Although the CBC did run a very mild headline on what is a huge story about Attawapiskat residents being happy to having an external audit and 3rd party manager look into the band’s finances, maybe this will be the start of some serious investigating into where all those millions went.
Greg Shisheesh, former deputy chief:
“I think it would be a good thing. We need to clean up our financial crisis here in Attawapiskat because it’s been like this too long now. I was happy to hear the federal government was stepping in to clean the mess up.”
Martha Sutherland, tribe elder:
[At a public meeting] “She [Chief Spence] said we don’t want third-party management. [But] who is included there? Is that from the chief and council only? Because a lot of people were asking that they need to clean the office. They need that third-party management here.” (see here)
Not quite the same narrative that the Liberals, NDP and most of the media have been telling though is it?
December 13, 2011 at 11:13 AM
I really like this. Eye opening. Good investigative journalism Dean.
December 16, 2011 at 6:56 PM
Did you also get around to reading about how Debeers dumping its sewage may have been the cause of the initial sewer back up?
December 16, 2011 at 7:09 PM
“The family received an insurance cheque for $25,000″: http://aptn.ca/pages/news/2011/12/13/de-beers-decision-to-dump-sewage-into-attawapiskat-played-role-in-current-housing-crisis/
December 13, 2011 at 11:16 AM
Is that pic taken in the chief’s home, don’t see no mold or missing walls.
December 13, 2011 at 11:19 AM
I’m guessing it was taken in the band office. Nice happy smiling group while misery is all around them.
December 13, 2011 at 11:54 AM
Who is the good-looking one in the middle??
December 13, 2011 at 12:24 PM
I think Charlie Angus I believe…
December 13, 2011 at 12:07 PM
So maybe our Govt 3rd party manager needs to have a ‘town hall’ to listen to the residents,
because it is obvious Charlie Angus represents the Chief and Council, ignoring the residents.
Sounds to me like residents are being intimidated, and this should be investigated:
“…But there are people who are educated and outspoken in the community who are told to be quiet. because in the end it’s always the chief and council that have a say about the community.
“Outsiders always look to the chief and council for answers and not to the people.”
December 13, 2011 at 12:49 PM
Wouldn’t hold my breath. The village has a population of roughly 2000,so one would expect about 500 houses, yet we were shown only about a dozen of the worst examples of “housing”.
Chief Spence may yet rue the day she conspired with Charlie Angus to embarrass the Conservative government.
December 13, 2011 at 1:21 PM
I agree…it should be an interesting read about how the Chief and her ‘co-manager’ managed to manage the Reserve into such a situation…
What I really want to know is if the CBC and other MSM outlets will report on the findings of that report…
December 16, 2011 at 7:00 PM
How much did our government receive by way of business taxes and income taxes for 400+ million of diamonds that they removed from Attawapiskat land last year?
December 16, 2011 at 7:09 PM
“Benefit payments from De Beers mine since July 2008: $10.5 million (held in trust fund by community)” http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/11/30/attawapiskat-wednesday.html
December 13, 2011 at 3:53 PM
$90million went to ATTAWASPISKAT and Angus bitches for what. It is not the government fault that the Bands or chief wish to abuse our money. Angus is playing a nasty game in the HOC on the backs of the innocent natives who may not have any idea that canadian taxpayers have poured millions so they can have decent homes etc.
And to make matters worse for Angus, hew is not keen on a 3rd party management investigating into the matter. I guess he wants to continue using the natives’ problems as a daily issue in the HOC.
December 13, 2011 at 1:18 PM
Shame, shame on Charlie Angus and his other Dipper cohorts if they saw ANY sign of a double standard life style between those he smilingly POSED with above and those he videoed to use as his national megaphone soapbox!
This is truely abhorrent……and my kudos go out to all those brave enough to speak up about this abuse of power on this reserve.
December 13, 2011 at 1:21 PM
What, you can’t see the utter horror at the plight of these people in Angus’ tear-stained eyes?
December 15, 2011 at 11:55 AM
I hope you all investigate what the $90 million was used for – you might be surprised.
Also investigate the sewage back up, likely caused by Debeers dumping into the system,that caused houses to be condemned and boarded up.
December 15, 2011 at 11:59 AM
How much money has Debeers given to the band again? Oh ya…
“Benefit payments from De Beers mine since July 2008: $10.5 million (held in trust fund by community)” http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/11/30/attawapiskat-wednesday.html
“The family received an insurance cheque for $25,000″: http://aptn.ca/pages/news/2011/12/13/de-beers-decision-to-dump-sewage-into-attawapiskat-played-role-in-current-housing-crisis/