p2pnet - rss feed: Attawapiskat: Canada’s shame
p2pnet news | P2P:- Canada is spending a fortune in foreign aid to help impoverished countries.
There’s nothing wrong with that. But charity should also be applied equally at home and in Canada, we have impoverished First Nations whose people are treated as third or fourth class citizens —- if they’re lucky enough to be considered at all while millions of dollars in government largess go abroad.
However, the Net can help.
For the first time in history, people communicate directly with each other around the world, and where governments fail, frequently putting corporate interests in front of those who elected them, cyber citizens can make things happen.
The Wikipedia describes Attawapiskat as an isolated Cree community in Northern Ontario, at the mouth of the Attawapiskat River where it drains into James Bay.
Local children used to study at the J.R. Nakogee School, built in the 1970s. Then, in 2000, it was permanently closed after a massive diesel leak seriously contaminated the area.
Now, “There are currently some 400 students struggling for an education in crowded portables,” says Attawapiskat online, going on >>>
During a rainstorm on July 2, 2005 the roof over the old library in the unoccupied contaminated school collapsed. This old school is connected to Vezina Secondary School by an unused corridor. There is concern that the collapse of the roof poses a health and safety threat to the Secondary School. A common sprinkler system connects both buildings. The collapse of the roof is placing a strain on this system and it is feared that the pipes could rupture - causing another flood.
Another concern is that fuel oil distribution system is common to both buildings and there is fear that these pipes could rupture as well - adding to the contamination and possibly affecting the safety of the secondary school building.
Six studies conducted over the past 12 years have confirmed continuing pollution from contaminants which could seriously affect the health of staff and the children.
Existing facilities are basic, “with none of the supplementary resources schools in other parts of the province have available,” says the Wikipedia, going on:
“Parents in the community are now starting to hold their children back from attending the school, or are seeking education in other communities.”
And the situation is deteriorating.
Charlie Angus, NDP spokesman for digital issues, is among those who are trying to force federal Indian Affairs minister Chuck Strahl to honour his obligation to build a grade school for Attawapiskat children.
Because the situation isn’t merely bad, it’s mind-boggling.
How can Canada, which presents itself to the world as a country where people come first, allow this kind of situation to develop, let alone go on for year after year?
“Angus says there was an agreement signed between the government of Canada and Attawapiskat to build a new school,” says the Netnewsledger.
“These children have not had a school for the past 7 years because a diesel spill contaminated the soil underneath JR Nakogee School over 25 years ago,” the post has him saying.
“Government after government and Minister after Minister, including Jim Prentice, said they would rectify the problem.
“Well here we are in 2008 and there’s no new school and the government now says students will have to wait another 5 years.”
Click here for a video of Angus on the situation. Below is a video dramatically showing the situation as it still is.
“Is this your Canada?” - asks Taking it Global?
- Where Native children are not entitled to the same educational rights as Non-Native children?
- Where Native schools are forced to meet provincial education standards but are denied the same resources for schooling, resources and special education funding?
- Where the Federal government can rip up an agreement to build a school in Attawapiskat because building schools for First Nation children is not a priority for the government of Canada?
If you think it’s wrong, “please attend to voice your opinion and learn what you can do about this crisis,” says the story, adding:
“Let the government know we won’t tolerate something like this in Canada!!”
If you’re Canadian and you care, help by getting this on Slashdot, Digg, del.icio.us, Technorati, Stumbledupon, and anywhere else you can think of.
This might be OK for the likes of him and Prentice, but it’s not OK by citzens of the digital 21st century.
Stay tuned …
Jon Newton - p2pnet
Use free p2pnet newsfeeds for your site. It’s really easy!
Subscribe
to p2pnet.net | | rss feed: http://p2pnet.net/p2p.rss | | Mobile - http://p2pnet.net/index-wml.phpNet access blocked by government restrictions? Use Psiphon from the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto. Go here for details. Download here.
April 17th, 2008 at 10:20 am
This happens here in the States too. It’s disgusting.
April 17th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Is this on a reserve, or a neighboring community? This is a bad situation either way, but personally I HATE the reservation system Canada has.
As long as “they” are on reserves, “they” will not be treated like “we” are in the rest of Canada.
Any legisltated segregation is bad, as far as I’m concerned.
April 17th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
I agree, charity begins at home. Unfortunately both the US and Canada have created a system where a larger and larger portion of the population wants “the government” the solve all their financial problems. Both countries were founded by pioneers, where did that spirit go?
Just my two cents
Charles
April 17th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Newton, I would not mind betting the nearest you have been to a reservation is a restaurant booking.
It really galls me to see you adding this to your list of ‘phony’ causes so you can generate more traffic.
April 18th, 2008 at 2:05 am
Disgusted, back in the early 80s Jon was a writer on a British medical publication and he came to Canada because he couldn’t find a single Canadian hack or stringer to cover the story of the mercury poisoning in the Grassy Narrows reserve in Northern Ontario. Sorry.
April 18th, 2008 at 4:46 am
Liz is my wife and she’s right. Not only that, she and I have spent a lot of time with First Nations people for other reasons.
Cheers!