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Suicide crisis protests at Indigenous Affairs offices spread across Canada
INAC offices in Winnipeg, April 14, 2016.
#OccupyINAC protesters demand action on suicide crisis
CBC News, April 15, 2016
Demonstrators calling themselves #OccupyINAC have taken over two Indigenous and Northern Affairs offices and forced the department to close six more buildings to the public.
The protests began in Toronto, where around 30 people took over part of the Indigenous Affairs office on April 13. One day later, a similar occupation began in the department’s downtown Winnipeg office.
Demonstrations have since been held outside offices in Regina and Gatineau, Que.
In an email to CBC News, a department spokesperson said offices across the country have been affected by the protests. Read the rest of this entry
Official Statement from #OccupyINAC Winnipeg
Winnipeg INAC occupation, April 15, 2016.
Day 2, Friday, April 15, 2016
INAC Office, Winnipeg, Anishinaabe Territory
Written by consensus from the collective
In the spirit of peace, love and solidarity with our relatives at #OccupyINAC Toronto, we have been peacefully gathering since yesterday morning at the Manitoba regional office of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, a department which derives its mandate from the racist colonial legislation called, The Indian Act.
Aboriginal protesters occupy federal office buildings across Canada, demanding Trudeau visit Attawapiskat
Occupation of Winnipeg offices of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), April 14, 2016.
by Victor Ferreira, National Post, April 14, 2016
TORONTO — Several groups of indigenous activists have occupied the offices of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada in Toronto and staged a sit-in in Winnipeg, demanding that Justin Trudeau visits a northern Ontario community struggling with a recent spate of suicide attempts.
A group of about 30 people first occupied the Toronto building around 10 a.m. on Wednesday morning, police said. The protest has been peaceful, police said. A second group of activists occupied the Winnipeg INAC offices Thursday evening. There are reports that a third group has occupied an INAC office near James Bay in northern Ontario. Read the rest of this entry
Winnipeg Indigenous and Northern Affairs office occupied by protesters
Protesters say they are taking over the Indigenous and Northern Affairs office in Winnipeg “in support of our brothers and sisters across Turtle Island.” (Raquel Lynn Lavallee/Facebook)
Protesters at INAC office on Hargrave Street call for help for First Nations in crisis
CBC News, April 14, 2016
Protesters have occupied an Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada office in downtown Winnipeg.
“We have officially occupied INAC in Winnipeg in support of our brothers and sisters across Turtle Island!!!!” organizer Raquel Lavallee posted on Facebook. Read the rest of this entry
Ontario to spend up to $2M to help Attawapiskat First Nation
Money will pay salaries of mental health workers, nurses and security, fund youth centre
CBC News, April 13, 2016
Ontario Health Minister Eric Hoskins announced Wednesday that the provincial government will dedicate up to $2 million toward long-term solutions to prevent suicide attempts in the troubled Attawapiskat First Nation.
The money will pay for continuous mental health support, and night and evening nursing clinical support, including four mental health workers, up to five nurses, two security staff, one communications person and an incident manager. A youth centre will also be set up. Read the rest of this entry
Idle No More, Black Lives Matter protesters occupy Toronto Indigenous and Northern Affairs office
A protester stands on a desk in the Indian and Northern Affairs Canada office Wednesday. Protesters occupied the office to urge Ottawa to address the Attawapiskat, Ont., suicide crisis. (Facebook / Idle No More Toronto)
Protest to urge government action during Attawapiskat suicide crisis has been non-violent, say police
By Chantal Da Silva, CBC News, April 13, 2016
Protesters have been occupying the Toronto office of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) since mid-morning, demanding that the federal government take action following a recent spate of suicide attempts in Attawapiskat First Nation in northern Ontario. Read the rest of this entry
Attawapiskat declares state of emergency over spate of suicide attempts
Among the 2,000 citizens of Attawapiskat on remote James Bay, 101 people have tried to kill themselves, with one person dying, since September, according to the First Nation’s chief. (CBC)
Chief Bruce Shisheesh desperate for mental health services after 11 attempts on Saturday night alone
By Kate Rutherford, CBC News, April 9, 2016
The chief and council for the Attawapiskat First Nation on remote James Bay have declared a state of emergency, saying they’re overwhelmed by the number of attempted suicides in the community.
On Saturday night alone, 11 people attempted to take their own lives, Chief Bruce Shisheesh said. Read the rest of this entry
Diamond mine ice road blockade shifts to Attawapiskat River
By Jorge Barrera, APTN National News, Feb, 2013
Aerial view of De Beers Canada Victor diamond mine, 90 km from the Attawapiskat reserve in northern Ontario.
A nearly three week-long diamond mine ice road blockade was moved to a section crossing the Attawapiskat River while seven of the individuals involved in the protest prepared for a court appearance in Timmins, Ont., Friday. Read the rest of this entry
OPP meets with Attawapiskat blockaders while band awaits De Beers response
By Jorge Barrera, APTN National News, Feb, 2013
Attawapiskat blockade of De Beers Victor diamond mine, Feb 13, 2013.
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Aboriginal liaison officers met with the Attawapiskat diamond mine ice road blockaders on Monday afternoon while the band council waited for De Beers to endorse an agreement that would end the now nine-day protest that has severed the mining giant’s overland supply route. Read the rest of this entry
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