Attawapiskat Nightmare

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Tue, 2011-11-22 13:21

Catchfire

Attawapiskat Nightmare

What if They Declared an Emergency and No One Came?

Quote:
It's been three weeks since Attawapiskat First Nation took the extraordinary step of declaring a state of emergency. Since then, not a single federal or provincial official has even bothered to visit the community.

No aid agencies have stepped forward. No disaster management teams have offered help.

Meanwhile temperatures have dropped 20 degrees and will likely drop another 20 or 25 degrees further in the coming weeks. For families living in uninsulated tents, makeshift cabins and sheds, the worsening weather poses serious risk.

Two weeks ago I travelled to this community on the James Bay coast to see why conditions had become so extreme that local leaders felt compelled to declare a state of emergency. It was like stepping into a fourth world.

I spoke with one family of six who had been living in a tiny tent for two years. I visited elderly people living in sheds without water or electricity. I met children whose idea of a toilet was a plastic bucket that was dumped into the ditch in front of their shack....

Try to imagine this situation happening in anywhere else in this country. We all remember how the army was sent into Toronto when the mayor felt that citizens were being discomforted by a snowstorm. Compare that massive mobilization of resources with the disregard being shown for the families in Attawapiskat.

Issues Pages:

Indigenous Rights

Regions:

Tue, 2011-11-22 16:45

milo204

same thing happened here in manitoba this spring with the massive floods. The province was much quicker to help people save their cottages (built on stolen native land) than to help northern bands deal with the sometimes total destruction of their communities. They were left to fend for themselves for the most part.

But this isn't surprisng at all. This happens for the same reasons they're on reserves in the first place. The people who are taking their land and profiting off it don't want to accept any responsibility for the human costs of what they do. they'd rather just ignore it, and since the larger poplation doesn't care either, there's nothing forcing them to change the way they act.

Fri, 2011-11-25 06:40

Maysie

Pressure grows on governments to help Attawapiskat reserve.

Quote:
Pressure is growing on the federal and Ontario governments to intervene in the northern Ontario reserve of Attawapiskat, sparked by what one MP is calling a "digital storm" from concerned Canadians.

But even as corporate and other organizations rallied to the cause, Ottawa quickly denied a report Thursday that it had committed $2.5-million for housing on the troubled reserve, frustrating NDP MP Charlie Angus, who has led the charge to raise awareness about the James Bay community.

Huge thanks to Charlie Angus, MP for Timmins-James Bay, for writing the original blog at the Huffington Post.

Fri, 2011-11-25 11:37

Timebandit Timebandit's picture

I see the Red Cross is responding - we shouldn't need NGOs to step in, this country is more than capable of changing this. Utterly disgusting.

Fri, 2011-11-25 11:46

Northern Shoveler Northern Shoveler's picture

And the RCMP has unlimited resources to chase anarchists who might protest and a very tight budget for finding the serial killer or killers preying on BC's FN's women. The Highway of Tears is an ongoing disaster that the local detachment is looking into. If a dozen young women had gone missing from Shaughnessy or West Vancouver the resources would be unlimited, until the perpetrator was found.

Thx Maysie for the link in the Happy Thanksgiving for Genocide Day thread.

http://www.highwayoftears.ca/

Fri, 2011-11-25 16:33

Green Grouch

KAIROS has posted an urgent action in response to Duncan et al. It is nauseating that he manages to promise nothing while throwing gasoline on the racist trope that Aboriginal people are wasting millions in government money, so The Great White Father needs to go scope it all out on your behalf first. Tommy _Paine I wonder if you are right. And note that the chattering classes are already pointing out the mine (and jobs! jobs! Jobs!) as proof that Attawapiskat is ripping off the poor taxpayer.

http://www.kairoscanada.org/dignity-rights/kairos-urgent-action-cree-community-of-attawapiskat-ontario-calls-a-state-of-emergency-as-hundreds-face-winter-in-tents-and-sheds/

Fri, 2011-11-25 17:20

Tommy_Paine

This situation in Attawapiskat put me in mind of Kasechewan. I remember the eventual recomendation in that situation was to move the band much further south, and much further from the land.

