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Nishnawbe Aski Nation

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More Money Needed For Safe Drinking Water For First Nations

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First Nations communities are still struggling with not having safe drinking water.

The Parliamentary Budget Report regarding First Nation’s drinking water was released and Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief, Derek Fox, said in a statement that the federal government needs have more funding commitments to ensure safe drinking water for these communities.

According to the report, spending in 2016/2017 as well as planned spending until 2025/2026 will be enough to cover capital costs but not to help maintain or pay for operational costs. The report estimates that $138 million should be spent per year in order to cover that spending.

Across NAN territory, there are seven short term and 13 long term boil water advisories happening. Neskantaga First Nation has been on a BWA for 26 years, that is the longest in Canada.

In NAN’s 2018 infrastructure assessment, it saw only 44 per cent of final costs were covered for operations and maintenance across NAN communities.

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Plea For Indigenous Mental Health Supports

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A call for more mental health supports from both the provincial and federal governments.

Three deaths over a 36-hour period on Wunnumin Lake First Nation (population 600) prompted Thursday’s event at the Valhalla Inn which featured Chief Sam Mamakwa and Deputy Chief Dean Cromarty alongside Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Derek Fox, and Deputy Grand Chiefs Anna Betty Achneepineskum, Victor Linklater, and Bobby Narcisse.

Wunnumin Lake First Nation is located about 360-kilometres northeast of Sioux Lookout, and is only accessible by air or seasonal winter roads.

The first was a 20-year-old man who fell from a communications tower. The incident is still under investigation.

A youth who witnessed the fall, a cousin of the deceased, later took his own life.

It is not known how many others saw the fall, but the communications tower is visible from the majority of the community.

The third death was an Elder, who passed away in a long-term care home outside of the community with the family not being notified until a day after the death.

“I traveled to Wunnumin with Grand Chief Fox and Deputy Grand Chief Anna Betty Achneepineskum, and witnessed the travesty of the ongoing lack of services, and lack of mental health supports in our First Nation communities especially in Wunnumin Lake and our remote communities,” says Deputy Grand Chief Narcisse. “We ask the provincial and federal governments what they’re going to do to assist Wunnumin Lake First Nation community”

Wunnumin leadership say they have already talked to dozens of people who witnessed the fall, noting this is a tight-knit community, so everyone who saw the incident has been heavily affected by it.

“When you take into account all these people that saw this event happen, just put yourself in their shoes and imagine watching someone you know fall off of a tower at 300 feet or so,” explains NAN Grand Chief Derek Fox, “The key here is that they don’t want to lose anymore lives.”

Wunnumin Lake First Nation is now asking for permanent solutions.

 

Leadership of Wunnumin Lake have laid out three specific supports they want from the provincial and federal governments:

• provide immediate mental health and intervention supports on an urgent basis;
• provide additional policing and security to support the community; and
• work with the community to establish dedicated mechanisms, with capacity-building and
resources, to empower the community to respond to similar emergencies in the future.

LISTEN: NAN Deputy Grand Chief Bobby Narcisse


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Wunnumin Lake First Nation Call For Assistance

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A call to both the province and federal government for help as the Wunnumin Lake First Nation reports the death of three community members over a 36-hour period.

Chief Sam Mamakwa and other leaders from the community will be joined by Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Derek Fox Thursday in Thunder Bay.

The deaths have been traumatic to the community that does not currently have appropriate supports.

Wunnumin Lake First Nation is located approximately 360 kilometres northeast of Sioux Lookout, accessible only by air and seasonal winter roads.

Acadia News will have a reporter there and the event gets underway at 12:30 p.m.

You can find the livestream here

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$17.8M For NAN Healthcare Overhaul

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Nishnawbe Aski Nation is getting $17.8-million to improve healthcare for its member First Nations.

The extra federal support over the next two years will go towards setting up a First Nations-led system to deliver health services in NAN territory.

It’s part of the Wechedowin (Helping Each Other) plan between NAN, the province and the federal government that includes setting up a NAN-wide health commission.

Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler says he looks forward to the work ahead.

“For us to exercise self-determination over health, we need to bring back accountability, responsibility to First Nations. This means changing the colonial system to a new system based on the needs and priorities of our communities. We appreciate that our federal Treaty partner is committed to the concept of Wechedowin (Helping Each Other) and will work with us to design an effective health system that meets the needs of the people of Nishnawbe Aski Nation.”

Indigenous Services Canada says it will make sure NAN’s 49 member communities have access to culturally appropriate healthcare close to home.

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NAN Saddened By B.C. Residential School Discovery

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The Deputy Grand Chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation is expressing his condolences after a harrowing discovery in British Columbia.

The remains of 215 Indigenous children were found at a former Residential School in Kamlooops.

That specific school operated from 1890 to 1969, and only 50 deaths were reported to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2008.

In a statement, Derek Fox stresses this as proof that tragedies from residential schools are still being uncovered to this day.

“We commend the Knowledge Keepers and the families for their perseverance to uncover the truth behind the terrible loss of these young children,” Fox says.

The final report from the Truth and Reconciliation Committee found a solider had a better chance of surviving the Second World War than Indigenous children had of surviving the Residential School system.

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NAN Unimpressed With Response To Water Report

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With over a dozen of its communities still under boil water advisories, Nishnawbe Aski Nation is not satisfied with the response to a new report on water in First Nations.

The report from the Auditor General confirms that Indigenous Services Canada hasn’t given First Nations enough support to ensure safe drinking water.

However, NAN Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler says the federal government’s reply is not enough.

In response to the report, Minister of Indigenous Services Marc Miller says he commits to fully fund operation and maintenance costs for water and wastewater systems.

Fiddler says the way those costs are calculated gives communities less than half of what they need.

“The government’s plans for funding and resources are vague, open-ended goals without firm timelines or accountability,” Fiddler says.

He adds what First Nations need are new, clear policies to make sure funding is there to meet their needs.

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NAN Congratulates Sen. Murry Sinclair On Retirement

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Senator Murry Sinclair is getting well-wishes as he steps down from the Senate.

In November, Sinclair announced he would be retiring effective January 31, 2021.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation is congratulating Sinclair for his work over the years, which included an investigation into the Thunder Bay Police Services Board.

He also headed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

NAN Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler says Sinclair “forced Canadians to acknowledge the country’s injustices towards Indigenous people” and held the federal government accountable.

Sinclair is retiring to mentor young lawyers in Indigenous law.

NAN Calls For School Funding

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Nishnawbe Aski Nation says schools in its territory aren’t getting the funding they need to start classes safely.

Deputy Grand Chief Derek Fox says parents and leaders are frustrated that their schools are being left out while other school districts get supports.

He says Indigenous Services Canada hasn’t responded to NAN communities, which risks their ability to educate almost 9,000 students.

Fox adds they’re concerned this will lead to a bigger gap in education between First Nations and the rest of the province.

While most NAN communities are remote, Fox points out that COVID-19 could spread quickly through First Nations if the virus reaches one of their communities.

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Ginoogaming Chief Passes Away: NAN

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Chief of Ginoogaming First Nation Celia Echum has died.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler says she died suddenly Saturday morning. NAN is sending its condolences to her family, friends, and community, saying this comes as a shock.

Echum served as a Councillor in Ginoogaming for over 25 years, and was first elected Chief in 2007. She served seven consecutive terms.

Ginoogaming First Nation is around 40 kilometres east of Geraldton.