Latest news with #PikangikumFirstNation
CBC
29-07-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Air quality statements, warnings issued across northwestern Ontario due to wildfire smoke
Social Sharing Much of northwestern Ontario is under air quality statements or more severe air quality warnings, as wildfire smoke from over the Prairies has moved into the region. The statements range from Geraldton westward through the City of Thunder Bay, across to the Manitoba border. "Poor air quality is expected to persist through Wednesday for most areas," Environment and Climate Change Canada says. Communities under air quality warnings include: Dryden — Vermilion Bay. Ear Falls — Perrault Falls — Western Lac Seul. Fort Frances — Emo — Rainy River. Kenora — Grassy Narrows — Whitedog. Pickle Lake — Cat Lake. Pikangikum — Poplar Hill — MacDowell. Red Lake — Woodland Caribou Park. Sandy Lake — Weagamow Lake — Deer Lake. Sioux Lookout — Eastern Lac Seul. Sioux Narrows — Nestor Falls — Morson. Summer Beaver — Wunnummin Lake — Kingfisher Lake. Common symptoms of poor air quality include eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches or a mild cough. Those most at risk include people ages 65 and older, pregnant people, infants and young children, people with underlying health conditions, and those who work outdoors, Environment and Climate Change Canada says. People are encouraged to consider rescheduling outdoor activities and keep their windows and doors closed as much as possible. Pikangikum evacuees to return home There are 54 wildfires burning across the northwest. Of these, seven are considered not under control. Pikangikum First Nation, which initiated an evacuation of its most vulnerable members earlier this month, is beginning to repatriate people back to the community, chief and council posted on Facebook Monday. The wildfire near the remote Ojibway First Nation, Red Lake 62, is more than 33,000 hectares large. "We know this evacuation — caused by RED 62 — has brought pain, uncertainty, and deep stress to every one of you. Being away from home, from our land and our people, has been incredibly difficult," the notice says. "We acknowledge the emotional toll this crisis has taken on our elders, our youth, our families, and each of you who held on with strength in the face of fear." In its latest update, Ontario Forest Fires says fire activity around Red Lake 62 remains low and that "demobilization of sprinkler systems is ongoing in areas where there is no longer a threat of fire." The wildland fire hazard is mainly low across the southern portions of the region due to recent rainfall, besides an area of moderate to high hazard along the Fort Frances and southern Lake of the Woods area. The far north portions of the Red Lake, Sioux Lookout and Nipigon fire management areas range from moderate to extreme hazard, Ontario Forest Fires says.
CBC
15-07-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Power outages persist in 6 First Nations in northwestern Ontario, as supplies run low
Social Sharing On the community's fourth day without power, Pikangikum First Nation's chief says the situation is becoming dire. "There's minimal access to clean water, limited fuel supply, a limited number of generators," Chief Paddy Peters told CBC News on Tuesday afternoon. "We have to deal with the power outage plus a forest fire, and it's created an extreme situation in my community." Power outages are affecting five other First Nations in northwestern Ontario, after wildfires damaged utility poles along the Wataynikaneyap Power line on Saturday. In a statement issued late Tuesday afternoon, Wataynikaneyap Power said the goal was to restore power by end of day Tuesday, but that there were a lot of challenges, "including logistics around lodging far from the work sites, moving crews around by air, weather affecting flights, [and] risk of additional damage needing to be fixed." WATCH | Peters addresses ongoing power outage: Pikangikum's chief speaks out on Day 4 of community-wide power outage. 3 hours ago Pikangikum First Nation has been without power for four days after wildfires damaged six hydro poles in northwestern Ontario, causing outages in as many First Nations. Here's the latest from Chief Paddy Peters about what the remote Ojibway community is going through. "Worker safety and restoration efforts are top priority," it said. Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler of Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) says he anticipates outages will continue for a few more days. We have to deal with the power outage plus a forest fire. — Chief Paddy Peters, Pikangikum First Nation "It's going to take a while, I think, because of the multiple sites where the grid has been compromised. That will require some time and effort to ensure that the crews are able to go in there safely to do the necessary repair work," Fiddler said. Wataynikaneyap Power says it's working alongside Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), Hydro One and the Provincial Emergency Response Organization "to safely organize crews and material for pole replacements." "Crews are prioritizing poles based on criticality to restore power. Further ground crews arrived yesterday and more will be arriving today to assist," it said. Meanwhile, Peters says the affected communities are dealing with food spoilage, overheating in buildings and a shortage of essential supplies. While Deer Lake and Sandy Lake have access to diesel generators, Poplar Hill, North Spirit Lake and Keewaywin First Nations have no backup power available; Pikangikum's only source is the community's school. 