Flint, Michigan is dealing with a water crisis, pushing the area into a ‘state of emergency.’ Instead of pointing fingers like the government has been doing in response to the toxic overload, the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians from Manistee, Michigan is donating a hefty sum to the Genesee County Sheriff’s office to assist in providing clean water to Flint, Michigan residents.
Flint is now under a state of emergency after local, state, and federal officials finally admitted there was lead contamination in the water. The $10,000 donation made by the Ottawa Indians will go far to help provide clean water to people who are most water-insecure during the crisis.
In November, Flint citizens filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of victims of high levels of lead against Snyder, the state of Michigan, the city of Flint and other state and city officials.
The investigation by the U.S. attorney’s office comes more than a year after the city of more than 100,000 people began getting water from the Flint River instead of from Lake Huron via Detroit’s water system. The move was announced as a temporary, cost-cutting measure until Flint could get Great Lakes water on its own, according to the class-action lawsuit.
A few days ago, the Little River Band posted a statement on Facebook, saying:
“The Tribal Council yesterday authorized a contribution to the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office to assist with efforts to help the people of Flint with their water issues. Currently, the tribe has approximately 30 members who live in the area. Please add them to your prayers.”
Michigan’s 9and10 News reported the Little River Band “reiterated their commitment to addressing the importance of water quality and how it’s is the most critical party to the cycle of life.”
(Taylor Irby | MLive.com)
Anti-Media also reported this week on support for Flint from another organization pledging to donate 30,000 bottles of water. Dr. Aziza Askari, head of the non-profit’s chapter, told the Washington Times:
“We saw what needed to be done and we decided to do it. We reached out to schools, neighbours, friends, mosques, anyone and everyone to help us by donating a case of water, or money towards a case.”
These diverse groups are showing how people of all faiths, ethnic backgrounds, and social status can come together to solve a community problem, no matter who caused it. Even when government officials drag their feet and stand in the way, the people are rising up to save their resources from pollution, and likely corporate greed.
Additional Sources:
Featured image credit: FlintPressNews, (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)