Leaders from Neskantaga First Nation are calling for provincial and federal assistance to establish a new healthcare facility as vulnerable members face their second evacuation this summer. The remote Ojibway community, located around 440 kilometers northeast of Thunder Bay, Ontario, declared a state of emergency on August 4 due to a sewage leak at its sole nursing station, which serves fewer than 400 residents.
This incident occurred shortly after more than 140 community members returned from Toronto following an evacuation prompted by nearby wildfires. Last year, Neskantaga faced a three-month evacuation due to floods and fuel odors at the nursing station. Despite requesting support for a new healthcare facility previously, Chief Gary Quisses mentioned that the community has not received a definitive response.
Neskantaga has been under a boil water advisory for 31 years, the longest in Canada. Chief Quisses expressed concerns about the mounting stress and challenges faced by the community members. Over 250 evacuees have been relocated to Toronto, with plans to replace the nursing station’s entire foundation due to the seepage of raw sewage into the ground.
During a news conference at Queen’s Park, Neskantaga leaders, along with Kiiwetinoong NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa, highlighted the critical healthcare situation in the community. Mamakwa emphasized the importance of essential services like the nursing station in Neskantaga and criticized the neglect of indigenous communities’ needs despite resource extraction activities in their traditional territories.
The nursing station at Neskantaga was built in 1994, and while a temporary setup has been arranged post the recent leak, it can only offer basic medical services. Indigenous Services Canada is collaborating with the community’s leadership and partners to assess and restore the facility, with no fixed timeline provided yet. Ornge services are on standby for any potential medical evacuations, and the Emergency Management Assistance Program is available for emergency response and recovery funding.
Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) representatives visited Neskantaga to assess the situation and acknowledged the challenges faced by the Chief and Council in providing answers to community members about their return. With ongoing infrastructure failures impacting mental health, there is a growing call for sustainable solutions and direct funding to empower indigenous communities in maintaining their infrastructure and addressing critical needs.
The lack of clean drinking water for decades and persistent healthcare issues exacerbate the plight of Neskantaga residents. Calls for sustainable solutions, long-term funding, and community empowerment to address infrastructure challenges are gaining momentum. The community is hopeful that the current situation will draw attention to their pressing needs and the urgent requirement for improved healthcare and infrastructure.