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MEETING WITH THE MINISTRY OF THE INDIGENOUS AND NORTHERN AFFAIRS CANADA

BEARSKIN LAKE FIRST NATION

COMMUNITY MEETING WITH THE MINISTRY OF THE INDIGENOUS AND NORTHERN AFFAIRS OF CANADA (INAC)

DATE: SATURDAY APRIL 16, 2016 WHERE: YOUTH CENTRE TIME: 10:30 AM - 12:45 PM

BRUNCH TO BE PROVIDED FROM 10:30 AM TO 12:45 PM WHILE MEETING

IS IN PROGRESS

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MEETING WITH THE MINISTRY OF THE INDIGENOUS AND NORTHERN AFFAIRS CANADA

Saturday April 16, 2016 YOUTH CENTRE

Time: 10:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. AGENDA

Time Issue/Activity Key Points of Discussion

9:30 am Tour of Bearskin Lake by Chief Rosemary McKay, Councillor Gary Kamenawatamin, and

Councillor Stewart Kamenawatamin

The Ministry of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, Assembly of First Nations, and Nishnawbe-Aski Nation will see deplorable infrastructure and housing conditions on reserve

10:30 am 1. Opening prayer by Tommy Fiddler

A Christian blessing

10:35 am 2. Opening comments by Chief Rosemary McKay

An overview of the community and social and economic issues affecting First Nations and business outcomes to be expected from this meeting

10:40 am 3. INAC Minister Carroll Bennett and Mauricette Howett, Regional Director General

Opening comments, announcements, and business arising from the Federal Budget concerning First Nations including reasons for visit and outcomes to be expected by INAC and the First Nations in Canada and Ontario

10:50 am 4. Policy development (energy, finances, economic development, etc.)

Sara Welch, Director of Policy and Regional Affairs

10:55 am 5. Housing – Stewart Kamenawatamin, Councillor

Housing shortage – 60% off reserve

Short winter road season - freight

Abandoned buildings/diesel fuel spillage

Mold in homes/remediation for mold - 70% of renovations is used to

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MEETING WITH THE MINISTRY OF THE INDIGENOUS AND NORTHERN AFFAIRS CANADA

combat mold and training is required

Issues with asthma, illnesses, and respiratory health

Holding tanks need support/rotted wood

Mold resistant housing supplies are needed (long term investment)

Weather impacts on houses/harsh northern climate

Building codes to be revised for northern climates

Foundation and need for gravel

Japanese technology for foundations

$92 G is issued - $45 G used for manager and office rental

11:05 am 6. Steven Chapman and the Michikan Lake School students

Song in Anishiniimowin

11:10 am 7. Health – Gary Kamenawatamin

Suicide, addictions, over crowding in houses

Prescription drug abuse

Need inventory and infrastructure for Suboxone program

Need for healing/cultural centre

Community Centre has not been finished since 1991 (tour of facility to follow post meeting)

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MEETING WITH THE MINISTRY OF THE INDIGENOUS AND NORTHERN AFFAIRS CANADA

New training equipment needed for youth centre (fitness, pool tables, games)

Unprofessional work and opinions done by optometrists, nurses, and medical staff

Mandatory cultural sensitivity and anti-racism needed for medical professionals

Lack of medical equipment – needs upgrading, i.e. dental

Cancer screening and infections are ignored

Certain medicines are not covered with status cards (dermatology, skin and respiratory)

Medication and antibiotics not available (dangerous practices)

Lack of medical specialists and extremely long wait times (foot doctors)

Lethal diabetes and treatment needed

Database/record keeping of medical history needs to be upgraded

Lack of elders' care, nursing homes and long term care

Disabilities in children due to drug and alcohol abuse by mothers

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MEETING WITH THE MINISTRY OF THE INDIGENOUS AND NORTHERN AFFAIRS CANADA

