AFN National Chief and CAW President Tour Little Salmon Carmacks and Celebrate Work to Improve Well Water
OTTAWA, Aug. 27 – Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine and Canadian Auto Workers union (CAW) President Buzz Hargrove visited Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation in Yukon today to tour the community and to celebrate the completion of work done to date by CAW volunteer workers to improve the quality of well water in the community.The volunteer work in Little Salmon Carmacks is part of an ongoing partnership between the Assembly of First Nations and CAW. CAW volunteers worked over the summer in the community helping to repair or rebuild 27 out of 57 wells in the community. Many of the wells in the community have been under a boil water advisory for over two years. CAW volunteers have also completed work on a Native Canadians Centre in Toronto, with six other projects currently under review by the joint AFN-CAW committee.
“I want to extend my thanks and appreciation to all the CAW Volunteers who came here to Little Salmon Carmacks this summer to work on improving the water quality in the community,” National Chief Fontaine said. “The partnership between CAW and Assembly of First Nations has had a positive impact and provides us with an approach to resolve some seemingly insurmountable infrastructure concerns in First Nation communities,” he further added.
The CAW will continue the work on the remainder of the wells next summer, said CAW President Buzz Hargrove. “It is a disgrace that this situation has not been dealt with properly by our federal government,” said Hargrove. “Basic rights such as clean drinking water should not be left to the private sector or non-governmental organizations to pick up the slack where governments have failed. The success of this partnership should be a challenge to all levels of government to work side by side with the First Nations people of this country to end social, political and economic inequality.”
“We were very happy to have CAW volunteers come into the community this summer to help repair the wells,” Little Salmon Carmacks Chief Eddie Skookum noted. “After repeated unsuccessful efforts to get Indian and Northern Affairs Canada to look at the issue we welcomed CAW volunteers support and assistance. Safe, clean drinking water should be a right not a privilege in this country.”
The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada.
For further information: Shannon Devine, CAW Communications Director, (416) 302-1699 (cell); Joan McEwen, Director of Communications, (613) 241-6789 ext. 242, cell (613) 324-3329, jmcewen@afn.ca
