Neskantaga Residents Returning Home
Good news for those who live on the Neskantaga First Nation.
The nearly 200 residents are on their way home after problems with the water supply forced them to re-locate to the Victoria Inn.
Related: Neskantaga Declares Emergency
Chief Chris Moonias, in a statement released on his Twitter account Thursday, says while this has been a difficult time for his residents there were also moments of kindness and generosity from others across the country and the city.
The Chief also thanked Marc Miller, the Indigenous Services Minister, and mentioned he looks forward to an ongoing collaborative working relationship.
The boil water advisory will remain in place until work on the water treatment plant is completed.
Getting Everybody Home
A Thunder Bay company is set to unveil plans to help everyone get back to Neskantaga First Nation.
Sani Pass Canada along with community members will hold a news conference Friday morning at the Victoria Inn to demonstrate their disinfection channel technology.
The company says the device is meant to be a community protection COVID bubble, in combination with the use of a face mask.
The channel is equipped with strategically placed misting nozzles that disperse a very fine, dry fog of organic, non-toxic, non-irritant disinfection solution to assist in protecting individuals when entering a confined area by eliminating 99.9% of various germs and viruses that may be present on one’s body, clothing, and carry-ons.
Prime Minister Has Regrets
A long-held promise of the Prime Minister won’t be able to be fulfilled.
Justin Trudeau says he had hopes of lifting all drinking-water advisories in First Nations communities by March 2021 by putting more money and pressure to speed up the process.
However those advisories will remain in about a dozen communities after the deadline has passed.
According to the federal department, there were 59 long-term boil water advisories in effect in 41 Indigenous communities as of December 1st.
