A morning of mixed emotions

When I woke up this morning, all I could think about was how chilly it was in my home. I hit the snooze button several times as I dreaded getting out of bed and having to take a shower in temperatures that hovered around 17C. The furnace doesn’t kick in until later.

As I stare at myself in the mirror I turned on the tap so that I can wet my toothbrush and begin brushing my teeth, I began an internal dialogue about Attawapiskat. No running water, no bathrooms, no heat, lack of housing! I ask myself, What can I do to help our people? I’m only a graphic designer, this problem is much bigger than me. Attawapiskat isn’t the only community that is suffering, but their plight is most dire.

I hop into the shower, ahh… warmth envelops me. I ask myself more questions, there isn’t much time for these families, winter is already upon them. How quickly can we mobilize a response? My heart begins to race, as I think of the grandmothers, grandfathers and the little ones huddled together in cramped quarters – freezing. A sense of urgency and anxiety sets in. Tears well up in my eyes as I pour shampoo on my head. Our people need help!!!

For the next ten minutes, I stand in the shower as more thoughts and ideas race through my mind. At what point did the Chief and Council finally decide to take action, and declare a state of emergency? Will that online petition really motivate the government into action? There is a lot of online chattering occurring on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+. Charlie Angus — Member of Parliament, Timmins-James Bay wrote an article entitled “What if they declared an Emergency and no one came?” That piece gave the issue a huge boost in publicity, with over 17,000 Facebook shares and 40,000 Likes and counting.

How did our people get to this state? Thoughts of the book, Dances with Dependency by Calvin Helin creep into my mind. Some memorable quotes:

“Money has been liberally thrown at Indian problems with nominal impact”,

“How long are we prepared to leave the plight of Aboriginal children and youth in the unkind hands of the welfare trap? How many more families need to fall as casualties of a fatal “welfare syndrome” — one that is literally stealing the lives and hopes of our future generations? We have to shake off the apathy of what has become an all too comfortable “cloak of welfare” and act to fix the problems now.”

“The tears and broken hearts of thousands of mothers and grandmothers should be enough to convince anyone that we must take action now.”

We are too dependant on the Canadian government. They want us to fail, to disappear into history. The indian problem will finally be solved. Perhaps this is why those bureaucrats in Ottawa drag their feet at the expense of those suffering in the cold. These are deep questions that went way beyond the current housing problem in Attawapiskat.

I turn around and face the shower-head as water droplets tumble out, washing away the soap suds and tears.

As I look down at the drain near my feet. I begin to feel something else well up within me. A sense of determination? A sense of pride. This is yet another battle to be won. If we can mobilize a protest and set-up road blocks within a few days, why can’t we mobilize again? As awareness continues to grow, perhaps a fundraiser is in order? Although it’s a short-term solution every bit counts.

Let’s begin:

There are plenty of very successful aboriginal folks out there. We are talking about writers, reporters, lawyers, business men and women, the bloggers, artists and musicians. Heck, there are non-aboriginal folks that want to support us too!

Perhaps the quickest and most immediate way to help is to hold a few fundraising concerts in support of Attawapiskat.

We can then think about establishing a more long term solution, an organization that receives funding from industry and the private sectors who want to be apart of the solution to the housing problems that plague First Nation’s communities throughout Turtle Island. An Indigenous version of Habitat for Humanity or the Red Cross perhaps.

Heck, we can even produce a Television show based upon the same model as Extreme Home Makeover. Do we have an Indian type character comparable to Ty Pennington? Heck ya! Do we have First Nations’ people in the trades? Heck ya! Do we have the resources to produce a show like that? Heck ya!

You know that TV show with Mike Holmes? Perhaps, we can send in a request to his handlers about producing a few episodes where he goes north and helps some communities — To Make it Right!

I turn around, turn off the water, open the shower door and hop back out. Warm, clean and ready to take on the world. Do you have any possible solutions? Join the conversation.

N.B. as of this post, it’s been reported by APTN that the Red Cross is stepping in to assist those in the Attawapiskat crisis.