Tragedy Unfolding on James Bay Coast

From First Nations & Aboriginal Rights Bulletin via Facebook cause First Nations & Aboriginal Rights.

Posted by Tjay Henhawk Government Abandons Families in Unheated Tents Audio Files: http://www.charlieangus.net/newsitem.php?id=501&PHPSESSID=957eaf696d9869...

The situation in the crisis-plagued community of Attawapiskat has gone from bad to worse. It's been four months since a sewage flood damaged many homes in the community. Since then, Indian Affairs has refused the most basic requests for help for the 90 homeless band members. Snow has already fallen on the James Bay coast; some families are living in unheated tents.

Charlie Angus says the situation is unacceptable. "Winter and the flu season are coming to the James Bay coast and meanwhile, families in Attawapiskat have been reduced to living in unheated tents without running water."

Angus says Minister Chuck Strahl needs to take responsibility for the situation. "It's been four months since their homes were flooded with sewage and yet this government has nickel and dimed this community over the most basic health and sanitary aid.

Angus was shocked that Strahl tried to claim in the House, that effected families had been moved to safe housing. Angus points out that the Minister's office refused to support evacuation of the families and continues to refuse to help pay for these displaced families. "Families living in tents and those displaced to other communities have been pleading with the minister to provide support. The minister's office has continued to refuse such aid."

Angus wants Strahl himself to see the misery people are living in. "Will the minister show leadership and come to Attawapiskat?" Since the sewage flood earlier this year, 90 people have been left homeless. Indian Affairs refused to help in evacuating the families from homes that were flooded with raw sewage. Problems have been ongoing in the community since the Minister walked away on a plan to build a grade school for 400 children attending class in makeshift portables.

Bombard emails to Minister Chuck Strahl to start behaving responsibly by responding to Attawapiskat state of emergency!!! @ Email: Strahl.C@parl.gc.ca Phone: 604-847-9711 Address: 101-7388 Vedder Road Chilliwack, BC V2R 4E4 CANADA

Background:

Despite state of emergency, Attawapiskat 'abandoned' by Ottawa as winter nears

By Colin Perkel (CP) – 5 days ago

TORONTO — Disconcerted members of the isolated Attawapiskat First Nation are nervously eyeing the approaching northern Ontario winter following a summer of living conditions that included a failed sewage system, overcrowding, and toxic contamination. They say they've been essentially left to fend for themselves in trying to deal with deplorable living conditions and the costs of an evacuation prompted by a sewer backup into eight homes in July.

"It's just so frustrating and heartbreaking and it's also scary," Jackie Hookimaw Witt, coordinator for a maternal-childcare program, said from the beleaguered community. "They feel abandoned."

It's been a particularly difficult stretch for the 1,800-strong Attawapiskat, who live on the fly-in reserve on the western edge of James Bay, 700 kilometres north of Timmins, Ont. The aboriginals faced off with the president of De Beers Canada, a diamond company that began operating in the community last year, over royalty rights for operations on their traditional lands.

Also, an on-reserve school is contaminated with fuel, posing significant health problems for community members who live nearby. In July, about 90 members of the reserve were forced to leave the reserve when raw sewage backed up, creating toxic cesspools in their homes. Several dozen have since returned and some are now living in makeshift tent structures that have no running water, toilets or other facilities.

"The people that live there are complaining that it's getting cold," said Hookimaw Witt. "They're stressed out; they're concerned."

Relayed by Tjay Henhawk, Cause Creator, and Martin Dufresne