A show of solidarity between Vermilion Bay youth and residents of Neskantaga First Nation.
Grade 7 and 8 students at Lillian Berg School took to social media to offer their support for the remote northern community in Day number 32 of an evacuation due to poor water quality.
“Everyone deserves clean water. Water is sacred in Indigenous culture. The people of Neskantaga First Nation haven’t had clean water for 25 years. Having clean water is a human right. Indigenous people are human.”
Another student stated “There are kids who have never seen clean drinking water come from their taps but I have never had to worry about it. This is not fair and we all need to do our part in helping these people.”
The students made an emotional plea for action.
“Please Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Doug Ford get their water clean. Miigwetch. People have promised to fix this but 26 years later nothing has changed…Please fix this problem.”
There are reports the federal government government intends to rent out the remaining rooms at the Victoria Inn in Thunder Bay to protect the evacuees from any COVID-19 exposure in the area.
Vermillion Bay Grade 7/8 students expressing their support to the youth of Neskantaga First Nation to access clean water. pic.twitter.com/kGJw4niDcX
— Chris Moonias (@can_ndn) November 18, 2020
