Canada: Neskantaga First Nation surpasses 10,000 days under drinking water advisory

On Sunday, Neskantaga First Nation marked its 10,000th day under a drinking water advisory. This is the longest period that any First Nation in Canada has lived under such an advisory.

The community, located about 450 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, Ontario, has a population of around 300. For more than 27 years they have lived without safe, clean tap water.

“It’s very disheartening to see,” said Chief Wayne Moonias, “especially young kids getting rashes, getting sores, being bandaged up when they are exposed to untreatable water that comes into their homes.”

Their water problems date back to the early 90s when the First Nation relocated from its original reserve. The construction of a water treatment plant in the new community was paid for by the federal government. However, it proved to be ineffective almost immediately.

On February 1, 1995, the community was placed under a boil-water advisory, which still remains in place today.

In 2015, the federal Liberal government made a pledge to end drinking water advisories on reserves by March 31, 2021. According to the government website tracking its progress, there are still 34 advisories in place in 29 communities.

Chris Moonias, a former chief of the community and an advisor to the current chief, has insisted that Neskantaga will not lift its advisory until the new facility is not only guaranteed to work, but is guaranteed to work reliably long-term.

“Every time we fix something…something else breaks,” said Chris Moonias. While construction of the water treatment plant finally nears completion, they still need to ensure its reliability. Hopefully, work will be completed in September this year.

Image from CTV News