It seems to me the coastal communities of James Bay are sytematically being denied basic infrastructure funding that other towns in Ontario come to expect from Provincial and Federal sources.

We can point to the usual suspect for that-- racism-- and I am sure that is part of it.

But another thing came to mind.

Being, as you know, a bit of a geology nut, I know diamonds are being mined and there is a lot of diamond exploration going on north of Hwy 11 in Ontario.

I think the government may be systemically creating conditions that are impossible for local people to live in, in order to give De Beers a clear playing field to work in.

Fri, 2011-11-25 17:34

Tommy_Paine

Oh, I am just speculating. Bells just went off, remebering back to when Alan Pope, former MNR-- which would expose him to no shortage of mining lobbyists at Queen's Park-- recomended that Kashechewan be relocated to Timmins. I knew there was interest in diamonds in that whole general area, and it made me damned suspicious.

But then Pope wasn't your typical tory, either. So, maybe he just thought it better for everyone involved at the time. If I remember correctly, Kashechewan has some systemic problems with flooding in the first place, neglected infrastructure aside.

Evidence against my 'conspiracy theory' is that the governments had decided to spend $200 million on Kasechewan, so if they are trying to neglect those people or others into leaving the land, I doubt they would have spent the money.

But the diamond facet is something to keep an eye on.

Sat, 2011-11-26 02:13

6079_Smith_W

The first report I heard of this story was a few weeks ago on CBC Radio, right after a piece on the City of Regina wanting to shut down the Occupy camp because they couldn't have people living in tents in such cold.

Shortly thereafter they kicked people out of a riverside park here in Saskatoon, presumably so some of them could do exactly the same thing - sleep rough - in some place a little more hidden and out of the public eye.

Interesting that they use it as an excuse when it serves their purposes, or embarrasses them, but when it comes to the homeless generally, and First Nations specifically, it is perfectly acceptable for us to not live up to our treaty committments, and to do nothing about housing, fresh water, and the needs of the community.

@ Timebandit

Yes, it says something when an organization which acts in states of emergency has to step in to a situation which is presumably what the government would consider normal.

Sat, 2011-11-26 23:46

#10

vaudree

Noticed the irony too about all the so called "health" and "safety" issues they used to get rid of the occupies yet they are willing to let the elderly and children live in worse. I would not hold my breath for Duncan to help - and we make not want the kind of help that he is offering - which sounds quite a bit like regime change. Friday:

Mr. Charlie Angus (Timmins-James Bay, NDP): Mr. Speaker, Attawapiskat is a community that has tried to do things right and yet it has continued to fall behind from chronic underfunding and systemic negligence in terms of infrastructure, education, housing and health. The situation is causing an international outcry and Canadians are rightly wondering how this can happen in a country as rich as Canada.
Will the government commit to take the lead with eight officials and with the community to fix the situation in Attawapiskat so that we can return to the community to the kind of dignity that these people deserve?

Hon. John Duncan (Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, we are taking this situation seriously. The community has a number of challenges, one of them being its financial challenge. It is in co-management. It has an indebtedness that is getting in the way of a lot of other progress that could be made.
Part of our overall next steps is to get to a place where proper local administration and governance can ensure there is progress being made in the community.

http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=E&Mode...

The Tories were also trying to pass a bill making it obligatory for Chiefs, band council and other First Nation leadership to disclose their saleries. This also promotes the myth/stereotype that it is neccessary - and it is also to create trouble. Even if band councel make a modest sum - if you are on welfare or minimum wage then it would look like a fortune. It wamells like the same wedge that they were trying to make between unions and minimum wage earners.

Sun, 2011-11-27 00:20

#11

Boom Boom

Charlie Angus has been raising the issue for a very long time - remember back in 2009 (and earlier) he had been fighting for a new school in Attawapiskat - I think there''s a babble thread on it. There's a Facebook page on it as well. Duncan said on P&P the other night that Attawapiskat will get a new school under construction next spring - they're waiting for the ice road to form to get building supplies in. This new school - after almost a decade of asking for one!

I posted this earlier today on BnR:

The Band says they need 268 homes at an estimated cost of $200,000 each - it costs a hell of a lot of money just to get the supplies for building up there.

268 x $200,000 = $53,600,000.00

The feds have promised $500,000.00.

