Media.Knet.Ca

Guests who attended the 16th NAN Business Awards on Wednesday evening, October 25th in Timmins saw Kasabonika win 2 business awards. Other winners are listed below in the newspaper article ...

'Executive of the Year' Award went to Deputy Chief Eno H. Anderson for all his hard work and leadership in economic development, business development, and infrastructural renewal as Kasabonika Lake First Nation rebuilds its' community for future growth. Major sponsor was Bearskin Air.'Building Communities' went to Kasabonika Lake First Nation in recognition of the turnaround the community has taken to come out of Co-Management after many years and enter surplus territory for the first time in a long time. Band members, leaders, Elders, and Youth sacrificed over many years before being able to constuct many new facilities, enter business agreements, and develop mutually beneficial relationships with private sector companies and government ministries and departments. Major sponsor was CMHC.

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From http://www.timminspress.com/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=246702&catname=Local+News&classif=

Aboriginal entrepreneurs recognized at awards cermony - Chelsey Romain - Thursday, October 26, 2006

In 1991, The Nishnawbe Aski Nation Business Awards began recognizing the businessman and businesswoman of the year with awards.

Today, the awards are presented for the achievement of Aboriginals in business in eight different categories.

On Wednesday representatives and award winners travelled to Timmins from First Nation communities spread across the large land mass that makes up the area known as Treaty No. 9.

"It's a time to recognize and celebrate Aboriginal achievement," said Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund (NADF) chairwoman Madeline Commanda .

"(It's also) inspiring existing entrepreneurs and business leaders in our communities," she said.

Those nominated for awards, were nominated by people who felt the entrepreneurs had made a positive contribution to their community; had demonstrated a commitment to their community, while having ethical business thinking and ran a successful, and well-managed business with sound financial management and success.

Stan Kapashesit and Jay Monture have been in the mobile DJ service in Moose Factory for 10 years, but have been partners in Solstice Production for four years.

Last year, the duo took home the youth entrepreneur award and this year were given the Partnership of the Year award.

"We basically took our hobby and turned it into a small business," said Monture.

"But I'm glad there are these kinds of awards to recognize small businesses."

Solstice Productions offers professional sound and lighting services to the Moosonee and Moose Factory area. Thanks to new equipment Kapashesit and Monture were able to obtain two large contracts this past summer which included Creefest 2006 and the National Cree Gathering in Moose Factory.

For Paul Kataquapit, it was an "interesting and nerve-wracking" experience as he picked up the award for Youth Entrepreneur of the Year.

Three years ago Kataquapit's father handed over full ownership and financial responsibility to Kataquapit and since then he has managed to expand the business allowing him to pursue larger contracts and projects.

"All the hard work paid off today," said Kataquapit, whose sister Janie won the same award two years ago. "It gives me more confidence and it recognized all my hard work."

Two years after the awards began, the event also became a fundraiser for the Dennis Franklin Cromarty Memorial Fund. Cromarty was a Grand Chief and president of the NADF. Today the fund provides bursaries to Aboriginal students furthering their education.

The Daily Press is a major sponsor of the awards.

"No question these businesses have done very well," said NADF president and chief executive officer Harvey Yesno. "They work in small communities where their market is the community. For them to succeed in that environment is incredible."

NADF helps with a number of areas when it comes to Aboriginal entrepreneurs, including helping with the start up, securing business financing and offering support services once the business is operating.

Yesno explained how over the years recipients of the awards have gone on either to corporate positions or have expanded their businesses to other communities, proving Aboriginal businesses are just as capable and credible as other small businesses.

"People are happy to hear other people have been successful," said Yesno. "Often it encourages people and we hope to keep at it. We need success stories and that's what's happening here."

The Nishnawbe Aski Nation Business Awards take place every year, rotating between the communities of Timmins and Thunder Bay.

Winners of the 16th annual Nishnawbe Aski Nation Business Awards announced on Wednesday:

• Youth Entrepreneur of the Year: Paul Kataquapit, Kataquapit Freight Service  
• Businessman of the Year: Dan Villars, Dan's Backhoe o/a Cut-Rite Firewood  
• Businesswoman of the Year: Diane Lacouciere, Mountjoy Variety  
• Executive of the Year: Eno H. Anderson  
• Partnership of the Year: Stan Kapashesit and Jay Monture, Solstice Productions  
• Development Corporation of the Year: Bamaji Lake Economic Development Corporation  
• Building Communities Award: Kasabonika Lake First Nation  
• NeeChee Achievement Award: WLON Distribution Ltd.

from http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2006/10/25/suicide-meet.html

End media silence about suicide, lieutenant-governor urges - Thursday, October 26, 2006

The problem of suicide needs to garner more media attention to stop the "out-of-sight and out-of-mind epidemic" that is decimating many aboriginal communities, particularly northern ones, Ontario's lieutenant-governor has warned.

