Ottawa – First Nations, with the assistance of the Canadian government, continue to make great strides toward the removal of long-term drinking water advisories on reserves and the development of long-term approaches to ensuring that people have access to clean, safe drinking water.
The long-term drinking water advisory impacting more than 500 community members since October 19, 2018, was just revoked by Sachigo Lake First Nation’s Chief and Council following the completion of improvements and additions to the community’s water infrastructure.
Together with Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), the Sachigo Lake First Nation has invested over $29 million over the course of five years.
Infrastructure upgrades included increasing the wastewater lagoon, extending the community’s water distribution system, and modernising the current water treatment facility.
In order to conduct the thorough feasibility study, a project team led by the Chief and Council of the Sachigo Lake First Nation hired experts.
Subsequently, numerous contractors were hired to finish the construction and implement these long-term upgrades, enabling the Chief and Council to lift the long-term drinking water advisory.
These upgrades guarantee that 185 households and many non-residential structures, including the band office, schools, teacherages, community hall, daycare centre, and hockey arena, have access to safe, clean drinking water.
“As inhabitants of the land, we are aware personally of how essential clean water is to all forms of life. It has taken a while for the residents of the Sachigo Lake First Nation to get access to drinkable water that we can use for drinking, bathing, and cooking. The fact that I can finally inform the community members that the water is nice, drinkable, and that the clean water coming from our taps moves us closer to fairness and equity, safety, and well-being makes me happy as the chief.
“We are grateful for the efforts undertaken by those who helped us work towards this: the WFNC technical team and officials at ISC. Migwech for helping us make this a reality. Looking ahead, however, we must ensure that ISC maintains critical capital investments into Sachigo Lake’s infrastructure so that our children and those yet to come can expect clean drinking water from their taps, too. But today we celebrate and offer our friends in government a big migwech.” – Chief Robert Beardy, Sachigo Lake First Nation
Short facts about Sachigo Lake First Nation
1- Approximately 425 kilometres (264 miles) north of the town of Sioux Lookout, the Sachigo Lake First Nation is situated on Sachigo Lake, which is a part of the Sachigo River system and the Hudson Bay drainage basin.
2- The registered population of the Sachigo Lake First Nation was 967 as of September 2022, with 537 of those individuals residing on the reserve.
3- Since November 2015, First Nations have dropped 136 long-term drinking water advisories, 69 of which were in Ontario, with assistance from the Canadian government.
4- 19 towns in Ontario are taking steps to address the remaining 22 long-term drinking water advisories.
5- 231 temporary drinking water advisories on public systems in First Nations communities have been stopped from becoming long-term since November 2015.
Source: Government of Canada
