Amy Romer

Inside One Family’s Struggle to Keep Their Teen Safe | The Tyee After he was stabbed, his relatives say, the system failed to stop his bullying.

Kai’s foster parents believe attacks he’s faced by non-Indigenous peers aren’t merely the result of bullying.

His experiences also reflect a history of colonial systems failing to uphold the safety and rights of Indigenous Youth.

@amyromer.bsky.social reports. An @indiginews.bsky.social reprint.

Appreciate @thetyee.ca for putting more eyes on this important story about how failed systems meant to support Youth in B.C. led to the vicious stabbing of an Indigenous boy on Vancouver Island.

@indiginews.bsky.social #spotlightchildwelfare #sd71 #mcfd

After Indigenous teen’s stabbing, his family says the system failed to stop his bullying Foster parents in ‘Courtenay, B.C.’ speak out after a string of alleged incidents targeting them and their 16-year-old foster son, as they wait for trial

This devastating report from @amyromer.bsky.social for @indiginews.bsky.social is related to the exclusion kids with disabilities face in school in B.C. An important reminder kids w/ disabilities are at greater risk of being victims of violence than perpetrators. indiginews.com/news/indigen...

After Indigenous teen’s stabbing, his family says the system failed to stop his bullying Foster parents in ‘Courtenay, B.C.’ speak out after a string of alleged incidents targeting them and their 16-year-old foster son, as they wait for trial

2🧵…But just days earlier, he’d been stabbed near his heart by the same school bullies.

How did it get this far?

My latest for @indiginews.bsky.social unpacks the systemic failures that let down this boy and his family.

indiginews.com/news/indigen...

#vancouverislandnews #bullying

1🧵 I found a year-old Facebook post about a Nuu-chah-nulth teen being severely bullied at school.

I hoped things had improved and reached out…

Will you help us tend to the fire? IndigiNews is launching a fundraising campaign to support our storytelling into 2026

Today on #GivingTuesday, we call on our Firekeepers to help us reach the goal of raising $20,000 by 11:59pm PST, December 31, 2025.

indiginews.com/first-person...

How Gitxsan women fought to assert child welfare jurisdiction away from MCFD: ‘We said absolutely not’ The nation's culture is matrilineal — which translates into how young people are protected and fought for, beyond colonial rules

Gitxsan culture is matrilineal — which translates into how young people are protected and fought for, beyond colonial rules.

Second in a three-part series by Amy Romer.

indiginews.com/features/git...

In Gitanmaax, new family services department is fighting to protect children It hasn’t been an easy journey to take power back from colonial child ‘welfare’ agencies — but the newly launched Wila Dildilsdi’m is counting every small victory

It hasn’t been an easy journey for the Gitxsan community of Gitanmaax to take power back from colonial child ‘welfare’ agencies — but the newly launched Wila Dildilsdi’m is counting every small victory.

First in a three-part series by Amy Romer.

indiginews.com/features/git...

I love this piece by @amyromer.bsky.social, which documents a Squamish Youth bike trip around their territories.

“The kids visit their relatives and receive teachings and guidance from them along the way.”

@indiginews.bsky.social

My latest for @indiginews.bsky.social was a lot of fun! 🚲 📸 🌱

Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Youth connect to their lands — and relatives — with annual Rez Ride The Menmen tl’a Sḵwx̱wú7mesh mountain bike team pedals through ancestral villages — guided by Elders, culture and community spirit

“Visiting is an art — especially when you visit the Elders.”

The Menmen tl’a Sḵwx̱wú7mesh mountain bike team ride through ancestral villages on their annual Rez Ride — reconnecting to culture, land, and one another.

My latest for IndigiNews.

indiginews.com/sports/skwxw...

Nations call for longer closure of park to assess damage: ‘It’s time for Pipi7íyekw to rest’ Líl̓wat and N’Quatqua leaders say a provincial decision on ‘Joffre Lakes Park’ highlights broader issues around respecting Indigenous rights

Líl̓wat and N’Quatqua leaders say Pipi7íyekw (Joffre Lakes) needs time to rest.

Their decision sparked backlash, with some responses revealing racism and a lack of understanding about the Indian Act.

Read my latest feature for @indiginews.bsky.social

indiginews.com/features/nat...

#joffrelakes

Nations call for longer closure of park to assess damage: ‘It’s time for Pipi7íyekw to rest’ Líl̓wat and N’Quatqua leaders say a provincial decision on ‘Joffre Lakes Park’ highlights broader issues around respecting Indigenous rights

Líl̓wat and N’Quatqua leaders say Pipi7íyekw (Joffre Lakes) needs time to rest.

