Hundreds of evacuees from Kashechewan First Nation have made their way to Niagara Falls, joining other Ontario cities in providing shelter to residents affected by a prolonged water crisis stemming from a damaged treatment plant. The Niagara Region city is expecting around 1,700 evacuees, with efforts from authorities and local Indigenous groups focused on ensuring a smooth transition for those displaced individuals.
As of Friday, approximately 600 evacuees had already arrived in Niagara Falls, with more anticipated later in the day despite some minor weather-related delays. Following their flights to Hamilton on Wednesday and Thursday, the evacuees were then transported by bus to Niagara Falls for temporary accommodation.
Most of the evacuees will be housed in Niagara Falls, while others will find shelter in neighboring communities such as Timmins, Kapuskasing, and Kingston. Robert Garland, vice-president at risk mitigation company Xpera overseeing the evacuation process, facilitated the placement of Kashechewan residents in three local hotels without any capacity issues, given the current tourism season.
Niagara Falls has a history of providing assistance to evacuees in times of need, having welcomed around 3,000 individuals from First Nations in northern Manitoba and Ontario during last year’s northern Ontario wildfires. To aid Kashechewan evacuees in adjusting to their new environment, collaboration between Garland, Zambito, and local Indigenous groups like the Fort Erie Friendship Native Centre has been vital in addressing their immediate needs.
The Fort Erie Friendship Native Centre, through its program manager Melissa Shongo, is organizing cultural activities, grooming services, and access to traditional medicines like sage and sweetgrass for the evacuees. Plans are also underway to open the center’s kitchen to allow evacuees to prepare traditional meals, recognizing that hotels may not provide such facilities.
The state of emergency in Kashechewan was declared on January 4 due to a malfunction in the community’s water treatment plant, leading to a gastrointestinal outbreak and water supply disruptions. Despite repairs by Northern Waterworks technicians, pending test results will determine the safety of the water for consumption. In light of the ongoing crisis, the Fort Erie Friendship Native Centre is accepting donations, including clothing, to support the affected community members in Niagara Falls.