Piikani Nation in Crisis over Housing Conditions

Brocket, Alberta, November 22, 2007 (NNW) …It’s been over 5 months since Health Canada toured the Piikani Nation and indentified major health and safety issues with some homes that are occupied by families that range in age from newborns to the elderly.

Countless efforts have been made by leadership to address the current housing crisis by developing a long term sustainable action plan, but currently 13 homes have been deemed unsafe for occupancy. Mould, poor ventilation, overcrowding and flood prone homes are the causes of acute asthma attacks, spores, pneumonia and a host of other respiratory problems for the residents of these dilapidated homes.“We cannot allow these people to live in these conditions, it’s come to a life or death situation for some members, there’s children, the elderly and disabled community members that are suffering in poor health because of the state of their homes,” stated Chief Reg Crowshoe of the Piikani Nation in Southern Alberta.

Since June 2007, Piikani Nation Housing Manager Natosha Bastien has toured a number of homes and wants for her community members what every other Canadian wants, a safe, clean, and healthy home.

“We have been proactive in our approach both internally and externally. We’re currently in the process of organizing an evacuation for our members that are at greatest health risk and residing in these unfit homes. The Red Cross see the urgency to this crisis and are prepared to provide some assistance,” concluded Natasha Bastien.

A press conference and media tour will take place at the Piikani Nation on Friday, November 23, 2007 at 11AM. Media are asked to meet in the Council Chambers at the administration offices off of the Crowsnest Pass on highway 3.

The Piikani Nation is within the traditional territory of Treaty 7 and is a part of the Blackfoot Confederacy. Currently, over 2,200 hundred members live on-reserve with a total population of 3,800 and just over 400 homes.

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For more information, please contact:

Nicole Robertson, Media Specialist
Muskwa Productions & Consulting
(403) 616-4999
nicole.robertson@telus.net