The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Several weeks of sustained warm weather have caused a considerable delay in the opening of Manitoba's winter road system. The result of the delay is the joining of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) and remote First Nations in Manitoba to declare a state of emergency. Many First Nations communities are reliant on the winter road system for the delivery of food and fuel during winter months. 'We declared a state of emergency so that the government of Canada and the province of Manitoba immediately start working with First Nations to develop a contingency plan,' said MKO Grand Chief David Harper. Climate change and government inaction caused the MKO First Nations to declare a state of emergency in 2010 as well. 'The government is not working with us to adapt to climate change,' said Harper, 'governments need to expedite construction of an all-weather road so we don't have to pay $2.49 for a litre of fuel like we did in 2010 after we ran out of fuel.' Action By and large, many chiefs are calling for action from the government, before the situation turns in to a major crisis. 'Continuing political inaction on the construction of the all-weather road on the east side of Lake Winnipeg is threatening the health and safety of First Nations,' said St. Teresa Point First Nation Chief David McDougall, 'without being able to get the supplies to retrofit our homes to receive clean running water, we are left fully exposed to the next pandemic.' Calls from First Nations are being put out for the government to bring in the Canadian military to get the job done. There is an immense backlog of products that are ready to be shipped, but without a reliable route, they sit idle. 'We have about 3,500,000 pounds of goods _ 77 trailer loads _ that need to be shipped right away,' said Manito Sipi Cree Nation Chief Michael Yellowback. The winter roads are a vital lifeline for First Nation communities and economies explained Harper. 'The governments have to start planning with us today,' said Harper, 'to make sure that housing packages and water and wastewater treatment equipment and other critical supplies are brought into our communities by the spring of 2012.' _ Matt Durnan, Thompson Citizen
