NESKANTAGA YOUTH PLAN RALLIES DEMANDING EQUAL RIGHTS AND DIGNITY AMID COMMUNITY’S WATER CRISIS
MEDIA RELEASE
Tuesday, November 10, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NESKANTAGA YOUTH PLAN RALLIES DEMANDING EQUAL RIGTHS AND DIGNITY AMID COMMUNITY’S WATER CRISIS
THUNDER BAY, ON: Children and youth from Neskantaga First Nation are raising their voices and demanding swift action from the Canadian and Ontario governments, as well as the contractors and project management teams, to get safe, clean water flowing in the community. For over 25-years the community has been on a boil water advisory. 21-days ago the community was evacuated due to health concerns related to having no flowing water at all in the community, during a global pandemic.
Why have the resources not been made available to complete the new water treatment plant? What is the hold up on getting clean water to the community? Will the children be expected to return to a community that remains under Boil Water Advisory?
The children and youth are demanding accountability. They want to know why they don’t have clean water yet and how this has been allowed to continue for 25-years. The youth are also having difficulty grappling with the fact that the province of Ontario continues to absolve itself of responsibility for clean drinking water on First Nations.
On November 6, 2020, 9-year-old Bedahbun, one of the children who will be attending the rallies released a video outlining her thoughts on the current conditions. She said, “I feel like we don’t exist… that nobody would care… because we are suffering to get clean water.” She called on the government officials to “go live there and see how it feels getting no clean water… get the water fixed!”
The rallies are organized with the support of Neskantaga First Nation Chief and Council and the Neskantaga First Nation Education Authority.
Members of the media are cordially invited to attend.
Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2020
Location #1: Colliers Project Leaders – 29 Cumberland Street South, Thunder Bay
Location #2: Indigenous Affairs Canada – 100 Anemki Place, Fort William First Nation
Times: Location #1 – 1:00 pm and Location #2 – 2:30 pm
For more information, please contact: Monika Lucas at 807-708-1516
Neskantaga First Nation is remote Oji-Cree community situated in Northern Ontario on Attawapiskat Lake, 430 kms north east of Thunder Bay, Ontario.