I don't know who wrote this, but it's a treat!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIfF0GNS1ew&feature=player_embedded&fb_source=message 
Twas just weeks before Christmas, when all through the land,
Attention was aimed at a first Nation band;
Canadians heard as they'd oft heard before,
Of hardship and squalour so hard to ignore;
Of children shivering cold in their beds,
While visions of plumbing danced in their heads;
And Ma in her parka, and Pa in his cap,
Thought they'd had quite enough of this poverty crap,
Then down south in Ottawa there arose a big clatter,
MP's rose in the House to discuss the matter.
They pounded their desks, jumped up in a flash,
They shifted the topic from hardship to cash.
Forget about cold and new-fallen snow,
Harper is asking where'd the money all go,
Indignant but calm he rose to his feet,
Said, first do an audit and then you'll get heat,
Excuses, distractions and rhetoric quick,
And a lack of compassion to rival Old Nick.
More rapid than eagles his ministers came,
To defend their inaction and divert the blame;
"We're not responsible. Look what we've spent!
Fifty thousand per person for food, heat and rent!
Fifty thousand per person over five or six years!
That ought to be plenty, so wipe off your tears!
That ought to buy roads, clean water and schools,
You wasted it all, incompetent fools"
Defensive and red-faced, in rages they flew,
Denying the truth about what they knew.
And then, in a twinkling, Big Steve hatched a plan,
Of third-party management, a white business man.
He spent twenty minutes or so looking around,
And put a manager on a plane northern bound.
He was dressed all in wool, in a fine three-piece suit,
Armed with pencils and papers and a chequebook to boot;
A bundle of cash he had tight in his hand,
And he looked like a banker and that was the plan.
Harper's eyes -- how they twinkled! He wore a broad smile!
The audits and studies would take quite a while!
And time favoured Harper, he's sly as a rat,
The focus will shift from Attawapiskat;
He'd stall and he'd study and tell a few fibs,
And dig up some scandal 'bout dippers or libs;
With his pasty white face, he was suitably smug,
For poor, hungry children, he just gave a shrug.
They can shiver and shake in their tar paper shacks,
Cold arctic can winds blow through the cracks;
Christmas break's coming, there's no need for speed,
There's slop pails to take care of toiletting needs;
He spoke some big words, delegated his work,
To the third-party guy, a white southern jerk,
Then laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, on vacation he goes;
He sprang for the door, to his caucus he whistled,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, now shut up and good-night."

It has been very difficult to read the racist replies to news coverage of the situation in Attawapiskat. This Rabble article below explains issues in understandable language. It is worth reading, and please, pass it on!
Attawapiskat: Firing back at the racist rants and ignorant responses with facts
December 1, 2011
I still intend to get a series of posts [1] out clarifying issues like First Nations housing, health care, education and so on, but I have a confession. I haven't been staying away from the comments sections of articles about Attawapiskat.

I know. It's not healthy. There are so many racist rants and outright ignorant responses that it can bog you down. Where do you even begin, when the people making these comments do not seem to understand even the bare minimum about the subject?

Well, I try to answer questions with facts. Here are some of those facts, if you're interested.

Harper said Attawapiskat got $90 million, where did it all go!?

Yes, Prime Minister Harper is apparently scratching his head [2] about where $90 million in federal funding to Attawapiskat has gone. Many commentators then go on to make claims about lack of accountability, and no one knowing what happens to the money once it is 'handed over' by the federal government.

Let's start simple.

First, please note that $90 million is a deceptive number. It refers to federal funding received since Harper's government came into power in 2006. In the 2010-2011 fiscal year, Attawapiskat received $17.6 million in federal funds [3]. The document linked to shows the breakdown of federal funds in case you wanted to know how much is allocated to things like medical transportation, education, maternal health care and so on.

Thus, $90 million refers to the total of an average of about $18 million per year in federal funding since 2006.

