The NDP Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation critic is calling on Doug Ford to meet with Neskantaga and help bring clean drinking water to the remote northern community.
Sol Mamakwa is demanding immediate action from the premier as the First Nation continues to be evacuated due to poor water quality.
The Kiiwetinoong MPP points to a scathing Auditor General’s report indicating the government is failing to engage with Indigenous communities, and is not coordinating services to improve their lives.
Mamakwa says “This is racism, oppression and colonialism in action.”
He notes the community needs the premier’s attention now and stresses not helping is violence.
Mamakwa adds the repercussions of not engaging with First Nations communities is dire.
“We see it being played out on the lives and health of the people of Neskantaga who have no clean drinking water.”
Mamakwa adds “With this global pandemic hurting the economy, we understand that development of the Far North is an essential part of your recovery plan. Without respect for Treaty No. 9, and support for Neskantaga’s basic human rights, this government has no right to request development on our treaty territories.”
The Chief of Neskantaga wrote the premier this week for his commitment in helping them to access clean water as human beings, Ontarians, and Treaty rights holders.
It Reads:
December 7, 2020
Premier of Ontario
Legislative Building
Queen’s Park
Toronto ON M7A 1A1
Dear Premier Ford,
As you must know, our Nation has been living under a boil water advisory for more than a quarter of a century. Over the course of the past few weeks, we have heard you and your ministers address the topic
of our water crisis and long-term boil water advisory. We have watched and listened as you have paid lip service to the importance of clean water, without any legitimate commitment of support. What our
Nation is striving for is a basic human right, clean drinking water. Premier, let me remind you that Ontario is a signatory to Treaty 9, and as such, has a responsibility to ensure basic human needs and
rights are secured for Nations such as Neskantaga. Access to clean water is one of the most basic human needs and rights.
Time and time again we have heard your government propose mineral development in our homelands as an ideal method of addressing our lack of clean water. We need to make it clear that we will not be
coerced or manipulated into agreeing to development in exchange for proper infrastructure and the basic human right of access to clean water. The tactics of your government have been focused on
dividing our brother Nations, while you liberally apply your legislative bulldozer in an attempt to erode our rights and conquer our jurisdiction over the land. Premier, rather than investing time in such
manipulative tactics, the government of Ontario should be focused on eliminating the fourth-world living conditions our Nation is experiencing.
With this global pandemic straining the economy, we understand that the development of the North is an integral part of your recovery plan. Without respect for the Treaty and support for our basic human
rights and needs on-reserve, you have no right to request development on our lands. Clearly your government’s focus on your perceived right to our resources outweighs our basic human rights, as
demonstrated by your government slashing of close to 80 per cent of the budget for the Ontario Indigenous Drinking Water Program (IWP).
Premier, what we need from you is a commitment to assisting Neskantaga First Nation in accessing clean water as human beings, Ontarians, and Treaty rights holders. Specifically, we need Ontario’s support in ensuring that safe, clean drinking water is accessible for community members through operational support. Even in fly-in communities, water treatment plants are highly complex and require operators with long-term specialized training. Professionally operated systems are key to the success of water treatment plants and therefore community access to clean water. We propose setting up a meeting within the next week to discuss further.
We look forward to hearing from you on how your government will support our Nation’s access to clean water.
Regards,
Chief Christopher Moonias
Neskantaga First Nation
