Attawapiskat Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

Attawapiskat

"You know what? "
Asked young man
‘First Nation! '

I frowned and wondered
Unaware…

"They say that we are sick
Mental health crisis, spike in suicide…"
Dumb-founded I looked on…

"Their attempt to declare ‘state of emergency'
And sending the so called ‘Mental health workers'
Indicate nothing but their craze…"
As before I remained.

Serious he went on pressing:
"Minister of health; Federal
Crisis in cycle, and the deaths
With comments of our chief…"

He spoke serious as if was a Post-doc:
"Do they know of the whales?
Their beaching, suicide?
No man knows…
To them that was news
The whales died; hundreds
And they are forgotten…"

To see him in the eyes…did not dare.
"Both of us are natural…children of same Mom
Mom nature…
These doctors and workers…governments…
Are all sick; crazy…they are mad…"

Now I gazed like a sheep at graze…
"Everything to them is of greed, lack of deed and news! "
I nodded…of fear? Approval? Or question?
"Tell them go eat their shit…
We know best
Their world is a madness! "