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Nishnawbe Aski Nation press release

NAN water emergencies continue one year after Kashechewan

     THUNDER BAY, ON, Oct. 26 /CNW/ - On the one year anniversary of the evacuation of Kashechewan First Nation and recent declarations of water emergencies in three additional Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) communities, NAN Grand Chief Stan Beardy, together with Mushkegowuk Council Grand Chief Stan Louttit and Assembly of First Nations Ontario Regional Chief Angus Toulouse, today demanded safe drinking water become a priority of the federal government during a news conference in Toronto.

     "Nineteen of NAN's 49 First Nation communities are under a boil water advisory - three of which have declared water emergencies in the past three weeks," said NAN Grand Chief Stan Beardy who represents First Nation communities within James Bay Treaty 9, including Kashechewan. "With statistics like that and without immediate action by the Government of Canada, the threat of another tragedy like Kashechewan seems imminent."

     After over 1000 residents of Kashechewan First Nation were evacuated due to unsafe drinking water and resulting failing health in October 2005, the former Liberal Government of Canada outlined specific commitments to the James Bay coastal community in the areas of water, health, housing, and social services.

     "All governments committed to improving water management in First Nations communities during last November's First Ministers Meeting on Aboriginal Affairs in Kelowna, B.C. This was partly as a response to the outcry among Canadians about the deplorable conditions faced by Kashechewan," recalled Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Fontaine. "The commitment, however, has not been honoured by the new Conservative Government. Instead, an Action Plan for First Nations drinking water was announced in March, but no report to Canadians about progress achieved, if any, has been made. And, the needs in communities continue to grow."

     Despite various attempts urging Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) Jim Prentice to commit the Harper Government to the Kelowna Accord, one year later three additional NAN communities have declared similar water emergencies.

     Fearing increased risk to the health and safety of community members, Marten Falls, Pikangikum, and Attawapaskat First Nations have declared water emergencies in the past three weeks due to lack of capacity of water treatment plants, filtration and turbidity levels, contaminated intakes, and traces of carcinogens.

     NAN presented these concerns in a written submission to the federal Safe Drinking Water Panel in Thunder Bay, August 2006.

     Mushkegowuk Council Grand Chief Stan Louttit is a member of the expert panel on safe drinking water that toured Canada hosting public forums to hear presentations from First Nations, government agencies, and other stakeholders regarding options regulating water on reserves across Canada. He also represents NAN communities part of Mushkegowuk Tribal Council, including Kashechewan and Attawapiskat.

     "As a panel member, a community member, and as a person who has been impacted by the problem of safe drinking water on reserves directly, I know the issues highlighted during the safe drinking water panel discussions are real," said Mushkegowuk Council Grand Chief Stan Louttit, adding some of the common themes during presentations to the panel included lack of capacity for operating water treatment plants and training operators and water contamination from resource development. "Water is a basic human right, yet access to clean water is a problem for First Nations across the country. It's time the Government of Canada recognize the urgency on the national level. Peoples' lives are at risk."

     "The sheer number of First Nations across Canada with unsafe water is unacceptable," said AFN Ontario Regional Chief Angus Toulouse. "This situation is shameful and a stain on Canada's self-image as a fair and just country."

     Ontario passed Bill 43 - Clean Water Act (2006) last week and the provincial Minister for Aboriginal Affairs David Ramsay has made recent public statements regarding the need for the Government of Canada to come to the table regarding access to safe drinking water in the province's First Nations.

     "We welcome Ontario's support and look forward to seeing the funds that will bring our First Nations up to the standards that are currently taken for granted by the average Ontarian who has the luxury of simply turning on the tap and not thinking twice, however safe drinking water in First Nation communities remains a federal issue and we need quicker, more immediate action from the Government of Canada," said Beardy.

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/For further information: Jenna Young, Director of Communications, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, (807) 625-4952, (807) 628-3953 mobile; Bryan Hendry, A/Director of Communications, Assembly of First Nations, (613) 241-6789 ext. 229, (613) 293-6106 mobile; Pam Hunter, Communications Advisor, Chiefs of Ontario, (613) 203-3233/