Their decision has sparked backlash, with some responses revealing racism and a lack of understanding about the Indian Act.

Read my latest feature for @indiginews.bsky.social: indiginews.com/features/nat...

A great reminder for those avoiding, or worried about travel south of the border. By @edenfineday.bsky.social.

Legal challenge fails to stop contentious Sḵwx̱wú7mesh floatel — but affirms women’s rights Court rejects judicial review challenge by Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Elder and Youth. But as Woodfibre applies for a second cruise-ship work camp, fears of gender-based violence remain high

Today, District of Squamish is voting on whether to allow a second LNG floatel — bringing 900 more workers to Átl’ḵa7tsem (Howe Sound).

I covered it, and the recent court case that gave the first one the green light. Must-read via @indiginews.bsky.social:

indiginews.com/features/in-...

Just watched the new 2025 National Geographic documentary, Ocean with David Attenborough — highly recommend.
It finally dives into how messed up global fisheries are, with some seriously disturbing footage of commercial fishing in action. Not at all easy to watch, but so important.

I feel like divide and conquer is a theme that features in all of my IndigiNews stories

Story by @amyromer.bsky.social

In Sitka, Łingít fishers share herring harvests with a surprise influx of grey whales - High Country News An unprecedented whale surge in Alaska waters has changed how humans interact with a vital yaaw fishery.

Łingít, Haida and Híɫzaqv people have gathered haaw da.aa and kelp to share, trade and gift. Now, grey whales have joined the harvest. Their presence brings a new pressure — one that both humans/non-humans are learning to navigate.

Writes @amyromer.bsky.social, in collab w/ @indiginews.bsky.social

Thankful for this co-publishing opportunity with @highcountrynews.org and @indiginews.bsky.social, and for funding from
@insidenatgeo.bsky.social 💙 🐟

“We know from past experience that many reports end up sitting on the shelf, said Jennifer Charlesworth, Representative for Children and Youth. "We owe it to Colby not to look away.”

My latest for @indiginews.bsky.social.

In Sheet’ká, Łingít fishers share herring harvests with a surprise influx of grey whales An unprecedented surge of the massive marine mammals in ‘Alaskan’ waters has changed how humans interact with a vital yaaw fishery

🐋 Grey whales weren’t always here.
But now, they’re arriving in huge numbers during the herring spawn. In Sheet’ká, fishers and whales are sharing the harvest — under mounting pressure.

Story and photos by me for @indiginews.bsky.social and @highcountrynews.org.

indiginews.com/features/lin...

At the #CAJawards with friends from IndigiNews, The Rover and Press Progress! Good luck to all the nominees!

Amid a climate crisis, ‘Vital Signs’ documents the 'relentless force' of changing landscapes The new exhibition at the Bill Reid Gallery features multimedia work from six First Nations artists touching on the personal and collective impacts of climate change

Amid a climate crisis, ‘Vital Signs’ documents the ‘relentless force’ of changing landscapes

The new exhibition at the Bill Reid Gallery features multimedia work from six First Nations artists touching on the personal and collective impacts of climate change

indiginews.com/arts/vital-s...

Squamish Nations celebrates herring harvest | The Narwhal As the small silvery fish return to Squamish waters, the nation is rekindling food and cultural traditions

A century after they disappeared from Squamish Nation waters, slhawt’ (herring) eggs were spotted in 2020 — and now the the food & cultural activities associated with these small silvery fish returning too. Story and photos by @amyromer.bsky.social 🐟 thenarwhal.ca/squamish-nat...

Yay! So glad this story is being shared widely. Thanking Matthew Van Oostdam, Charlene Williams and members of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw for welcoming me in to tell their story.

The @globalreportingcentre.org also snagged another nomination with this long form feature by @amyromer.bsky.social for The Tyee! Amy has been a longtime collaborator with the GRC and an absolute gem to work with. A special thanks to @thetyee.ca for their work and support.

Wow! So proud of the @globalreportingcentre.org team for the two nominations we received for the Digital Publishing Awards. One for our podcast State of Play and another for a long-feature collaboration with @amyromer.bsky.social and @thetyee.ca.

We're honoured that our podcast, State of Play, was nominated for Best Podcast—Current Affairs and that @amyromer.bsky.social's feature article, A Migrant's Nightmare—a collaboration with @thetyee.ca and the GRC—was nominated for Best Feature Article—Long. Congrats to all of the other nominees!