Most Canadians know nothing of the despair experienced by young aboriginal people, Ontario's Lt.-Gov. James Bartleman said at the Canadian Association of Suicide Prevention conference in Toronto on Wednesday.

"I was shocked by the out-of-sight and out-of-mind epidemic of suicides that is ravaging aboriginal communities, not all aboriginal communities, but too many, especially in Nunavut and in northern Ontario," Bartleman said.

He blames the country's ignorance on the media's reluctance to cover the issue.

Suicide should be talked about "because until we feel comfortable enough about dealing with these issues, the problems will just fester untreated," he said.

Don't sensationalize suicide, expert warns

However, Dr. Annette Beautrais of New Zealand, warned that the media must proceed cautiously to avoid sensationalizing stories.

"The media assisted in de-stigmatizing domestic violence, in de-stigmatizing childhood sexual abuse, but those issues didn't carry the risk of copycat or imitation suicidal behaviour amongst vulnerable individuals in the population," said Beautrais.

Clear international guidelines need to be established on how to deal with suicides in the media, she said.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation press release

NAN water emergencies continue one year after Kashechewan

     THUNDER BAY, ON, Oct. 26 /CNW/ - On the one year anniversary of the evacuation of Kashechewan First Nation and recent declarations of water emergencies in three additional Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) communities, NAN Grand Chief Stan Beardy, together with Mushkegowuk Council Grand Chief Stan Louttit and Assembly of First Nations Ontario Regional Chief Angus Toulouse, today demanded safe drinking water become a priority of the federal government during a news conference in Toronto.

     "Nineteen of NAN's 49 First Nation communities are under a boil water advisory - three of which have declared water emergencies in the past three weeks," said NAN Grand Chief Stan Beardy who represents First Nation communities within James Bay Treaty 9, including Kashechewan. "With statistics like that and without immediate action by the Government of Canada, the threat of another tragedy like Kashechewan seems imminent."

     After over 1000 residents of Kashechewan First Nation were evacuated due to unsafe drinking water and resulting failing health in October 2005, the former Liberal Government of Canada outlined specific commitments to the James Bay coastal community in the areas of water, health, housing, and social services.

     "All governments committed to improving water management in First Nations communities during last November's First Ministers Meeting on Aboriginal Affairs in Kelowna, B.C. This was partly as a response to the outcry among Canadians about the deplorable conditions faced by Kashechewan," recalled Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Fontaine. "The commitment, however, has not been honoured by the new Conservative Government. Instead, an Action Plan for First Nations drinking water was announced in March, but no report to Canadians about progress achieved, if any, has been made. And, the needs in communities continue to grow."

     Despite various attempts urging Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) Jim Prentice to commit the Harper Government to the Kelowna Accord, one year later three additional NAN communities have declared similar water emergencies.

     Fearing increased risk to the health and safety of community members, Marten Falls, Pikangikum, and Attawapaskat First Nations have declared water emergencies in the past three weeks due to lack of capacity of water treatment plants, filtration and turbidity levels, contaminated intakes, and traces of carcinogens.

     NAN presented these concerns in a written submission to the federal Safe Drinking Water Panel in Thunder Bay, August 2006.

     Mushkegowuk Council Grand Chief Stan Louttit is a member of the expert panel on safe drinking water that toured Canada hosting public forums to hear presentations from First Nations, government agencies, and other stakeholders regarding options regulating water on reserves across Canada. He also represents NAN communities part of Mushkegowuk Tribal Council, including Kashechewan and Attawapiskat.

     "As a panel member, a community member, and as a person who has been impacted by the problem of safe drinking water on reserves directly, I know the issues highlighted during the safe drinking water panel discussions are real," said Mushkegowuk Council Grand Chief Stan Louttit, adding some of the common themes during presentations to the panel included lack of capacity for operating water treatment plants and training operators and water contamination from resource development. "Water is a basic human right, yet access to clean water is a problem for First Nations across the country. It's time the Government of Canada recognize the urgency on the national level. Peoples' lives are at risk."

