Editorial by- Shelley Bluejay Pierce
January 13, 2013

Do any of my readers remember this picture? I wonder how many will recall the serious story line that  accompanied this photo and the pleas for help that rang out in my coverage posted here in full:  Attawapiskat- Life or Death Battle for an Education

This was in January 2009 and we jump ahead to January 2013. 

I am preparing for a radio interview tomorrow and I realize how incredibly difficult, if not impossible, it is for the mainstream public to gain access to truth in the media. 

Having been a White House level investigative journalist, I know that getting to the real truths behind a story is made very difficult by those who twist and spin the information that they release to reporters. As I watch the whole media spin unfold around Chief Theresa Spence, I cringe knowing that she is literally between a rock and a hard place. She is putting her very life on the line for the beliefs and welfare of her People at Attawapiskat. And yet, if she doesn't play some of the political games and deal with the ravenous media, she loses her ability to get funding and a spotlight in the news which allows her some opportunity to speak out their causes. 

The injustice here is that the People in Attawapiskat are doing so very much in the social media outlets and even in representing themselves in Ottawa but there opinions and voiced complaints are never heard. Mainstream journalists are often assigned a story a day to cover and get the highlights so their release goes to press by the deadline. This leaves no time to speak with anyone with but spin-doctors or those in the highlight of a subject matter. The common people are rarely given an opportunity to speak.

I was given the distinct honor to work with Jacqueline House from Six Nations and learned firsthand how difficult it was to keep up with the rapidly changing information from inside the leadership there. So often, the true and real news that was happening on the ground and inside the meetings with the leadership at Six Nations was blatantly ignored by mainstream media.

Once again, I see this system that does not work for the Chief and the People in Attawapiskat. I was again given the great honor to work with some tribal members in Attawapiskat during the early days of their cry for help when they had no drinking water and had homes and school building placed atop toxic dumpsites that were poisoning the People. I remember hammering on doors of news outlets asking for journalist coverage, making telephone calls to some of the biggest relief agencies out there....I was rudely rebuked and ignored by a Native environmental group when I begged for help to get clean drinking water to the people in Attawapiskat. 

I remember back to when many people I spoke to would ask me again, "Ok, wait...you are calling about what? where? What or who is an Attawa..."  They didn't even know how to pronounce the name of the reserve these Cree live at. Those were the early days and my precious relations up there in the far North country have never given up nor backed off with their determination to make their reserve a safe and healthy place to live. They are truly some of my heroes.

We arrive now in 2013. Out of nowhere, this incredible power in the mainstream media has happened. Chief Spence from Attawapiskat and her hunger strike is something that the mainstream media can sink their teeth into and run with very quickly. They have seized the great moment in the spotlight and run to their editors with their quickly concocted stories so the story could run before deadline.

Now....let me tell you a real truth here folks. The reason that I left mainstream journalism all together is because of this very behavior. A good story creates a feeding frenzy. Journalists are swarming and snapping up the bits of information to create a sensationalized story. The goal is to snatch the best bits and having no time, they often ignore digging into all the nooks and crannies of the story. The goal is never to have a prolonged relationship with and near the people involved behind the scenes who can relay the true story. That is not what they are paid to do. They are paid to grab the best highlights and run with it and then jump onto the next sensation.

I have known some of the people at Six Nations and Attawapiskat for many years now. I love some as if they are my family. I embrace their causes and I will fight to the end beside them to achieve the simple fair deal they so justly deserve. But, even with having known them this long and having heard their inside stories for many years, I still would never speak FOR them or try to seem as though my words and opinions are THEIR words. 

These beautifully strong and empowered People have their own voices and their own unified power. They do not need a journalist to run at the mouth in public on their behalf, though I am honored that they have allowed me to speak out in support of their causes publically.

We all know the names "Six Nations" and "Attawapiskat" now. The whole world has perhaps had the chance to learn about Chief Spence and her hunger strike that she takes on simply so she gains audience with a leadership that she should always have free access to. But now, she must starve herself for over a month and deal with a media circus..... simply to make her People's position heard.

Today, I voice my disgust and anger at outdated systems that need to be replaced with those that work for the protection of the Earth and all things upon it. The Grandmothers and Grandfathers are sharing their wisdom and guidance. The young ones are willing and empowered to withstand whatever comes at them for this is our time.... we the People, are truly, IDLE NO MORE.