Long term effects of Suboxone dependency

11:25 pm 8. Joe Beardy – Healthy living and physical activity

Need for a walkway and funds

Cultural significance 11:30 pm 9. Water and Sewage –

Head Councillor Robert Kamenawatamin

NEED FOR NEW WATER AND SEWER TRUCKS

High cost of maintenance of water and sewer trucks due to lack of road infrastructure and isolation

Life span should be 7 years (actual 3-4 years) for water and sewer trucks

New trucks are fitted for southern environment not good for northern harsh environment (computer programming)

Training needs – mechanics and drivers

Maintenance management system – drivers, mechanics,

Need for mechanic (long term commitment)

Assessment and inventory on trucks – water and sewer crisis

Shipping of parts are expensive and up sales

WATER PLANT AND LAGOON – HEALTH AND SAFETY Drinking water is important

Need a computerized system

Heating system needs to be replaced

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MEETING WITH THE MINISTRY OF THE INDIGENOUS AND NORTHERN AFFAIRS CANADA

Water pipelines are corroded and new heat trace lines need to be installed

Heating is an issue at water plant

Generator needs upgrading as it’s over twenty-years old

Panel boxes need upgrading (not up to standard)

Lagoon has reached its capacity and raw sewage reabsorbs into drinking water each spring

SOIL AND REMEDIATION

The main land and downtown business/residential area has fuel absorbed in the soil approximately 2 sq. km

INAC and Northern store are responsible for fuel spillage

Soil remediation is required Bearskin Lake cannot

develop core area/downtown

FUEL STORAGE Fuel storage compound is

needed to meet codes (heating oil, gasoline, and diesel)

Fuelling system – A fuel tank (225,000 L) and fence are needed

Fuel spillage on ground/increased environmental damage

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MEETING WITH THE MINISTRY OF THE INDIGENOUS AND NORTHERN AFFAIRS CANADA

(decrease handling of the fuel)

Fuel handling training is needed

Fuel truck needed Fuel tanks needed at

buildings/garages Community awareness

training is needed

Proper equipment for fuel inspection, transportation, and fuel cleanups are needed

Fuel/Petroleum management training is needed

11:40 pm 10. Policing, peacekeeping, and justice – Councillor Gary Kamenawatamin

No funding for peacekeepers (transportation) is funded by Casino Rama

Cameras needed due to contraband smuggling issues at Post Canada

Wasaya Airways carries postal mail – need for screening methods

Need for screening building (Indian Act requirement)

11:45 pm 11. Band Equipment – Councillor George Kamenawatamin

Heavy Equipment need repairs but cannot be worked on because there are no funds

All heavy equipment in poor condition

Using tandem trucks but need rock carrying trucks

New grater is needed Plow truck to do the

community roads

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MEETING WITH THE MINISTRY OF THE INDIGENOUS AND NORTHERN AFFAIRS CANADA

Crawler (tractor for building logging roads)

Bridges are required for roads to be developed

Winter road equipment needs: groomer, plow truck, fuel trucks – 2 pickup trucks required

Argo is required for emergencies

Rock crusher for local infrastructure and training dollars required (granular sizes vary)

Aggregate/quarry sites to be used that are on reserve to be used for local infrastructure

Roads in poor condition and need resurfacing

Culverts are required for water crossings

Calcium required to prevent dust

Warehouses need repairs and expansion

Big garage needed for heavy equipment and land allocated

Bus shelter 12:00 pm 12. AFN Chief Perry

Bellegarde 5 minutes

12:05 pm 13. NAN Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler

5 minutes

12:10 pm 14. NAN Housing & Infrastructure Director Michael McKay

5 minutes

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MEETING WITH THE MINISTRY OF THE INDIGENOUS AND NORTHERN AFFAIRS CANADA

12:15 pm 15. Issues and concerns by community members (25 minutes)

Open forum from all guests to answer questions by the community members

12:40 pm 16. Chief Rosemary McKay Concluding remarks and gifts 12:45 pm 17. Closing prayer - TBA INAC to depart to airport (15

minutes to airport)