Time for a ‘re-set’ of aboriginal relations with federal Crown: grand chief
Posted December 1, 2011 4:46 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The grand chief of the Assembly of First Nations says it’s time for a reset on aboriginal relations with the federal Crown.
Shawn Atleo met with Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Ottawa as an internationally embarrassing crisis unfolds on a northern Ontario First Nations reserve.
With the International Red Cross called in to help alleviate a critical housing emergency in Attawapiskat, fingers of blame are being pointed in every direction.
New Democrats are accusing the federal government of wilful ignorance while Conservatives say they acted as soon as they were told.
For the second day in a row, the prime minister told the House of Commons that Attawapiskat needs more infrastructure and services — but also better management.
Yet the band was already being co-managed by an outside party before the latest crisis, prompting critics to accuse the Conservative government of blaming the victim.
NDP critic Charlie Angus claims Attawapiskat residents are now reporting that their welfare payments are being cut off.
With Attawapiskat suddenly in the media spotlight this week, the government effectively took over running the community — a full month after the reserve on James Bay declared a state of emergency.
New Democrats are now accusing John Duncan, minister of northern and Indian affairs, of “punishing an impoverished little community for making him look bad.”
And at Queen’s Park in Toronto, Ontario’s provincial minister of aboriginal affairs said pointing fingers and laying blame in Attawapiskat is the “easy way out.”
