Canada: Federal, provincial and indigenous leaders develop action plan to support First Nations

"Today is a celebration of us coming together, nation-to-nation, to build a strong foundation with the Kashechewan First Nation," said Carolyn Bennett, the minister of Indigenous and northern affairs, in Friday's release.

"This agreement is an important collaboration ... which will result in better health, education and economic outcomes and build a better future for all of [Kashechewan's] members," CBCNews reports said

According to CBCNews reports, during the spring people were forced to fly out of Kashechewan to hotel rooms in the south to escape from the threat of flooding to the community.

Federal government had issued a written release in conjunction with the announcement stating that an action plan, still to be developed, will support the short, medium and long-term sustainability of the community.

According to federal officials, a steering committee, consisting of representatives from the federal and provincial departments as well as the community, will guide how the action plan and will be implemented and report on its progress yearly.

The plan, said the federal officials, will focus on improving housing, socio-economic sustainability, health programs, infrastructure, schools and community facilities and relocating the flood-prone First Nation near James Bay, hundreds of kilometres north of Sudbury, Ont.

Kashechewan Chief Leo Friday said the move to a spot about 20 kilometres away could cost between $500 million and $1 billion but it would be worth, said Leo, considering the costs of repeatedly flying people out of the community during spring flooding of Albany River.

89 percent of the First Nation voted in favour of relocation during a referendum held in 2016.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)