More than 700 individuals have already been relocated from Kashechewan First Nation, as stated by the community’s executive director. However, a significant portion of the population is still awaiting evacuation.
Chief Hosea Wesley of Kashechewan declared a local state of emergency on January 4 due to the deteriorating condition of the community’s water treatment and wastewater facilities. Situated along the James Bay coast, the fly-in community has been collaborating with both federal and provincial authorities to evacuate all 2,300 residents.
Tyson Wesley, the executive director of Kashechewan First Nation, expressed frustration over the slow pace of the full evacuation. Despite requests to expedite the process, flight operations have not increased significantly.
The community faced a gastrointestinal outbreak on Monday, with concerns about the lack of equipment to test stool samples to identify the cause. Uncertainty remains about whether the illness resulted from a viral infection or consumption of tap water before the emergency declaration on January 4, prompting an immediate ‘do not consume water’ directive.
The nursing clinic in the community had to be evacuated on January 7 due to a sewage backup, necessitating the relocation of staff, patients, and equipment to a nearby elementary school. However, diagnostic tools are limited at the temporary site, leading to operations running at only 40% capacity.
Indigenous Services Canada’s spokesperson, Eric Head, informed CBC News via email that water testing is ongoing, and repairs are underway at the water treatment plant. Northern Waterworks dispatched replacement pumps and is delivering additional equipment to complete infrastructure repairs.
The Loomex Group, a provincial vendor, assisted in the initial phase of the evacuation, transporting residents to various Ontario cities. The company’s president mentioned plans for a potential 60-day stay for evacuees during natural disasters or similar crises.
Regarding the ongoing evacuation, Trent Gervais from the Loomex Group emphasized the coordination of travel arrangements, accommodations, meals, and medical necessities for evacuees. Approximately 200 individuals are set to stay in Kingston, with future plans to relocate around 1,700 people to Niagara Falls.
Chief Hosea Wesley expressed dissatisfaction with the evacuation progress, citing inadequate government responses and urging the Canadian Armed Forces to expedite evacuations and provide bottled water assistance to prevent any potential tragedies.