     "The sheer number of First Nations across Canada with unsafe water is unacceptable," said AFN Ontario Regional Chief Angus Toulouse. "This situation is shameful and a stain on Canada's self-image as a fair and just country."

     Ontario passed Bill 43 - Clean Water Act (2006) last week and the provincial Minister for Aboriginal Affairs David Ramsay has made recent public statements regarding the need for the Government of Canada to come to the table regarding access to safe drinking water in the province's First Nations.

     "We welcome Ontario's support and look forward to seeing the funds that will bring our First Nations up to the standards that are currently taken for granted by the average Ontarian who has the luxury of simply turning on the tap and not thinking twice, however safe drinking water in First Nation communities remains a federal issue and we need quicker, more immediate action from the Government of Canada," said Beardy.

-30-

/For further information: Jenna Young, Director of Communications, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, (807) 625-4952, (807) 628-3953 mobile; Bryan Hendry, A/Director of Communications, Assembly of First Nations, (613) 241-6789 ext. 229, (613) 293-6106 mobile; Pam Hunter, Communications Advisor, Chiefs of Ontario, (613) 203-3233/

Attawapiskat First Nation Press Release ...

Water NOT Safe to Drink, Attawapiskat First Nation - INAC Refuses to Support Health Canada Experts

Attawapiskat, Ontario – October 24, 2006. INAC’s senior representatives will not back Health Canada’s Expert Dr. Courteau M.D. who confirmed, late last week, that the water in Attawapiskat First Nation is safe to drink.

The expert opinion of Dr. Courteau was the basis of INAC’s refusal to provide the community of Attawapiskat with bottled water.

Despite using Dr. Courteau’s expert opinion to deny Attawapiskat First Nation’s request for bottled water, Senior INAC officials refused to sign a letter assuring the community that the water was safe for human consumption last night at a public community meeting held in Attawapiskat First Nation. INAC also remained steadfast in their refusal to provide bottled water to the community.

The Chief of Attawapiskat delivered the report of the First Nations Engineering Services Ltd. on Attawapiskat’s water portability to the Minister of Indian Affairs on September 15th. The INAC officials present at the community meeting stated they would not sign a letter confirming the safety of the water because they did not have a copy of the water reports and had not reviewed them. INAC relies on its counterpart, Health Canada, for such expert advice and opinion.

The Attawapiskat First Nation is leary of any verbal commitments made by INAC to perform the immediate repairs needed at the water treatment plant in the community. INAC has still to come through with verbal commitments made to remediate an oil spill in the community, to demolish a condemned school and to build a new one in its place. Chief Carpenter explained “With INAC’s track record, I have no reason to believe that INAC will come through with any verbal commitment made with respect to this issue. Based on previous experience with INAC, our community’s distrust should not be a surprise.”

Attawapiskat Chief Carpenter stated that he had no choice but to interpret INAC’s refusal to sign the letters presented to them by the community’s working group on water quality, as a statement that they do not concur with Health Canada’s opinion that the water is in fact safe to drink.

Mushkegowuk Council Grand Chief Stan Louttit, who was a member of Canada’s Expert Water Panel mandated to travel the country hearing concerns about water quality in First Nation communities, stated that he could not understand INAC’s reluctance to provide the community with the assurance it needs, “I hear INAC saying the water is unsafe…and I will work with Chief Carpenter and Attawapiskat to find a resolution to this issue.”

Attawapiskat Deputy Chief Miriam Wesley reminded INAC that many issues were brought to INAC’s attention upon the beginning of the Council’s term in 2004; “We brought these issues to your attention, INAC asked ‘what is it you want, Chief?’ Chief Carpenter informed you of the most pressing issues faced by our community. Now we are in our 3rd year and our term ends this summer and still nothing has been done – it’s like working with a turtle. We can’t wait anymore.”

The school has been closed due to the community state of emergency declared by the Chief and Council. Immediate repairs of the water treatment plant are required and had INAC signed the letter concurring with Health Canada’s opinion that the water was safe, the children of the community would not be at risk of losing their school year. As a result of the impasse of last night’s meeting, the Chief and Council felt they had no choice but to uphold the declaration of a State of Emergency meaning the school remains closed.

