“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
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
