WRIGHTEOUS

Thank you for contacting my office regarding the housing crisis in Attawapiskat First Nation, and for sharing your ideas with me. We have received many offers of help from Canadians and this response of goodwill has been very inspiring.  Unfortunately, since the state of emergency was declared in Attawapiskat, not a single federal or provincial official has visited the community.

On October 18th, 2011 the community of Attawapiskat declared a state of emergency because of the immediate health threat faced by families living in tents and makeshift sheds in the isolated, far north community.  This crisis has been years in the making, as a result of chronic underfunding.  There are major concerns about the adequacy of the water and sewage system.  The housing backlog has reached crisis proportions.

Attawapiskat First Nation has been fighting for years for the most basic services other Canadians take for granted.  The community has had no grade school for the past 12 years.  Frustrated children in the community launched their own national fight to shame the government into building them a grade school. This fight is being taken by the children all the way to the United Nations.  The story of this fight can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gy38grr35c

The Federal government has promised to allocate $500,000 to remediate some abandoned houses in the community.  However, this is little more than a band-aid solution as the abandoned houses are in serious state of advanced decay. At most, there may be three or four abandoned shacks that can be repaired with this money.

What is needed is a long-term commitment to ensuring adequate housing and infrastructure for this community.

If you have not yet seen the YouTube footage from my colleague Charlie Angus’ visit to the community on November 7th, here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6abZ0LFT5CQ

The people of Attawapiskat desperately need your help.  We are looking at a fundraising drive to help bring supplies.   We will be back in touch as soon as we have plans in place.

In the meantime, we are pleading with people to contact thier Members of Provincial and Federal Parliament (as you have done) asking them to support the people of Attawapiskat First Nation.  Encourage others to do so as well.

You can write to:

Office of the Prime Minister                                                      Honourable John Duncan

House of Commons                                                                        Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development House of Commons

Ottawa, ON   K1A 0A6                                                                    Ottawa, ON   K1A 0A6

E-mail: pm@pm.gc.ca                                                                    E-mail:  john.duncan@parl.gc.ca

Premier Dalton McGuinty                                                           Kathleen Wyne

Legislative Building                                                                          Minister of Aboriginal Affairs

Queen’s Park                                                                                     160 Bloor St. East, 4th floor

Toronto, ON   M7A 1A1                                                                 Toronto, ON   M7A 2E6

E-mail: minister.maa@ontario.ca

Thanks again for writing, please keep in touch

Peggy Nash