A few years ago people died on this reserve because the water was so contaminated with sewage. The government was notified and did very little to help. Now with constant flooding in the area it seems as though the problem is still persistent.1) Should they move them or not? What would be effects of a move?
2) How is this related to large hydroelectric dams in the area?
3) Imagine if this happened in a non-reserve area? What would be the reaction by the government? Any different?
4) Would you ever go to a northern, fly-in, reserve and work or live there? Why or why not?
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/kaschechewan-flooding-costs-government-millions-year-after-year-1.2641039
It's upsetting to see not only that so many people are being forced out of their homes, but that it's happening time and time again. Living in an area that's affected by flooding and sewer backups would be difficult even in a one-time situation; dealing with the long-term damage would be enough to dent even the most affluent residents' wallets. But the fact that the natives are having to endure the same routine of evacuation several years in a row is really quite embarrassing for the government whose plans to protect the community were supposed to cut out the flooding issue long ago.
ReplyDeleteI'll make a point of not highlighting the shift in government power that led to the abandonment of last decade's $500 million proposal to relocate the community to a safer location (a plan which, personally, I support, at the very least for the people who would be willing to leave). Interesting that the more cost-efficient option of "flood protection" hasn't, in fact, protected from floods. Though I don't want to jump to conclusions, I can't help but suspect that the government would be acting a bit less passively to provide protection and compensation for these victims if they weren't living on a reserve. They've put up with a lot over the past few years, and it seems the government's desire to save money on the ordeal has caused them to overlook the residents' actual wellbeing. I hope for their sake that the MP of the region, who clearly recognizes the issue, is able to get the government on board for some legitimate, if not more expensive, aid.
A very similar story of another First Nations community (seeing a trend?) suffering from flooding:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/attawapiskat-evacuation-begins-due-to-flood-threat-1.2646414
Great points, Maggie! You really did your research and I certainly agree with your stance
Deletethis is my weekly post,
ReplyDeleteFlooding is becoming a very present problem all over the world and the devastating effects are reaching people in our own province. The flooding in Kaschechewan has cost the government millions in damage costs every year. Now this is not the real problem, the problem is the government refuses to realize the real solution is going through with the plan they original proposed which was to spend $500 million on moving the community to higher ground as stated in the article. I think the reason that this hasn’t happened has everything to do with the fact that it’s a reserve. There is a large list of problems with the reserves in Canada, one of which being the government does not do enough for the people who live on them. I personally believe that as soon as the government realized flooding was in issue in the area they would’ve come up with a plan and followed through with it. Instead of spending millions are trying to fix the damage they could’ve prevented in some way. If the flooding had been affecting a non-reserve area, the government would have immediately gone into action. It just shows the there is a lot of bias in our government towards native Canadians. Here is an article that was written by Jonathon Kay about the problems found on native reserves.
http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2013/01/10/jonathan-kay-whats-wrong-with-remote-native-reserves-lets-ask-a-doctor-who-worked-there-for-43-years
it is absolutely shameful to see how little consideration the government has for the native people of Canada. The fact that flooding has had devastating effects upon Kaschechewan previously is unacceptable. It's becoming a trend that needs to be dealt with. This issue is costing the government a great deal of money to handle the aftermath of these floods and I feel as though the solution is to take precautions and protective measures to prevent damage, injuries, or worse. It is tragic that people are being forced to leave their homes. The government certainly owes the Canadian Natives for the pain and suffering that they've been put through in the (not so distant) past.
ReplyDeleteHere is an article that I found that further explains the devastating situation:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/05/11/kashechewan-flooding-evacuation_n_5307106.html
Great post Gabrielle! I agree that the First Nations people have the right to be outraged because they have been evacuated so much but really i think the best option is to re-locate their town in higher ground. The government can only stop the environment to a certain point. Clearly re-locating them every time there is a flood is not the answer. My parents lived in Sudbury when the first flood arose and they said that the First Nations people trashed their living quarters so badly that they refused to take any back. Clearly you can see there is an underlying issue of respect for the first nations people that we need to address.
DeleteI agree! They should take the precaution before hand and not have to deal with the aftermath, it would probably cost less money, and cause less harm to families!
DeleteThis is my weekly post
ReplyDeleteI do not believe they should be moved because it is the land their family’s have been living on for generations. I feel that is not their job to leave for others misdoings, the government and local communities should assist in developing the area with good infrastructure and ongoing work to make sure that the water safe. If this is the result of hydroelectric dams in the area. If this impacted a non reserve area there would be a very different reaction from the government.
I personally would not want to live in such conditions for an extended period of time and as a result I feel that those who are should receive the full assistance available to them. if they live on reserve land or in a city.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/clean-running-water-still-a-luxury-on-many-native-reserves-1.1081705
http://www.learnquebec.ca/en/content/curriculum/social_sciences/features/debate/top_hydro.html
I agree with dale, I don't beleive its a matter of the governement relocating the natives cause clearly they want to stay where they are. The real issue is the government so called "protecting" the native population but in reality they are just screwing them upstream and they are getting the runoff from industry just up the river. Canadian government and environmentalist should work together to see where industries can be conviently located to benefit all people rather than hurting one for the benefit of the other.
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