Joy SpearChief-Morris

Dental care benefits for First Nations and Inuit falling behind Canadian standards, say dentists | CBC News The Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program provides a variety of health care benefits for eligible First Nations and Inuit, with dental care accounting for the third largest expense for the progra...

Final story for my series on gaps in the Non-Insured Health Benefits program for the @cjf-fjc.bsky.social CBC Indigenous Fellowship: Dental care benefits for First Nations and Inuit falling behind Canadian standards, say dentists

www.cbc.ca/news/indigen...

Federal health benefits program for First Nations and Inuit 'frustrating' to deal with, say clients | CBC News The Non-Insured Health Benefits program covers things like prescription drugs and glasses for eligible First Nations people and Inuit. However, health-care advocates say the paperwork involved is a he...

My final series for the @cjf-fjc.bsky.social CBC Indigenous Fellowship is now live.

Part 1 is out today: Federal health benefits program for First Nations and Inuit 'frustrating' to deal with, say clients

www.cbc.ca/news/indigen...

STORY CALL OUT! I am writing a story on the Non-Insured Health Benefits program (NIHB) that provides health benefits for First Nations and Inuit. If you've had troubles with the program and are willing to speak to me, my inbox is open: joy.spearchief-morris@cbc.ca

Carney budget cuts Indigenous departments’ spending by 2% Indigenous communities can expect nearly $2.3 billion in spending cuts over the next four years with limited new spending for clean drinking water, consultations on major projects and Arctic infrastru...

Indigenous communities can expect nearly $2.3 billion in spending cuts over the next four years with limited new spending for clean drinking water, consultations on major projects and Arctic infrastructure like airports, seaports and roads.
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...

Food banks, dieticians say infant formula out of reach for some Ottawa families The 2025 Nutritious Food Basket prepared by Ottawa Public Health looked at the affordability of infant formula for the first time.

The 2025 Monitoring Food Affordability in Ottawa report, which shares the results of the annual Nutritious Food Basket survey, paid particular attention to the cost of infant formula for the first time.

www.cbc.ca/player/play/...

Indigenous leaders skeptical federal budget will deliver on 2030 infrastructure promise | CBC News The Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and the Métis National Council individually submitted budget requests ahead of the Nov. 4 federal budget totalling $443 billion combined over at ...

Indigenous leaders are looking for long-term funding to close infrastructure gaps in the upcoming federal budget, despite predictions of funding cuts.

www.cbc.ca/news/indigen...

Chiefs in Ontario call for $66.5M to fund major projects consultations | CBC News Chiefs of Ontario has asked the federal government for $66.5 million to increase the capacity of the 133 First Nations in the province to handle major project requests under the constitutional duty to...

Ontario chiefs are calling for at least $500,000 per First Nation in funding from the federal government to cover the costs of consultation requests on projects fast-tracked under Bill C-5.

www.cbc.ca/news/indigen...

I hope you are doing well. I read your article on the Walrus on the reality of the current state on implementation of recommendations from that TRC. It truly is unfortunate that implementing these recommendations isn't proceeding with alacrity. One are that is confusing for me is the truth around the Kamloops mass grave site. In your article, you state, "discovery of unmarked graves on the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School". However, follow up work hasn't found any mass graves. I have tried to find primary sources on discovery of actual mass graves without success. Can you please share primary sources on this? I have spoken to others who state that though ground penetrating radar found some suggestions of graves, follow up digging did not find any actual graves. Appreciate any help you can provide. Thank you.

so fucking tiresome to get emails like this whenever I write about residential school history, truly. people who believe that graves don't exist if they can't see the bodies with their own two eyes possess the critical thinking skills of a baby playing peekaboo.

Joy SpearChief-Morris, 31, contracted measles in August even though she had been vaccinated for the disease as a child.

I'm fully vaccinated against measles, but I still became Ottawa's fifth confirmed case this year www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article... @joyscm.bsky.social @theglobeandmail.com

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀 ⇢ CanadaHealthwatch.ca 🍁

AFN, First Nations leaders in Manitoba concerned over representation on major projects advisory council | CBC News First Nations leaders in Manitoba say they don't feel represented on the Indigenous Advisory Council tasked with advising Prime Minister Mark Carney's new Major Projects Office.

www.cbc.ca/news/indigen...

Carney appoints 11 members to Major Project Office's Indigenous Advisory Council | CBC News Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the 11 members of the Indigenous Advisory Council, to advise the Major Projects Office, on Wednesday.

www.cbc.ca/news/indigen...

