Attawapiskat state of emergency ignored by Government
The Attawapiskat First Nation in northern Ontario is preparing to evacuate 700 children out of fears that continued exposure to toxic fumes is making them sick.
In 1979, 30,000 gallons of hydrocarbon oil was found to have accumulated underneath the community's school grounds as a result of a broken oil distribution line to the school. INAC installed, operated, and maintained the line.
Nine years ago, staff and children attending the school started getting sick, eventually leading to the closure of the school. INAC also built a series of portable shacks immediately beside the contamination site as a temporary fix until a new school was built.
Attawapiskat is still waiting for the replacement school. In fact, only last month was the old school finally demolished, and with obvious consequences. "An open toxic wound" now sits "in the center of the community," says MP Charlie Angus, who visited the site after Attawapiskat declared a state of emergency on March 30, 2009.
Since the demolition, community members have been complaining of headaches, nausea, skin rashes, nosebleeds, chronic diarrhea (even in infants), and children just "passing out". Attawapiskat wants all children from the community to be evacuated until remediation efforts at the contamination site are completed.
INAC--apathetic (and criminally negligent, some would say) as ever--won't agree to an evacuation because, according to their tests, there is no danger to the community.
Angus said they were appalled at what they saw. "The federal government has left an open toxic wound in the centre of the community. The stench of diesel emanating from this pit, even on a blustery windy day was overwhelming. We have met teachers, children and parents who were so overcome with fumes and dust that they threw up and were left with severe headaches. Even two weeks after the demolition many of those symptoms persist in families living near the site."
Angus goes on to say that the refusal by Indian Affairs to support an evacuation is typical negligence of health and safety.
There are hundreds of other indigenous communities across Canada who would agree.
He continues, "Indian Affairs have been sitting on reports for nearly two decades that identify this site as an extreme hazardous to human health. They did a half-assed clean up job and have left a gaping hole that they don’t intend to remediate for another two years."
Gilles Bisson, who accompanied Angus to the community, points out that the symptoms being experienced are consistent with exposure to benzene, toluene and ethyl benzene. "We are talking about chemicals known for causing leukemia, bone marrow damage and kidney failure. The smell of these chemicals has made going to school a dangerous proposition for children. I shudder to think of what the contaminant levels will be when the ground around the hole begins to thaw and fill with spring rain. Action is required now."
The toxic stench of oil can be smelled far beyond the school grounds, in and around 61 local homes.
Discussing the issue in Parliament, INAC Minister Chuck Strahl states the whole situation is little more than a publicity stunt being propped up "on the backs of needy aboriginal people."
What you Can Do
Two petitions are being circulated if you'd like to support the Attawapiskat:
- Calling on Chuck strahl to live in Attawapiskat for one month
- Calling on the government to build a school
You may also want to write a letter to:
- Prime Minister Stephen Harper: pm@pm.gc.ca
- Indian and Northern Affairs (INAC): CNAP-NACC@ainc-inac.gc.ca
- INAC Minister Chuck Strahl: StrahC@parl.gc.ca.
For background and more information, please visit attawapiskat.com, www.attawapiskat-school.com, and Attawapiskat support on facebook
Attawapiskat - where are the promises?
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I can’t get over this. Imagine if it was some school in Toronto or Vancouver, and the government called everyone a bunch a “stupid hicks.” If there was ever a reason INAC should be dissolved…
This will be looked into closely and repercussions pending.
Frankly why an Indian Act (IA) National Class Action Lawsuit has not been implemented is amazing to me!Why not??After all IA is the killing machine & is the cause of “all toxic legislated fallout including poverty and disease by socio-fiscal control” IA violates and dilutes treaties every day ..our people are dying an early slow death under IA however under enforcement of treaty law replacing IA this situation would not be happening would it???
Cathy Ginnish Eel Ground First Nation NB
Class Action Lawsuit, yes, I completely agree. In any event we need to compel them to respect the treaties, or take it further and cut all political and economic ties to INAC and truly stand on our own.
Just come & smell ..see for urself. Bring ur tent and sleep out where the jr nak ..school was located??!
Hope deferred is the greater assault.
Where are the humans who are response-able
to address this atrocity?
When will decency, compassion and courage boil up
within decent people,
that they take action?
That is, action within their own sphere of influence.
Then, later, to reach beyond their own comfort zone?
Now that I have said / written / done this,
I must now extend my hand to those in need.
Likewise, I must point my finger deliberately,
for those in a position to address this situation,
directly at the root problem
( wherein we often are shown a path to resolution ).
May The Creator bless us each and every one.
May The Creator grant to us a clear mind.
May The Creator open our hearts.
May The Creator grant us the courage we need,
to each do what we can,
to complete what must be done.
As a former resident of the community,
I am greatly saddend at this situation.
My heart aches for the still-suffering families
of each child deprived of a place to learn.
I truly mourn the losses suffered by those robbed of opportunity by these lacks.
Ahstiinah!!
their is a petition online i suggest we all sign it
Here’s one: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/chstrahlatt/index.html
Hey. I just added a few more videos and quick list of things people can do at the bottom of the article.
Go to my site hppt://inthalexiuos999.webs.com. There is something in attawapiskat. That thing is a shadow creature, plus a shape shifter, also there is alot of haunted places because of the grave yard in the past plus what the people did in the past way long time ago. When the elders were kids or teen. The shadow creature i have a picture of in my site plus the white ghost in the old school the people destroyed which pist off the shadow creature. The shadow creature is the one responsible for the two bears that escaped and most of the bad things that happened in the past every since me and my classmates came out of the plane. But the shape shifter i dont know how to prove it exist in attwapiskat. Attawapiskat is full of supernatural creatures that includes demons and ghost. Just read the truth about attawapiskat that the community doesnt even knows about.
Can you give me your address of the ghost pics?