| Attawapiskat First Nation | |||
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| Attawapiskat Settlement between Attawapiskat River and James Bay | |||
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Attawapiskat
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| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | Canada | ||
| Province | Ontario | ||
| Established | 1950 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | First Nations Council | ||
| • Chief | Theresa Hall | ||
| • Deputy Chief | Theresa Spence | ||
| Area | |||
| • Land | 1.19 km2 (0.5 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2010)[1] | |||
| • Total | 1,929 | ||
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) | ||
| Postal code span | P0L 1A0 | ||
| Area code(s) | 705 | ||
| Website | Attawapiskat - Official Website | ||
Attawapiskat First Nation (Cree: ᐋᐦᑕᐙᐱᐢᑲᑐᐎ ᐃᓂᓂᐧᐊᐠ (Āhtawāpiskatowi ininiwak, "People of the parting of the rocks"); unpointed: ᐊᑕᐗᐱᐢᑲᑐᐎ ᐃᓂᓂᐧᐊᐠ) is an isolated First Nation located in Kenora District in northern Ontario, Canada, at the mouth of the Attawapiskat River at James Bay. The traditional territory of the Attawapiskat First Nation extends beyond their reserve up the coast to Hudson Bay and hundreds of kilometres inland along river tributaries.[2]
There are over 2800 members of Attawapiskat First Nation, but the local on-reserve population was 1,929[2] in 2010. More than a third of the members of the Attawapiskat First Nation who still live on their home reserve are under the age of 19 and three-quarters are under the age of 35 (2010-12-03).[1]
Almost all of the Aboriginal population of Attawapiskat spoke Cree (n-dialect) as their first language [3] Many elders understand very little English; they speak Cree and other Aboriginal languages.[4]
Attawapiskat is home to the Mushkego or Omushkego James Bay Cree. The location of the town has been a gathering place for local Native people for centuries. Originally it was a seasonal camp that was visited in the spring and summer to take advantage of the prime fishing on one of the main drainage rivers of James Bay. Historically, in the wintertime, families left the location to live in other trapping, hunting and gathering sites along the coast, inland or on Akamiski Island.
Attawapiskat was entered into official treaty with Canada and the Province of Ontario relatively late, in 1930 (Treaty 9 adhesion), and the majority of the First Nation members moved to the community as late as the mid-1960s.[5] Traditional structures, thinking and interpretation of life were maintained in a deeper fashion than for many less isolated First Nations communities. Some elders still lead a traditional life on the land, moving into the community only over Christmas season [6] Some families, although having their home base in the community, are still using the land extensively as their economic and social basis. The vast majority of community members are involved in the yearly goose hunts in fall and spring.[7] Therefore there is still an awareness of traditional way of life among most of the Attawapiskat First Nation members.
Attawapiskat has grown from a settlement of temporary dwellings, such as tents and teepees, in the 1950s to a community with permanent buildings, which were constructed in the late 1960s and early 1970s.[8] Traditional harvesters from Attawapiskat First Nation continue to regularly hunt caribou, goose, and fish along the Attawapiskat River, while tending trap lines throughout the region (Berkes et al., 1994; Whiteman, 2004). This goes beyond subsistence hunting and fishing. It comprises an important part of local culture and identity (Inf. #2, 4).[2]
Attawapiskat was officially recognized by the Government of Canada under the Treaty 9 document. Although the original document was signed in the years 1905 and 1906, it only included the communities south of the Albany River in northern Ontario. Attawapiskat was included when adhesions were made to the treaty to include the communities north of the Albany River. Attawapiskat was numbered as Indian Reserve 91 as part of Treaty 9. The treaty set aside reserve lands on the Ekwan River, a parallel river north of the Attawapiskat River that drains into James Bay. In time, it was decided by local leaders to establish the community in its present location on the Attawapiskat River instead. This was due to an existing trading post and better access to James Bay shipping routes from this location. The new reserve was then numbered Indian Reserve 91A.