As an aside, you will often see the figure of $34 or $35 million in funding given to Attawapiskat a year. This actually refers to total revenues. As noted, federal funding was $17.6 million, and provincial funding was $4.4 million. The community brings in about $12 million of its own revenue, as shown here [4]. So no, the 'government' is not giving Attawapiskat $34 million a year.

Okay fine, but where did it go?

Attawapiskat publishes its financial statements [5] going back to 2005. If you want to know where the money was spent, you can look in the audited financial reports. This document [4] for example provides a breakdown of all program funding.

Just getting to this stage alone proves false the claim that there is no accountability and no one knows where the money goes.

But $90 million could have built the community 360 brand new houses!!

Assuming, as Grand Chief Stan Louttit of the Mushkegowyk Council has stated [6], that a new house costs $250,000 to build in Attawapiskat (with half of that being transportation costs), then yes, 360 new units could have been provided by $90 million.

However, this money was not just earmarked for the construction of new homes.

An important fact that many commentators forget (or are unaware of) is that section 91(24) of the Constitution Act of 1867 [7] gives the Federal Crown exclusive powers over "Indians, and Lands reserved for the Indians."

You see, for non-natives, the provinces are in charge of funding things like education, health-care, social services and so on. For example, the Province of Ontario allocated $10,730 in education funding per non-native pupil in the 2010-2011 fiscal year [8]. For most First Nations, particularly those on reserve, the federal government through INAC is responsible for providing funds for native education.

How is this relevant?

It helps explain why the entire $90 million was not allocated to the construction of new houses. That $90 million includes funding for things like:

• education per pupil

• education infrastructure (maintenance, repair, teacher salaries, etc)

• health care per patient

• health care, infrastructure (clinics, staff, access to services outside the community in the absence of facilities on reserve)

• social services (facilities, staff, etc)

• infrastructure (maintenance and construction)

• a myriad of other services

These costs are often not taken into account when attempting to compare a First Nation reserve to a non-native municipality. In fact, many people forget that their own health-care and education are heavily subsidized by tax dollars as well.

What's the point here?

How much money was actually allocated to housing in 2010-2011? Page 2 of Schedule A [4] shows us that out of the $17.6 million in federal funds, only $2 million was provided for housing. Yes, even $2 million would be enough to eight brand new homes, if those funds were not also used to maintain and repair existing homes. The specific breakdown of how that money was spent is found in Schedule I.

Now, I admit I am confused about something. The Harper article [2] states:

According to figures providing by Aboriginal Affairs, the Attawapiskat Cree band has received just over $3 million in funds specifically for housing and a further $2.8 million in infrastructure money since 2006.

That is actually less than I estimated it would be, going by the 2010-2011 figures. I estimated $10 million for housing, but INAC (now Aboriginal Affairs) is saying it was $5.8 million.

Anyway, that isn't too important. The point is, if INAC is correct, only $5.8 million has gone towards housing for Attawapiskat. At most that could have built the community 23 new houses, if Attawapiskat had merely let the older houses go without any repairs or maintenance for five years. Letting existing homes go like that is not a great strategy, however.

The point here is, $90 million sounds like a huge amount, but the real figures allocated to housing are much, much smaller.

Fine, they got $5.8 million for housing, surely that is enough?

Again, assuming 23 new homes were built, and all older homes were left without maintenance and repairs, and the people in charge of housing worked for free and there were no other costs associated with administering the housing program, Attawapiskat would still be experiencing a housing crisis.

It is estimated [9]that $84 million is needed for housing alone to meet Attawapiskat's housing needs (you'll find those figures in a small table on the right, titled "Attawapiskat by the numbers").

The Feds are just handing that money over and the Band does whatever it wants with it!

Many people seem to be labouring under the misapprehension that First Nations have self-governance and run themselves freely. This is far from the truth, but given that most Canadians are familiar with the municipal model, the confusion is actually understandable. It isn't as though Canada does a very good job of teaching people about the Indian Act.

