Grassroots Activists Seek Action on Attawapiskat
TORONTO – Grassroots Activists who have occupied the Toronto offices of Indigenous Affairs and Northern Development Canada say that they will stay put until their demands are met. This evening the group received a visit from Assembly of Manitoba Grand Chief Derek Nepinak.
The AMC Grand Chief says that the spirit of the youth must be respected. The Grand Chief reports that there has been smudge, signing, prayers, and drumming happening at the INAC Office.
Grand Chief Nepinak stated, “Although the police line has not blocked access to food and water, there is no reason why they should be blocking access to the bathroom. Living in an occupied state w less than proper access to services defies humanity and forces the occupied to compromise personal dignity and feeling devalued. This is a mental process that can break people down very quickly. In this case, the intent is to induce ppl to leave!! This is happening in our communities as well.. but there is nowhere for us to go!”
“What is happening on the 8th floor of INAC is a microcosm of a national problem. Peaceful people being viewed in a negative way. Viewed as disrupters in a world that is completely disrupted..no access to basic services that others take for granted”.
Joined by members of Black Lives Matter and Idle No More supporters, the group states that one of their demands is for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to go to Attawapiskat.
The group stated in a telephone interview that they want the Prime Minister to go and stay in Attawapiskat, to spend time there and find out for himself the issues the community faces.
