Attawapiskat Trip – Highlights

on Jan 06 in Blog by tnaadmin

The days following the distribution were highlights for us. We had prepared several boxes to distribute personally to people in their homes and at the temporary shelters where people are housed in large construction trailers.

We knew that there were people who had not been able to make it out to the arena or the hall. We wanted to visit the poorest of the poor. Menacing sewage problems and mold contamination had forced these residents out of their homes and into temporary tent-shelters and trailers. As we visited their tiny makeshift homes, disparity confronted us. Desperate to keep warm and sheltered, people were living everywhere in unsafe environments where the risk of fire was menacing and the lack of access to clean water and sanitation was deplorable.

Armed with boxes of food, clothing, blankets, and electric heaters, we were welcomed into one young mother’s tent. It was not much bigger than my ensuite bathroom and suddenly all of the things that I thought I couldn’t possibly live without began to nag at my conscience.

Lisa looked to be about 20 or 21 years old and had four young children to care for living in this tent that was being heated with an old, rusty woodstove. In Attawapiskat firewood has to be shipped onto the reservation and costs about $180 a cord. In the sub-zero temperatures a cord of wood doesn’t last long – so just keeping warm is expensive. In Lisa’s tiny space, a bathroom or even a sink would have been a luxury. But, this was one luxury she and her little family had to do without, since there was no plumbing or running water anyway. I could sense Lisa’s love and dedication to her kids as she told us a little about them. Lydia was her eldest child and looked to be about 6. Lydia’s siblings included two brothers about 5 and 3 and a sister about 2. Tristan (the five year old) had recently been diagnosed with autism. Despite her meager surroundings, and all the challenges that Lisa faced on a daily basis, she smiled and welcomed us into her home. The kids quickly rallied around us as we passed out candy, punching balloons, and toys. The best gift, however, was the food and winter clothing that Lisa was so obviously thankful for.

The scene in another home we visited was quite different. Here an elderly lady – caring for five of her grandchildren, greeted us. These little kids were being raised by their kookum because their father had committed suicide the year before and their mother was absent – battling addiction. Smiles beamed across these children’s faces as we brought them brand new snowsuits, toys, and clothing!

In the remaining time after the distribution, we visited many homes and met so many great people. Everyone was so thankful for all that we brought, and we were happy to know the difference it was making in their lives. Our last stop was to the oldest home in the community where two of the elders lived. These aged men were unable to make it out to the distribution centre and were really in need of food. We brought them heaters, flour, rice, sugar … and so much more. They were especially happy to get flour to make the bannock that is a staple of their diet. We wished we’d had more time to hear more of the amazing stories these old timers had to tell!