Press Release
Thunder Bay, ON: Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler and Neskantaga First Nation Chief Chris Moonias have demanded a coordinated response to the State of Emergency declared by the remote community as immediate heath threats from the water system has forced the community to evacuate its members.
“For weeks Chief Moonias has made desperate pleas to the government for support in addressing the water crisis in Neskantaga First Nation. Yesterday, after a full shut down of the system, Chief Moonias and Council were forced to make the only decision available to them, and we fully support their decision to evacuate,” said Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler. “In a remote community, a major infrastructure failure is a crisis, and even more so in the middle of a global pandemic. Community members are living in dehumanizing condition and cannot bathe or flush their toilets. This is a health emergency crisis, plain and simple. It is unacceptable that government officials refuse to declare this as an emergency. The people of Neskantaga need to be supported in every way possible, and we will do everything we can to help”.
After participating in a call today with senior government officials from Indigenous Services Canada who refused to acknowledge the severity of the situation and classify it as a public health crisis, Grand Chief Fiddler has written to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urging that he immediately intervene. Because of this decision by federal officials, there is currently no government support for the evacuation.
“In 2016, I listened to former Indigenous and Northern Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett promising that Neskantaga would have clean drinking water in 2018. That was another promise broken, and yesterday I was left with no choice but to call for the immediate evacuation of our most vulnerable citizens,” said Neskantaga First Nation Chief Chris Moonias. “This is the second time I have had to do so in my short time as Chief. This is a public health crisis, and the government is looking for every excuse and pushing back at every turn. The lack of support is making me sick, but I will continue to do whatever is necessary to protect the health and safety of my community”.
Neskantaga has not had safe drinking water since 1995 – the longest running boil water advisory in Canada. A water treatment plant was constructed in 2016 but there have been numerous delays, equipment failures and related infrastructure failures. The system failed in 2019, and the long-standing boil water advisory was replaced with a Do Not Consume warning. Indigenous Services Canada refused to evacuate the community.
Evacuation Status:
Community Situation:
Technical Background:
Neskantaga First Nation is a remote Oji-Cree community in Treaty No. 9 territory situated on the shores of Attawapiskat Lake in the District of Kenora, approximately 430 km northeast of Thunder Bay.
For more information please contact:
Michael Heintzman
Director of Communications
Office: (807) 625-4965
Cell: (807) 621-2790
mheintzman@nan.ca
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