Leaders of Neskantaga First Nation are calling for provincial and federal assistance to establish a new healthcare facility as vulnerable community members face their second evacuation this summer. The remote Ojibway community, located approximately 440 kilometers northeast of Thunder Bay, Ontario, declared a state of emergency on August 4 due to a sewage leak at the only nursing station in the First Nation, which is home to fewer than 400 residents.
The incident occurred shortly after over 140 community members returned from Toronto following a previous evacuation prompted by nearby wildfires. Last year, the community experienced a three-month evacuation due to a flood and fuel odor at the nursing station. Although a request for support for a new healthcare facility was made at that time, Chief Gary Quisses stated that no concrete response has been received.
Neskantaga has been under a boil water advisory for 31 years, the longest active advisory in Canada. The community is currently facing immense stress and challenges, with over 250 evacuees relocated to Toronto. Quisses estimates that the nursing station’s foundation requires complete replacement due to raw sewage contamination that needs manual removal.
During a news conference at Queen’s Park, Neskantaga leaders, including Kiiwetinoong NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa, highlighted the critical healthcare situation in the community. Mamakwa emphasized the importance of healthcare services in First Nations territories and criticized the neglect of indigenous communities’ needs amid resource development initiatives.
The nursing station at Neskantaga was constructed in 1994, and while a temporary facility has been set up post the sewage leak, it can only offer basic medical services. Efforts are underway to assess the situation and plan for the station’s restoration, with Indigenous Services Canada collaborating with the First Nation leadership and partners to address the emergency.
Nishnawbe Aski Nation representatives visited Neskantaga to evaluate the circumstances. Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler expressed concerns about the challenges faced by the community members, particularly regarding their mental well-being. The lack of clean drinking water and inadequate healthcare services, compounded by ongoing infrastructure issues, have created a dire situation for residents.
Experts like Kerry Black, a Canada Research Chair focusing on water and wastewater issues in First Nations, stressed the need for sustainable funding directly allocated to indigenous communities to address long-standing challenges. Charla Moonias, a child and family services prevention worker from Neskantaga, highlighted the impact of infrastructure failures on the community’s youth and mental health.
As discussions continue on the nursing station’s restoration and broader infrastructure improvements, community leaders hope that the current crisis will draw attention to the urgent needs of Neskantaga First Nation, underscoring the critical importance of sustainable solutions and support for indigenous communities.
