- Isolated Attawapiskat First Nation. - Attawafn143
Attawapiskat is an Indian reserve of about 2,100 people on the west coast of James Bay in Northern Ontario. Three times in the last three years the community’s leadership has declared a state of emergency because large numbers of residents are living in overcrowded houses that have been condemned as unfit for habitation.
Substandard Living Conditions on Reserve
The Attawapiskat First Nation is in the Timmins-James Bay riding of New Democratic Party Member of Parliament Charlie Angus.
On November 21, 2011 Mr. Angus raised the issue of living conditions on the reserve in the House of Commons. He said cold winter weather had already arrived and “Families in makeshift tents and un-insulated sheds with no hydro or water are facing immediate risk…”
In a news release he noted that “children are using a bucket as a toilet. ‘This is unacceptable in a rich country like Canada. This is the same community that houses one of the richest diamond mines in the western world.’ ”
A video was made of a visit by Angus and other politicians and officials that shows conditions that would not be out of place in impoverished Third World countries.
Shacks and Tents Become Homes
Writing for the Globe and Mail (November 30, 2011) Heather Scoffield describes one home: “In a one-room, tented shack where Lisa Kiokee-Linklater is watching television with her two toddlers, two mattresses lie on the floor. Each is a bed for three. Mould is creeping across one mattress even though Ms. Kiokee-Linklater just bought it last summer. It cost her $1,000.”
CTV News correspondent Daniele Hamamdjian visited the community (November 30, 2011) and found “residents of a trailer complex that houses 90 people, sharing just four bathrooms.”
She commented “They want a home that they don’t have to share with 20 other people, a home that is insulated that has heat where their children can sleep at night.”
Political Reaction to Attawapiskat Crisis
In Ottawa, Prime Minister Stephen Harper told Question Period (November 29, 2011) “This government has spent some $90 million since coming to office (in 2006) just on Attawapiskat. That is over $50,000 for every man, woman and child in the community.
“Obviously, we are not very happy that the results do not seem to have been achieved for that. We are concerned about that. We have officials looking into it and taking action.”
Interim Leader of the Liberal Party Bob Rae went ballistic over that statement, accusing the prime minister of blaming the people on the reserve for their own misfortune. He called the situation a “national disgrace.”
Attawapiskat Is One of Many
According to Heather Scoffield the sorry condition of housing in Attawapiskat is neither new nor unique. She writes that “The Assembly of First Nations estimates that reserves need about 80,000 new homes across the country. Already about 45 percent of first nations housing stock is substandard, but often people live in condemned houses because they have nowhere else to go.”
And, Manitoba New Democratic MP Niki Ashton says there are many reserves in the north of her province in a similarly run-down state. She is quoted in the Winnipeg Free Press as saying “the shock of seeing the Red Cross take its emergency response teams to a Canadian community will be a wake-up call. ‘In bringing attention to Attawapiskat, Canadians are going to know it is not just Attawapiskat that needs help.’ ”
Another Manitoba MP, Pat Martin says “Manitoba has many examples that rival or exceed the problems in Attawapiskat.”
Sources
“Where is the Action Plan?” Charlie Angus News Release, November 21, 2011.
“Locals Disagree on Who’s to Blame for Attawapiskat Crisis.” Heather Scoffield, Globe and Mail, November 30, 2011.
“Attawapiskat Getting Help after Issuing Desperate Plea.” Andy Johnson, CTV News, November 30, 2011.
“Harper Vows ‘Action’ on Ontario’s Attawapiskat Reserve.” Teresa Smith and Keith Bonnell, Postmedia News, November 30, 2011.
“Many Bands Suffer Similar Fate: MPs” Mia Rabson, Winnipeg Free Press, November 30, 2011.
Rupert Taylor - Rupert Taylor is the editor of a magazine that provides background to current events.