Shelley Bluejay Pierce

Mubick Wamni Wiya-- I am a proud Canadian Metis

January 13, 2013

They Call Her ‘Songbird’-Behind the Scenes with Joanne Shenandoah

They Call Her ‘Songbird’-Behind the Scenes with Joanne Shenandoah

By Shelley Bluejay Pierce

January 17, 2012

A grandmother waved her over after a concert to tell her that the Inuit believe songs are carried over the ice from the Ancestors’ land by the birds.

“She called me a song bird and said that birds bring their songs to me. She could envision where my songs came from. They come from beautiful places," explained Joanne Shenandoah.

In this interview with Native American Times, Joanne Shenandoah speaks to some of her personal and cultural history that’s guided her to becoming one of the most beloved and awarded Native recording artists in history. Here, she shares from her heart about what has motivated, inspired, and kept her focused on giving to the world community for many decades.

NAT- Your music draws on Native tradition and you sing in the Oneida language. Your words may be unfamiliar to some listeners, but the music has global approval.  What do you feel the reason for this is?

Joanne- The vibration of music touches the soul and hearts of people. Music has been called the ‘universal language’ and speaks to us all. While I was in Istanbul, the call to prayer was a constant reminder throughout the land, and affected me although I did not understand the words. Music in different languages is vibrations of sound that bring us to a place of celebration or enlightenment.

A great artist, A. Paul Ortega, a Mescalero Apache Medicine man, once told me that I should never refuse to sing, as my voice will bring people together in a place which may never be otherwise together because of my gift. This is what I aim to do through my music. I have received so many letters and emails from people around the globe whose lives are positively affected by my music. What a blessing!

NAT- You recently participated in a concert held in Bethlehem on Christmas, 2011 with Steve Robertson’s, “Project Peace on Earth” (http://www.projectpeaceonearth.org/) that served as a global, musical prayer for peace. This must have been a life-changing event for you as you performed live on Christmas Eve at Manger Square, directly in front of the Church of the Nativity and across from a Mosque.  On Christmas Day, you performed in the full “Project Peace on Earth” concert at the Bethlehem Convention Palace which is next to the famed Solomon Pools.  Bringing thousands of people together live, and tens of millions from every nation and faith through the full concert broadcast, is a powerful experience. How did this concert and visit to the region impact you?

Joanne- Several thousand people were at Manger Square on Christmas Eve day and it was a moving experience to sing and share the message of peace. I was blessed to gift the Iroquois Hiawatha Belt to the minister of Tourism and Women’s Affairs of Palestine, Dr. Khouloud Diabes. I told her this flag represented Hiawatha, one of our prophets of peace. At a special dinner held for our delegation, I was given opportunity to explain to her in detail about how our Peacemaker brought the message of peace to the Iroquois through forgiveness.

It was with sacred respect that I visited the birthplace of Jesus and the Garden of Gethsemane and was so moved to sing an Iroquois Women’s song with my daughter Leah in the church of Mary Magdalena in Jerusalem. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26usZUTvQXk)

Going to the Holy Land was an adventure that I never knew was in my future, but it affected me greatly. Since I’ve had a chance to sing and dance with the Aborigines in Australia, with the Buddhists and traditional people of Korea, chant and dance with African women in Cape Town, I have come to realize that each culture has their form of worship along with their prophets of peace.

NAT- What are your plans for 2012 and what priorities do you feel we need to place before us as a global and united human race?

Joanne- I believe that a lot of people live in fear of the future. 2012 represents a transition to many people and our prophecies tell us that we will continue to survive as human beings. The key to survival will be the ability to live within sustainable societies which secure balance between basic human resource needs and the rights of other species. The Iroquois have a constitutional obligation to do nothing that causes harm which qualifies the rights of the unborn to clean water, fertile land and clear skies. To achieve this, the Iroquois incorporate the rights of others- from the earth to water, insects, animals, plants and trees-all have legal standing which must be respected.

NAT- You have recently gone out on your own and taken creative control of your music. What benefits has that brought you as an artist?

