ACTION ALERT: Justice and fairness for First Nations peoples

June 29, 2007

Dear activists,

The living conditions for First Nations people in Canada are a shocking reality: 1 in 4 First Nations children live in poverty; drinking water is at risk for two-thirds of First Nations communities, or half a million people; 76 First Nations communities water conditions are classified as 'emergency'; and life expectancy for First Nations men is 7.4 years less, and 5.2 years less for First Nations women, than Canadian men and women respectively.

First Nations experience greater challenges in accessing health care as a result of a larger health care burden (higher levels of acuity and urgency), greater challenges in recruitment and retention of health care staff in First Nations communities, geographic remoteness (30 percent of First Nations communities located more than 90 kilometres from physician services), language and cultural differences, and impacts of provincial health reforms (such as hospital closures) coupled with cutbacks in federal medical transportation funding.

Additionally, in 2005, one half of the 14 deaths in Fort Chipewyan (a community of 1200 largely made up of Athabasca Chipewyan and Mikisew Cree and 300 kiometres downstream from the northern Alberta tar sands) were due to cancer. It is believed that these deaths are related to the pollution generated by tar sands production.

Recently, the Woodland Cree First Nation (WCFN) have demanded, among other concerns, "a regional planning process established to look at the cumulative effects of oilsands and other resource developments on WCFNs treaty rights, its members, the environment, human health and an examination of mitigation measures to prevent a repeat of the Ft. McMurray scenario."

The federal government's overall response has not been helpful. Federal funding has been inadequate in addressing First Nations communities’ urgent, immediate drinking water and wastewater treatment needs. Private water companies are aggressively pursuing new 'markets' in First Nations communities and the federal government sees privatization as a quick fix for the water crises in First Nations communities.

And as recently as June 2006, the Canadian government voted against adopting the United Nations Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

As outlined in the Council of Canadians October 2005 report 'Crossing the Line: A Citizens' Inquiry on Canada-U.S. Relations' and our Autumn 2006 Canadian Perspectives article 'Troubled Waters in First Nations Communities', we are calling on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to:

1. Honour past and present agreements made with the First Nations peoples and resolve all outstanding land claims in a just and timely fashion.
2. Respect Indigenous peoples as autonomous nations in any further discussion of political and economic integration with the United States.
3. Evaluate the impact that free trade has had on Indigenous communities in Canada.
4. Ratify the United Nations Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which recognizes the right to security and self-determination of Indigenous Peoples.
5. Ensure that First Nations people have publicly administered and managed water systems that remain accountable to the community, and that their urgent drinking water and wastewater treatment needs are addressed.

Chapter activists are encouraged to write Prime Minister Stephen Harper today at pm@pm.gc.ca and tell him you support justice and fairness for First Nations and that you want the Government of Canada to work in partnership with First Nations to resolve long-standing issues.

Read more

• Troubled Waters in First Nations Communities, Canadian Perspectives, Autumn 2006
• Crossing the Line: A Citizens' Inquiry on Canada-U.S. Relations (section on Indigenous Perspectives can be found on
  pages 22-25)
• The Shocking Reality: First Nations Poverty

Brent Patterson, Director of Organizing and Campaigns, The Council of Canadians

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Prime Minister Harper, I support justice and fairness for First Nations and want the Government of Canada to work in partnership with First Nations to resolve long-standing issues. I call on you to: Honour past and present agreements made with the First Nations peoples and resolve all outstanding land claims in a just and timely fashion. Respect Indigenous peoples as autonomous nations in any further discussion of political and economic integration with the United States. Evaluate the impact that free trade has had on Indigenous communities in Canada. Ratify the United Nations Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which recognizes the right to security and self-determination of Indigenous Peoples. Ensure that First Nations people have publicly administered and managed water systems that remain accountable to the community, and that their urgent drinking water and wastewater treatment needs are addressed. Sincerely,
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