Today is my first day with CBC Indigenous in Ottawa as part of the @cjf-fjc.bsky.social fellowship. If you're looking to send a tip, email joy.spearchief-morris@cbc.ca

From the moment he took office, Prime Minister Mark Carney made moves to show his commitment to Indigenous peoples. But less than five months into the job, he’s already blundered on his early promises, writes journalist Joy SpearChief-Morris. Read the breakdown: thewalrus.ca/first-nations-wa...

Kainai Nation: the first Indigenous fire guardians program in Canada | The Narwhal With funding from Natural Resources Canada, Kainai Nation is restoring cultural burns on the landscape with its Indigenous fire guardians program

The Kainai Nation is working to bring cultural burning back as a traditional method for managing the land. Read in @thenarwhal.ca

Thanks to @michellecyca.com for your support as an editor on this piece and to the ever talented Gavin John for his incredible photos.

thenarwhal.ca/kainai-fire-...

Kainai Nation: the first Indigenous fire guardians program in Canada | The Narwhal With funding from Natural Resources Canada, Kainai Nation is restoring cultural burns on the landscape with its Indigenous fire guardians program

Cultural fire is returning to Blackfoot territory, as Kainai Nation and Natural Resources Canada embark on a first-of-its-kind funding agreement for an Indigenous fire guardians program. New from @joyscm.bsky.social with photos by ‪@gjohnjournalism.bksy.social‬: thenarwhal.ca/kainai-fire-... 🔥

What causes wildfires in Canada? | The Narwhal Decades of putting out wildfires has made forests more flammable. Add lightning, human error and climate change — it’s a recipe for disaster

The 2025 wildfire season in Canada has already been devastating for many communities, with both Manitoba and Saskatchewan declaring states of emergency.

So how do fires start? And why do they seem to be getting worse? @drewanderson.bsky.social breaks it all down: thenarwhal.ca/canada-wildf...

Photo from Facebook that says, "In response to Canadian government legislation, news content can't be shared." In the background, Marsha is attempting to share a CBC News story from May 30 about the fires.

Let's all not forget that Meta continues to block any and all news from being shared on Facebook and Instagram, meanwhile more than 17,000 people are being evacuated from wildfire zones in northern Manitoba, where, like a lot of northern places, Facebook is an important place to get news and info.

As Donald Trump attempts to expand the scope of his power, Canada is turning back to the Crown.

Writer @joyscm.bsky.social‬ reflects on what King Charles’s historic speech from the throne affirms and obscures about Canada’s contemporary identity: thewalrus.ca/what-king-charle...

What King Charles’s Historic Speech Means | The Walrus Amid sovereignty scares, Carney is leaning on big symbols

Amid sovereignty scares, Carney is leaning on big symbols.

My story for @thewalrus.ca on King Charles III’s speech from the throne is now published

thewalrus.ca/what-king-ch...

Day 2 of the Royal Visit. Awaiting for the arrival of King Charles III and Queen Camilla for the opening of 45th Parliament in the Canadian Senate

King Charles uses a ceremonial spade last used by his mother Queen Elizabeth II in 2010 to plant a tree at Rideau Hall as onlookers in the crowd cheer and sing “God Save the King.”

The Eagle Island Singers from Kitigan Zibi (with perhaps a bit nervous) play for the King and Queen and Governor General.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla touch down in Canada greeted by Governor General Mary Simon, Prime Minister Mark Carney, the three national Indigenous leaders, Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, Natan Obed and Victoria Pruden, and Chief Greg Sarazin of Algonquins Pikwakanagan First Nation.

Covering the Royal Tour today and tomorrow. Awaiting the arrival of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the Ottawa International Airport.

These adults say their ADHD diagnoses were ‘life changing.’ But others are falling for ‘clickbaitish’ misinformation With greater awareness of adult ADHD, there is also a risk of more self-diagnoses based on symptoms not aligned with clinical guidelines.

My last story for the Toronto Star is now published.

With greater awareness of adult ADHD, there is also a risk of more self-diagnoses based on symptoms not aligned with clinical guidelines.

www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

These adults say their ADHD diagnoses were ‘life changing.’ But others are falling for ‘clickbaitish’ misinformation With greater awareness of adult ADHD, there is also a risk of more self-diagnoses based on symptoms not aligned with clinical guidelines.

These adults say their #ADHD diagnoses were ‘life changing.’ But others are falling for ‘clickbaitish’ misinformation, by @joyscm.bsky.social www.thestar.com/news/canada/... via @thestar.com

I’m excited to share I am this year’s recipient of the 2025 CJF-CBC Indigenous Journalism Fellowship.

Beginning in September I will spend four months with the team at CBC Indigenous here in Ottawa, focusing on Indigenous healthcare. Looking forward to this new opportunity!