Local leadership is an elected government of a chief, a deputy chief and twelve councilors who serve three year terms. The current chief (2008) is Theresa Hall. The current deputy chief is Theresa Spence (2008). The band council is currently under Third Party Intervention.[9][10]
Attawapiskat First Nation is part of the regional Mushkegowuck Council, an Aboriginal political group representing the James Bay Mushkego or Omushkego Cree. The community and the Council are together represented under the Political Territorial Organization, Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN), which represents 50 First Nations in Northern Ontario. NAN is the representative political body for the First Nations that are part of Treaty 9. The current Grand Chief of Nishnabwe-Aski Nation is Stan Beardy. The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is the national representative organization of the 630 First Nation's communities in Canada.[11]
The federal and provincial representation of reserve is within the riding of Timmins—James Bay. The current Provincial Member of Parliament (MPP) is Gilles Bisson (NDP) and federal member of parliament is Charlie Angus (NDP).
Travel to Attawapiskat is accessible through Attawapiskat Airport year-round. The airport was opened in 1974, but air service in the community began in 1957.[12] The airport is equipped with a gravel runway that was constructed in the 1970s. During the winter months, a "Winter Road" is constructed that connects the community to other coastal towns on the James Bay coast. Winter roads are temporary routes of transportation that are constructed mostly in January, February, March and even April throughout remote parts of Northern Ontario. The seasonal James Bay winter road connects the communities of Attawapiskat, Kashechewan, Fort Albany, Moosonee and Moose Factory. James Bay Winter Road operated/managed by Kimesskanemenow Corporation. From Moosonee the Ontario Northland Railway runs south to Cochrane.
Residents of several remote coastal communities often take advantage of the winter road to purchase goods and perishables, by making long trips to Moosonee. When the winter road is in good condition, the trip can take five hours to Kashechewan, one way. During the period when the winter road is open, certain community band members offer taxi services, shuttling between the communities. James Bay Winter Road is available in the winter months barring bad weather such as blizzards and heavy snowfalls, at which point access will be closed until the road is inspected and snow is plowed away.
Roads in town are dirt or gravel. The first roads were built by province in 1956.[12] Ontario Ministry of Transportation has an office and representative in the town.[8]
Circa 2007, Thunder Airlines supplanted Air Creebec, as supplier of postal services and for shipping goods. Heavier goods are shipped into the community via a seasonal barge from Moosonee.
Attawapiskat is policed by the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service, an Aboriginal based service that replaced the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). This change took place in the early 1990s in most remote northern communities in Ontario. The community is served by the Attawapiskat detachment in the Northeast Region.
Basic health services are provided by the Attawapiskat Wing of James Bay General Hospital (main wing in Moosonee, Ontario), a provincial hospital which provides sixteen beds for pediatric, medical/surgical and chronic care. The hospital replaced St. Mary's Hospital, established by the Catholic Church in 1951,[12] in 1969.[13] Health services are provided by a nursing staff. However, like other remote communities on the James Bay coast, there is no doctor in the community. A physician from Weeneebayko General Hospital in Moose Factory visits Attawapiskat, as well as other communities along the coast on a regular basis during each month.[14] Patients with serious injuries, or those requiring surgery, must be transported to a larger centre for treatment. These emergency patients are transported by air ambulance airplane or helicopter to medical centres in Moose Factory, Timmins, Sudbury or Kingston, depending on their condition.
James Bay General Hospital is being merged with federally operated Weeneebayko General Hospital to improve health care services in the region.[15]
Attawapiskat Health Clinic provides additional outpatient health care services to the community and located across the street from James Bay Hospital Attawapiskat Wing.
Pre-hospital medical care is provided by James Bay Ambulance Service, a provincial service run by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. The community is served by one EMS base (#02) with two ambulances (one primary and one reserve) for the entire community.[16] There are two primary health care paramedics stationed in this community at all hourdand every day of the week.[17]
Attawapiskat Fire Rescue consists of a fire department of nine (one fire chief, one lieutenant and seven firefighters) at one station with one pumper.[18]
Maytawaywin Authority provides recreational services at their community centre and sportsplex:
St. Ignatius Catholic Church built in 1935 was the only place of worship in Attawapiskat for many years.[12] It also maintains the local cemetery. Two other places of worship are two Pentecostal places of worship.[8]
Primary school students attended J.R. Nakogee School which was constructed in the 1970s and opened in 1976.[12] It is not the first school in town; Attawapiskat School opened in 1953.[12] J.R. Nakogee School was closed on May 11, 2000 because of site contamination and possible health problems that were attributed to a massive diesel leak at the site that occurred in 1979.[19] The students and staff have since been in portables. Secondary school students attend Vezina Secondary School which was established in the early 1990s with additions built in following years. The secondary school was founded by John B. Nakogee in 1991 and it was named after Father Rodigue Vezina, a local Catholic priest who has served the community since 1975.[20]
Since the Attawapiskat First Nation was forced to close its elementary school in May 2000, the community’s students have been receiving their elementary education in a series of portables. Money that had been allocated for the renovation of the deteriorating physical condition of the 25 year old frame construction school was used to fund the construction of eight double and three single portable classrooms. The facilities are basic with none of the supplementary resources schools in other parts of the province have available. Parents in the community are now starting to hold their children back from attending the school, or are seeking education in other communities. The situation is deteriorating since quality education cannot be offered in the present facilities.