Section 61(1)(a-k) of the Indian Act [4]details that: "With the consent of the council of a band, the Minister may authorize and direct the expenditure of capital moneys of the band" for various purposes.

What this means is that Ministerial approval is actually a requirement before any capital expenditures can occur on reserve. In practice, a Band will generally pass a Band Council Resolution (BCR) authorising a certain expenditure (say on housing), and that BCR must be forwarded to INAC for approval.

That's right. Most First Nations have to get permission before they can spend money. That is the opposite of 'doing whatever they want' with the money. Bands are micromanaged to an extent unseen in nearly any other context that does not involve a minor or someone who lacks capacity due to mental disability.

Any claims that INAC has no control over what Bands spend their money on is false.

I would hope by now you'd ask the following question:

If INAC has to approve spending, why is Harper so confused?

There is a tendency to believe that our government officials do things in a way that makes sense. This, despite the fact that most of us don't actually believe this to be true. We want to believe. I know I do.

So upon learning that the federal government is the one in charge of providing services to First Nations that are provided to non-natives by the province, we might assume that the provision of these services are administered in a comparable manner.

Not so! And it actually makes sense why not, when you think about it for a moment. Have you ever seen a federal hospital, for example? No, because hospitals are built, maintained, and staffed by the provinces. Thus, when a First Nations person needs to access healthcare, they cannot access federal infrastructure. They must access provincial infrastructure and have the feds rather than the province pick up the tab.

If only it were as easy as federal funding via provincial structures.

The Auditor General of Canada speaks up

The Auditor General of Canada released a report in June of this year examining Programs for First Nations on Reserve [10]. A similar report was published in 2006. This report identifies deficiencies in program planning and delivery by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), Health Canada, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

The reports also provide a number of recommendations to improve these deficiencies. The 2011 report evaluated the progress made since the 2006 report, and in most areas, gave these federal agencies a failing grade.

Don't worry, there is a point to this, stay with me.

The 2011 report has this to say:

In our view, many of the problems facing First Nations go deeper than the existing programs' lack of efficiency and effectiveness. We believe that structural impediments severely limit the delivery of public services to First Nations communities and hinder improvements in living conditions on reserves. We have identified four such impediments:

• lack of clarity about service levels,

• lack of a legislative base,

• lack of an appropriate funding mechanism, and

• lack of organizations to support local service delivery.

I know this is going to look like mumbo jumbo at first, so let me break it down a little for you. This will help explain why millions of dollars of funding is not enough to actually improve the living conditions of First Nations people, particularly those on reserve.

Lack of clarity about service levels

As explained earlier the federal government is in charge of delivering services that are otherwise provided by the provinces to non-natives. The Auditor General states:

"It is not always evident whether the federal government is committed to providing services on reserves of the same range and quality as those provided to other communities across Canada."

Shockingly, the federal government does not always have clear program objectives, nor does it necessarily specify specific roles and responsibilities for program delivery, and has not established measures for evaluating performance in order to determine if outcome are actually met.

What!?

That's right. The federal government is not keeping track of what it does, how it does it, or whether what it is doing works. The auditor-general recommends the federal government fix this, pronto. How can a community rely on these services if the federal government itself isn't even clear on what it is providing and whether the programs are working?

Lack of a legislative base

"Provincial legislation provides a basis of clarity for services delivered by provinces. A legislative base for programs specifies respective roles and responsibilities, eligibility, and other program elements. It constitutes an unambiguous commitment by government to deliver those services. The result is that accountability and funding are better defined."

The provinces all have some sort of Education Act that clearly lays out the roles and responsibilities of education authorities, as well as mechanisms of evaluation. There is generally no comparable federal legislation for the provision of First Nations education, health-care, housing and so on.

As noted by the AG, legislation provides clarity and accountability. Without it, decision can be made on an ill-defined 'policy' basis or on a completely ad hoc basis.

Lack of an appropriate funding mechanism

The AG focuses on a few areas here.