The feds are sending a fact-finding crew up there next week, a month after the Chief asked for emergency help.

ETA: John Duncan on P&P last night said Attawapiskat will get a new school in the spring; supplies will be going up on the ice road this winter.

ETA: The Red Cross is assessing the needs of the community. I wonder how their findings will differ from those of the federal flunkies going next week.

Earlier babble threads on the topic:

Chuck Strahl refuses new school for Attawapiskat (2008)

Tragedy Unfolding on James Bay Coast (2009)

Facebook group:

The Children of Attawapiskat Fight for A new School (no new posts since January)

excerpt:

For 8 years the children of Attawapiskat, Ontario have had no grade school. They attend classes in cold portables. They have no library and no playground.

If you search "Attawapiskat" on Facebook, you will see several support groups, including donations, and folks travelling up to help and see for themselves.

Sun, 2011-11-27 07:29

#12

Maysie

I agree, vaudree.

It's always been about money. Discovering diamonds or other money-making resources on reserves brings attention to them. Other reserves can go to hell, as history shows.

Tommy Paine wrote:
Being, as you know, a bit of a geology nut, I know diamonds are being mined and there is a lot of diamond exploration going on north of Hwy 11 in Ontario.

I think the government may be systemically creating conditions that are impossible for local people to live in, in order to give De Beers a clear playing field to work in.

I don't see this as conspiracy-minded thinking at all. Just like ignoring deplorable conditions on reserves created by the office of Indian Affairs (and not at least changing the name, for fuck's sake), it's consistent with Canadian government-Aboriginal relations since first contact.

Absolutely appalling.

And yeah, Boom Boom, the numbers are appalling as well.

$1 billion for the G20 remember. For three days. That was important. This is not.

Sun, 2011-11-27 08:41

#13

Boom Boom

Maysie wrote:

$1 billion for the G20 remember. For three days. That was important. This is not.

That deserves to be shared. Excellent.

Sun, 2011-11-27 17:45

#14

Fidel

There are quite a few in Ontario who repeat the lie that says "Indians get everything". They tend not to say anything at times like this. I've lived and worked in remote regions of Northern Ontario, Manitoba, and Quebec. I did not see any evidence that "Indians get everything." And all of the people who've quoted these bigoted quips to me over the years - I never bumped into them in my travels up North, either. Attawapiskat is just one small part of Canada where native people are living in third world conditions and have been for a long time. There are plenty more examples of why Canadians should be ashamed of the past and ongoing federal abuse of native people.

Sun, 2011-11-27 17:48

#15

6079_Smith_W

or the situation in our province, where the premier can say on the one hand that he is committed to revenue sharing with municipalities, and on the other hand reject outright the opposition call for resource revenue sharing with First Nations, as if they are not communities, and somehow separate from the rest of the province.

Sun, 2011-11-27 18:13

#16

Fidel

6079_Smith_W wrote:

or the situation in our province, where the premier can say on the one hand that he is committed to revenue sharing with municipalities, and on the other hand reject outright the opposition call for resource revenue sharing with First Nations, as if they are not communities, and somehow separate from the rest of the province.

What do the feds say about it? I know that the feds are trying to slither away from their responsibilities and obligations to native people since several amendments to the very racist Indian Act. Native people were Ottawa's "charges" since Confederation, like Chinese citizens and emigres were made charges of the Queen of England after Britain tookover parts of China as her colonies were violating basic human rights on a regular basis then. I believe that the feds believe they should download any and all obligations to native people and reserves to the provinces, like they have with just about every other federal obligation to the provinces since Mulroney and Chretien, and then proceeded to defund federal transfers since the late 1980s and 1990s. Ottawa still decides who has status and who does not. Ottawa can not shift blame for Ottawa's crimes against native people to the provinces, though. Lots of money for G20 and corporate tax breaks for rich people and nothing for their "charges" in places like Attawapiskat.

So what would be wrong with asking the provinces to raise corporate taxes in order to fund causes like Attawapiskat and ensuring basic human rights to everything from clean water to the right to public education? Can the feds neoliberalise their way out from these obligations just as some people suggest that tiny prairie economies should be able to do without inconveniencing the feds for more money? How else might we shift national responsibility for financing basic human rights from Ottawa to the provinces? Are basic human rights and neoliberal ideology compatible in general?

