about Indigenous issues—from housing to water to free, prior and informed consent? APTN National News host Dennis Ward and Jennifer Laewetz, CEO of Paskwâw Harbour Strategies and panelist on APTN's Truth & Politics pod...
2025-03-2723 min
Face To FaceAPTN's Paul Barnsley on uncovering what others are working to hidePaul Barnsley was inspired by the Watergate hearings as a teen. Now, nearly 40 years into his journalism career, he leads APTN Investigates, uncovering stories others try to hide. On this episode of Face to Face, Barnsley shares the highs and heartbreaks — from the night Dudley George was killed to the Bruce Carson investigation that made national headlines. He reflects on lessons learned, the people who shaped him and why trust and compassion matter in investigative reporting.
2025-03-2627 min
APTN News InFocusWho holds power to account? A look inside policingThis week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens takes a closer look at policing in Canada and its impact on Indigenous Peoples. In the final months of 2024, 15 Indigenous people died after interactions with police—some were shot, others beaten to death or run over by cruisers. Their deaths have reignited calls for a national inquiry into systemic racism in policing, the focus of Inside Policing, a three-part series from APTN Investigates. Reporters Tamara Pimentel, Rob Smith and Tom Fennario join us to discuss their findings. Police interactions with journalists are also under scrutiny. Reporters ha...
2025-03-2030 min
APTN News InFocusThe search for four Indigenous women: A timelineThis week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens examines the years-long fight to search the Prairie Green landfill and the delays that kept families waiting. In December 2022, Cambria Harris stood on Parliament Hill, pleading for a search of the landfill where her mother, Morgan Harris, and others were believed to be. Despite her calls for action, it took two more years for the search to begin. APTN News senior online journalist Kathleen Martens joins us to break down the timeline and the latest developments. • • • APTN National News, our stories told our wa...
2025-03-1319 min
APTN News InFocusDispatches from Grassy Narrows: The ground breaking of the mercury health centre and the fight for accountabilityThis week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens examines the mercury crisis in Grassy Narrows and the community's ongoing fight for justice and healing. In the 1960s and '70s, the Dryden paper mill dumped nearly nine tonnes of mercury into the English-Wabigoon River system, devastating the downstream community of Grassy Narrows. Today, an estimated 90 per cent of the community has symptoms of mercury poisoning. On March 5, officials gathered for the ground breaking of a long-awaited health centre dedicated to mercury poisoning care—five years after the deal to build it was signed.
2025-03-0612 min
APTN News InFocusTariffs, trade wars and treaties: What's at stake for Indigenous business?This week on APTN News InFocus, host Cierra Bettens examines the impact of the looming trade war between Canada and the U.S. and what it means for Indigenous businesses. As U.S. President Donald Trump plans to move ahead with 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian exports, companies across the country are scrambling to adapt. But for Indigenous businesses, many of which already face barriers, the economic uncertainty is especially challenging. Shane Prevost, vice president of Bison Modular, is looking to a centuries-old agreement for solutions. The Jay Treaty, signed in 1794, grants Indigenous Peoples the...
2025-02-2710 min
APTN News InFocusCracks in the system: What's actually going on with Jordan's Principle?In this episode, we're putting Jordan's Principle InFocus. For nearly 20 years the federal government has been running a program called Jordan's Principle. The program is supposed to provide First Nations children living on reserve with the same services children living off-reserve could receive. It's named after Jordan River Anderson – a boy from Norway House Cree Nation who was born with multiple health issues in a Winnipeg hospital. Throughout his short life, Canada and the province of Manitoba argued over who would pay for his at-home care. In the end, Jo...
2025-02-2021 min
APTN News InFocusRevitalizing Indigenous languages: What role can the media play?In this episode, host Cierra Bettens explores the efforts to revitalize Indigenous languages across Turtle Island. February is I Love to Read month, and APTN reporter Tiar Wheatle is leading Mother Tongue Teachings—a new series featuring language speakers sharing a phrase of the day. Tiar joins us to discuss the series, her language journey, and the role of journalists in language revitalization. We also hear from Adam Garnet-Jones, APTN's director of TV content, who takes us behind the scenes of the new APTN Languages channel, which airs programming in over 18 Indigenous languages. Li...