Contact information

Chief Mike Carpenter @ 705-997-2166
Deputy Chief Miriam Wesley @ 705-997-2166

It is interesting to watch who is actually receiving First Nation dollars from INAC .... "negogiators", "police overtime", "land developers", "local home owners", "provincial governments" ... makes one wonder if the First Nations involved will ever receive any compensation?

From http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=bd1c1b9d-f08d-4afa-80a2-b40b048b4de6&rfp=dta&p=1

Ontario to ask feds for more than $25M to cover native occupation: McGuinty
Chinta Puxley, Canadian Press - Tuesday, October 24, 2006

TORONTO (CP) - Ottawa must pony up at least $25 million to cover the costs of an ongoing aboriginal occupation in Ontario, Premier Dalton McGuinty said Tuesday as he pressed the federal government to end what's being called the longest-running police operation in Canadian history.

The province's taxpayers shouldn't have to foot the bill for reimbursing local businesses, paying provincial negotiator Jane Stewart's $1,300-a-day salary and buying the land in question - a moribund housing development in Caledonia, Ont., south of Hamilton, McGuinty said.

"That doesn't include any additional costs connected with...policing, and we'll wait and see what we're looking at there," McGuinty said.

The final cost "certainly could be higher," he added.

The total cost of the occupation, which began in February when protesters from the neighbouring Six Nations reserve took control of the property, could be as high as $55 million with police overtime factored in, according to estimates by the Opposition Conservatives.

"The federal government has really been AWOL on this whole matter," said Finance Minister Greg Sorbara.

"It's time now they make their presence felt and they make their presence felt financially as well."

McGuinty said David Ramsay, the minister responsible for aboriginal affairs, was to meet this week with his federal counterpart to discuss compensation.

But Deirdra McCracken, spokesperson for Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice, said no meeting is scheduled and Prentice won't respond until he gets a formal request for funding.

"They're saying they're going to ask us, but we haven't received anything official yet and, until we do, we won't be commenting on it," McCracken said. The federal government has a negotiator at the table and has been actively involved in the talks to resolve the land claim, she added.

Ramsay said he'll be talking to Prentice by phone this week and hopes to arrange a face-to-face meeting next week.

"I'm going to present to him some ideas of how the federal government can be a financial contributor to what we're doing there and how they could become the dominant player in the negotiations, as they should be."

While critics accuse McGuinty of shirking responsibility for the ongoing occupation, more groups are joining the call for Ottawa to take ownership of the standoff.

Karl Walsh, president of the association that represents provincial police officers, said Ottawa seems virtually invisible on the Caledonia file, even though aboriginal land claims are a federal responsibility.

Ottawa should be stepping up efforts to resolve the dispute, and should send RCMP officers to help police the town, he added.

Walsh called Caledonia the longest-running police operation in Canada's history. The only operation that comes close, he said, is the 1990 aboriginal standoff in Oka, Que., when Kanesatake Mohawks set up a blockade to prevent encroachment onto a burial ground. It ended after 78 days.

"It's got to be costing money," Walsh said. "Enough's enough. We've been bearing the burden down there when it's a federal issue."

Ken Hewitt of the Caledonia Citizens' Alliance said many town residents agree the federal government isn't playing a large enough role in the dispute.

The alliance has been calling on the federal government to increase its profile in closed-door negotiations that seem to be moving far too slowly, Hewitt said.

"People want their lives back."

Opposition critics say the Ontario government is blaming Ottawa for its own bungled handling of the occupation. McGuinty realizes the standoff has lasted far too long and is now looking for someone else to take responsibility, said Conservative member Elizabeth Witmer.

"It's like everything else - they're simply not managing issues in this province in the best interests of taxpayers so they just push everything onto the federal government."

New Democrat Leader Howard Hampton said blaming other levels of government won't end the occupation and resolve the land claim.

"I think the public is sick and tired of that kind of scapegoating," he said.

Six Nations protesters descended on the property in late February, but it was April when police moved in, touching off a massive skirmish that prompted dozens more protesters to seize back the land and erect makeshift barricades which cut the town in half.

A number of clashes between protesters and local residents have erupted since; one was narrowly escaped just weeks ago when protesters rallied outside the site to protest what they called special treatment of aboriginals by police.

The book about the development of Tikinagan Agency is now available for purchase. The story also describes the history of the First Nations it serves.