Sun, 2011-11-27 18:18

#17

Boom Boom

Fidel wrote:

There are quite a few in Ontario who repeat the lie that says "Indians get everything". They tend not to say anything at times like this.

I've been reading the comments on these stories, and the lies are still being repeated.

Sun, 2011-11-27 18:25

#18

6079_Smith_W

@ Fidel

You are absolutely right about the federal government, particularly as it relates to treaties. I agree completely.

But neither does that let the provinces off of anything, expecially since many of the significant areas that affect aboriginal communities are under provincial jurisdiction - education, natural resources, conservation (whose officers are more a source of oppression than the RCMP in some areas) and health care. And as well, the fact that the real relationship to Native people does not stop at those who are under treaty, but all Native, mixed blood and Metis people.

And when you extend that to the urban population, and the growth of urban reserves, this is no longer just Ottawa's obligation.

Yet we have situations of terrible neglect in our cities, and in the south generally, and the only reason why it is not as bad as in the north is because it is close to transportation, and centres of power. But it is still a situation that local governments ignore at their peril.

After all, if things continue as they are our province will once again be majority aboriginal within 50 years or so.

Sun, 2011-11-27 19:04

#19

Fidel

6079_Smith_W wrote:

@ Fidel

You are absolutely right about the federal government, particularly as it relates to treaties. I agree completely.

But neither does that let the provinces off of anything, expecially since many of the significant areas that affect aboriginal communities are under provincial jurisdiction - education, natural resources, conservation (whose officers are more a source of oppression than the RCMP in some areas) and health care.

Well in that case, why aren't chiefs of reserves levying regular municipal and school taxes on native people? Surely they have the legal authority to that now? Why don't they just go to any friendly big six "Canadian" bank and borrow money against their private property, or the same apartheid-like townships they are living on since being segregated on to long time ago? Surely McGuinty and Selinger have the authority to make it happen without stepping on anyone's big toe in Ottawa?

Why not make native people totally reliant on "free market" forces? Or is that what the feds intend to do over time, just as they are doing with the top-down federally orchestrated neoliberal ideology in general? Surely it is a lack of political will in Queen's Parks across Canada to fund basic human rigths for native people. By this we must infer that it is a lack of one province's political will to compete against larger economies either side of them when they feel somewhat obligated not to raise corporate taxes, which in all likelihood would result in the exodus of investment and jobs to other parts of Canada and abroad. But let's not blame Ottawa for slashing social transfers to provinces, or for downloading to the provinces and ultimately municipalities and and especially not since the 1990s. Not if we have any respect for the fed's neoliberal charade.

Would it make stealing the one percent of total land native people own in Ontario as easy as the ways in which they did it the first time? Give them deeds to their own private property so that corporations and banks can more easily separate them from what little land they have segregated along narrow strips of the Queen's highways and remote paradises, like mineral-rich Attawapaskat?

Sun, 2011-11-27 19:30

#20

Tommy_Paine

"The Tories were also trying to pass a bill making it obligatory for Chiefs, band council and other First Nation leadership to disclose their saleries. This also promotes the myth/stereotype that it is neccessary - and it is also to create trouble. Even if band councel make a modest sum - if you are on welfare or minimum wage then it would look like a fortune. It wamells like the same wedge that they were trying to make between unions and minimum wage earners."

I used to see something nefarious in this initiative, but babbler Joey Ramone, who has some authority on the subject, said that making band council salaries and other economic things transparent is a good thing for reserves, come what may.

After a bit of thought, I saw things his way.

I will say, however, that as important as this transparency is for native people it is important for everyone. So it's damn rich for Parliamentarians with their hidden top secret expense accounts to be proferring this with a straight face.

