NESKANTAGA FIRST NATION – Denied federal government help to evacuate the community’s most vulnerable, Neskantaga First Nation has taken to crowd sourcing to cover costs of temporarily moving them to Thunder Bay.
The Northern Ontario community, located 270 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay, has been under a boil-water advisory for more than 25 years and last Thursday learned a pump and a back-up pump had failed.
It left most residents with low-pressure, contaminated water and others with no water at all.
Chief Chris Moonias sought help from Indigenous Services Canada to cover the costs of the evacuation, but he was denied.
A Go Fund Me page, seeking to raise $5,000, has been set up to help pay for flights, hotels, foods and other basic needs.
According to APTN, the community evacuated 99 residents on Sunday. Moonias on Facebook said they planned to evacuate up to 137 people from the community.
Moonias declared a state of emergency on Friday.
Ten patients have been admitted to the nursing station, which has otherwise been closed during the water crisis, with infections blamed on the contaminated water.
According to the Go Fund Me page, Indigenous Services Canada only provided a recommendation that each person be given 1.5 litres of water per day, which community leaders deem unrealistic.
Those who cannot donate money are asked to share what’s happening in Neskantaga First Nation, or even host a public event to create awareness.
