Thanks to the hard work of our employees and the collaboration of our many partners, we have successfully implemented many different programs, ranging from the training of Crees for skilled jobs with Hydro-Quebec (over 50 Crees now occupy permanent positions), the rejuvenation of Cree community and family fisheries, the support of numerous cultural activities including summer gatherings and the enhancement of goose hunting facilities. This is not to mention the hundreds of kilometres of snowmobile and ATV trails already built throughout Eeyou Istchee.
On its 20th anniversary, Niskamoon Corporation salutes The Nation magazine and wishes it many more years of success and positive change.
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In Brief
State of emergency declared in Attawapiskat
The housing crisis in Attawapiskat, Ontario on the western coast of James Bay, has reached such epic proportions that a state of emergency has been declared.
As the snow has begun to settle in the Cree community of about 2000, hundreds of band members are living in Third-World-like accommodations with little or no protection from the elements, let alone plumbing.
As Charlie Angus, NDP MP for Timmins-James Bay, made his way to the fly-in-only community on November 7, he emailed the Nation a brief description of what he saw firsthand:
“The community has hundreds of homeless people. More than 90 are living in one temporary trailer unit that has only six washrooms. We have families living in tents, sheds and makeshift cabins. Many people have no access to running water or toilets. They are relying on buckets that are dumped in the ditches in front of the homes.”
According to the CBC, an Attawapiskat community doctor has stated that the intense overcrowding in the available shelters is causing a number of health problems for the residents.
Dr. John Waddell told the CBC on November 10 that not only are people in Attawapiskat getting lice, scabies and impetigo as a result of the overcrowding issue, but viral infections are rampant.
At press time, the federal government and Ontario had yet to comment or announce any strategy to address Attawapiskat’s latest crisis.
