Attawapiskat - where are the promises?

Attawapiskat is the home of the Mushkegowuk (swampy) Cree that is situated on the west coast of James Bay. The community has been exposed to toxic fumes dating back to 30 years. Since 1979, about 30, 000 gallons of hydrocarbon oil spill has occured underneath the old school grounds. In the year 2000, there were health concerns of children and the staff getting sick. This resulted the closure of the old school. INAC build temporary portables near the contamination site til the new school was build. The community worked hard in negotiations with INAC and the government to get a new school and finally came to light! There was Hope once again for the children. Everything was in the process until the the new government stepped in 2007. On August 2007, Minister Chuck Strahl became the new Minister for Indian and Northern Affairs Canada under the leadership of the Conservatives. On December 2007, Minister of INAC decided to halt the deal, that left the community devastated. But that didn't stop the community and the Children, they went as far to having a Human Rights Conference in Toronto. The students argue for a right to a quality education in safe environment in November 2008. Mr. Chuck Strahl was invited but didn't show up?

Finally on March of 2009 , the old school was demolish under the direction of INAC, exposing the ground once capped by the old building. The contaminated debris wasn't properly contained and was dump too closed to the community. As for the old building, it wasn't capped leaving the fumes exposed to the residence. A stench was reported making the students, teachers and the community sick which then resulted to the closing of the schools, shortly by a declared state of emergency from the leaders. A few days later, INAC and Health Canada flew in to meet with the community and listen to the community's testimonies of getting nausea, headaches, dizziness and skin rashes? The community felt it had to do with the contaminated ground and their water source.

INAC responded that they would take the information back to their Superiors and report back of their decision for further immediate action. Three days later, Attawapiskat was devastated when INAC and Health Canada went to the media and said "There was no iniminent dangers and that the community's air tested normal?". The Leaders didn't buy it! As of April 9, 2009, Attawapiskat is still under state of emergency and have no trust in the government officials. They suspected that something wasn't right with their findingsl because of all the testimonies that were given at the meeting of people getting sick? That people were dying from cancer too fast, children having skin rashes and the stench of the contaminated oil can still be smell.

Later that week, MP Charlie Angus and MPP Gilles Bisson responded to the urgent call of the Attawapiskat Chief and Council and did their own investigations. They were shock to find out the extent of this urgent matter and confirm the seriousness of addressing the health concerns right away.The next day, Both parties called for a National Press Conference and share their findings. Shortly after, INAC responded by saying, it was just a grandstanding photo-op? Which is not true. The Reps of James Bay-Timmins took soil samples with them and send them to Ottawa to get tested right away, doing INAC and Health Canada's job for them?? They are calling on independent study by the medical and environmental team. As of today, INAC still refuses to evacuate the reserve even though they asked for immediate action until the remediation was completed and safe. The community was very upset to find out it would take INAC 2 more years to clean up the contamination site which wasn't acceptable.

Ask yourself this question? Would you find it acceptable from INAC (Indian Northern Affairs of Canada) if they told you everything is fine in your community and there is nothing to worry about? While the children are breaking up in rashes, people getting sick and alot of reports of cancers since 30 years ago? Think about it.....Would you be willing to accept returning your children back to the toxic zone for their education? Would this happen down south? Is it acceptable to be told that it would take 2 years to finish cleaning up the toxic soil after it has been there for 30 years. These schools were under INAC's watch when the spills happened...... If this reaches you, please help the community and put your government to shame!! Spread this video and let the world know what our Government is doing to their Indigenous People!

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Attawapiskat
• school
• children
• human rights
• Indigenous
• cree
• contamination
• James Bay

[BlueskywomanCree]

For Immediate Release

Tuesday April 14th, 2009

SASKATOON The Safe Drinking Water Foundation (SDWF)s Advanced Aboriginal Water Treatment Team (AAWTT) released their Position Paper on the Federal Engagement Sessions for First Nations Drinking Water today.

[MrDukelyons420]

Move somewhere where there's jobs and stop being our contries deficit. Poor kids. You's should all be relocated to the city if your little remote village plan isnt working. That or get up off your asses and go hunt and live off the land like a non-taxpayer deserves too. Were not in the 1800's anymore the indian act should be burned. If you want a hospital, a school and other govt services START PAYING FCKING TAXES

[babblebox100]

Who said this?

Paddle your own canoe

If you want to get rich you son of a bitch

I'll tell you what to do

Get up off your ass and star paying taxes

And paddle your own canoe

[316bluethunder]

@justanoldman1 In either case I am the original Land Lord...

[justanoldman1]

@316bluethunder Do you work or just play on the computer? Oh, I forgot, you are an indian and do not have to work.

[jethro035181]

all reserves should be closed and indians treated as normal citizens.....if indians want "treaty rights" they sould apply to the treaty signers

[316bluethunder]

@MrDukelyons420 shut the fuck up you had your fun as it is with Canada stealing all the Natives Lands worth money.Dont you remember when you got here you had no personal beleongings as in dirty rotten hungry and poor,you had absolutely nothing.Now is the time to take back what is always ours and always will be.

[swammpwatter]

blah blah blah !