Joanne- “Lifegivers” is my first independent recording from start to finish. Creative management of the actual recording allows me to have direct control in respect to the buyers and then reaching the fans that have purchased my recordings in the past. I am honored to have been involved with helping to bring about the first Native American Music Awards through Ellen Bello. I am much honored to hold 13 Nammys which is the most any Native artist has received to date. It is wonderful seeing so many artists involved now and many of them are independent.

NAT- I know that you care deeply about the women- their growth and positive movement forward and your newest CD, “Lifegivers” is a testament to your honoring the entire lifecycle that women evolve through. Tell us what motivated this recording?

Joanne- “Lifegivers” pays tribute to the life cycles of women and each song is meant to celebrate the cycle of life. It has been my great honor to be embraced by many women of the world! The Iroquois hold that every human being is a remarkable gift of life, experience and creativity from the spiritual world. Each being has specific abilities and talents which must be nurtured by the extended family. Communal stability and peace is realized when children are free to explore the world and apply their talents without coercion or qualification. I have written songs to my daughter Leah and to other women directly in respect to our love, peace, and the commitments we hold to our children by helping them realize their dreams.

Ever since my daughter Leah was born, I have been began singing to her. Now, she is a magnificent singer and has been blessed with a golden voice. Her first recording will be out this year. I am so very proud to be her mother. She is a Cum Laude Graduate of Syracuse University and has her Master’s Degree from Rochester Institute of Technology. (www.leahshenandoah.com)

NAT- What is your wish for future generations?

Joanne- My biggest wish is that all people will have clean air, water, and fertile land to grow their food, sing their songs and dance their dances. I hope that people awaken, stand up and be counted, and they will love their children so much that they will care for the earth and use their Creator-given gifts to do so. I will continue my efforts to bring music that lifts the spirit and heals the soul.

Purchase Joanne’s new CD “Lifegivers” at: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/joanneshenandoah

Follow her home website at: http://www.joanneshenandoah.com/

Extreme History Project in the news in Montana!

Some recent press on my client “The Extreme History Project” came in thanks to the Livingston Enterprise newspaper and Liz Kearney, the writer of the story. Congrats to a wonderful non-profit, making its way to the top!

Eastern Band of Cherokee Battle Runway Expansion

Eastern Band of Cherokee Battle Runway Expansion

By Shelley Bluejay Pierce

March 27, 2009

(nativetimes.com)

FRANKLIN, North Carolina- An ongoing conflict over the proposed expansion of a local airport runway has the Eastern Band of Cherokee at odds with the Macon County Airport Authority over the Iotla Valley historic site. Located in the Northern part of Macon County, the area in question is said to hold hundreds of Native American burials and evidence of human activities thought to be from around 2 A.D.

The land surrounding the airport once held the Cherokee Middle Town of Iotla, and is now known to be a significant historical site holding immense cultural and historical importance. Preliminary archaeological reports show that evidence of human activity remains intact beneath the surface including structural layouts and evidential remains.

The Eastern Band previously submitted guidelines for treatment of human remains and funerary objects uncovered at the site. Principal Chief, Michell Hicks, announced recently that the tribe had rejected a proposed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) meant to coordinate the proposed 600 ft. runway expansion. The Cherokee’s rejection was based on the MOA stating that recovery of artifacts and burials would be conducted on only 25 percent of area.

Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Russ Townsend, has stated earlier that the tribe recommends 100 percent artifact removal or abandoning the runway expansion entirely. When human remains are found during excavations, the Eastern Band prefers they be covered back in the ground and left alone.

Preliminary excavations at Iotla Valley have revealed structures and artifacts that would reveal much into the original communities’ activities. Opponents to the expansion have protested stating that as the airport runway project moves to completion, hundreds of graves would be permanently paved over and become a jet runway. Many have publicly decried this as an insult to human remains and burial grounds.

In an interview with Native American Times, Chief Hicks explained the Tribes’ firm stance on the issues saying, “I’ve been in office almost 6 years now and this is one of the first things I had to deal with. The requirements that we have set out there are obviously not satisfactory to the County and that’s their problem. We feel we are definitely right on this issue because there are several hundred graves on this site and it was a major village.”