'All that food supply is now gone' NAN represents 49 First Nations across Treaties 9 and 5, three of which are experiencing power outages. The remaining three facing outages are under the Keewaytinook Okimakanak tribal council. The food spoilage seen in these communities speaks to the need for better long-term solutions for emergency supplies in the north, Fiddler says. "Many of the families go out in the springtime to harvest geese and other game and they stock up, they fill up their freezers, but because of what's happened with the loss of power, all that food supply is now gone," he said. Wataynikaneyap Power says its CEO has advocated for an immediate delivery of food and other supplies, "and is working with Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Keewaytinook Okimakanak, and [the] federal government to expedite approvals for emergency support." Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mark Carney convened the government's Incident Response Group with ministers and senior officials Tuesday to discuss the country's escalating wildfire situation, particularly in Ontario and Manitoba. Carney is expected to meet with First Nation leaders on Thursday. "The government remains in heightened vigilance and stands ready to mobilize additional federal resources to protect and support Canadians, in any and all aspects," the Prime Minister's Office says. MNR in 'constant contact' with First Nations Chris Marchand, a fire information officer based in northwestern Ontario, says fire operations staff are working closely with utility technicians to repair damaged electrical infrastructure. Overnight rainfall brought some reprieve from the fires on Tuesday, "and this will help reduce fire behaviour in the short term," Marchand added. Pikangikum First Nation is continuing to relocate its most vulnerable members to Thunder Bay and Sioux Lookout due to a 31,000-hectare fire just seven kilometres away, known as Red Lake 62. Emily McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the MNR, told CBC News the province is continuing to support evacuation efforts; "working closely" with Pikangikum leadership, the Independent First Nations Alliance and Indigenous Services Canada. While Peters says he's frustrated with how long it took the MNR to notify him of the nearby wildfire, McLaughlin says the ministry "is in constant contact with First Nations communities throughout [the] fire season, providing them with updates about conditions and information about fires that could be a danger to their community." "The decision to evacuate is made by First Nation community leadership. Each community sets its own criteria for the evacuation and return of community members, supported by information, and best advice from MNR," she said.
CBC
15-07-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Pikangikum's chief speaks out on Day 4 of community-wide power outage.
Pikangikum First Nation has been without power for four days after wildfires damaged six hydro poles in northwestern Ontario, causing outages in as many First Nations. Here's the latest from Chief Paddy Peters about what the remote Ojibway community is going through.
Hamilton Spectator
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
First Nation's fight for clean water stalls amid federal-provincial tensions
A remote northern Ontario First Nation's daily struggle for safe drinking water is stuck in the middle of a political fight between the federal and provincial governments. Every morning, families of the Pikangikum First Nation wake up to a water crisis that has become routine. Most homes have no running water. Families start the day not with a shower, but with a trek to the lake — hauling buckets, breaking through ice in the winter and rationing bottled water when it's available. Even the band office relies on a decaying septic tank and water tank with no plumbing. 'Daily life is a very, very long day simply because people don't have a direct water source,' said Carolina Budiman, senior health project manager and spokesperson for the community. Pikangikum has lived under a boil water advisory for over two decades. Last month, the only working water pump failed again, pushing the community into another state of emergency. Across Canada, 37 long-term boil water advisories remain in effect as of May 30, most of them in Ontario. The federal government has promised change, preparing to reintroduce a clean water bill for First Nations. This legislation, previously known as Bill C-61, would set national standards for drinking water and wastewater on First Nation lands, clarify which government is responsible, and require Ottawa to provide ongoing, adequate funding. For Pikangikum, this could finally mean moving from temporary fixes to real solutions. But now Alberta and Ontario are pushing back, asking Ottawa to drop the bill. In a letter to the federal environment minister, Alberta's Rebecca Schulz and Ontario's Todd McCarthy argued the bill would 'undermine competitiveness, delay project development and disproportionately harm specific provinces and territories without any quantifiable benefits to the natural environment.' They warned the new rules could create more regulatory hurdles and slow economic activity. Livi McElrea, spokesperson for Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty, reaffirmed the government's intention to go ahead with Bill C-61 in a statement provided to Canada's National Observer. 