Mould in homes making Vancouver Island aboriginal kids sick, chief says

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Mould in homes making Vancouver Island aboriginal kids sick, chief

says

The Canadian Press - TOFINO, B.C.*

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5gQTUjmGfqKlGriid4aVtrri

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TOFINO, B.C. — A prominent First Nation's chief says mould that's

wreaking havoc on houses in the small Vancouver Island community of

Ahousat and making children sick is a national issue, says a

prominent chief.

Atleo, regional chief for the B.C. Assembly of First Nations

and an Ahousaht hereditary chief, says aboriginal leaders across

Canada now are discussing what actions they need to take to solve

the problem.

Atleo says other chiefs are talking about launching an class-action

lawsuit on the issue.

He says mould is a national problem that First Nations leaders can't

get traction on.

The small community of Ahousat is located on Island, north of

Tofino, and on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Atleo says that out of the community's 160 homes, 140 have mould,

and of those 40 are uninhabitable because of overcrowding, high

birthrates and standing water.

Atleo said the majority of the homes are about 50 years old, were

built by outside contractors and are in the middle of rainforest.

Black mould, he added, is hurting asthmatics and children.

" These houses need to be replaced and or upgraded, " Atleo said.

He said chiefs across the country who are dealing with similar

situations are hitting the wall.

" It's just got so big and it's in our backyard, " Atleo said. " People

just don't know what to do about it. "

The issue is on the agenda for a meeting in Nanaimo on Thursday of

representatives of the Ahousaht First Nation, Assembly of First

Nations, the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, Canada Mortgage and

Housing Corporation, the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern

Development and engineers.