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Attawapiskat First Nation

Coordinates: 52°55′59″N 82°24′00″W / 52.93306°N 82.40000°W / 52.93306; -82.40000
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Attawapiskat First Nation is an isolated community located in Northern Ontario, Canada, at the mouth of the Attawapiskat River which drains into James Bay. According to Indian and Northern Affairs Canada statistics, there were 2,800 registered members of the Attawapiskat First Nation. In 2001 the on reserve population of Attawapiskat was approximately 1300.

Historical

Attawapiskat is home to the Mushkego or Omushkego James Bay Cree. The location of the town has always been a gathering place for local Native people for centuries. Originally it was a seasonal camp that was visited in the spring and summer to take advantage of the prime fishing on one of the main drainage rivers of James Bay. Historically, in the wintertime, families left the location to live in other trapping, hunting and gathering sites along the coast, inland or on Akamiski Island. Attawapiskat has grown from a settlement of temporary dwellings, such as tents and teepees, in the 1950s to a community with permanent buildings, which were constructed in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Political

Attawapiskat was officially recognized by the government of Canada under the Treaty #9 document. Although the original document was signed in the years 1905 and 1906, it only included the communities south of the Albany River in northern Ontario. Attawapiskat was included when adhesions were made to the treaty to include the communities north of the Albany River. Attawapiskat was numbered as Indian Reserve 91 as part of Treaty #9.[1] The treaty set aside reserve lands on the Ekwan River, a parallel river north of the Attawapiskat River that drains into James Bay. In time, it was decided by local leaders to instead establish the community in its present location on the Attawapiskat River, due to an existing trading post and better access to James Bay shipping routes. The new reserve was then numbered Indian Reserve 91A.

Local leadership is an elected government of a chief, a deputy chief and twelve councilors who serve three years terms. [2] The current chief (2008) is Theresa Hall. [3] The current deputy chief is Theresa Spence (2008).[4]

Attawapiskat First Nation is part of the regional Mushkegowuck Council, an Aboriginal political group representing the James Bay Mushkego or Omushkego Cree. The community and the Council are together represented under the Political Territorial Organization, Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN), which represents 50 First Nations in Northern Ontario. NAN is the representative political body for the First Nations that are part of Treaty #9.

Transportation

Travel to Attawapiskat is limited to flight year-round using a gravel runway that was constructed in the 1970s. During the winter months a "Winter Road" is constructed that connects the community to other coastal towns on the James Bay coast. Winter roads are temporary routes of transportation that are constructed mostly in January, February, March and even April throughout remote parts of Northern Ontario. The seasonal James Bay winter road connects the communities of Attawapiskat, Kashechewan, Fort Albany, Moosonee and Moose Factory. From Moosonee the Ontario Northland Railway runs south to Cochrane.

Residents of several remote coastal communities often take advantage of the winter road to purchase goods and perishables, by making long trips to Moosonee.

Sometime around 2007, Thunder Airlines beat out Air Creebec, in a bid for postal services and shipping goods.

While heavier goods are still being shipped into the community via barge that comes in seasonal spring, summer and fall, from Moosonee.

Social Services

Attawapiskat is policed by the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service, an Aboriginal based service that replaced the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). This change took place in the early 1990s in most remote northern communities in Ontario.

Basic health services are provided by the Attawapiskat Wing of James Bay General Hospital which provides sixteen beds for pediatric, medical/surgical and chronic care. Health services are provided by a nursing staff. However, like other remote communities on the James Bay coast, there is no doctor in the community. A physician from Weeneebayko General Hospital in Moose Factory visits Attawapiskat, as well as other communities along the coast on a regular basis during each month. Patients with serious injuries, or those requiring surgery must be transported to a larger centre for treatment. These emergency patients are transported by air ambulance airplane or helicopter to medical centres in Moose Factory, Timmins, Sudbury or Kingston, depending on their situation.

Education

Primary school students attend J.R. Nakogee School which was constructed in the 1970s. J.R. Nakogee School was closed on May 11, 2000 because of site contamination and possible health problems that were attributed to a massibe diesel leak at the site that occurred in 1979.[5] The students and staff have since been in portables. Secondary school students attend Vezina Secondary School which was established in the early 1990s with additions built in following years. The secondary school was founded by John B. Nakogee and it was named after Father Rodigue Vezina, a local Catholic priest who has served the community since 1975.[6]

Since the Attawapiskat First Nation was forced to close its elementary school in May 2000, the community’s students have been receiving their elementary education in a series of portables. Money that had been allocated for the renovation of the deteriorating physical condition of the 25 year old frame construction school was used to fund the construction of 8 double and 3 single portable classrooms. The facilities are basic with none of the supplementary resources schools in other parts of the province have available. Parents in the community are now starting to hold their children back from attending the school, or are seeking education in other communities. The situation is deteriorating since quality education cannot be offered in the present facilities. [7]

A recent study (B. H. Martin) indicates that the total area available for instruction is only about 50% of the space allocated in Indian Affairs' School Space Accommodation Standards. [8]

This situation has been present for 5 years now. A new school was promised by the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs in the summer of 2000, but no action has been taken. The Education Authority’s Chairman summed up the community’s plight by saying; "We just want what any other parent would want for their children - a safe school." [9]

Media

Radio

Television

Cost Of Living

The cost of living in Attawapiskat is quite high, due to the expense of shipping goods to the community.

File:BandOfficeAttawapiskat.jpg
Attawapiskat First Nation Offices


Local Stores:

Picture of Northern Store in Attawapiskat

File:KoostachinStoreAttawapiskat.jpg
M. Koostachin & Sons (1976), a locally owned store


Some residents often place orders for perishables and other goods except alcohol via Zudel's Limited located in Timmins, Ontario shipped through Thunder Airlines.

References

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ [2]
  3. ^ [3]
  4. ^ [4]
  5. ^ [5]
  6. ^ News Release
  7. ^ [6]
  8. ^ [7]
  9. ^ [8]

52°55′59″N 82°24′00″W / 52.93306°N 82.40000°W / 52.93306; -82.40000

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