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Health Canada says roughly 18 more people – including a crisis co-ordinator, two youth support workers and a psychologist are being deployed to Attawapiskat to help with the suicide crisis.

Attawapiskat’s chief declared a state of emergency Saturday, citing the community’s 11 suicide attempts so far in April and 28 attempts in March.

Just last night, police helped thwart a suicide pact between 13 young aboriginal people, including a nine-year-old.

During last night’s emergency debate in the House of Commons, NDP MP Charlie Angus said the days of the federal government dictating to the Aboriginal community what’s good for them has to end, adding our greatest resource is our children.

Angus says what’s happening in the community isn’t new, and it’s time to do more than just apply Band-Aids and send in emergency flights.

Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett said the solution is a shared responsibility while Health Minister Jane Philpott said the government will act, adding it’s “completely unacceptable in a country as rich in resources as Canada that young people should get to the point that their life seems worthless.”