Giford island first nations

[peapod]

What the hell is going on with these water conditions for native people, how long do you think the government can hide how these people are being treated :twisted:



There is a First Nations community off the northern tip of Vancouver Island that has a water contamination crisis – one that's lasted for nine years since its water purification system broke down.


Gilford Island

Like the Ontario community of Kashechewan, the Kwicksutaineuk First Nation's water is undrinkable. Last year, community leaders sounded alarm bells about the problem. There were promises of help, but so far there's no action.


"We shouldn't be doing that. We should be on our own system. But what can you do? The wells got salt in them," says resident David Johnson.
The overly salty water causes rashes and rusts water tanks, but the problems go beyond water to the houses themselves. The salty water has rusted all the fittings. Now there's mould throughout the houses. All 26 houses in Kwicksutaineuk First Nation are condemned.

FROM SEPT 24, 2004: Mouldy homes falling apart on B.C. reserve
Resident, Beatrice Smith, puffs an inhaler six times a day. Smith says she's had a parade of officials inspecting her home. "We've had numerous people come in. I think my house has been assessed 20 times now," she says.

Last year the head of the Assembly of First Nations toured the village and declared it a community in crisis. Shortly after the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs [DIAND] pledged to help.


Bob Chamberlain

But, a year later, Chief Bob Chamberlain says he's bogged down in red tape, and conditions are getting worse.

Chamberlain says it will be at least a year before they will break ground for a new water system or new homes.

"I've had community members want us to invite the minister of Indian Affairs and all the bureaucrats we face to come and live here for a month. Come and have showers in the salt water. Come and live in the mould homes. Maybe, maybe they'd be able to meet our needs then."

But DIAND officials promise no quick fix. "Unfortunately, water treatment, chemistry processes and engineering is very complex and there is no silver bullet," says spokesman Ken McDonald.

The people of the Kwicksutaineuk First Nation say they don't want to leave. They want the problem fixed. And they just don't want to be sick anymore.


http://vancouver.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=bc_water20051031

 

[no1important]

The problem is no one wants to take responsibility for the absurd inhumane condions the majority of the first nations live in. It is disguesting how all level of governments and corperations ignore, use and abuse the first nation population of this country. It has been going on for far too long and it is time for politicians to get off their asses and do something about this. But yet all they do is talk talk talk and pose for photo ops all the while nothing gets done.

I believe the majority of the population either is ill informed or does not care about how bad the first nations of this country have it, yet they bitch and whine when the first nations take a few fish from the Fraser river, don't have to buy hunting or fishing licenses, get tobacco and recieve fuel tax free (so they should,we stole it), access to free education etc.. Like wtf is that? Pretty selfish if you ask me. The average Canadian citizen does not know what real poverty and 3rd world (sometimes worse) are. They just bitch because they do not get the same.

I think their should be a third party to manage and see that the money is going toward where it should like housing, education, health care, employment services, etc.

I also think since global warming seems to be affecting the ice floes up North and since the costs of goods are criminally priced Ottawa should use the military to deliver food at the same prices we pay plus 5% surcharge for delivery. 52.49 for a package of cool aid that makes 25 litres? come on, that is extortion. After all they are taxpayers and citizens of Canada as well. See other prices in the "Shocking pictures from Nunavut" thread.

I think it is time we all rise up and see that land claims are settled forthwith and natives compensated for past dirty deeds like being forced from their homes, land stolen , physical and sexual abuse that occured because the government removed them from homes, not to mention the emotional abuse that has caused some of them.

The governments stole their land and way of life, flooded their lands for dams and hydro electricity that benifits us all, let oil, mining and forestry companies cut down trees and run roughshod over their traditional lands and did they recieve any compensation for this? very little.

As compassionate human beings we need to fix the crimes against humanity the first nations have suffered and still suffer, and it is time they get their land with mineral rights back. The reason they have not is because governments and corperations will lose too much money from oil, forestry, mining and hydroelecticity. But guess what? Make a deal with the first nations, as I am sure they would be willing to sell it to us at a fair price. After all it is theirs to sell, not ours. We stole it and more than that we treated them very cruelly.

We seem to welcome people from other countries and other races into Canada, but yet we treat the first nations so poorly?

As a good Canadian, how can you or I or anyone let this racism and abuse continue?

 

[Ocean Breeze]

We seem to welcome people from other countries and other races into Canada, but yet we treat the first nations so poorly?

beats me. To top it off ......"we" have fostered a certain culture within the First Nations. Instead of promoting education, and motivate them to self improve & excell / with excellent health care etc......we seem to foster a certain passivity.

 

[no1important]

RE: Giford island first n

Aboriginals promised $5 billion to solve poverty

A teaser:

The First Ministers' Summit on aboriginal issues has wrapped up with Prime Minister Paul Martin and provincial leaders promising a "detailed plan for action" to improve the lives of aboriginal Canadians.

The two-day conference in Kelowna, B.C. ended with the federal government committing to a 10-year plan that pledges $5.1 billion over the next five years.

Well I hope Natives get this money and things that were worked out in this deal come to fruitation. Personally I think it should of been 12 billion instead of 5 billion.

 

[MMMike]

Re: RE: Giford island first n

Aboriginals promised $5 billion to solve poverty

A teaser:

The First Ministers' Summit on aboriginal issues has wrapped up with Prime Minister Paul Martin and provincial leaders promising a "detailed plan for action" to improve the lives of aboriginal Canadians.

The two-day conference in Kelowna, B.C. ended with the federal government committing to a 10-year plan that pledges $5.1 billion over the next five years.

Well I hope Natives get this money and things that were worked out in this deal come to fruitation. Personally I think it should of been 12 billion instead of 5 billion.

$5 billion, $12 billion... doesn't matter. The money will be spent, the government will pat themselves on the back, and it won't make one whit of difference in the lives of most first nations people.