Sun, 2011-11-27 20:03

#21

Fidel

I really do think that native councils are given a rough time from the feds WRT funding. I tried to help an older person (white woman born in England and veteran of WW II) to apply for federal funding for a wheelchair ramp, and money for home renovations to make living in her own home feasible for her in her last years of life. The feds wanted all manner of forms filling out in triplicate and bids tendered for proposed work to be done. We had paperwork sent back to us several times for re-doing. We had to re-apply twice after time limits ran out on our application they'd fucked us around just long enough. Three years later there was still no cheque in the mail, and the woman died of old age. The feds don't give corporations that kind of bureaucratic bullshit when CEOs of profitable businesses come to them with caps in hand looking for handouts from Canadian taxpayers. Our corporate welfare system of socialism for rich people is much more efficient than the biziness they give to native people. Native people have had to put up with similar bullshit from a succession of stoogeuacratic federal governments in Ottawa for too long.

Sun, 2011-11-27 20:04

#22

Tommy_Paine

I agree, Fidel.

Will add that even when the government attaches strings to handouts for corporations, like they did with U.S. steel in Hamilton, they just ignore them if it suits them.

Sun, 2011-11-27 20:22

#23

Fidel

Yeah. And then there's my own family's dealings with the fascist bureaucracy in Ontario that began in the 1960s. Long-short, prospector-father discovers gold on public property. Stakes claims does assessment work, expensive diamond drilling etc not so affordable for a steel worker and his two brothers - gains company charter and sells a few hundred thousand shares. And then one day the old man discovers his gold deposit of an estimated several hundred thousand ounces of gold has been expropriated by Stalinist bureaucracy no explanations nor compensation offered. Why? Because fascist bureaucracies do that. And then some company does more exploratory diamond drilling on the property in recent years. Fascist bureaucracy won't reveal who it was or what their intentions are in general. The two old line parties didn't believe in "free enterprise" then or today. And they've been screwing well established native people out of their livelihoods in this region similarly long time.

Sun, 2011-11-27 20:37

#24

6079_Smith_W

@ Fidel #18

I didn't suggest any of those things, I said I don't think the Feds should be let off on any of their responsibilities, and I don't really want to fight with you about it.

But it is a fact that there are a lot of issues that have an impact on First Nations, and non-treaty Natives that are under provincial and municipal jurisdiction, including the main one to do with the land - natural resources, both the living things on it, and the minerals under it. I didn't make that one up, sorry.

And although no, provincial governments can't levy taxes on first nations, the fact that they control the entire economy, infrastructure, and everything right up to the borders ( including the land used for fishing, hunting and trapping) means they probably have far more direct contact and control that Ottawa does.

So it may not be part of the treaties, but it is no less of a ripoff that our premier wants to keep mining resources off the table. It is a ripoff just as glaring as that diamond mine - also under provincial jurisdiction - which is next door to Attawapiskat.

Sun, 2011-11-27 21:15

#25

Fidel

6079_Smith_W wrote:
Natives that are under provincial and municipal jurisdiction, including the main one to do with the land - natural resources, both the living things on it, and the minerals under it.

Yes, but native people at Attwapaskat are not complaining about a lack of mineral rights or mining opportunities at the moment. At least, it's not an immediate concern for people forced to live in tents this winter and-or forced to abandon their third world conditions in a time of emergency due to a lack of basic necesseties iof life in general.

Ten years ago the feds were building 50 new native schools a year in Canada. This year they built one.

I'm not arguing with you over whether or not the province is to blame for anything, including the responsibility to ensure access to clean drinking water for all Ontarians. That is as much McGuinty's responsibility as it was for Mike Harris during the tainted water scandal at Walkerton. The NDP began spending money on clean water projects here in the North during Rae's government, but all that was quickly reversed under Harris and that government's about face return to neoliberal ideology in Ontario.

But the feds are surely shirking their responsbilities to all Canadians to ensure that provinces and municipalities(and native reserves under federal jurisdiction long time) have funding for basic infrastructure, like native schools and the right to health care. All in all, Smith, how do you like the fed's ideologically-dtriven cutbacks and defunding of transfers to provinces, and downloading and general all around shirking now?

Sun, 2011-11-27 22:08

#26

6079_Smith_W

I don't like it at all, Fidel. I don't think I said anything to imply that I approve of it.

Anyway, good to know we aren't having a disagreement over this.

