Attawapiskat residents remain loyal to the troubled community

At Jerry Nakogee's camp, where dozens of Attawapiskat youths have gathered for an evening bonfire, the longtime resident, who says his son recently attempted to kill himself, explains why he would never leave the remote First Nations reserve.

"When you grow up in a small community, you adapt to the community. You just can't leave, just like that," saidNakogee, who used his camp to host the youthcommunity event."You can't run away from big problems. You have to deal with them. There's always a way to deal with problems like this."

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• Ontario to spend up to $2M to helpAttawapiskatFirst Nation

Earlier, over atNate's, a small trailer converted into a makeshift snack bar, BarryKoostachinsaidthat the remote northern Ontario First Nation may have itsproblems, but quite simply, it's home.

"We're connected to the land,"Koostachinsaid. "It's quiet here. [The city] is too dangerous for me."

Theircomments,like many others in the town, could be considereda gentle rebuketo the recent musings of JeanChrtien.

On Tuesday, speaking to reporters on Parliament Hill, the former prime ministersuggested that because of thedireeconomic climate facingAttawapiskatresidents, some may want to consider moving,"like anybody else" in similar circumstances.

"Sometimes, though, the solution is to leave,"Chrtiensaid. "People have to move sometimes. It's desirable to stay if they want to stay, but it's not always possible."

Those remarks,brought on by the news of a spate of suicide attempts in Attawapiskat, drew the ire of some members of Parliamentwho held an emergency meeting about the suicide crisis Tuesday night.

On Wednesday, following a meeting with Assembly of First Nations Chief Perry BellegardeandAttawapiskat First NationChiefBruceShisheesh. Ontario Health Minister EricHoskinssaid the government would pledgeup to $2millionto help deal with the crisis.

Fear of taking the step

Yet some in the community agreein part with Chrtien's commentsand say they would certainly consider exiting the town.

"If I had an opportunity to move, I would take the chance, but the only thing that's holding me back is my family for my grandparents or my mother," said CharlotteWheesk. "And sometimes, I think I'm scared I'm going to fall apart if I move south, not have enoughfor rent or food.

"There's nothing here. There's nothing for kids,there's nothing for some adults.Peoplejuststart ending up getting intodrugs and alcohol. There'snothing. It's not healthy for the young children to live like that."

Her mother, StellaWheesk,agreeswith her daughter that she, too, would like to leave"because there's nothing here.It's a dead town."

But it's not so simple to relocate one's family.

"It's very expensive. It costs like $600 for a plane ticket to get out of this community," saidRebecca Hookimaw.

"I can't just move away and forget aboutAttawapiskat." I hear people saying, 'Why can't they just move and get away fromAttawapiskat?'But it's not easy."

'This place is home'

Deputy Grand Chief Anna BettyAchneepineskumsaidno one suggests thatpeople move from other troubled areas in the world, like regionsthat experience earthquakes.

"Do we ask them why don't they move away from there?Because that's theirhome. This place is home for the people who are living here," she said. "They have aright to be livingwhereverthey want to live. And the governments should be providing the homes and infrastructure to livewhereverthey want to live."

The circumstances are not all negative, she stressed, pointing outthere are some people in Attawapiskatwho have built some small businesses and a life for themselves.

'Closer to the land'

Jack Linklater said he had the opportunity to leave last yearbut decided to say because his three children like living in the town.

"Iwouldn'tmove. It's closer to the bush, closer to the land. Iwouldn't want to live in the city. Too much hassle over there."

His son, Jack Jr., a youth leader,saidthe community is in need of youth facilities and programs. Linklater, who was honoured last year for rescuing his two nieces from a housefiretwo years ago,met with BellegardeWednesdayto present him with a list of priorities, including a youth camp site and youth centre.

But despite the problems and youthservices that are desperately needed,he, too, does not want to leave, saying he has strong ties to the community.

"This is where our ancestors have been. Our family, our trapping grounds, ourhunting grounds."