A study by B. H. Martin indicates that the total area available for instruction is only about 50% of the space allocated in Indian Affairs' School Space Accommodation Standards.
A new school was promised by the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs in the summer of 2000, but no action has been taken. The Education Authority’s Chairman summed up the community’s plight by saying; "We just want what any other parent would want for their children - a safe school." [12]
| Channel | TV Info |
|---|---|
| 21 | History Channel |
| 26 | Teletoon (Canadian TV channel) |
| 28 | Attawapiskat Development Corporation |
| 34 | The Weather Network |
| 41 | CTV News |
| 46 | Treehouse TV |
Note: Many channels from TV shows public to community and up to 48 TV Channels
Local television cable services is provided by Attawapiskat Development Corporation.
The cost of living in Attawapiskat is quite high, due to the expense of shipping goods to the community.
Local stores include the Northern Store and M. Koostachin & Sons (1976). More than a third of the residents occasionally place orders for perishables and other goods (except alcohol) which are shipped in via aircraft from Timmins, and for which the residents make prepayments with money orders. When their orders arrive, the residents have to pick them up at the local airport. For example, 6 apples and 4 small bottles of juice cost $23.50 (2011-12-01).
The price of gasoline is considerably higher than the provincial average. When the fuel is shipped via winter road, the prices of gasoline and propane tend to drop slightly.
It costs $250,000 to build a house in Attawapiskat and only the federal government can build houses on the reserve.[21] The cost of renovating one condemned house is $50,000-$100,000.[22] A majority of the community members have updated their heating needs, while many households still use dry firewood. Firewood in Attawapiskat costs $150 and $200 a cord, and a cord will heat a winter-bound tent for only a week, or at most 10 days. [23]
Economic and employment opportunities are limited to work within the community, mainly service sector or for the local band council. There are only a handful of businesses in the town.
From 1927 to 1960, the Catholic Church's Oblate Mission operated a sawmill.[12]
In 1901 the Hudson's Bay Company established a trading post and store in town. The Northern Store took over the operations from HBC in the 1980s.
De Beers Canada officially opened Victor Diamond Mine, Ontario's first ever diamond mine July 26, 2008. De Beers has spent approximately $1 billion on construction of the mine. It is located 90 kilometres (56 mi) west of the settlement of Attawapiskat on Attawapiskat First Nation traditional land. An Impact-Benefit Agreement (IBA) was signed with community leaders in 2005[25] to be later protested by the community through demonstrations and road blocks.[26] De Beers has negotiated a lease area. Although it is acknowledged that the mine is on Attawapiskat traditional land, the royalties from Victor Mine, flow to the Province of Ontario, not Attawapiskat First Nation.[27] They have 500 full-time employees with 100 from Attawapiskat First Nation. De Beers also employs Attawapiskat First Nation in winter road construction.
On October 28, 2011 the Attawapiskat First Nations leadership declared a state of emergency in response to dropping temperatures, and the resulting health and safety concerns due to inadaquete housing. Many residents were still living in tents, trailers and temporary shelters, and many residences and public buildings lacked running water and electricity. In one case, children, the elderly, and the ill were sleeping in rooms just a few feet away from a 2009 raw sewage spill that had not been adequately cleaned.[28][29]
Attawapiskat residents were evacuated during flood conditions in May 2009. The sole elementary school building, a state of the art construction in 1976, was closed in 2000 because of toxic fumes from a 1978 diesel spill that seeped into the ground underneath the school.
Along with 300 houses, there are 5 tents and 17 sheds used for housing. Trailers that house 90 people cost $100,000 a year to maintain.[30]
Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan claimed that officials in his department were unaware of Attawapiskat's housing problems until Oct. 28, 2011, despite having visited the community many times that year.[31]
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