Locals support St. Clair Ave. First Nations camp
Indigenous people have occupied the space in front of the Indigenous and Northern Affairs office for 22 days
Sigrid Kneve said she arrived at the Indigenous and Northern Affairs office in Toronto about three weeks ago with nothing but umbrellas and lawn chairs to host a vigil for First Nations people grappling with suicide. On Friday, the space in front on St. Clair Ave. had been transformed into a robust camp, complete with bedding, hot water and enough food to hand out to passersby.
Alarge portion of the supplies were donated by locals, Kneve said.
It shows that the group and their cause are supported, organizers say. “It grew to this,” Kneve said. A poster behind her had the words “Suicide Crisis” written across it.
“The public has been responsive,” she said.
Geoffery Daybutch, who helps keep watch at night to ensure everyone is safe, attested to this.
“People are bringing food in,” he said. “They’re asking us, in the morning, if we want coffee or food during lunchtime and dinner.”
There are three people at the camp at all times, he added.
The “land-defenders” or “water-carriers,” as the group members prefer to be called, are raising awareness about a series of suicides that has plagued many remote First Nations in Northern Ontario.
A crisis in Pikangikum First Nation last month spurred the vigil, Carrie Lester said.
“There were five deaths in their community in one month,” she said. “Here we are now, in the middle of August, and we’ve already lost four children in Neskantaga.”
Since1986, there have been 543 suicides afflicting communities such as these, reported Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN), which represents 49 Northern Ontario communities. There have been more than 20 Indigenous people who have taken their lives in the region this year.
A meeting last month between Indigenous leaders and the federal government yielded 20 mental-health workers for Pikangikum. On July 24, the “Charter of Relationship Principles” was signed by federal ministers and NAN Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, which seeks to “transform the delivery of health care to First Nation communities.”
The “Ground Zero” camp is a continuation of an occupation that occurred last spring inside the Indigenous and Northern Affairs office, where demands included that Ottawa make good on its promises to remedy a spate of suicide attempts in Attawapiskat, which thrust the community into a state of emergency.
“We’re asking for more money to be released to each of these First Nations,” Kneve said.
Organizers are holding the government to task so it doesn’t renege, Lester said.
“We need to hold the government to account for its promises with a timeline,” she said. “It’s not just about the kids; it’s about the families. They’re shells of themselves.”
Several people at the camp said it was an opportunity to educate others.
“It’s an eye-opener for a lot of the residents and people who work in the area,” Daybutch said. “Many were unaware of the issues that First Nation communities are facing, so this, for them, was a huge wake-up call and it’s making them act and question (Indigenous and Northern Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett).”
A spokesperson said Minister Bennett has offered to meet with group members to engage in dialogue with them and listen to their concerns.
“We look forward to hearing back from the group on a time that works for them,” she said, in a written statement.
“My people are dying all around me,” said Dean McLeod, who returned to the camp from the hospital after he was treated for pneumonia, which he said was caused by being outside for so long at the camp. “The government needs to smarten up and start giving aid, housing, the proper things.
“These kids deserve better than having to resort to suicide.”