Leaders of Neskantaga First Nation are urging for provincial and federal assistance in establishing a new healthcare facility as the community’s most at-risk individuals undergo 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 its sole nursing station. With fewer than 400 residents in the First Nation, the incident occurred shortly after over 140 community members returned from Toronto following a wildfire-induced evacuation.
Chief Gary Quisses mentioned that a similar request for support for a new health-care facility was made last year during a three-month evacuation caused by a flood and fuel odor at the nursing station but no definitive response was received. Neskantaga has been under a boil water advisory for 31 years, the longest ongoing advisory in Canada, adding to the community’s challenges.
During a press conference at Queen’s Park, Chief Quisses and other Neskantaga leaders, along with Kiiwetinoong NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa, highlighted the critical need for improved healthcare services in the region. The current nursing station, built in 1994, suffered significant damage from the recent sewage leak, requiring a full foundation replacement.
Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) officials visited Neskantaga to assess the situation and expressed concerns about the prolonged displacement of community members. The lack of a definitive timeline for the nursing station’s restoration remains a pressing issue, as discussions with Neskantaga leadership and testing at the facility are ongoing.
Experts like Kerry Black, a Canada Research Chair at the University of Calgary, emphasized the urgency of addressing Neskantaga’s water and healthcare crises with sustainable, long-term solutions. She called for direct funding to First Nations to empower communities to maintain their infrastructure and develop tailored solutions.
Charla Moonias, a child and family services prevention worker for Neskantaga, highlighted the enduring challenges faced by the community, emphasizing the impact on mental health, particularly among youth. Chief Quisses underscored the need for attention to the community’s plight amid development pressures in the north, emphasizing the inadequate state of healthcare infrastructure.