Lack of service standards for one. Were you aware that provincial building codes do not apply on reserve? Some provincial laws of ‘general application' (like Highway Traffic Acts) can apply on reserve, but building codes do not. There is a federal National Building Code, but enforcement and inspection has been a major problem. This has been listed as one of the factors in why homes built on reserve do not have a similar ‘life' to those built off reserve.

Poor timing for provision of funds is another key issue. "Most contribution agreements must be renewed yearly. In previous audits, we found that the funds may not be available until several months into the period to be funded." This is particularly problematic for housing [11] as "money often doesn't arrive until late summer, past the peak construction period, so projects get delayed and their costs rise."

Lack of accountability.

"It is often unclear who is accountable to First Nations members for achieving improved outcomes or specific levels of services. First Nations often cite a lack of federal funding as the main reason for inadequate services. For its part, INAC maintains that the federal government funds services to First Nations but is not responsible for the delivery or provision of these services."

The AG also refers to a heavy reporting burden put on First Nations, and notes that the endless paperwork often is completely ignored anyway by federal agencies.

Lack of organizations to support local service delivery

This refers once again to the fact that there are no federal school or healthboards, no federal infrastructure and expertise. Some programs are delivered through provincial structures, while others are provided directly by the federal government, with less than stellar results.

As the auditor-general states, "Change is needed if meaningful progress is to be realized." There is extreme lack of clarity about what the federal government is doing, why, how, and whether it is at all effective. No wonder Harper is confused!

Tired yet?

Don't worry, the commentators aren't finished, and neither am I.

The Chief of Attawapiskat made $71,000 last year while her people live in tents!!!

Apparently we are supposed to be outraged at the excess involved here. This of course follows on the heels of a report by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation [12] about 'jaw-dropping' reserve salaries. It's become fashionable to rant about Chiefs making more than premiers (though no one could make that claim here).

Attawapiskat publishes [13] its salaries, travel expenses and honorariums (again, nothing being hidden here). Chief Theresa Spense was paid $69,575 in salary and honorariums in 2010-2011, and had $1,798 in travel expenses for a total of about $71K.

If you are like most people, you don't spend a lot of time looking at what public employees actually make. What number wouldn't shock you in the absence of such context? $50,000? $32,000? I suspect any amount would be offered as some sort of proof of... something not right.

Well okay. Why don't we take a look at some other salaries? But first, note that Ontario Premier McGuinty made $209,000 in 2010, and apparently over 100 public service executives made more [14] than he did.

It is difficult to do a really accurate comparison of salaries, because Ontario's Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act [15] of 1996 only requires that salaries over $100,000 be reported.(in addition, if the salaries are reported elsewhere, they are not necessarily included in this report) However, the annual reports [16] a fantastic resource. Here is the list [17] of various public sector employees making over $100K a year. I offer this merely in order to ask... were you aware these people were making this amount of money?

I sure wasn't. These are salaries paid by tax dollars, too. I have no idea if the Director of Quality Services for the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation should be paid $147,437.58 a year (sorry to single you out, sir, I chose randomly). If this Corporation were in the news and having financial difficulties, I have no doubt this salary would be brought up as somehow relevant... but is it?

I don't know if it is. That's the point. I don't think the people bringing it up know either. I haven't been able to find a source listing the salaries of mayors of municipalities in Ontario to compare to Chief Spense's salary. Then again, I doubt anyone would seriously claim that if she worked for free, the housing crisis in Attawakpiskat would be over.

The more you know...

I'm sure I'm forgetting some of the common accusations and arguments being made about Attawapiskat on various forums and comments sections of online news articles. I might update if necessary to address them, but I think you now have at least a base to begin with, whether you honestly just want to understand the situation a little better, or want to fight those comment battles.

If you would like an on-the-ground perspective, please check out Smoke Signals from Cree Yellowlegs [18]. (Note: A song starts playing automatically)

Above all, my relations, don't let it get you down.