Since 2000, the debates have continued with entrenched factions taking firm stances on how the Iotla Valley project should move forward, if allowed at all. Reasons for the expansion have appeared to change from the initial need for increasing safety at the airport, to being an aid for industrial business expansion and finally as a commercial economic boost to local businesses.

Chief Hicks told Native Times that he has no reason to doubt that economic impacts are included in the expansion plans due to the airport revenues impacting the Macon County economy. Hicks insisted however that the Tribe would stand firm on protecting their cultural heritage and the gravesites while also being mindful of the local economic needs in the region.

The State’s standard for recovering only 25 percent of the artifacts and burials has left many at odds with how to proceed at all. Chief Hicks told Native Times that, “I will never support moving a grave. When an individual is at their final resting spot, that is the way it was meant to be. The 25 percent rule is a level that is ‘acceptable’ by the State’s archaeologist.”

Chief Hicks explained that regardless of what the price tag may be for those funding the expansion project, complete studies on environmental impacts as well as archaeological reclamation efforts must be completed. The treatment of the Iotla site must consider the enormous cultural significance and treatment of burial grounds.

“We are going to do what we need to do to ensure that the right things are done for the right reasons. There are some steps in the runway project proposal required by the Federal guidelines that the County hasn’t even achieved yet,” replied Hicks.

Local residents whose peaceful community would be directly impacted by airport expansion commented in earlier press that they believe the project is geared at benefiting a few large corporations in the region as well as a minority of wealthy individuals who desire a larger airport close by. The airport would reap profits from increased fuel sales with more airliners landing at the airport if the expansion project moves forward.

Costs for the 25 percent archaeological recovery is estimated at $535,000 that would be paid for by funding from the State Department of Transportation’s Aviation Division. Dr. Michael Trinkley who performed the preliminary archaeological survey of the site in 2000 stated in previous reports and 100 percent recovery of artifacts may cost as much as $2 million.

Dr. Trinkley had also stated previously that potential industrial development was not a sufficient enough reason to destroy a historical and educational site of this magnitude adding that the handling of such a place is also an issue of human dignity.

The runway extension would require scrapping off topsoils and adding large amounts of compacted fill that would raise and level the runway. Archaeologists are concerned that this process would bring irreversible damage to human remains and artifacts.

As discussions continue between all sides in this issue, Chief Hicks repeated his bottom line message, telling Native American Times, “The Eastern Cherokee will stand firm on protecting their cultural heritage and the gravesites.”

Karuk Tribe battle against “Recreational Genocide”

Karuk Tribe battle against “Recreational Genocide”


March 14, 2009

CALIFORNIA- Over the past many months, new threats to the Klamath River salmon populations have prompted decisive action by the Karuk Tribe in California. Leaf Hillman, Vice-Chairman for the Tribe, told Native American Times in an interview this week that the recent attacks upon their ancestral fishing grounds are, “Nothing more than Recreational Genocide.”

Dams, drought, developmental expansion and environmental contaminations have plagued the local rivers and experts have said that California may be faced with the worst fisheries collapse in history.

In 2008, the Karuk Tribe, California Trout, and Friends of the North Fork formally petitioned California Fish and Game to restrict suction dredge mining. This controversial gold mining technique has brought strong criticism from local groups who demand that state agencies limit the recreational mining technique.

The Karuk, aided by support from the Tsi-Akim Maidu Tribe, the Sierra Fund, various sport-fishing groups, and several other conservation organizations are fighting to protect the endangered fish populations. Despite strong opposition by all of these groups, the agency decided not to act on the petition, allowing the recreational mining to continue.

As a result of the Karuk Tribe filing a lawsuit in 2006, the Fish and Game department is under a court order to re-write mining permit rules statewide. Due to extreme budget constraints in California, however, the agency has yet to act on the new mining rule mandate.

Recently, a recreational gold mining club, referring to themselves as, “The New 49ers,” legally challenged the Karuk Tribe’s right to fish at their ancestral fishing area, Ishi Pishi Falls. The hobbyist miners contend that this violation of the California state constitution, allows the Tribe to kill far more salmon than gold mining and other activities combined and that the commission has illegally granted fishing privileges to a specific group of people, specifically, the Karuks.

