Attawapiskat

The federal Aboriginal Affairs minister has refused to sign off on a plan to build 30 homes in Attawapiskat, and community leaders speculate that they are being punished for speaking out.

Attawapiskat Chief Teresa Spence was surprised by an Aug. 1 Federal Court decision that it was “unreasonable in all the circumstances” for the federal government to appoint a third-party manager to her community this past winter.

The federal government's decision to appoint a third-party manager to Attawapiskat was unreasonable, a judge has ruled.

The prospect of getting a new school in Attawapiskat is becoming a reality as the community celebrated the breaking of ground at the site of the future school.

The vice-principal of Attawapiskat’s elementary school says the community’s students are getting a “leg up” on their academic challenges, thanks to an international laptop program being piloted in First Nations across Canada.

Attawapiskat’s new cell phone service is a hit in the community, with some families purchasing two or three cell phones.

The third-party manager sent to handle Attawapiskat First Nation finances during its housing crisis will be withdrawn later this month.

The third-party manager appointed to Attawapiskat has been withdrawn, as the feds say he has finished the work needed in the community and Attawapiskat chief says its about time.

All modular homes promised for Attawapiskat have now arrived.

The federal government and Attawapiskat leaders announced on March 6 that a Manitoba contractor will construct the new school for Attawapiskat First Nation.

The contract to build Attawapiskat's long awaited school has been awarded. Construction should start this spring, with the new school expected to open during the 2013-2014 school year.

Shannen’s Dream took a big step towards being realized. A motion calling for the federal government to improve education on First Nations reserves was passed unanimously in the House of Commons on Feb. 27.

A motion calling for the federal government to support Shannen’s Dream will be voted on in the House of Commons on Feb. 27.

Sixteen-year-old Chelsea Edwards of Attawapiskat First Nation updated her Facebook from halfway around the world on Feb. 6.

Even though the James Bay winter road opened for heavy traffic on Feb. 5, only two of the 22 modular homes purchased for Attawapiskat families arrived in the community by Feb. 12 as the rest continued to sit in a Moosonee lot.