Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence says the federal government should worry more about helping her people than placing blame for the housing crisis plaguing her community.
Spence, in a release issued on Friday, said she’s incensed the Conservative government thought it necessary to bring in a third-party manager to handle the situation, which has seen several community members living in tents as winter sets in over Northern Ontario.
Calling it a ‘political deflection,’ Spence said Attawapiskat’s financial situation is no different than First Nations across Ontario, and that third-party managers in those communities have done little or nothing to improve conditions there.
Earlier this week the Conservatives, through the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, decided a third-party manager was necessary after the housing crisis began drawing national attention. Following that national exposure it was learned the feds have sent more than $90 million to the community since 2005.
Spence, who learned of the government’s decision when interrupted during an emergency planning meeting, said they were dealing with the crisis already and don’t need fiscal intervention.
What they need is immediate assistance.
“It is incredible that the Harper government’s decision is that instead of offering aide and assistance to Canada’s First Peoples, their solution is to blame the victim and that the community is guilty and deserving of their fate.”
Spence also vehemently denied media reports and political speculation that federal moneys given to Attawapiskat First Nation equate to $50,000 per resident.
It’s more like $10,000, she said, stating that housing and minor capital represents a mere 6.5 per cent of the $94 million distributed to the reserve since 2005.
“It is used to provide specific services, and programs for the benefit and use of on-reserve members,” Spence said. “This is based on statistics maintained by the Indian Registry maintained by Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.
Spence said Attawapiskat officials have completed the necessary reporting requirements, including unqualified annual audits, which have been accepted by the federal government.
“If the government of Canada wishes to re-examine the audits previously accepted by the department, the First Nation will welcome and co-operate fully with the exercise, and the true costs to operate in a remote, northern environment will be quantified.”
Spence went on to say the majority of the $94 million in question did not remain in the community, but was spent elsewhere on goods and services, helping support businesses in Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins and Toronto, to name just a few communities.
“The majority of these first are non-Aboriginal taxpayers,” she said.
Spence added that despite Ontario’s natural resource boon, her community has been left behind while corporations and other communities benefit.
“While they reap the riches, my people shiver in cold shacks, and are becoming increasingly ill, while precious diamonds from my land grace the fingers and necklaces of Hollywood celebrities and the mace of the Ontario Legislature,” Spence said.
“My people deserve dignity, humane living conditions. For that our community asked for the assistance from my fellow citizens. For our simple request for human dignity, the government’s decision was to impose a colonial Indian agent.”