Dr. Craig Tucker, spokesman for the Karuk, told Native American Times, “Depending on how far the mining groups want to challenge the ancestral fishing rights, the tribe may seek federal fishing rights as a remedy. In the meantime, we are asking the Department of Fish and Game Director, Don Koch, to immediately implement emergency restrictions on where and when suction dredging can take place. This same authority is used to restrict recreational and commercial fishing when the fish runs are low.”

The groups banding together to protect the fish species in the Klamath River are battling against a mining process called ‘suction dredging.’ These dredges, powered by gas or diesel engines, use powerful vacuum hoses to pull the gravel and sediment from the bottom of riverbeds. This sediment material passes through a sluice box and allows the heavier gold particles to settle into a series of riffles. After the gold is removed, the balance of the dredged material is often dumped back into the river.

This dredging technique is known to redistribute toxic mercury into the environment. As stated in earlier press reports, Izzy Martin, Director of the Sierra Fund, explained, “There is a lot of mercury settled on the bottom of these rivers as the result of gold mining operations in the 1800’s. Dredging reintroduces mercury to the stream creating a toxic hazard for fish and people.”

Mercury contamination has become a global concern as it applies to fish species in that testing has revealed increasingly high levels of mercury in fish populations that may be harmful when consumed. Exposure to mercury can lead to mental retardation, birth defects and neurological damage.

Suction dredging has come increasingly under attack as declining numbers of fish species such as steelhead, Coho salmon, green sturgeon, and lamprey are reported. Damage to the spawning grounds for the fish and the environmental impacts to critical river habitats are drawing the varied groups, including the Karuk Tribe, to take strong action to stop recreational mining.

“Dredging disturbs spawning gravels and kills salmon eggs and immature lamprey that reside in the gravel for up to seven years before maturing. In a system like the Klamath where salmon can be stressed due to poor water quality, having a dredge running in the middle of the stream affects the fishes ability to reach their spawning grounds,” explained Toz Soto, lead fisheries biologist for the Karuk Tribe, in previous press reports.

California Fish and Game manages suction dredge permits and opponents to this type of mining state that the CFG sustains a significant financial loss since the mining fees fail to cover expenses. Figures given by these groups explain that this amounts to spending $1.25 million per year to subsidize the destruction of California fisheries by gold mining hobbyists.

Many of the recreational miners come into California from other states because the mining laws are less restrictive there.

The Karuk Tribe, indigenous to the Klamath River region, states that the threat to them is greater than ever. Vice-Chairman Hillman told Native American Times, “The first gold rush killed more than half our people in 10 years. This modern gold rush continues to kill our fish and our culture.”

Hillman added, “The salmon populations have been effected in so many ways from dams on the rivers to environmental damage and mining. As it is now, we cannot harvest enough fish for our ceremonies or to meet our families’ food needs. The recreational gold miners are just a repeat of what began over 100 years ago.”

Though the Karuk Tribe does harvest salmon for food and ceremonial use only, the Tribe rarely harvests more than 200 fish. Since the population of the Tribe is approximately 4,200 members, the amount of fish taken from Ishi Pishi Falls doesn’t begin to meet the needs of their members. With recent drought warnings across California being issued, the Karuk fear that the salmon numbers will be far less given the stresses all ready upon the fish.

In response to the newest attacks from the recreational gold miners, The New 49-ers, Leaf Hillman stated, “Our fishing grounds have been used by the Karuk long before this land was called ‘America.’ We still use traditional dip nets to fish for the migrating salmon and our way of catching them allows us to release the more endangered species back into the river so that their populations can increase.”

Vice Chairman Hillman concluded by telling Native American Times, “We will not be removed from our traditional fishing grounds in favor of these miners. Harvesting and consuming salmon is a fundamental part of our Karuk culture. The recreational miners now threaten more than the survival of fish, they threaten the culture of the Karuk.”

Indian Country suicides reach epidemic level

Indian Country suicides reach epidemic level

March 2009

Written by Shelley Bluejay Pierce (originally appeared in "Native American Times")

WASHINGTON – The Senate Indian Affairs Committee convened on Wednesday for a hearing that specifically addressed the crisis levels of suicides in Indian country. The hearing, called by Chairman Byron Dorgan, (D-ND) brought experts and community leadership together to discuss this urgent and increasing epidemic.

