Sol Mamakwa MPP for Kiiwetinoong

QUEEN’S PARK – Sol Mamakwa, MPP for Kiiwetinoong and the NDP’s Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation critic, is calling on Doug Ford to meet with Neskantaga and finally provide the community with access to clean drinking water, after a scathing Auditor General’s report showed the Ford government is failing to engage with Indigenous communities, and is not coordinating services to improve their lives.
 
“The Auditor General reported that Indigenous Peoples, our Nations, are not engaged in the development of government programs and policies that impact us,” said Mamakwa. “This is racism, oppression and colonialism in action.
 
“The repercussions of not engaging with Indigenous communities are dire.  We see it being played out on the lives and health of the people of Neskantaga who have no clean drinking water.
 
"Neskantaga needs the premier’s attention now. They need clean drinking water now.
 
“Is the premier’s help on the way today, for the people of Neskantaga?”
 
The Chief of Neskantaga wrote the premier this week for his commitment in helping them to access clean water as human beings, Ontarians, and Treaty rights holders.
 
“Not helping is violence,” said Mamakwa. “With this global pandemic hurting the economy, we understand that development of the Far North is an essential part of your recovery plan. Without respect for Treaty No. 9, and support for Neskantaga’s basic human rights, this government has no right to request development on our treaty territories.
 
“Will the premier meet with Neskantaga to discuss their nation’s access to clean water?”