FAMILIAR ISSUES
FSIN'S Bobby Cameron reflects on 2020
In a year full of news, one story in particular stood out for Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Chief Bobby Cameron: That of youth from Neskantaga First Nation in Ontario holding a rally in November after their community was evacuated because an oily sheen had been discovered on the surface of the water reservoir.
Neskantaga has been under a boil-water advisory since 1995.
Cameron said the story affected him for two reasons: It served as a reminder of ongoing issues faced by Indigenous people in Canada, and of the need to empower and listen to Indigenous youth.
In a year-end interview with the Saskatoon Starphoenix, Cameron said COVID-19 has only exacerbated issues that have long needed to be addressed, including the Treaty — and human — rights to shelter and clean drinking water.
“With COVID-19, now we begin to see what we First Nations already know,” Cameron said. “We've been saying this for many, many years: Here are the problems we face as First Nations people.”
WATER
There are eight long-term drinking water advisories on First Nations in Saskatchewan. While the federal government once pledged to lift all advisories on First Nations by March 2021, Indigenous Services Minister Marc acknowledged this month that the government would not meet that goal. Cameron was critical of that announcement.
“It affects the health and well-being of ... an individual who needs clean drinking water,” Cameron said. “It leads to health conditions, but it also has a negative impact on a person's mental wellness.
“It angers us and it upsets us, because why say you're going to eliminate boil water advisories and not do it?”
HOUSING
One of the biggest challenges faced by the FSIN is addressing on-reserve housing conditions and the organization is continuing to push for greater federal investment for housing in the new year.
Cameron said provincial COVID-19 measures were difficult to implement and enforce on some First Nations due to crowded, inadequate housing.
This became apparent in November, as cases spiked on northern First Nations in the province.
“Imagine families with 20 to 30 people living in a house because that's reality,” Cameron said. “Now, we come with this COVID-19 and say `Wash your hands, keep six feet apart. You can only have five people in a house.' That's not going to happen in First Nation country.”
INVESTMENT IN YOUTH
One bright spot for Cameron this year has been partnerships with the federal and provincial governments to support Indigenous youth mental health.
“I think of our youth who are doing their best, despite some of the conditions they live in, and some of the opportunities that are not available for them on reserve,” he said. “We lift them up ... we are always here to listen to them and learn from them. Because youth have an important voice.”
Cameron said $2.5 million invested by the federal government last December to go toward preventing youth suicides was “definitely a good start,” but there is more to be done. Calling it an “ongoing discussion,” he said the FSIN is looking for larger and more targeted investments in the new year.
“Our youth are growing. We're the fastest growing demographic in Canada ... (Instead of suicide), we like to say reigniting the spirit within our youth ... Let's start working to a bigger investment for our youth, because they're our greatest asset.”
COVID- 19
Cameron said the FSIN has spent the year securing federal funding in order to deliver food, cleaning supplies and PPE to First Nations in the province.
As rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine begins in earnest in the new year, he asks community members to do their part to limit the spread of the virus.
“We just lost one of our senators, our knowledge keepers, EX-NHL player Fred Sasakamoose to COVID-19 and we were less than a month away from a vaccine,” he said. “Everyone's doing their part to continue protecting and keep the communities safe.
“It's a lot of work. And we're committed to doing that until COVID-19 goes away, and we can all go back to a healthier life.”