'Everyone in Canada should have access to safe and clean drinking water. That's why our new government has committed to introduce and pass legislation that affirms First Nations have a human right to clean drinking water. To be clear — we intend to introduce this legislation this fall to advance this important commitment,' McElrea wrote. She said the legislation was developed through engagement with First Nations from 2018 to 2024 and will continue to be shaped by their feedback. 'We call on all Parliamentarians, Provinces, and Territories to support this critical legislation to ensure that First Nations have access to clean drinking water,' McElrea said. But the opposition from Ontario and Alberta has added more uncertainty to Pikangikum's situation. 'This kind of political opposition just signals to the communities that even the modest improvements will be met with delay, and that puts people's health and safety at risk every single day,' said Natalie Clyke, a community advocate. 'It signals that First Nation health is still negotiable.' Paddy Peters, chief of the nation, is frustrated. 'The government is still punishing us, and our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren are needlessly suffering from the government's lack of response and taking their grand old time in using band-aid solutions to keep our community under submission,' he said in a written response to questions from Canada's National Observer. Clyke said that delaying the bill undermines the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. Instead of getting the long-term upgrades they need, communities like Pikangikum are stuck with paperwork and temporary repairs. In May, Pikangikum announced it is taking the federal government to court, seeking $2 billion in damages and $200 million in emergency relief for urgent repairs at its water treatment plant. Requests for reimbursement and immediate help have gone unanswered, said Budiman. 'Nothing changes,' Peters said. 'Canada makes repeated promises for improvements that never come. Our people live in conditions that would shock most Canadians and we are told to keep studying the problem.' The failing wastewater system is contaminating both the lake and the treated water reservoir, putting more than 4,000 residents at risk. Most families in Pikangikum First Nation continue to gather their water daily from the lake. In winter, they cut through the ice and melt the ice blocks over a fire to use at home. 'And it's not like a story that we all have shared growing up, that we went out to the lake ... so that you could bathe yourself,' Clyke said. Some elders recovering from surgery are staying in hotels just to access showers. Water use also remains heavily restricted. 'They're actually regulating their own water usage. Forget the bath — there's no such thing as a bathtub. They're not taking daily showers, and they're not cooking or cleaning with clean water,' Budiman said. The community relies on shipped-in products for hygiene, resulting in significant plastic waste. 'We have to ship in Lysol wipes and Pampers wipes. People are using those diaper wipes for their daily hygiene, along with bottled water. So we have a lot of plastic bottles — these are byproducts of having to live with insufficient water supply,' Budiman said. Pikangikum's challenges echo those in other First Nations communities, where safe water is still not guaranteed despite years of attention and investment. 'There's no reason that in a country as wealthy and strong as this, we cannot provide those services to all communities,' said Ken Coates, professor of Indigenous governance at Yukon University. 'What Canada should do, must do, is commit to every community in the country and legally establish that [Indigenous communities] have access to the same level of services that urban communities take for granted.' Pikangikum advocates say the commitment to bring C-61 to the House of Commons is a step forward, but they want more than promises. They want a guarantee that their chief and other First Nations will have a seat at the table as the legislation moves ahead. 'I'm optimistically cautious … We welcome the commitment, but we'll be watching and waiting,' Budiman said. Sonal Gupta / Local Journalism Initiative / Canada's National Observer Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. 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National Observer
07-07-2025
- Politics
- National Observer
First Nation's fight for clean water stalls amid federal-provincial tensions
A remote northern Ontario First Nation's daily struggle for safe drinking water is stuck in the middle of a political fight between the federal and provincial governments. Every morning, families of the Pikangikum First Nation wake up to a water crisis that has become routine. Most homes have no running water. Families start the day not with a shower, but with a trek to the lake — hauling buckets, breaking through ice in the winter and rationing bottled water when it's available. Even the band office relies on a decaying septic tank and water tank with no plumbing. 