Last of new homes arrive on reserve

Trucks bearing the last of 22 long-awaited new homes rolled into the Attawapiskat First Nation in northern Ontario on Thursday morning, according to the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.

"They're very small, very narrow," Attawapiskat resident Martha Sutherland said of the new homes. "But, they'll be great for a small family, maybe with one or two kids."

The federal government said the homes will be ready for families to move into once the community completes the necessary foundation work and installation of the modular homes on lots, electrical, sewer and water hookups are completed and inspections are performed.

The First Nation is responsible for hooking up power and water lines and performing the inspections, according to Susan Bertrand, a spokeswoman for Aboriginal Affairs.

When asked how the First Nation would pay to make the homes inhabitable, she said the government appointed third-party manager - who is currently in charge of the band's finances - is ready to issue payment for invoices when received.

Many families in Attawapiskat have been living in tents and overcrowded sheds or houses, some with black mould on the walls and ceilings.

Without running water, many families use pails or buckets as toilets and have to haul their drinking water from a central community tap.

"The arrival of these modular homes demonstrates our government's commitment to the residents of Attawapiskat First Nation," Minister of Aboriginal Affairs John Duncan said in a statement.

In December 2011, Duncan announced funding for the purchase of 22 modular homes, which cost $2.5 million to manufacture and transport to the community on the shores of James Bay.

Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence was not available to comment Thursday.

The First Nation is located approximately 220 kilometres north of Moosonee, Ont., and has an on-reserve population of about 1,865 people.

In January, Spence and Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo urged Canada to start addressing the concerns of First Nations people and move beyond what they described as a paternalistic and colonial attitude. Spence warned then that the situation on reserves, including the high cost of living residents face, will get worse if the government didn't act.

"One day it's going to be chaos in these remote locations leading to loss of lives," she told a lunchtime business crowd. "I see traces of it happening now. It will escalate, resulting in a total embarrassment of our country."

Original Article
Source: ottawa citizen
Author: Teresa Smith