Tue, 2011-11-29 11:00

#27

Ripple

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6abZ0LFT5CQ][color=red]Video by MP Charlie Angus and MPP Gilles Bisson, November 2011[/color][/url]

Tue, 2011-11-29 18:06

#28

Boom Boom

National Chief Shawn Atleo was just on P&P and said 1) blow up the Indian Act 2) start a new relationship with the feds and 3) start over.

Tue, 2011-11-29 18:30

#29

Boom Boom

Nycole Turmel is in the community and will be phoning in to Evan Solomon on P&P in one minute!

ETA: Well, that was a brief conversation. Yes, she's shocked and says ot's complicated - but she also feels it's a viable community and jobs can be found.

Earlier on P&P with Shawn Atleo as guest, it was pointed out that the DeBeers mine is 90 km away, but apparently few if any folk from Attawapiskat are working there. If Debeers is making megatons of money that money needs to be shared with native communities in the north.

Wed, 2011-11-30 00:31

#30

milo204

The only way any of this is going to change is when people in the south actually care enough to start raising hell in the south where the decisions are made.

There was a lot of proclaimed support for FN rights during the occupy protests and marches, perhaps we should be organizing using that as a base to get a movement going to demand we talk about short and long term solutions to this. We also need to start a dialogue somewhow so that ordinary canadians can get educated about FN history and why we find ourselves in this predicament. Canadians lack of knowledge is a major barrier and i think it's why we can raise tens of millions for crises in other countries but people here still think it's not a problem.

sidenote: does anyone know where a good place to look for info on government funding to rural towns would be? i'd like to know, with all the complaints about funding for reserves being "too much", i'd like to see how much the government provides non reserve communities/corporate subsidies...

Wed, 2011-11-30 08:19

#31

Michelle

I love how Conservatives suddenly become communists when it comes to finances on reserves. They're just fine with a huge disparity of income between rich and poor in their own communities, but when it comes to reserves, they blame "the Chiefs" and leadership for having salaries comparable to other municipal leaders' salaries for the job they're doing. Suddenly, these free market Cons are all for splitting the money equally between everyone, but only on reserves, certainly not in their own communities and cities.

People who live on reserves aren't stupid. If they thought their leadership was running off with all the community's money, then I think they'd find a way to hold those leaders accountable, just as we find ways to hold our leaders accountable. I think that if the leadership was as corrupt as the Cons and the media are hinting they are, the community members, who have been quite vocal about the conditions they're living in, would have said so.

As far as I can tell, that hasn't happened.

Wed, 2011-11-30 09:39

#32

Unionist

Michelle wrote:

I love how Conservatives suddenly become communists when it comes to finances on reserves.

More like fascists. Here's how Harper tried to turn this tragedy into political capital:

[url=http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Harper+defends+government+treatment+... defends government treatment of reserve called a "national disgrace"[/url]

Quote:

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is defending his government's treatment of an impoverished First Nation in northern Ontario, and raising questions about how millions of dollars in taxpayers' money earmarked for the community have been spent.

"This government has spent some $90 million since coming to office just on Attawapiskat. That is over $50,000 for every man, woman and child in the community," Harper said Tuesday in the House of Commons as debate heated up over the Attawapiskat reserve.

"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."

So, Harper's "solution" will be his legislation to require disclosure of finances by First Nations - divide and rule.

My question is, where exactly do the opposition parties stand on the self-government and autonomous rights of First Nations? Or will they be afraid of being tarred with the brush of defending "corruption"?

Wed, 2011-11-30 10:25

#33

6079_Smith_W

They haven't spent money on anything. They supposed to be fulfilling a treaty obligation by paying back (and are failing miserably).

And $50,000 per capita over five years works out to $833 a month.

Does that include infrastructure, health and education and social benefits?

Doesn't sound remotely adequate, or impressive to me.

Wed, 2011-11-30 10:25

#34

Unionist

Hate to think about it, Smith, but it'll be six years next month.

And it's not worthwhile analyzing the spending. Once we start that, we're on Harper's agenda.

Wed, 2011-11-30 10:40

#35

6079_Smith_W

I don't know about that. I think they have gotten away with things for so long because Canadians have NOT been paying attention to the numbers.

So sorry, taking out a calculator and looking at the facts is not the same thing as taking out a Harper party membership. Lofty ideals aside, it all comes down to numbers, resources, needs and limits.

