Canada_ (Commonwealth) _ On Thursday afternoon (23), the Keewatin Tribal Council proclaimed a state of emergency for the area in order to bring attention to the “dire” conditions affecting the towns in northern Manitoba and to demand prompt government intervention. The tribal council is made up of 11 villages, including God’s Lake First Nation and Shamattawa First Nation, both of which have recently issued emergency declarations.
According to a media notification from the tribal council, systemic flaws in infrastructure, public safety, and health services led to the regional state of emergency. At a news conference on Thursday, Walter Wastesicoot, grand chief of the Keewatin Tribal Council, said, “While I’m talking, our people are suffering and dying.”
He said that the situation is becoming worse by the day and that the main causes of fatalities in the 11 villages are drugs, violence, suicide, and poor health care, all of which are avoidable. The absence of year-round roads and air service, which affects access to health care and justice, as well as housing, cost of living, and employment challenges are all issues that the towns are grappling with.
According to Wastesicoot, a scarcity of pilots and planes has also resulted in protracted legal proceedings that have put the villages in danger. He said that offenders are not dealt with promptly and that justice is either delayed or denied. Without enough or any police resources to stop new crimes, they continue to live in the larger towns.
According to a press release sent earlier on Thursday, the First Nations are asking the federal and provincial governments for financial assistance as well as acknowledgement that they are struggling with poverty and legal ignorance.
At the press conference, each chief of the First Nations signed a letter requesting prompt government action. The letter will be submitted to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hajdu, and Premier of Manitoba Heather Stefanson.
Wastesicoot suggested that the prime minister pass the Emergencies Act to address the First Nations issues, but he said that authorities must be willing to meet with them because in the past it has taken them weeks to over a month to do so after announcing a state of emergency.