Dana Jetty, a 16-year-old North Dakota high school student, testifies March 5 before the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs about the loss of her 14-year-old sister this past November to suicide. Jetty said she and her family seek troubled Indian youth and tell them, “help is out there for you.” Photo courtesy of Senate Indian Affairs


The hearing assessed previously launched initiatives and discussed both the minor progress made in some communities while clarifying critical needs for developing resources to address suicides in total across Indian country.

Dr. R. Dale Walker, director of the One Sky Center at Oregon Health and Sciences University, and citizen of the Cherokee Nation explained that reservation communities lack mental health services.

“We need a systemic vision and inspiring leadership in order to bring together a concerted, coordinated effort. An emphasis in policy and investment on comprehensive vision, coordinated programming, and monitored and enforced collaboration from the highest levels to the front line would be helpful. We all feel a profound ignorance in the face of so shocking an event as suicide,” Dr. Walker stated in his submitted testimony.

American Indians and Alaska Natives have the highest suicide rates in the United States revealing a shocking 70 percent higher rate of suicide than in the general population. Native youth ages 15-24 have suicide rates more than three times higher than the national average. Across the Great Plains, this rate is even higher.

Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) told Native American Times, “We need to get to the root of the problem, which is poverty and a lack of hope and opportunity in too many Indian communities. As a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, I’m working hard to create jobs, and to improve education, health care and housing throughout Indian Country. This will restore hope and opportunity to Indian communities, and it will provide the tools these communities need to become self sufficient.”

Senator Tester has reason for concern when statistics reveal that Montana’s general population of 15-24 year olds have suicide rates that rank third highest in the country, behind Alaska and North Dakota. Addressing suicide is at the top of the list for many health organizations and Tribal representatives all across the Great Plains.

Robert Moore, elected Councilman of the Antelope Community, Rosebud Sioux Tribe of South Dakota spoke to the hearing participants as the representative for the Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Association. He reminded the participants of the obligations held in the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie that requires the U.S. Government to provide health care to the Tribes.

“Over the past several years in the Rosebud Sioux Tribe alone, we have witnessed dozens of suicides and hundreds of documented suicide attempts. The situation became so bad that in 2007 our Tribal President declared a State of Emergency in order to draw attention and resources to the problem,” explained Moore.

Senator Byron Dorgan stated that the lack of funding and ignoring treaty obligations was another part of the problem when addressing Native suicide rates at epidemic proportions.

“We need to go back and read the treaties that signed the federal government up for its obligations. Right now, health care rationing takes place on every Indian reservation in America. That is shameful,” Senator Dorgan reminded the hearing participants

“Forty percent of Indian health care needs go unmet,” stated Dorgan.

Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, who lost his father to suicide, also attended the hearing. Reid explained from his personal experience that, ”It’s important to break the silence about suicide, too often a taboo subject, and to talk openly about it.”

Perhaps the most moving testimony at the hearing came from Dana Jetty, a 16-year-old high school student from Fort Totten, North Dakota. A member of the Spirit Lake Tribe, Dakota Nation, Jetty recounted the painful events surrounding her 14-year-old sister, Jami, who committed suicide in November.

Jetty told hearing members that her mother had been concerned about her sisters’ well-being, and “did everything right” by taking her sister to doctors and counselors. Following the evaluations, each professional had diagnosed Jami as a “typical teenager.” Then, in November, Jami took her own life.

Dealing with young people on Ihanktonwan Makoce, the Yankton Sioux Reservation is the daily responsibility for Oitancan Zephier, Athletic Director, Assistant Varsity Boys Basketball coach and Physical Education teacher for K-12 students at Marty Indian School in Marty, SD.

Zephier told Native American Times that funding addresses only part of the needs in Indian country as it applies to suicide rates among young people. “We do need more funding. However, we need more community involvement in the teaching of our children. The more involved our communities are in accepting and praising our youth for their accomplishments, the stronger they will be.”

“In the old days, we had buffalo hunts and battles to prove ourselves and earn recognition. These days we have basketball, football, and other avenues to do that. Yet, in my own community, the people, although they love basketball, don’t see the children as winners. Therefore, the children don’t see themselves as winners and don’t have a winning attitude. They don’t develop the self-confidence needed to compete and become strong individuals,” Zephier explained.

