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Cannabis use in Ontario doubles
A new survey found cannabis use in Ontario has doubled over the last ten years.
Significant increases were noted in all age groups with the biggest jump among 18 to 29 year olds.
Nearly a quarter of marijuana smokers in the province identified as 50 and older. Officials said this is a big jump from the 1970’s when users in that age bracket came in at just three percent.
Ottawa is aiming to regulate and legalize recreational cannabis by 2017.

Sex abuse linked to suicide rates among young girls on reserves
Grand Chief for the Nishnawbe Aski Nation says there may be a direct correlation between sexual abuse on northern Ontario reserves and the number of suicides involving young girls.
Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler says high rates of abuse are being reported to police throughout the 49 reserves across NAN territory.
Fiddler was part of a meeting with AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde, and federal cabinet ministers to discuss the issue.
Bellegarde said sex abuse on reserves in some ways is well known, but not being dealt with.
Fiddler said more data about the issue needs to be collected to empower police and mental health services deal with the scope of the problem.

Resource minister apologizes for “rule of law” comments
AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde says Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr personally apologized for his comments that pipeline protesters would be met with defence forces if protests erupted in Canada similar to at Standing Rock.
Carr told a bunch of pipeline officials in Alberta last week all Canadians fall under the “rule of law”.
Carr later backtracked, saying he was trying to make the point civil disobedience and dissent are more tolerated in Canada than in the states.
Opposition MPs and indigenous leaders accused the Liberals of undermining civil liberties and setting the stage for violence.

Police look to solve 18 year old murder case of indigneous woman
Winnipeg police are asking for members of the public to help solve the killing of an indigenous teen 18 years ago.
Tania Marsden was last seen celebrating her 18th birthday at a Winnipeg hotel in September 1998.
Her body was found weighed down with a cement block in the Assiniboine River several weeks later.
Police released composite sketches of three men and two women Tuesday, along with a picture of the car they are focusing on.
Police said the girl’s family have been seeking closure for 18 years and deserve answers.

Education funding for indigenous students announced
The Prime Minister introduced an Indigenous Languages Act to further revitalize First Nations, Metis and Inuit languages in Canada.
Trudeau made the announcement during an AFN special assembly in Quebec this week.
Trudeau also said a First Nations school board agreement in Manitoba is expected to be signed later this month.
Education funding disparities in Canada between indigenous and Canadian students leaves on-reserve students at a disadvantage
A recent report found that in Ontario each student is allocated about $25,000 in funding, where under federal formulas on-reserve students recieve just $14,500.
The liberal government says they are working with the AFN to help close the gap for all living conditions between First Nations people and the rest of Canada.

Man arrested on more than 20 counts of sexually assaulting minors
An incident in Norfolk County has led to the arrest of a 37 year old man accused of sexually assaulting several minors across Ontario.
Joseph Alan Anderson of Mattawa, Ontario is charged with more than twenty counts of assault on underage children including seven counts of sexual assault on a person under 16, another seven counts of sexual interference with a person under sixteen, six counts of sexual touching on a person under 16 and an indecent act on a person under 16.
The incidents took place at several locations across Norfolk County and Niagara Falls between 2002 and 2013.
Police are asking any further victims to come forward.
Anderson is set to appear later in court in Simcoe to face those charges.

Water protectors can go home: Standing Rock Tribal Chairman
Standing Rock Sioux Chairman Dave Archambault thanked water protectors for their work in halting the Dakota Access Pipeline and said its time for them to travel home.
The harsh winter in North Dakota and the US Army Corps of Engineers denial of an easement permit for the pipeline to proceed prompted the Chairman’s request.
Archambault said Energy Transfer Partners cannot proceed with the projectt without putting the entire pipeline in jeopardy.
He says there will not be any more developments for months. Several water protectors are vowing to remain for concern president-elect Donald Trump will reverse the easement decision.

Gord Downie honoured for work on truth and reconcilliation
Tragically Hip singer Gord Downie was honoured at an AFN special chiefs meeting for his work to tell the story of Canada’s residential schools.
Downie, who is battling terminal brain cancer, broke down in tears as elders wrapped him in a blanket, prayed over him and sang honour songs.
Downie wept as an eagle feather was tied to his hat as an honour for documenting the story of Chanie Wenjack, a First Nations boy who died escaping from residential school.
Downie told Wenjack’s story in a ten song album called the Secret Path to raise awareness about the issue.
It was turned into an animated hour long docudrama that aired on CBC earlier this year.