You will see people call for the abolition of the Indian Act, for the abolition of reserves and the 'assimilation' of First Nations into 'Canadian society'. You will see horrible things said about aboriginal culture. What you will rarely see are people responding to facts. Don't be discouraged when facts are brushed off in favour of accusations. We do have the power to educate those around us, and even if we can't reach the most vocal of bigots, we can reach the 'average' Canadian who is merely unaware rather than necessarily outright hateful.

Âpihtawikosisân is Métis from Lac Ste. Anne, Alberta. She currently lives in Montreal, Quebec, and is working on a BCL. Her passions are education, Aboriginal law, the Cree language, and roller derby.

I am appalled at the blatant misinformation and partisan spinning I'm hearing and reading about Attawapiskat. I've decided to post articles that deal with events that led to the present situation. I'll add more each day. I hope this gives a more balanced perspective. 

Here are articles about the state of emergency declared after the demolition of the school in 2009. Just 4 months later the second was called.
Attawapiskat declares state of emergency
By Chelsey Romain and Christina Spencer, The Daily Press
  Mar 25 2009
  Residents of the remote First Nation community of Attawapiskat has said enough is enough and has declared a state of emergency.

Community officials, along with the local education authority issued a release late Tuesday night stating both the elementary and high school have been closed until further notice.

In recent weeks, the building that used to house the J.R. Nakogee Elementary School was torn down. It was during the demolition that members of the community allegedly began smelling a strong odor of fuel.

“They are in the final stages of the demolition and are taking the debris out of the community,” said Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Hall. “But some of it is being disposed of at the local dump site.”

Hall said that once the building was torn down, the basement was exposed and that’s when nearby residents began smelling the gas fumes.

The old school became contaminated following a diesel spill in 1979. Later portables were erected to act as a school for the elementary grades.

According to the release, the dumping site is located just four kilometres west of the city, five kilometres south of the community’s water intake site. Both the high school and the portables are a mere five to 10 feet away.

Community deserves aid

By CHELSEY ROMAIN, THE DAILY PRESS
  Mar 28 2009
As the community of Attawapiskat continues its state of emergency, MP Charlie Angus (NDP -- Timmins-James Bay) said he doesn't think the country's Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) appreciates the severity of the situation.

"Indian Affairs just don't seem to understand we're dealing with children on a school site," Angus told The Daily Press. "How can you leave that contamination exposed and expect kids to walk through the grounds."

Angus' comments come just days after the community decided to declare a state of emergency and close both its elementary and secondary schools.

According to Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Hall, the recent demolition of the former elementary school building released toxic fumes, triggering headaches for residents.

Elementary-aged students have been attending school in portables since a fuel leak caused the school grounds to be contaminated in 1979.

"This isn't a coverup or allegations. We're talking about the health and safety of children," Angus said. "This shouldn't be taken as a slight when they simply have to deal with their obligation."

Following the announcement of the school closures, Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Chuck Strahl responded by saying he was puzzled and surprised by the community's decision. He said Health Canada has been in the community testing the air quality, which has been deemed fine.

"This is a bit of a surprise to everyone given that it all seemed to be going according to plan," Strahl said, adding he wasn't aware of any health issues.

Strahl said there is remediation work that will be necessary on the soil, but that has always been part of the plan. He said the problem is that it can't start until the ground is thawed out.

"That's been clear from the beginning," he said. "To remediate the soil involves aerating it and a bunch of things that can't be done while it's frozen."

Angus said the Attawapiskat site is probably one of the most toxic of its kind in Ontario and children were having to go to school right on top of it.

Angus said he doesn't think it's outrageous for residents to say they don't have much faith in the ministry.

"The school acted as a cap over the worst of the damage," he said. "Now, they've exposed a gaping wound right before the rain and floods come."

Had the ministry negotiated plans for a new school on the other side of town prior to the demolition, Angus said the situation could have been avoided.

Strahl said the ministry works with First Nation communities to prioritize spending, based first on health and safety issues. He said while Attawapiskat wants and needs a new school, there are other situations worse than theirs.

