Neskantaga First Nation forced to evacuate after septic system damaged

Members of Neskantaga First Nation in northern Ontario have been forced from the community for the second time this summer. According to Chief Gary Quisess, a contractor hired by the federal government to make repairs to the community’s nursing station caused a sewage flood. Residents of the fly-in community about 430 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay previously evacuated ahead of a wildfire in July. “Neskantaga should not have to evacuate to access health care,” said Quisess in a statement. “Our people are being forced out of our homes again because the infrastructure we depend on has been neglected, patched over and left to fail. We need a new and fully functional health-care facility. We need Canada and Ontario to act now.” Quisess said families from his community are crowded into hotel rooms in Toronto and want to return to their homes as soon as possible. The Chief said Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull Masty provided the community with a “written guarantee that Neskantaga will receive a new and fully functional health-care clinic.” “Last year, federal officials told Neskantaga that the current nursing station still had nearly two decades left in its expected lifespan. Neskantaga says the current crisis has made clear that this position is unacceptable and dangerous.” At a news conference in Toronto, Neskantaga leadership called on Ontario to help the community in “securing a federal guarantee for a new health-care facility.” Read More:  From wildfire to sewage crisis: Neskantaga’s nightmare isn’t over  Quisess added that the province should stop “efforts to engage” the community in negotiations over a road to an area in the James Bay Lowlands called the Ring of Fire. The Ring of Fire region’s 5,000 square kilometres are rich in critical minerals, but not all First Nations support their development and extraction. Neskantaga is currently under the longest boil water order in Canada. “Our people need clean water, safe housing and a functioning nursing station,” Quisess said in the statement. “Ontario and Canada cannot keep asking us to talk about mining roads while our families cannot safely live at home. If governments can move quickly for mining infrastructure, they can move quickly for the infrastructure that keeps our people alive.” APTN News has reached out to Indigenous Services Canada. When the department responds, the information will be added to the story. Continue Reading