Responding to the State of Emergency on Suicide Through a Mushkegowuk Public Inquiry

Resolution No. 2011-09-27

Responding to the State Of Emergency on Suicide Through a Mushkegowuk Public Inquiry

WHEREAS due to the continued high rate of suicide in our region, the State of Emergency that was declared by the Office of the Grand Chief on May 13, 2010 remains in effect; and

WHEREAS the 2010 Mamowihitowin Resolution states that "that this Mamowihitowin of the Omushkegowuk recommends that the current State of Emergency remain in effect until such time that the Regional Crisis Response Unit is activated and funding is confirmed to conduct a Public Inquiry as requested by the office of the Grand Chief'; and

WHEREAS the Mushkegowuk First Nations in partnership with various government agencies responded to the State of Emergency by allocating funds for prevention programs and services, development of a regional crisis response plan, etc.; and

WHEREAS the high rate of suicide continues at a tragic level despite the response efforts to date; and

WHEREAS the Mushkegowuk Council submitted a request to Canada and Ontario to provide funding to conduct a Mushkegowuk Public Inquiry into the high rate of suicide in our region and

this request has not been supported by Canada or Ontario to date; and

WHEREAS the delegates of this Mamowihitowin strongly believe that a Mushkegowuk Public Inquiry will help to get to the root causes of these tragic and terrible suicides and would allow us to move forward with Omushkegowuk­designed strategies to address this serious pandemic;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Chiefs and delegates of this Mamowihitowin strongly and urgently support a Mushkegowuk Public Inquiry into suicides and attempted suicides in our communities; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chiefs and delegates of the 2011 Mamowihitowin direct Mushkegowuk Council leaders and staff to continue urgent efforts to secure the required resources, including from Mushkegowuk First Nations and the governmental and private sectors, to conduct an Omushkegowuk-designed Public Inquiry into suicides and attempted suicides.

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