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Attawapiskat is the home of the Mushkegowuk (swampy) Cree that is
situated on the west coast of James Bay. The community h...
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 didnt 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 didnt 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 wasnt properly contained and was dump too closed
to the community. As for the old building, it wasnt 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 communitys 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 communitys air tested
normal?. The Leaders didnt 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 wasnt 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
Canadas 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 wasnt 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
INACs 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!
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