Justin Trudeau: First sitting PM to visit northern Ontario reserve

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Meeshika Sharma
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Justin Trudeau has become the first by a sitting prime minister to visit Nishnawbe Aski Nation territory.On his visit, asked young people on the impoverished First Nation of Pikangikum to have hope while pledging more federal supports.publive-image

Trudeau flew into Pikangikum, Ontario some 500 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay, on Friday to meet with the community's leadership and see, first hand, the conditions on the ground.

The reserve is one of the country's largest populated by 3,100 Ojibway-speaking peoples, many of whom are under the age of 30.

Trudeau's trip was also the first visit by a prime minister to a community in Nishnawbe Aski Nation territory — a group of 49 First Nations in the northern reaches of the province with a total population of 49,000.

A couple of students asked the prime minister when they can expect running water in their homes. Trudeau reiterated his pledge to end all long-term boil water advisories on reserve by March 2021, a commitment he made during the last election campaign.

When asked what he would to do end the cycle of addiction that plagues the community — with parents abandoning their children to go drinking, or with young people skipping school to abuse alcohol and sniff gas — Trudeau said improvements to the community's basic infrastructure are an important starting point.

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