2025-02-1329 min
APTN News InFocusIs reconciliation on the back burner? A look at where Liberal leadership candidates standIn this episode, we put the Liberal leadership race InFocus. Five candidates are competing to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, each making promises and presenting their vision for Canada. Several challenges lie ahead, including housing, immigration, foreign relations—and dealing with U.S. President Donald Trump. However, little has been said about issues impacting Indigenous Peoples. From clean water to treaty rights, where does reconciliation fit in the candidates' platforms? APTN's Parliament Hill reporter Karyn Pugliese joins host Cierra Bettens to break it down. • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way....
2025-02-0621 min
APTN News InFocusHow First Nations are fighting back against drug traffickingIn this episode, we put drug trafficking InFocus. From coast to coast, First Nations are grappling with the impacts of drug trafficking. Outside dealers are preying on vulnerable community members—but many nations are mobilizing to push back. Award winning APTN Investigates journalist Kenneth Jackson joins us to discuss his report, The Great Change, which shines a light on big-city drug dealers profiting off trauma. He shares how First Nations in Ontario are taking action—and why true change begins with Canada respecting Indigenous law. We also look at a new initiative in northern Manitoba. In J...
2025-01-3017 min
APTN News InFocusHow Trump's presidency could change Alaska's Arctic RefugeIn this episode, we put the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge InFocus. Gwich'in leaders like Chief Pauline Frost explain why this sacred land is vital to their people. But corporate interests, backed by politicians, have eyed it for oil and gas drilling. Despite challenges, President Trump's declaration of a "national energy emergency" keeps his push for drilling alive. Reporter Sara Connors joins us to discuss what Trump's second presidency could mean for the future of the refuge and how Indigenous communities are responding. • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our we...
2025-01-2314 min
APTN News InFocusAPTN News InFocus | Relaunching January 23We're relaunching InFocus! Join APTN News reporter Cierra Bettens each episode as she unpacks key stories impacting Indigenous Peoples through expert interviews and fresh perspectives. Subscribe now on your favorite podcast player.
2025-01-2200 min
Truth & PoliticsLooking back, looking forward: Niigaan Sinclair & Jennifer Laewetz break down 2024's biggest moments & what's nextAs 2024 winds down, Winnipeg Free Press columnist Niigaan Sinclair and Jennifer Laewetz of Paskwaw Strategies join us to reflect on the year that was and discuss what may lie ahead. That's on this week's edition of APTN News' Truth & Politics panel. • • • APTN National News, our stories told our way. Visit our website for more: https://aptnnews.ca Hear more APTN News podcasts: https://www.aptnnews.ca/podcasts/
2024-12-2016 min
Nation to NationNDP calls for an overhaul of Nutrition North Canada after APTN reportAn investigation by APTN Investigates has Parliament buzzing about food prices in the north. Forever chemicals and the push to ban them. And First Nation fishers prepare for elvers season – an industry that could be shut down. That's on Nation to Nation.
2024-03-0125 minAPTN News InFocusDiscussing Canada's prison systemComing up on Friday, the APTN Investigates team is taking viewers inside correctional facilities and examining the overrepresentation of Indigenous Peoples in Canada's justice system. In this four-part series, APTN will bring viewers behind the walls of some of Canada's most notorious prisons. InFocus gets a sneak peek at Inside Corrections.
2023-03-0851 min
InvestigatesExploitedHuman trafficking is making headlines in Nova Scotia, with high rates in the province relative to the rest of Canada. APTN's Trina Roache looks at why and what makes Indigenous women vulnerable in APTN Investigates: Exploited
2021-04-1623 minNation to NationAPTN News source threatened with banishment from community in northwestern Ontario Friendship centres look to address gender-based violence with culture. And a northwestern Ontario First Nation has threatened to exile an APTN News source. That's on this episode of Nation to Nation.
2021-03-0529 min