Finally, someone’s doing something about the shameful situation in Shoal Lake where a First Nations community has had to bring in its water for 17 years, and the federal government refuses to kick in to give them clean water.
On the one hand, Stephen Harper’s government claims it’s launching a truth and reconciliation effort to apologize to First Nations people and restore their faith in the political system. And on the other, it’s saying, screw you Shoal Lake, keep walking on – and falling through – the ice to bring back drinkable water for your families every winter. No all-weather road for you. The community is located on the Manitoba/Ontario border and both provinces are contributing to a feasibility study on a four-seasons road, the first step, but the feds won’t join in.
A multi-faith minister in Winnipeg has started a campaign to pressure the government into action and it’s about to spread across the country. Churches and community groups will be asked to pitch in during the 10 days of action that started last Friday. Federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and his NDP counterpart Tom Mulcair have both spoken out about the situation, criticizing Harper for being, well, Harper-like. Collages of photos of people – children, elders, everybody – struggling in the conditions are being sent to every MP in Canada.
Something I’ve learned by spending time with First Nations leaders is that the Aboriginal Affairs Minister is largely useless to them. I was fooled into believing he was there to be an advocate for First Nations people and their concerns. Not at all. Bernard Valcourt actually behaves more like a fine filter between First Nations and parliament. Instead of being their voice, he’s the one who prevents them from being heard. His office’s response to the new campaign was to just point back to an old statement that said they were waiting for results of the design study. That’s $3-million provincial dollars worth of study. If it says no road, expect all hell to break loose and it should. And I just might join in.