Members of Kashechewan First Nation are anticipated to return home over a week after a state of emergency was declared by Chief Hosea Wesley due to contaminated tap water. Following the discovery of unsafe drinking water, most of the community’s 2,300 residents have been temporarily housed in various locations across Ontario, such as Niagara Falls, Kingston, Timmins, Cochrane, and Kapuskasing.

Chief Wesley reported that approximately 500 individuals fell ill from cryptosporidium, a waterborne parasite causing gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. After repairing the water treatment facility and conducting lab tests on July 27, the presence of cryptosporidium was eliminated, deeming the water safe for consumption.

Although flights for evacuees were initially scheduled to commence on August 4 from Niagara Falls, they were postponed due to wildfires in northwestern Ontario. The available aircraft were redirected to aid in evacuating communities threatened by the fires.

Flights for evacuees began on August 9, with about half of the evacuees in Niagara Falls, roughly 700 people, already back in Kashechewan by Tuesday. Chief Wesley anticipates the remaining evacuees will return home within a little over a week.

Despite the water treatment plant repairs and the installation of new safety measures like a UV light disinfection system, there is lingering distrust among community members towards the local tap water. Although Kashechewan requested individual water filtration systems from Indigenous Services Canada, the department declined, citing the plant upgrades meeting Health Canada standards.

Looking ahead, while the immediate water crisis has been resolved, Chief Wesley highlighted the need to prepare for potential future evacuations due to the community’s vulnerability to spring flooding. Advocating for the relocation of Kashechewan to higher ground, efforts are underway with the federal government committing to moving the community to a safer location known as “Site 5” within the next decade. Indigenous Services Canada has allocated funds for planning studies towards the long-term relocation, with Chief Wesley expressing hope for their completion within a year.