Nicole Hancock
Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony ...

Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.

Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony to heal Chedoke Creek

Sachigo Lake First Nation

Long-term drinking water advisory lifted in Sachigo Lake First Nation

Long-term drinking water advisory lifted in Sachigo Lake First Nation

With the completion of upgrades and expansion of the community’s water infrastructure, Sachigo Lake First Nation’s Chief and Council recently lifted a long-term drinking water advisory affecting over 500 community members since October 19, 2018. “Sachigo Lake First Nation and Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) have worked in partnership to invest approximately $29 million over a period of five years. Improvements to infrastructure included upgrading the existing water treatment plant, extending the community’s water distribution system, and expanding the wastewater lagoon,” a Nov. 30 news release from Indigenous Services Canada explained.

Sachigo Lake First Nation completes water system upgrades, lifts long-term drinking water advisory

Sachigo Lake First Nation completes water system upgrades, lifts long-term drinking water advisory

First Nations, with support from the Government of Canada, continue to make significant progress in ending long-term drinking water advisories on reserves and building sustainable solutions to support access to safe, clean drinking water. After completing upgrades and expansions to the community's water infrastructure, Sachigo Lake First Nation's Chief and Council recently lifted the long-term drinking water advisory affecting over 500 community members since October 19, 2018.

Boil water advisory in Sachigo Lake First Nation lifted after 4 years

Boil water advisory in Sachigo Lake First Nation lifted after 4 years

A boil water advisory in Sachigo Lake First Nation that had been in effect for four years was officially lifted last week. The advisory, which was upgraded to a long-term advisory in 2019, was rescinded after upgrades to the water treatment system were finished. The work included an expansion of the wastewater lagoon. Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu is expected to address the matter in the House of Commons on Wednesday, “That brings us to 31 boil-water advisories left to lift nationally, 136 since we took office that have been lifted,” Hajdu said in prepared comments that were submitted to NWONewswatch.

Liberal government will miss drinking water target by years, CBC News survey shows

Liberal government will miss drinking water target by years, CBC News survey shows

The Liberal government will miss a target it set during the 2015 federal election campaign to lift all long-term drinking water advisories in First Nations by March 2021 — in some cases by several years — according to a survey of communities by CBC News. More than a dozen First Nations said projects to end long-term drinking water advisories won't be completed by the promised deadline.

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