"We need to make sure the community has access to an independent expertise to advise them and reassure families that the children are safe," said Angus. "That's what the people want in any community and I don't understand why that can't happen in Attawapiskat.

"Indian Affairs cannot be left up to their own devices."

Angus said he has raised these concerns with Strahl in the past and every time the minister has taken them as a personal slight. Angus said this is not the case.

"They just seem to find it outrageous that these families would be upset that their children should have to walk over toxic waste," he said, adding that he hopes the ministry will rise to the occasion.

First Nations: Federal representatives scheduled to meet in Attawapiskat today.

 

Does this article sound familiar? The homeless situation was in the news over two years ago. Chief Spence said, "I can't understand how the government has continued to ignore crisis after crisis that has cropped up in our community," Deputy Chief Theresa Spence said recently.
Attawapiskat 'abandoned' by Ottawa
 October 08, 2009
Colin Perkel
 Disconcerted members of the isolated Attawapiskat First Nation are nervously eyeing the approaching northern Ontario winter following a summer of living conditions that included a failed sewage system, overcrowding, and toxic contamination.

They say they've been essentially left to fend for themselves in trying to deal with deplorable living conditions and the costs of an evacuation prompted by a sewer backup into eight homes in July.

"It's just so frustrating and heartbreaking and it's also scary," Jackie Hookimaw Witt, co-ordinator for a maternal-childcare program, said from the beleaguered community.

"They feel abandoned."

It's been a particularly difficult stretch for the 1,800-strong Attawapiskat, who live on the fly-in reserve on the western edge of James Bay, 700 kilometres north of Timmins, Ont.

The aboriginals faced off with the president of De Beers Canada, a diamond company that began operating in the community last year, over royalty rights for operations on their traditional lands.

Also, an on-reserve school is contaminated with fuel, posing significant health problems for community members who live nearby.

In July, about 90 members of the reserve were forced to leave the reserve when raw sewage backed up, creating toxic cesspools in their homes. Several dozen have since returned and some are now living in makeshift tent structures that have no running water, toilets or other facilities.

"The people that live there are complaining that it's getting cold," said Hookimaw Witt.

"They're stressed out; they're concerned."

Another 20 people are camped out in a local treatment centre, making regular programming difficult.

Maurice Sutherland's situation is typical of many in the community, where severe overcrowding and lack of money and other resources, coupled with massive infrastructure problems, have cast a gloomy pall.

Sutherland and 13 others had been living in a two-bedroom house in Attawapiskat but electrical and mould problems forced them out. Family members have since rented a house in Timmins, allowing him to leave the motel in Cochrane where he had been staying since July.

"It's rough," said Sutherland, who acts as a community liaison person. "We're Canadian citizens."

Despite a declaration of an emergency by their chief, community leaders and residents blame Indian and Northern Affairs Canada for failing to come to their aid.

To make their point, residents have held several protests, including a blockade of Highway 11 near Cochrane, the main artery through northern Ontario, to little avail.

"INAC is not involved with the whole issue. They should be. There hasn't been any progress," said John Edwards, a band councillor.

"It's just a major hazard."

A request to Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl to visit the community in August went unheeded.

A spokeswoman for Indian and Northern Affairs said the federal government was providing $700,000 for repairs to the homes affected by the sewer backup and for alternate accommodation.

The work was expected to be complete by the end of October, Susan Bertrand said in an email.

"The First Nation is responsible for managing its housing program on reserve, however, INAC is prepared to assist the Attawapiskat First Nation in developing a short- and long-term housing strategy," Bertrand said.

"The government is actively working with First Nations toward greater effectiveness and accountability in housing management to increase the supply of safe and affordable housing."

Bertrand also said each home on the reserve has, on average, 5.5 people and that the government has spent millions on new housing for the Attawapiskat.

Residents charge that there is a lack of a program to alleviate overcrowding in what are already, in many cases, substandard housing.

