The stars shimmer brightly in a cloudless sky, the water laps at the edge of my campsite and I hear the shrill cry of a loon off in the distance. I look across the water and see the lights of the community. It reminds me of home. Often, when I was up north in Attawapiskat, at night I would go to the other side of the river and look back from the bank to see my community lit up in a dull glow. Tonight, I am across the bay from Wikwemikong on Manitoulin Island. This whole experience in visiting Wiky has reminded me very much of my own home along the James Bay coast. The one big difference is that people in this Aboriginal community have road access to the outside world.
This got me to thinking about what it would be like if Attawapiskat was to be somehow connected by road or rail to the rest of the world. Right now, as a remote fly-in community, there are difficulties, but there are good things also about being isolated.
There is a lot of development going on up the coast right now and that involves an interest in mining, forestry and the development of hydro lines to service the coastal communities. Recently, I have heard talk about the idea of developing road access to this remote area. At first thought, I think this might be a really great idea, in that it would provide for cheaper transportation in and out of the community. It would be easier to leave the community by simply driving out and people could come up to visit our world with ease. Our cost of living and quality of life might improve due to the fact that groceries and merchandise would be cheaper to transport to the community and building materials could be trucked in. This would result in cheaper prices with a trip to the store and in more development of housing at a cheaper cost. All these things are great and I’m sure would be much appreciated by the people of Attawapiskat, but there is another side to this consideration.
Let’s think about some of the positive things that have resulted from the fact that most of the James Bay coastal communities are remote. Many people have managed to hold on to much of their language and culture. The communities are very close-knit and have a history to them. I am somewhat concerned that a road might change these communities for the worse. Recently, in talking about this with my cousin, Robert Kataquapit, a First Nation council member in Attawapiskat, he suggested that rail service rather than a road might be the best idea.
He pointed out that people could come and go as they please, goods, merchandise and building supplies could be shipped in but some control would remain due to the nature of rail transportation.
In walking around Wiky I really had the feeling I was home in many ways and I was happy to see the Aboriginal culture and traditions alive and well in the community. It is a wonderful place that is developing in many ways but at the same time managing to hold on to its roots while being connected by road to the outside world for many years.
I think it is possible for the James Bay coastal communities to hold on to their language, tradition and culture even if road or rail access became reality. I have to agree with Robert that rail service could be the best solution in connecting us to the outside world. In addition to all the good things a road could offer I believe rail service would be safer, more economical, less damaging to the environment and could even develop as a tourism service.
Sooner or later, we will see the development of either rail or road access to the remoteAboriginal communities on the James Bay coast. It can’t be stopped, but our leaders candecide on which way is the best and on how fast this development should take place.One thing for sure, in my lifetime I will be hopping the train or driving a car home.