'Daily life is a very, very long day simply because people don't have a direct water source,' said Carolina Budiman, senior health project manager and spokesperson for the community. Pikangikum has lived under a boil water advisory for over two decades. Last month, the only working water pump failed again, pushing the community into another state of emergency. Across Canada, 37 long-term boil water advisories remain in effect as of May 30, most of them in Ontario. The federal government has promised change, preparing to reintroduce a clean water bill for First Nations. This legislation, previously known as Bill C-61, would set national standards for drinking water and wastewater on First Nation lands, clarify which government is responsible, and require Ottawa to provide ongoing, adequate funding. For Pikangikum, this could finally mean moving from temporary fixes to real solutions. But now Alberta and Ontario are pushing back, asking Ottawa to drop the bill. In a letter to the federal environment minister, Alberta's Rebecca Schulz and Ontario's Todd McCarthy argued the bill would 'undermine competitiveness, delay project development and disproportionately harm specific provinces and territories without any quantifiable benefits to the natural environment.' They warned the new rules could create more regulatory hurdles and slow economic activity. 'Daily life is a very, very long day simply because people don't have a direct water source,' said Carolina Budiman, senior health project manager and spokesperson for Pikangikum. Livi McElrea, spokesperson for Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty, reaffirmed the government's intention to go ahead with Bill C-61 in a statement provided to Canada's National Observer. 'Everyone in Canada should have access to safe and clean drinking water. That's why our new government has committed to introduce and pass legislation that affirms First Nations have a human right to clean drinking water. To be clear — we intend to introduce this legislation this fall to advance this important commitment,' McElrea wrote. She said the legislation was developed through engagement with First Nations from 2018 to 2024 and will continue to be shaped by their feedback. 'We call on all Parliamentarians, Provinces, and Territories to support this critical legislation to ensure that First Nations have access to clean drinking water,' McElrea said. But the opposition from Ontario and Alberta has added more uncertainty to Pikangikum's situation. 'This kind of political opposition just signals to the communities that even the modest improvements will be met with delay, and that puts people's health and safety at risk every single day,' said Natalie Clyke, a community advocate. 'It signals that First Nation health is still negotiable.' Paddy Peters, chief of the nation, is frustrated. 'The government is still punishing us, and our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren are needlessly suffering from the government's lack of response and taking their grand old time in using band-aid solutions to keep our community under submission,' he said in a written response to questions from Canada's National Observer. Clyke said that delaying the bill undermines the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. Instead of getting the long-term upgrades they need, communities like Pikangikum are stuck with paperwork and temporary repairs. In May, Pikangikum announced it is taking the federal government to court, seeking $2 billion in damages and $200 million in emergency relief for urgent repairs at its water treatment plant. Requests for reimbursement and immediate help have gone unanswered, said Budiman. 'Nothing changes,' Peters said. 'Canada makes repeated promises for improvements that never come. Our people live in conditions that would shock most Canadians and we are told to keep studying the problem.' The failing wastewater system is contaminating both the lake and the treated water reservoir, putting more than 4,000 residents at risk. Most families in Pikangikum First Nation continue to gather their water daily from the lake. In winter, they cut through the ice and melt the ice blocks over a fire to use at home. 'And it's not like a story that we all have shared growing up, that we went out to the lake ... so that you could bathe yourself,' Clyke said. Some elders recovering from surgery are staying in hotels just to access showers. Water use also remains heavily restricted. 'They're actually regulating their own water usage. Forget the bath — there's no such thing as a bathtub. They're not taking daily showers, and they're not cooking or cleaning with clean water,' Budiman said. The community relies on shipped-in products for hygiene, resulting in significant plastic waste. 'We have to ship in Lysol wipes and Pampers wipes. People are using those diaper wipes for their daily hygiene, along with bottled water. So we have a lot of plastic bottles — these are byproducts of having to live with insufficient water supply,' Budiman said. Pikangikum's challenges echo those in other First Nations communities, where safe water is still not guaranteed despite years of attention and investment. 'There's no reason that in a country as wealthy and strong as this, we cannot provide those services to all communities,' said Ken Coates, professor of Indigenous governance at Yukon University. 'What Canada should do, must do, is commit to every community in the country and legally establish that [Indigenous communities] have access to the same level of services that urban communities take for granted.' Pikangikum advocates say the commitment to bring C-61 to the House of Commons is a step forward, but they want more than promises. They want a guarantee that their chief and other First Nations will have a seat at the table as the legislation moves ahead.