The community also lost its school almost 10 years ago when a diesel leak contaminated the building, which was finally torn down a year ago. However, nearby residents complain about the fumes that are also seeping into portables set up to accommodate students.

Edwards, and about 30 others, are currently staying in a motel in Cochrane, waiting to find out if they will be able to return to their community before winter.

There is now talk of moving evacuees to a former army barracks in Moosonee.

De Beers, which has been the target of Attawapiskat anger over the diamond mine near the community, is also said to have paid for about 10 portable housing units that have yet to be transported from southern Ontario.

The question is whether they can be installed before the winter.

"It's very traumatic for the community," Edwards said.

While De Beers' efforts are appreciated, the community complains they are receiving no royalties or other investment from the company's activities on their traditional territory. Funds from Casino Rama in the south are drying up and Ottawa has simply turned its back, they said.

"I can't understand how the government has continued to ignore crisis after crisis that has cropped up in our community," Deputy Chief Theresa Spence said recently.

Please read the date on this article--Over 2 years ago. 
And what has changed!!!
I've read reports that INAC didn't know about the condition. They've known since July, 2009. 

Chief extends invitation to Harper
Aug 21 2009
By BRANDON WALKER THE DAILY PRESS

Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Hall says if INAC Minister Chuck Strahl won't act then it's time Prime Minister Stephen Harper gets involved to help the community.

Talks broke down between the First Nation and INAC officials in Toronto on Wednesday after meeting to discuss a variety of issues.

Afterward about 50 community members, many evacuees from an Attawapiskat sewage spill, climbed into buses to travel to Ottawa for a protest yesterday.

They unsuccessfully tried to meet with Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl.

The First Nation invited him to visit their community.

"We want him to see (the living conditions) for himself," Hall said.

"We've done our share in trying to meet and talk with his officials, the bureaucrats.

"To a certain extent they're helping us with the cleanup."

Talks broke down when the First Nation asked for financial assistance for roughly 90 people who were evacuated from the community after sewage spilled into the basements of eight homes.

The community wants INAC to pay for food and shelter for evacuees.

INAC "looks at it only as a housing issue, not a health issue," Hall said.

"Health Canada has even said it's a health issue."

The community chose to evacuate nearly 100 people after the government failed to provide assistance.

A lack of housing meant there was no place for them to stay. Evacuees were flown to Cochrane, where they lived in a hotel.

The temporary plan is to move them to a healing lodge in Attawapiskat, although it is only meant for 20 people, not 90.

"Our manager is telling us if we overflow the healing lodge (which has its own sewage system) we'll have the same problems with flooding," Hall said.

The sewage system failed at the end of July because it hasn't been maintained.

"We need people that are trained to operate the sewage plants," Hall said.

These issues won't go away until they're dealt with, she said.

The sewage flood brought to light a lack of housing in the community.

It has been estimated there are about 1,000 homeless people and community officials have concerns about what will happen when snow flies in the sub-Arctic community.

The First Nation community will continue making the public aware of the situation.

"I don't know what Minister Strahl will do, but we officially invited him to our community," Hall said.

"It's time now for the Prime Minister to take a look at the situation, not just Indian Affairs."

MP Charlie Angus (Timmins-James Bay -- NDP) agreed.

"All week we've seen Mr. Harper talk about how he's going to defend the land of the North with F16s and submarines," Angus said. "Why don't we do it with school books, sewage plants and two-by-fours to build some houses?

"If Strahl won't live up to his basic responsibilities then it comes back to Mr. Harper."

 Canada AM asked Charlie Angus about Atta chief intimate relationship with co-manager of band finances. Ballistic NDP MP! 
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ctv.ca%2FCTVNews%2FCanadaAM%2F20111202%2Fattawapiskat-crisis-people-community-housing-government-111202%2F&h=qAQGrnEdqAQFS_MHsygf7bLIWLO2OiJHZHPGdDIwZB-it7g

Went to Toronto for interview with Shelagh. I can't remember what I said! Don't know when the show will air  on The Next Chapter.