The Aboriginal Newspaper of British Columbia & Yukon Top News - October - 2004 Published October 18, 2004 Treatment centre marks 25th anniversary Community at risk from mold-infected houses Bands share title to rez This is only a partial listing of the stories featured in the October 2004 issue of Raven's Eye. If you are not receiving your own copy of Raven's Eye, then you have missed out on a lot. Click here for Raven's Eye subscription information. Treatment centre marks 25th anniversary Joan Taillon, Raven's Eye Writer, Round Lake Round Lake Treatment Centre (RLTC) has just celebrated 25 years working in the field of drug and alcohol addiction. Despite prudent management and a documented 18-month success rate approaching 65 per cent, the centre now faces significant financial challenges in continuing its programs. The week-long celebration began with the planting of a Red Maple tree by Minister of State for Women's and Seniors' Services and MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head, Ida Chong, and concluded Sept. 28 with a powwow and feast on the park-like treatment centre grounds. Drum group Sookani from Creston provided traditional music. About 30 staff and board members greeted guests. Dignitaries who attended included Chief Stewart Phillip of the Penticton Indian Band, Chief Lyle Brewer of the Okanagan Indian Band, George Girouard from the Interior Health Authority (IHA), and councillors from the cities of Vernon, Armstrong and the township of Spallumcheen. A large number of visitors toured the grounds throughout the day. RLTC President Patricia Wilson stated "One thing we have learned in the passing weeks is that the profile of our organization is low.We see the need to raise our profile; over the past 25 years almost 8,000 people have been treated for drug and alcohol addiction at our centre, and over those years we have achieved a success rate of approximately 65 per cent." Many other centres do not publish statistics, but if pressed will say the success rate is believed to be low in treating addictions. Wilson indicated they have received a lot of verbal support from politicians such as Chong, Minister of State for Mental Health Brenda Locke and Minister of Education Tom Christiansen, which she hoped would buoy their appeal to the health authority for ongoing funding. The centre presented a "recognition plaque" to George Girouard for the assistance IHA has provided to date. According to Patricia Wilson, Girouard said he "felt confident" the province would continue to fund the centre. While the federal government has committed to support RLTC the next five years, the IHA so far has only extended financial support one more year. The provincial contract expires March 31, 2005. "RLTC has been operating under extensions," said Wilson. "We are desiring multi-year funding from the province that would complement our federal funding. We have negotiated a five-year agreement with First Nations and Inuit Health and we are looking forward to securing our funding with the Interior Health Authority ... Our overall operating budget is approximately $1.8 million, with the province of British Columbia accounting for almost 40 per cent of the funding." She said they were seeking a meeting with provincial officials but the province "wants to combine a program review with funding discussions." She said with extensive government staff cuts and changes, covering both those objectives at the same time was proving difficult to arrange. Wilson pointed out that RLTC "is fully accredited by CARF." CARF (Commission on Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities) is an international, not-for-profit organization that has been accrediting human service providers since 1966. The organization establishes quality standards and guides providers in imlementing the standards. The RLTC has been accredited by CARF since 1993. In addition to operating money, the centre needs capital funding. Most of the facility's buildings were erected in 1984 and the cedar shake roofs now need to be replaced. Because of the heightened fire concerns resulting from drought the past couple of years, the centre sought the opinion of forest service officials who advised them the cedar roofs present a "real danger" in their rural location. Last year the centre had to evacuate because of an encroaching fire hazard. Wilson said the estimate to replace the roofs on five buildings is about $160,000. Top Community at risk from mold-infected houses Debora Steel, Raven's Eye Writer, Kwicksutaineuk In a classic case of irony, the community of Kwicksutaineuk First Nation, in which the water is undrinkable and the houses are unlivable, rests on the shores of a place called Health Bay. Health Bay is located in a remote area on Gilford Island near the northern tip of Vancouver Island accessible only by float plane or boat. Respiratory illnesses caused by the mold-infected homes send small children and the elderly out of the community to hospital with regularity. A water system in disrepair for the last eight years has the 40 residents, determined to maintain a presence there, bathing in salt water, their skin prone to rashes and other ailments. Drinking water is shipped in from Fanny Bay, and has been for five years at the cost of the water and a $300 cargo fee each month. The health centre is infested with mice, and the doctor, who has been visiting the community for the past 28 years, is concerned about hanta virus and other diseases such infestation brings. The community health rep lives in one of the 21 homes in the community. Tacked to her door is a warning: "Attention Visitors. It has been found that I have MOLD in my home," it reads. "Please be aware when you come to my house that you are putting yourself at risk." She's been made to sign a waiver freeing the government of liability for any health complaints if she continues to reside there. There is no safe alternative housing in the community in which to move. She could pick up sticks and settle in an apartment in Port McNeil on Vancouver Island, in theory at government expense until new accommodations in Kwicksutaineuk can be built, away from her job, her family, friends; off-reserve with all that means. Or she can stay, and breath in mold spores as she sleeps, cooks her meals, watches TV, knowing that in Kwicksutaineuk she is not alone. The homes there are not safe. The existing houses at Kwicksutaineuk were built in the 1950s and 1960s and the shoddy construction was such that it created a comfortable environment for mold to live and breed. The naturally moist climate certainly plays a role in creating that environment, as does the lack of vapour barrier and adequate insulation in the homes, but so does over-crowding. People create moisture through bathing, cooking, being, said Jamie Clark, a consultant with a hazardous waste removal company called Envirovac who has inspected the homes. He points to one two-bedroom, 600 sq. ft. home and says seven people live there, two adults and five