The UN official tasked with monitoring the situation of Indigenous peoples around the world has contacted the Canadian government to express “deep concern” over the housing crisis in Attawapiskat, a northern Ontario First Nations community on the shore of James Bay.
While Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan isn’t sure when, if ever, he’ll be able to go to Attawapiskat to see the conditions there for himself, Liberal MP Carolyn Bennett says the minister can join her their weekend.
Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence says she’s going to court against Aboriginal Affairs to challenge the department’s decision to impose a third-party manager on her community.
-Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan is expected to unveil a bill Tuesday to create new term limits for band councils and set penalties for breaking election rules, APTN National News has learned.
Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence says the outside consultant appointed by Aboriginal Affairs to take over the band’s finances has been kicked out of the community and won’t be allowed back in.
Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan said Attawapiskat residents living in squalid housing conditions will be able to move into temporary accommodations in the community’s sportsplex and healing centre.
It’s -20C in Attawapiskat First Nation.
Federal Aboriginal Affairs officials travelled to Attawapiskat at least 10 times this year, including three times in October, but it appears none of these visits triggered any concerns with the department about the state of housing on the reserve.
Kathleen Wynne is the minister of Aboriginal Affairs for the province of Ontario. Wynne said she’s reached out to her federal counterpart, Aboriginal Affairs John Duncan, who is not returning her calls.