The OECD's latest statistics on broadband penetration in member countries show that Canada is still first in the G7 in broadband penetration, but due to much faster gains by other countries Canada is now ninth in the OECD, down from second place in 2003. In the past six years, Canada has increased from 8.5 to 22.4 broadband subscribers per 100 inhabitants.

From www.oecd.org/sti/ict/broadband

OECD Broadband Statistics to June 2006 
   
Over the past year, the number of broadband subscribers in the OECD increased 33% from 136 million in June 2005 to 181 million in June 2006. This growth increased broadband penetration rates in the OECD from 11.7 in June 2005 to 15.5 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants one year later. The main highlights for the first half of 2006 are:

• Northern European countries have continued their advance with high broadband penetration rates. In June 2006, six countries (Denmark, the Netherlands, Iceland, Korea, Switzerland and Finland) led the OECD in broadband penetration, each with at least 25 subscribers per 100 inhabitants.
• Denmark now leads the OECD with a broadband penetration rate of 29.3 subscribers per 100 inhabitants.
• The strongest per-capita subscriber growth comes from Denmark, Australia, Norway, the Netherlands, Finland, Luxembourg, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Each country added more than 6 subscribers per 100 inhabitants during the past year.
• Fibre to the home is becoming  increasingly important for broadband access, particularly in countries with high broadband penetration. In Denmark, Danish power companies are rolling out fibre to consumers as they work to bury overhead power lines. Municipal broadband projects are also expanding in many northern European countries and throughout the OECD. Telecommunciation operators in several OECD countries have also begun or announced large fibre-to-the-premises rollouts.
• Japan leads the OECD in fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) with 6.3 million fibre subscribers in June 2006. Fibre subscribers alone in Japan outnumber total broadband subscribers in 22 of the 30 OECD countries.
• The total number of ADSL subscriptions in Korea and Japan have continued to decline as more users upgrade to fibre-based connections.
• DSL continues to be the leading platform in 28 OECD countries. Cable modem subscribers outnumber DSL in Canada and the United States.
• The United States has the largest total number of broadband subscribers in the OECD at 57 million. US broadband subscribers now represent 36% of all broadband connections in the OECD, up from 31% in December 2005.
• Canada continues to lead the G7 group of industrialized countries in broadband penetration.
• The breakdown of broadband technologies in June 2006 is as follows:
       o DSL: 63%
       o Cable modem: 29%
       o Other technologies (e.g. satellite, fibre and fixed wireless) : 8%

From http://www.trilliumfoundation.org/cms/en/August_15_06_NewsRelease.aspx

Small Capital Grants: Simplified Application Process

Toronto, August 15, 2006 –  Community organizations seeking small capital grants from our Foundation will now find it easier to apply. Thanks to the Simplified Application Process for Small Capital Grants, applicants seeking up to a maximum of $15,000 in capital funding can use a shorter application form with fewer required attachments.

This new process is good news for not-for-profit and charitable organizations across Ontario. They value our capital granting and asked for a simpler process when applying for smaller requests. 

Eligible organizations, large and small, that apply under either the Foundation’s Community or Province-Wide program can use this process. Applications for other types of grants and for capital funds greater than $15,000, must be made using our current standard application form.
 
The Foundation has played a valuable role in providing capital funding to eligible not-for-profit organizations in Ontario.  We have invested over $132 million in capital grants since 1999. Many of these grants were used for repairs, renovations or improvements to land or buildings, to purchase equipment to support program activities and to make buildings accessible.

To learn more about the Simplified Application Process for Small Capital Grants, click here or call 1.800.263.2887 to find a Program Manager or Grants Associate in your area.

Application deadlines are March 1, July 1 and November 1. To be considered in each grant cycle, complete applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on the deadline date.

Sectors

We welcome applications in the arts and culture, environment, human and social services and sports and recreation sectors.

Priorities

OTF places priority on supporting organizations that work in the following areas to help Ontarians achieve their potential:

• Enhanced success for students and learners
• Healthier and more physically active Ontarians
• Enhanced employment and economic potential for workers and their families
• More effective volunteers and more people engaged in their communities
• OTF funds equipment only for personal use if the purpose of the proposal is to increase access to a group that has limited access. Equipment for personal use includes uniforms, costumes and equipment that cannot be reused by other people either concurrently or in the following season.