children. Ella, just two years old, spent every second weekend being flown out to the hospital last year with ear infections, bronchitis and such, said her mother as she bounced her youngest, Shania, on her knee. Shania had just returned to the community from the hospital that week. Kwicksutaineuk First Nation Chief Henry Scow has had enough. Despite years of negotiation with Indian Affairs, over which time countless proposals for improvements to his community have been rejected, his community remains in difficulty. Despite warnings from the community's third party manager that he would embarrass himself, said Henry Scow, he decided to make Kwicksutaineuk's plight public. He flew Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine, regional Chief Shawn Atleo and media representatives in to his community on Sept. 24 to see the living conditions there first hand and to speak to residents about the grievances. Scow greeted Fontaine at the entrance to Kwicksutaineuk with a speech seething with frustration and despair. "We are in dire straits for no unearthly reason," he said, his voice breaking with emotion. "The public has to understand." Chief Scow seems a sturdy man of gentle demeanor, but he has no love of the Department of Indian Affairs, and particular disdain for a third-party manager in charge of the community purse from Campbell River-a third party manager Scow says hasn't stepped foot in the community in all the time he has been chief, and probably at no time before that. At a luncheon in the Big House after the tour of the community, Scow let loose on the department. "It's criminal why we have to fight for anything we need on reserve," he told Fontaine and guests. "Indian Affairs is our worst enemy. They want to push us over the edge and leave us there." Fontaine seemed sympathetic to the community's plight. "It's not a happy situation you find yourselves in," he said, and promised to speak with the new Minister of Indian Affairs, Andy Scott, at the earliest opportunity. "That's what we wanted to hear," responded community member Lucille St. Germain, whose father, carver Sam Johnson, later presented the chief with a talking stick to encourage him to present Kwicksutaineuk's case in Ottawa. When pressed for details on the course of action Fontaine would be asking the minister to take, the national chief said there were three steps. The first was to get rid of the third-party manager and give full control of the finances back to the community, saying to not have that control was like going back to the days of the Indian agent. The second, said Fontaine, was to deal with the situation with the drinking water, saying there was sure to be an economical way to provide potable water to the community. And the third step was to address the terrible housing situation. Fontaine told reporters that while Kwicksutaineuk's case was one of crisis, it was not unique. At least 100 First Nation communities in Canada live under a boil water advisory, he said. At least 20,000 new housing units are needed and 85 per cent of the existing housing stock on reserve is in desperate need of renovation. He said Indian Affairs and Canada Mortgage and Housing needed to get out of the business of providing First Nations housing. There have been "whispers" that a First Nations housing authority will be soon established, he confided. "That's the only way this can be dealt with." He acknowledged though that Kwicksutaineuk's housing situation was urgent and promised to tell Scott what he had seen there. In speaking with the media after Fontaine's speech, Scow became emotional. "It shouldn't be like this in the year 2004." Editor's note: It has been reported to Raven's Eye that Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine met with the Indian Affairs Minister Andy Scott on Oct. 7 and raised the concerns of Kwicksutaineuk residents. Minister Scott told the national chief that he would be "talking with his officials on these matters." Top Bands share title to rez Raven's Eye Staff, Mission Twenty-one bands in the Sto:lo Nation celebrated an addition to their land holdings on Oct. 23, a reserve that they will share jointly and equally. Deanna Honeyman, leasing officer for the Sto:lo Nation lands department, said "This is probably one of the first times something like that has actually happened, that 21 First Nations actually got together to have one parcel of land be added to their reserve as joint owners." The reserves that presently make up the Sto:lo Nation are spread out between Hope and Fort Langley on both sides of the Fraser River, said Honeyman. The new land parcel, about 12 acres, is the site of the former St. Mary's school, constructed around 1863 and run by the Order of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate until 1960. At that time, the Crown took over the property and built a new school, which it operated until 1984. Indian Affairs notified the Sto:lo Nation three years ago the land parcel could go on the block for sale if the Sto:lo bands did not wish to add it to their reserve holdings. Twenty-one of the 24 bands within Sto:lo territory expressed interest in owning the land, and created a technical team to work out the details. Sto:lo Nation CEO Joe hall, Sto:lo Nation lands manager Valerie Sam and Indian Affairs lnds manager Linda Kerr were the appointees. On Sept. 12 last year, 20 First Nations signed the Joint Reserve Management Agreement and one other First Nation signed subsequently. A referendum to ratify the agreement was held on Nov. 26, 2003, at which time the 21 became part owners of the reserve. They are the Aitchelitz, Chawathil, Chem, Chehalis, Kwantlen, Kwaw Kwaw Apilt, Leq'a:mel, Matsqui, Popkum, Scowlitz. Seabird Island, Shxw'ow'hamel, Shxwha:y Village, Skawahlook, Skowkale, Skwah, Soowahlie, Squiala, Sumas, Tzeachten and Yakweawioose First Nations. The three First Nations that opted out did not give reasons said Honeyman. They have named their new reserve Pekw'xe:yles, which means "broken bluff." Honeyman said they haven't decided an ultimate use for the land. "Right now, there's buildings on the site, and there's offices being leased by Sto:lo Nation. It's going to be used as the same purposes. There's a craft-making facility, there's a daycare, and then just general office admin offices there... They have up to 15 years in order to have the land designated, but up until then, the Sto:lo Nation can continue to lease it." The joint reserve management agreement mandates five years to designate the land for leasing purposes, but the period could be extended "three more terms" providing all 21 First Nations agreed on the process, said Honeyman. Representatives of the First Nations and the lands department met "on a fairly regular basis," prior to signing and will continue to do so, she said, "to discuss what are the next steps that need to be taken." Honeyman said they were trying to get the word out to all former students of St. Mary's Residential School about the day-long celebration planned. Top