**MUSHKEGOWUK COUNCIL PRESS RELEASE**

April 6, 2018 – Mushkegowuk Council, Moose Factory, Ontario; On March 28th, 2018 two members of the Attawapiskat First Nation and one member of Fort Albany First Nation began a walk to bring attention to the lack of existing resources in the Mushkegowuk Region to address the State of Emergency Declared on Drugs and Alcohol by Grand Chief Jonathan Solomon and Deputy Grand Chief Rebecca Friday.

The three walkers, victims themselves of the Drug and Alcohol Epidemic, Dennis Koostachin, Patsy Iahtail and Jasmine Koostachin embarked on their 270 kilometer in hopes that their cause would bring attention the need to establish additional services such as a Detox Centre in the Mushkegowuk region/communities. “We need to establish these services here” said Dennis Koostachin a place close to home where professional and family support is part of our circle of care.

Deputy Grand Chief Rebecca Friday is supportive of the cause saying “it is with action that these walkers make such a powerful statement in wanting to bring about substantive change”. I will be meeting with them to discuss their concerns and plan a strategy to advance their interests at the completion of their journey.

The walkers will be arriving (completing their journey) in Moose Factory, ON on Saturday, April 7th. A welcoming feast will be held for them by the Mushkegowuk Council at the EPR Center at 6:00 p.m. where all will be welcome to attend.

For more information contact Deputy Grand Chief Rebecca Friday at 705 363 7928.
Mushkegowuk Council is a regional organization that represents the collective interests of the Kashechewan, Fort Albany, Chapleau Cree, Missanabie Cree, Moose Cree, Taykwa Tagamou and Attawapiskat First Nations in northeastern Ontario.