No more unsafe water for Ontario's Neskantaga First Nation community

The government has announced an investment of $8.8 million approximately to provide safe water to the people of the community. The First Nations  are the predominant Aboriginal peoples of Canada south of the Arctic.

Though the planning was done a year ago, the Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) announced the financial details of the whole initiative on Thursday.

In a statement, the INAC said: "The Government of Canada will invest approximately $8.8 million to help upgrade the community’s water treatment system, including an addition to the existing water plant with new treatment technology and additional reservoir storage capacity to meet the community’s long-term needs, enabling more than 340 residents to access clean water for the first time in more than 22 years."

The government said the project is expected to conclude by spring 2018.

Neskantaga First Nation chief Wayne Moonias said the movement was first started by the members of the community who forced the visit of Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, Carolyn Bennett, which actually made the things happen.

Moonias said how the First Nation members used to suffer due to unsafe water as they could neither drink it nor could bathe without getting rashes.

"This has been a long and difficult process and has demonstrated the resolve of our members. We also appreciate the efforts of everyone who brought attention to this issue over the years.  We are one step closer to ending the water advisory, but there is much more work to be done. We hope that work gets underway immediately" the chief added.

Minister Bennett congratulated the people of the community who actually forced the government to take up the plan. "Congratulations to Neskantaga First Nation and Matawa Tribal Council for your leadership on this project that will end the 22 year drinking water advisory in this First Nation community."

Highlighting the commitment of the government, the minister added: "This accomplishment is worth celebrating and is also an example of what can be accomplished when we work in true partnership. Investing in water systems like the one at Neskantaga First Nation represents one more step in renewing our relationship with First Nations and reaffirms our commitment to end all long-term drinking water advisories affecting on-reserve public systems financially supported by Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC)."

Neskantaga First Nation is a community of 300 odd people in the North of Canadian province of Ontario.

(Reporting by Souvik Ghosh)

Image: Official Facebook page of Carolyn Bennett.