I think taking it apart makes it clear that the big impressive number he is throwing around is actually the opposite, and what appears to be overwhelming support is calculated starvation,

And speaking of numbers, and starvation, I read on their wikipedia page that people in that community have to pay, in advance, by money order for every high-priced item they buy before it gets flown in by plane. Even if that is only half true, it is a sobering thought.

And they are talking about the cost of shipping building supplies. How much would it cost to set up a small sawmill and used the resources which are right there?

Wed, 2011-11-30 15:02

#36

Caissa

The Federal government has announced the remote James Bay community of Attawapiskat will go under third-party management amid a housing crisis.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan, who announced the measures in question period Wednesday, told the House of Commons that "urgent health and safety issues" in the northern Ontario community needed immediate action.

"The Government of Canada has informed the chief that we are placing the community in third-party management to ensure community needs are addressed," Duncan said.

"Part of the manager's role will be to administer my department's funding which is normally managed by the First Nation directly."

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/11/30/attawapiskat-wednesday.html

Wed, 2011-11-30 17:05

#37

Ripple

[url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/tories-take-attawapiskat-fi... Finances[/color][/url]

Quote:
But there was no suggestion in the auditor's report that funds had been misappropriated. And aboriginal leaders point out that nearly a third of the money they receive is for education while just $1-million a year goes to housing. It is estimated that it costs $250,000 to build a new house in Attawapiskat because of the high costs of transporting materials.

Unionist wrote:

And it's not worthwhile analyzing the spending. Once we start that, we're on Harper's agenda.

Despite my post above, I do agree.

Wed, 2011-11-30 17:06

#38

6079_Smith_W

@ Caissa

Wow... nice way for Harper to cast blame. Before anyone has looked at the situation on the ground they turn the story into their funding being mis-managed, and they take everything out of the hands of the elected local government.

Same thing with this very odd story in the globe:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/locals-disagree-on-whos-to-...

Most of it is commentary about the situation there, and on northern First Nations generally. There is one paragraph, buried, which mentions the divided blame that the headline is all about. There is nothing specific at all though, and no sources are quoted.

Wed, 2011-11-30 18:59

#39

Fidel

<a href="http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Harper+defends+government+treatment+reserve+called+national+disgrace/5786911/story.html#ixzz1fEhQbyGX">The Montreal Gazette</a> wrote:
Critics have said even if money given to the community has been misspent, it would have been under the watch of the federal government, which is responsible for funding on First Nations, and that such a situation would be a failure by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.

Yes, who's been pocketing millions of dollars, and where are the receipts? It sounds like the Harpers knew that money was being misspent and are now covering it up. Could be a scandal in the making.

Wed, 2011-11-30 21:48

#40

Boom Boom

Heard on CBC tonight that DeBeers has so far made $500million from their mine 80 km from Attawapiskt, while paying royalties of just $10.5 million to the community. The commentator suggested that DeBeers be forced to pay more.

Wed, 2011-11-30 21:53

#41

Unionist

Ok, in light of Harper's fascistic action of re-colonizing the Attawapiskat First Nation - for their own good, no doubt, because after all, well, you know, heh heh - I think I need to repeat my question of this morning (post #39) and get some quick answers:

Maybe we could hear from the future leader of the Liberal party - Bob Rae?

How about individual answers from all the NDP leadership candidates - or maybe Mme Turmel, who has been there and not yet done that?

ETA: [url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/locals-disagree-on-whos-to-...'s a working link[/url] to the Globe article Smith posted upthread.

Wed, 2011-11-30 22:14

#42

Lefauve

I just read this article and the comment

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/11/30/attawapiskat-wednesday.html

And i wish that i never read thoses comment, they are full of trolling and bigoted.

And what shock me the most is the number of agreement with the most racist of them.

Wed, 2011-11-30 23:55

#43

Fidel

[url=http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/CanadaAM/20111130/attawapiskat-help-arriving-1... Challenges Harper to Visit Attawapiskat[/size][/color][/url] Do political conservatives really care?

Is this Steve Harper's way of saying they are asleep at the switch in Ottawa as usual without full-time NDP critics telling them how to do their jobs?