“Elders, parents, teachers, and leaders need to promote healthy lifestyles and extra curricular activities. The funding needs to include such things. The federal or state government will give us millions of dollars for a program targeting children with special needs. They won’t give money to prevent those children from becoming problems in society,” Zephier said.

Robert G. McSwain, Director, Indian Health Services, in written testimony provided for the suicide hearing explained that, “Traditional knowledge, along with the role of Elders and spiritual leaders, needs to be respected and validated for the important role they play in healing and wellness. Understanding and decreasing suicide in our communities will require the best holistically and culturally sensitive, collaborative efforts our communities and the agencies that serve them can bring together. We will strive to bridge concepts between American Indian and Alaska Native communities, government agencies, and non-profit organizations in order to effectively prevent suicide.”

Though many recommendations, successes and failures were discussed during the Senate Indian Affairs hearing on suicide, the clearest and most heart-felt plea for action came from Dana Jetty in testifying about her younger sister, Jami.

Jetty left the committee members with her own words to serve as guidance to the leadership by saying, “I ask that you support suicide prevention programs in our tribal communities and I ask that when you have your discussions on the issue of suicide, you remember my sister. She was 14-years-old. She was a beautiful, outgoing teenager with her whole life ahead of her. She was my sister and she is what suicide looks like in Indian Country.”

Life or Death- the Battle for an Education in Attawapiskat

“Residents of Attawapiskat rally in support of a new school needed for their community”

(photo courtesy of http://www.attawapiskat-school.com/)

by Shelley Bluejay Pierce

January 29, 2009

Most parents across Canada and the USA do not have to battle a national political system to gain access to education for their children. Most human beings are not subjected to years of exposure to toxic chemicals with little to no recognition of this fact. This is not the case for the members of the Omushkego James Bay Cree in Attawapiskat.

The elementary school in Attawapiskat, built in the 1970s, was found to have a major environmental contamination issue. Leaking diesel fuel deposited an estimated 50,000 liters of toxic waste into the soils and over 20 years, the dangerous health hazard forced the school’s closure. Temporary units replaced the original school building but they were placed near the same nightmarish toxic dump.

Political debates ensued with all sides in conflict over how best to address this life-threatening situation at Attawapiskat. Have the health effects suffered by students and teachers truly been assessed? Have the residents of Attawapiskat gained environmental impact assistance for their entire community now dwelling atop a chemical-cocktail pool?

Hardly.

After the fuel spill, teachers and students began complaining of nausea, headaches, and other symptoms of chemical exposure. According to several studies done by the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry, (ATSDR) as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA) fumes off-gassed by petroleum fuel products may include but are not limited to Benzene, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), Xylene, and Styrene. PCBs may cause genetic mutations, cancers, birth defects, endocrine disruptions, still births, nervous disorders, and liver disease. PCBs are ranked as one of the most hazardous compounds (worst 10%) to ecosystems and human health as is Benzene.

Why then, has an entire community been left to bear the weight of this contamination? Where are the national agencies and leaders when we have an entire community being poisoned and the only response given is a turned head?

Leaders in Attawapiskat worked diligently with previous INAC leadership to develop a loan program for the new school and an agreement had been met with both sides bearing costs for the new school. However, with the change in political leadership, the loan agreement vanished. According to press reports, Minister Chuck Strahl cancelled plans to rebuild the school stating that funds simply weren’t available. Mr. Strahl said the school wasn’t “high on the ministry’s priority list as projects in other communities involved greater health and safety risks.”
Additional press reports from that time quote MP Charlie Angus (NDP-Timmins-James Bay) as saying that the former school at Attawapiskat is “one of the largest toxic sites in Ontario.”

This past month, school sessions at Attawapiskat were cancelled due to the extreme cold. The temporary buildings have leaking or inoperable windows and doors which cannot keep the rooms warm enough when the temperatures are 40 below zero outside. Parents in the community have been holding their children back from attending school, or are seeking education in other communities.

How difficult is this scenario if you consider alternative placement for your school-aged children? Most people cannot begin to fathom the remoteness of Attawapiskat.
Located several hundred airmiles out of Toronto, travel to Attawapiskat is limited to airflights using a gravel runway that was constructed in the 1970s. During the winter months, an ice road connects the community to other coastal towns on the James Bay coast. These winter roads are temporary and in warm months, travel and shipping of needed supplies come by boat. This location is not conducive to simply sending your child to a different school in a “better” neighborhood.

