UN raises concern about 'dire' conditions in Canadian aboriginal community

UN raises concern about 'dire' conditions in Canadian aboriginal community

2011-12-22 15:09:04 GMT+7 (ICT)

NEW YORK (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations has raised its concern about the 'dire' socio-economic conditions in the Attawapiskat aboriginal community in east-central Canada, and called on the government to take action.

James Anaya, Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, said in a news release that many members of the reserve live in unheated shacks or trailers with no running water. The Attawapiskat First Nation, which declared a state of emergency earlier in the fall over a lack of suitable housing, is a remote community in northern Ontario comprised of about 1,800 members.

Anaya said he has been in touch with the Canadian Government to voice his deep concern about the conditions, adding that the situation is particularly serious as winter approaches. The area faces temperatures as low as minus 28 degrees Celsius (-18.4 degrees Fahrenheit).

"The social and economic situation of the Attawapiskat seems to represent the condition of many First Nation communities living on reserves throughout Canada, which is allegedly akin to Third World conditions," he stated. "Yet, this situation is not representative of non-aboriginal communities in Canada, a country with overall human rights indicators scoring among the top of all countries of the world."

Anaya also noted that aboriginal communities face higher rates of poverty and unemployment, and poorer health compared to non-aboriginal people. He asked the Canadian government to clarify what it is doing to address the disparate social and economic conditions of First Nations communities.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-12-22