First Nation leaders call for long-term solutions amid Kashechewan water crisis

First Nation leaders in northern Ontario are urging the federal and provincial governments to expedite evacuations and commit to long-term solutions as one community continues to deal with failures in its water supply and sewage systems.

The fly-in community of Kashechewan First Nation declared a state of emergency on Jan. 4 after local officials said infrastructure damage had created an urgent public health and safety issue, with sewage creeping into people’s homes and contaminating fresh water systems.

Indigenous Services Canada said last week it was prioritizing the evacuation of 500 vulnerable people and repairs were underway in the remote First Nation on the western shore of James Bay.

Leaders from the Mushkegowuk Council, which represents First Nations including Kashechewan, said Wednesday that out of 2,200 people in the community, only 668 have been evacuated in the past 10 days.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with the government in terms of urgency on a fast track of evacuation,” Mushkegowuk Council Grand Chief Leo Friday said at a press conference in Ottawa.

Friday said sewage has flooded the community’s nursing station and water treatment plant, and fire hydrants are frozen. They’ve asked for expedited evacuation efforts and bigger airplanes, but governments aren’t acting quick enough, he said.

“Our people need help now. We need to help them now. Our communities are not coming cap in hands,” he said. “This is about treaty responsibility, nation to nation relationship and government accountability.”

“If government wants roads, ports and access to resources, they must also address our priorities.”

Indigenous Services Canada said last week it has enlisted a company that specializes in water and wastewater management to resolve the issues that led to the shutdown of the First Nation’s water treatment plant.

Ontario’s Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response has also said the province is working with the federal government, First Nations leadership and local partners to support the safe evacuation of residents.

But Friday said the crisis shows an urgent need for long-term solutions from Ottawa and the Ontario government, including a functional clinic and water treatment plant in the community.

Kashechewan First Nation has previously been evacuated due to infrastructure issues. In 2005, the community’s water system was contaminated with E. coli, forcing the evacuation of more than 800 residents. Spring flooding and unsafe water have also prompted numerous other evacuations over the years.

A news release from the First Nation said the community has been plagued with pump failures in the sewage lift stations due to an overworked system that is now more than 30 years old.

“Ontario and Canada must respond now,” Friday said. “Invest in our community and respect treaty obligations.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 14, 2026.

— With files from Alessia Passafiume in Ottawa.