Is this “remoteness” a contributing factor for why the environmental clean up has taken so long? Or is it yet another worn-out excuse for why the building of a new school is so difficult in Attawapiskat? The children of Attawapiskat are the ones left to suffer the consequences of bureaucratic bickering and governing red tape.

The children and local leaders for Attawapiskat are not sitting back and waiting to be heard by the powers-that-be however. A truly phenominal movement is occurring there with other communities rallying support behind the students who are demanding a proper and safe education.

We may look at the requests from certain members of our communities and form the opinion that this particular group is only desiring “hand-outs and freebies.” Frequently, those asking for the assistance are lumped into a pitiful pool of wellfare-state-hopeless cases so that we may happily go upon our merry way knowing that we have assigned these people a category and now we are free to ignore the matter.

Simple solution, yes?

Hardly. The children of Attawapiskat are the very people who will shatter your preconceived notions about a group of people asking for the same rights given to every other human being in Canada. They have organized letter writing campaigns to the heads of state. Rallies and presentations abound and though key poliitcal leaders have been invited to these events, they have not attended. This is a community of hundreds of students, parents, teachers and school officials that are fighting for the basic right to education for future generations.

“EDUCATION IS A HUMAN RIGHT” was the title given to a recent conference held in Toronto. The focus was the ongoing failure of the Canadian federal government to provide adequate school resources for the children of the isolated community of Attawapiskat.

Complaining about Native people not taking responsibility for themselves is one publically bantered excuse for not assisting the indigenous people of Canada with funding. If we need but one shining star example of when this outdated rhetoric needs to be placed in the nearest waste can? We only need look to the residents of Attawapiskat.

With that thought in mind, the United States of America heralds one of the most exceptional days in our history and the inauguration of the first African American President is a reality. Barrack Obama credits his success to strong family support for a quality education. We hear a man who staunchly supports the rights of every human being to the same opportunities regardless of race, age or sex.

People around the world believed that this history-making event would never happen inside the USA. Change in mindsets across all political and social sectors has been ushered in with this new President. We cannot use the same excuses or ignore the rights and needs of our communities if we, as a united people of this world, believe in a better tomorrow.

If diamond mining companies can move heavy equipment into Attawapiskat to find diamonds? Then the Canadian government can move the needed equipment in to remove toxic chemicals out of Attawapiskat. There are no valid excuses left for why a school cannot be built for an amazing group of committed students who value their futures and simply desire an education.

American citizens rose up against an entire regime inside the Washington D.C. elite. Perhaps, the citizens of Canada need to unite as well, and make the changes necessary inside their own homelands to assure the well being of ALL Canadians.

Perhaps one necessary first step in sending that message to Canadian leadership is by standing beside a group of brave, committed young people in Attawapiskat. When you truly involve yourself in the movement these young people have created, only one now famous phrase comes to mind….
“YES, WE CAN!”

If it worked for Barrack Obama and the citizens of the USA? It can work for the children of Attawapiskat.



Links to the campaign to help Attawapiskat:

Sign the "First Nations Children of Attawapiskat Fight for a School" petition to Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl at http://www.petitiononline.com/FNCA08/petition-sign.html

Shannen Koostachin, student at Attawapiskat, speaking at press conference in Toronto: http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=shXKTTKsZt0

Serena Koostachin speaking at press conference: http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=w17r5atzNUI
Facebook site “Attawapiskat Children Fight for a School”: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8904558354

A fight for a new school:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzLMuW1N50I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY4ZNuXd5S0&NR=1

Forgotten Children of Attawapiskat - Canada
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKwBImQMc4M&NR=1

Attawapiskat students go to Ottawa Capital City!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPAfgsKefDg&feature=related

Attawapiskat student is nominated for Children's UN Peace Award
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbhbJ0_RDX8&feature=related

Nominee student Shannon made this video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJNpMHyZPus&feature=related

Cree community unite and standing together in Fort Albany, James Bay in UNITY:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3_HDffHJzg&feature=related