It’s been a year since the First Nations community of Attawapiskat declared a state of emergency.

It got so big, the whole thing sparked a nationwide conversation on the conditions on First Nations reserves across the country.

And the conversation hasn’t stopped.

Timmins-James Bay MP and NDP Leadership hopeful Charlie Angus was on the ground last year to talk with residents and leaders and looking at the conditions now, he says it doesn’t seem like the federal government took notice at all.

“The federal government has not learned any lessons on this crisis,” he told the Rogers Media newsroom, “We’re still losing young people all across Northern Canada and (the) James Bay region because they won’t put the services in, they won’t put the money in to do the preventative work, to work with the young people and make things better.”

As much as that paints a dark picture, there are positives throughout all this according to Angus.

He praises people like Chelsea Edwards and Robert Sutherland of Attawapiskat, who have been tireless promoters on the hardships First Nations youth face this day and age.

“(They) are really taking the issue of their future and trying to build a better world,” he said, referring to them as “incredible young leaders.”

No doubt, the community has seen it’s share of set backs over the last 12 months, one of them being the flooding of a brand new elementary school this past January.

While the school has since opened back up, it serves as a stark reminder that services can be put in, but it needs to be done right the first time.  Or else, they’ll be starting from square one again.

Filed under: Local News