Thu, 2011-12-01 10:10

#44

Boom Boom

A FB friend sent this: Dealing with comments about Attawapiskat

Thu, 2011-12-01 11:02

#45

Kimkimkim

For once, Stephen Harper is on the right track. Activists within the community also want a full audit. The chief makes 71 thousand a year tax free. What is her house like? There are 10 or more councillors making 35 thousand on average tax free. THe village manager makes 86 thousand tax free. 80 million was put into the community over the past five years and it still looks like a garbage dump. The Province also put in $$$. What happened to that money? If a third of it was for education, why is there no working school in the community? These are questions that should be answered regardless of ideology. Or else, you can throw more money into a massive black hole, without examination,

Thu, 2011-12-01 11:16

#46

Unionist

I'll ignore post #44 for now, but it's nice to know that Stephen Harper fans think babble represents enough of a challenge to have to pay personal visits.

[url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/12/01/attawapiskat-thursday.htm... action by Ottawa draws fire[/url]

Quote:
“The Harper government has told the other communities, 'You speak up, we will take you out.' That is as blunt and brutal a colonial message as could be delivered,” NDP MP Charlie Angus said.

Bravo!

Quote:

Atleo on Wednesday slammed Ottawa’s response to the Attawapiskat crisis.

“Ottawa knows best what is for First Nations and imposes its will? That legacy has not worked and that is the status quo we must smash.”

Yes.

Quote:
"I guess, as First Nations, when we do ask for assistance and make a lot of noise, we get penalized for it," [Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence] told CBC News on Wednesday. "So, you know, to put us in third party while we're in crisis, that's very shameful and a disgrace from the government."

Thu, 2011-12-01 11:19

#47

6079_Smith_W

Kimkimkim wrote:

Activists within the community also want a full audit.

Just curious, but what is your source for that? I saw one CBC interview with one person who thought the federal government's move might help. I haven't seen or read anything else specific - certainly not anything like your statement.

And I take it you read the link in the post just before yours.

Thu, 2011-12-01 12:10

#48

Kimkimkim

Ad hominem arguments from bullies who assume I am a Stephen Harper fan don't address the substance of the issue. Smith W., The activists are speaking up you'll hear more from them, and it takes courage to do this in these small communities. Ms. Spence is in crisis. She's lost her 71 thousand dollar (tax free) job.

Thu, 2011-12-01 12:29

#49

6079_Smith_W

Kimkimkim wrote:

Ad hominem arguments from bullies who assume I am a Stephen Harper fan don't address the substance of the issue. Smith W., The activists are speaking up you'll hear more from them, and it takes courage to do this in these small communities. Ms. Spence is in crisis. She's lost her 71 thousand dollar (tax free) job.

In other words you made it up.

Good to know. It is not good to have baseless claims lingering in the air unchallenged. Some people might assume there is some truth to them.

And I guess you didn't read that post or you would actually know that part of that is her work expenses. But really, why do you have a problem with people earning a fair wage? And why do you think that is the central "substance" of the issue?

If you are looking to pin this on someone, rather than actually talking about substandard housing, perhaps you should ask about how the Minister justifies his salary, since the situation there has already been under co-management for some time, and ultimately he is responsible.

Thu, 2011-12-01 12:34

#50

Boom Boom

John Duncan was just on CBC saying the co-manager in Attawapiskat is First Nation and has no connection to the government whatsoever.

Thu, 2011-12-01 12:46

#51

Kimkimkim

What are the baseless claims? I haven't made anything up. People are speaking out in the town, I've heard their comments on the radio and TV. Is 71000 a fair wage? It is a town of 1400. The Chief also received another 2000 in travel expenses. The mayors in towns with 1400 people don't make 71000 tax free a year because the tax base won't support it. For example, The mayor of Kelowna BC, a town of 130 thousand, makes 70 thousand a year. I'm not pinning this on anyone in particular. We don't know exactly how the money has been spent yet. But evidence that not much has been done for the people is apparent in the condition of the town. The minister's salary is irrelevant as he is not paid from money contributed under the Indian Act. However, he or she is overseeing more than a town of 1400. Though perhaps he should take a salary cut if he's found negligent in some way.

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