The Canadian government placed the Attawapiskat First Nation in Ontario under third-party management, a move criticized by band leaders and opposition politicians.

The First Nation declared a housing emergency a month ago, prompting media coverage of deplorable conditions on the reserve. The Canadian Red Cross sent supplies on Tuesday, a day before Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan announced a takeover of the band's funding and resources.

"I guess, as First Nations, when we do ask for assistance and make a lot of noise, we get penalized for it," Chief Theresa Spence told CBC News. "So, you know, to put us in third party while we're in crisis, that's very shameful and a disgrace from the government."

NDP MP Charlie Angus, an opposition leader, agreed with that assessment. “The Harper government has told the other communities, 'You speak up, we will take you out.' That is as blunt and brutal a colonial message as could be delivered,” he told CBC.

The Canadian government said it would audit the band's finances to determine how money has been spent in the past five years.

Get the Story:
Attawapiskat action by Ottawa draws fire (CBC 12/1)
Atleo: Time to stop “finger-pointing” on Attawapiskat and “smash the status quo” (APTN 12/1)
Attawapiskat finances put under 3rd-party control (CBC 11/30)
Aboriginal Affairs takes over spending on Attawapiskat First Nation (The Vancouver Sun 11/30)
Clean running water still a luxury on many native reserves (CBC 11/30)

An Opinion:
Barbara Yaffe: Solutions need to come from native communities (The Vancouver Sun 12/1)