Chief Bruce Shisheesh, left, Minister of Indigenous Affairs Carolyn Bennett, centre, and Federal NDP MPP Charlie Angus, right, meet in the northern Ontario First Nations reserve of Attawapiskat, Ont., in an April 16, 2016, file photo. Two cabinet ministers will speak at the United Nations in New York City today about the government's approach to indigenous affairs, but grave conditions on a northern Ontario reserve have prompted the NDP's indigenous affairs critic to cancel his attendance as part of the Canadian delegation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Chief Bruce Shisheesh, left, Minister of Indigenous Affairs Carolyn Bennett, centre, and Federal NDP MP Charlie Angus, right, meet in the northern Ontario First Nations reserve of Attawapiskat, Ont., in an April 16, 2016, file photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

 

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The chief of Ontario’s troubled Attawapiskat First Nation is to have his long awaited meeting today with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss the suicide crisis in his community.

Bruce Shisheesh will be joined at the meeting in Ottawa by Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde.

The meeting was agreed to in May amid calls for increased mental health services to address a rash of youth suicide attempts on the northern Ontario reserve.

Trudeau will meet with an aboriginal youth delegation from northern Ontario about their concerns before sitting down with the chiefs.

The youth delegation will also meet separately with Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett and MPs.

Bellegarde said last week he would also raise the inadequate level of child welfare services on reserves.

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