Epidemic results in state of emergency in Mushkegowuk communities

Residents of the Mushkegowuk territory have directed their leadership to declare a state of emergency on the suicide epidemic in the region during an Emergency Summit on the issue May 11-12.
Mushkegowuk Council hosted the summit in Moose Factory to seek solutions from the community at large.
About 200 participants consisting of leadership, frontline workers, youth and the general population attended.
There was a youth forum, and a parents/Elders forum to seek input if a state of emergency and public inquiry ought to be declared.
The resulting key recommendation was for the declaration of a state of emergency. The two key points of the declaration are:
-To call on the First Nation leadership to treat the suicide epidemic as a top priority and that community public awareness and action strategies continue or be developed in each community.
-To call for a Public Inquiry into the suicide epidemic and to seek governments’ full support for such an Inquiry.
“Suicides continue to plague our communities,” said Kashechewan Chief Jonathon Solomon. “We cannot let this continue. Our people are precious to us, life is precious.”
Along the James Bay coastal communities, there have been 12 completed suicides in the past 16 months, according to information presented during the summit.
“There are many things that we can do that cost little or no money. All it takes is commitment and people to step up to the plate,” said Stan Louttit, grand chief of Mushkegowuk Council. “While I recognize that there are things that we can do, I do also realize that we will require government support to fully implement the declaration. We want government to be part of the solution, not a hindrance to the process,” he added.
Leo Friday, deputy grand chief of Mushkegowuk was one of the first to suggest the summit.
“This is just the beginning,” Friday said. “We have learned a lot from these past two days. I want to convene another summit within six months to ensure that the things we discussed are carried out and that we continue our talks on this important matter.”