CALLING ALL YOUTH

The Nishnawbe Aski Nation Charitable Youth Trust Fund is sponsoring the first ever NAN-wide youth creative arts competition for youth.

Age categories are:

• JUNIOR CATEGORY 12-18 YEARS OLD
• SENIOR CATEGORY 19-29 YEARS OLD

The competition is open to all youth in the NAN territory. You can enter up to three (3) pieces of art in any medium with the following theme:

"Treaty Commemoration: Celebrating the Past, Present and Future"

The DEADLINE for submissions is OCTOBER 31, 2006.

For registration and more information call:

• Touchan Fiddler, Showcasing the Creative Spirit Coordinator @ 807-774-3421
• Catherin Cheechoo, Trust Fund President via NAN at 800-465-9952
• Email: showcasingthecreativespirit@knet.ca or ccheecho@nan.on.ca

Check out our web site at:

HTTP://SHOWCASINGTHECREATIVESPIRIT.MYKNET.ORG 

Types of mediums include but not limited to:

Painting; drawing; sketching; ceramics/glass; sculpture/installation; jewellery; photography; film/video; website design/graphic design; airbrushing; collage; printmaking; cravings; mixed media; essays; poetry; crafts (ie. beadwork, tamarack birds, birch bark baskets, quill work, moccasins, etc), masks, tattoos, traditional food preparation/recipes; plays; books; comics; storytelling; hand drum/powwow songs; fashion

From http://www.timminspress.com/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentID=236823&catname=Local+News

Attawapiskat declares state of emergency; Water quality major concern

Michael Peeling - October 19, 2006

Attawapiskat First Nation declared a state of emergency over the its water quality Wednesday after a series of public meetings and what some officials called a lack of government response to their requests for aid.

The results of water-quality testing done by First Nations Engineering Ltd. in August and symptoms of health problems in children and elders have the band council and citizens concerned that the water quality is deteriorating further.

"The band council had a meeting yesterday and decided to declare a state of emergency because we can't wait anymore to deal with our water issues and concerns about our reservoir," Deputy Chief Miriam Wesley told The Daily Press on Wednesday evening.

"Our sewage problems have been neglected too long, so we had a meeting with our public this afternoon, and they are also asking something be done right away."

Chief Mike Carpenter says the community is worried about the health risks from the water.

"We are very concern about this, especially over health problems that have appeared in children, elders rashes, infections, and other skin problem," Carpenter said in a press release.

Wesley said the province is sending up representatives from the Ontario Clean Water Agency today to deal with Attawapiskat's water worries.

She also said the Ministry of Health is sending people to do another water assessment on Saturday.

"So the government is responding, it's just a matter of whether or not they are going to do it," Wesley said.

In the public meeting Wednesday, residents complained to the tribal council of suffering from rashes and dizziness, a change in the taste of the drinking water.

The people of Attawapiskat ask that the government brings enough bottled water and an emergency water purification system while their water treatment system is assessed and made safe.

The tribal council and residents feel the water continues to be inadequately treated despite having a new water plant commissioned in 2001.

The reports from FNES showed the water contains 6.1 mg per litre of carbon instead of the legislated level of 5.9.

FNES project manager Mike Murray said a high level of carbon in the water can be a problem when chlorine is added, which he says is a common practice across all of Ontario.

The carbon and chlorine can form carcinogens - cancer-causing substances in the water.

FNES also tested for trihalomethanes, a combination of chemicals that can also be carcinogenic. The test result was 0.17 mg per litre, 0.07 higher than the standard acceptable level.

"Health Canada did some follow-up testing and they indicated that their levels of water quality were within acceptable ranges," Murray said.

The Health Canada test for trihalomethanes showed a level of 0.097 mg per litre, which Murray says could be accounted for by the shallowness of the lake from which Attawapiskat gets its water and its lack of contact with the air in the winter.

"Their raw water source changes characteristics throughout the year, which is one of the things that makes it more difficult to treat," Murray said.

As well, Wesley said the people of Attawapiskat want to decrease the high sodium level of the water, which can contribute to hypertension.

She said that as of Sept. 22, Health Canada had deemed the water drinkable, with no E. Coli, but the trihalomethanes and sodium are still too high, especially during the winter.

The band is also concerned that the water reservoir's close proximity to a landfill site and the airport are having ill-effects on the drinking water.

No plans have been made to evacuate Attawapiskat.