Exploring the forgotten cause of missing Indigenous men and boys

Plus, what reconciliation means to eight young Indigenous people and concerns about BNPL [The Star] First Up [By Manuela Vega] By Manuela Vega Good morning. Here’s the latest on missing and murdered Indigenous men and boys, what reconciliation means to young Indigenous people and a payment plan trend that’s worrying experts. DON’T MISS Omar Mosleh/The Star truth & reconciliation [The forgotten cause of missing Indigenous men and boys ]( It was 19 years ago that Billy Jay Sharphead was last seen walking down a dirt road in Enoch Cree Nation. His family has been searching for him ever since — and they’ve continued to ask the difficult questions they fear they’ll never get answers to: How did Billy Jay die? Who would have killed him? Did he die by suicide? In 2020, there were 201 Indigenous victims of homicide nationwide, and 81 per cent of them were men. An Indigenous man is about four times as likely compared to an Indigenous woman to be a victim of homicide and seven times as likely as a non-Indigenous man. Where is the urgency around the issue? [Omar Mosleh looks at the scope of the problem — and how communities are often victim-blamed](. - More: Billy Jay’s family is nearing their final ground search, with a ground radar search planned for October. “It’s come to the point where I’m emotionally, spiritually, physically exhausted from doing it,” said his sister, Joanne Sharphead-Arcand. “If this is to be our last search, I want it to end knowing that I tried everything humanly possible to find him.” - Go deeper: There’s a power imbalance that makes Indigenous women more vulnerable to violence, especially intimate partner violence, the family acknowledges. But while Indigenous women and men experience violence differently, families and advocates say the root cause is the same — colonization manifesting in various ways. Paige Taylor White/The Star truth & reconciliation [Eight young Indigenous leaders weigh in on what reconciliation means to them]( “If Canada wants to put an end to the assimilation and cultural genocide of Indigenous Peoples, I would stop using the narrative of ‘reconciliation’ and find out how they are going to begin the repatriation of Indigenous land,” says a Cree lawyer-to-be. Others the Star spoke with pointed to Canadians’ responsibility to do their part — to hold their governments accountable, to sit with the discomfort of the legacy of residential schools, to ensure that there is access to clean drinking water. [Here’s how Canada’s legacy of colonialism has made an impact on these young leaders, and why change is so important to them](. - Go deeper: For sisters Skye and Sage Paul, who are Indigenous creative entrepreneurs, “reconciliation” means having readily available resources to help Indigenous Peoples thrive. It’s not just about having a seat at the table — but having their own table, they said. “The future of reconciliation is self-determination.” - Watch for: On the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, [these Toronto events are recognizing the history of the residential school system in Canada](. Keith Srakocic/AP Photo business [“Buy now, pay later” spending is surging in Canada]( “Buy now, pay later” or BNPL allows consumers to make purchases and pay for them at a future date, often interest-free. Offered at the point of sale, typically online, such arrangements are quick and convenient. Amid an economic slowdown and increasing cost of living, BNPL is also soaring in popularity. [Here’s why experts warn the service could spell disaster for customers who are “facing affordability challenges and are not as financially literate.”]( - By the numbers: A 2021 pilot study by the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada examined a small number of users — not enough to be statistically significant — and found “potential risks.” Of 66 people, 20 per cent said they spent “a bit more” or “much more” with BNPL than without. Forty-two per cent used a credit card. Fifteen per cent made “unfavourable financial trade-offs.” - More: Younger users, as well as seniors and those with mental-health or cognitive challenges may be particularly vulnerable to spending beyond their means using BNPL. - Watch for: [Here’s why using a credit card could soon cost you more](. WHAT ELSE Symbols matter. [Canada’s parliamentary mace should be redesigned to include Indigenous cultures](. Marking National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Star Tracks compiles [Indigenous music you need to listen to](. Local artists have unveiled a [reimagined Toronto Raptors jersey with Indigenous touch](. Toronto councillor [Michael Thompson has been charged with sexual assault](. A Toronto police supervisor has been [charged with misconduct over allegedly racist text messages](. A Torstar owner has launched a court application to break up NordStar. [Here’s what that means for the Toronto Star](. Here’s why the Green Party cancelling the first round of voting in its leadership race is [another sign of turmoil for the party](. A new 911 pilot will triage mental health crisis calls away from Peel police. [Here’s how the calls will be handled instead](. Ontario is eyeing a plan to keep a Pickering nuclear station open for another 30 years. [Is it Ford’s last-minute attempt to make up for energy mistakes?]( Barry Sherman’s Apotex has been sold to an American buyer as police continue to probe his murder. [Here’s why the company was his “fifth child.”]( York police withdrew charges against a man in the murder of his wife, charging another man, instead. [Here’s what we know](. Climate change is humanity’s biggest problem — [yet Canada’s political debate has never seemed so unserious](. POV Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick [The coming recession may be “mild,” but painless? Don’t count on it.]( CLOSE-UP Suresh Doss/Special to the Star THE DANFORTH: Dhaka Kebab’s hot counter is well stocked with a variety of dishes. [Here are three places to try some of the city’s best Bangladeshi food]( — all on Danforth Avenue. Thank you for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at [firstup@thestar.ca](mailto:firstup@thestar.ca?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=emailutm_email=6C53B63A8E3FAD70AD4EF13004527437&utm_campaign=frst_147391). Ashley will see you back here tomorrow. [The Star]( If you're not enjoying these emails, please tell us how we can make them better by emailing newsletterfeedback@thestar.ca. Or, if you'd prefer, you can unsubscribe from this newsletter by clicking the first link below. [Unsubscribe From This Newsletter]( [Sign Up for More Newsletters and Email Alerts]( [Become a Star Subscriber]( [View in Browser]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. One Yonge Street, 4th Floor, Toronto, ON M5E 1E6. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](