Kashechewan leaders urge stronger response to State of Emergency

Kashechewan First Nation leaders say government response to the community’s State of Emergency has been inadequate, leaving residents in unsafe conditions as critical infrastructure fails.

Chief and council declared the emergency on January 4 after the aging water system failed and raw sewage flooded the community’s only nursing station.

The facility is now operating out of a temporary location at less than half capacity, with no diagnostic equipment or telecommunication capabilities.

Running water has been shut off, pipes and fire hydrants are frozen, and the community remains without a reliable way to fight fires or access medical care.

“We are extremely disappointed with the response so far from our federal and provincial treaty partners,” said Chief Hosea Wesley. “No political leaders from Ontario have reached out, and the response we have received so far from the federal government does not meet the urgency of the situation that is unfolding in our community.”

Roughly 2,300 people live in Kashechewan, but only a fraction have been evacuated. Fewer than 325 residents have been flown out since Friday, and leadership says some flights being arranged are small nine-seat aircraft, far short of what’s needed to move families quickly.

“We have asked for assistance from the Canadian Armed Forces to speed up the evacuation of our most vulnerable members and to assist with deliveries of bottled water,” Wesley said. “They have yet to commit to this, so our people are continuing to suffer, and we can only hope that a tragedy does not occur before they can get out safely.”

The First Nation has also invited federal officials to visit, including Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu’s representative Minister Gull-Masty, but says no commitment has been made.

Kashechewan’s Executive Director Tyson Wesley says the situation represents a failure in basic equitable access to care.

“If someone was having a heart attack, there would be no way to diagnose or treat them,” he said. “No where else in Canada would you see an entire community left without the ability to access adequate healthcare services.”

Leadership says both levels of government have the ability to respond more fully and are questioning why they have not.