The federal government has set aside about $ 1.5 billion to compensate Indigenous people who have been left without clean drinking water as a result of a group lawsuit launched by First Nations communities. However, while the government described the settlement as “historic”, people living under the country’s biggest boiling water advisory directive called it unfair and frustrating at a news conference on Thursday. Neskantaga First Nation leader Wayne Moonias in Ontario said the 27-year-old advice was “heartbreaking”, especially for children who have never experienced clear water. Community member Roy Moonias said he was only entitled to claim six years’ compensation, even though he has lived on the advice since 1995. “This is BS,” said Mounias. “Who made that phone call?” He said the Nescadaga water treatment plant was still unfinished, “and our people have lost hope in this project.” “The Canadian government must be held accountable for the injustices of this community,” he said. The settlement will compensate people living in communities subject to drinking water counseling for at least one year between November 1995 and June 20, 2021. Tataskweyak chief Doreen Spence said the lawsuit was intended to inform the federal government about the injustices faced by indigenous peoples. The lawsuit was filed by Neskantaga First Nation, Curve Lake First Nation and Tataskweyak Cree Nation in 2019. The court upheld a settlement agreement on December 22, 2021. However, representatives of these communities who were called to speak at Thursday’s press conference said that people were still suffering. Sharon Sakanee, Neskantaga’s health director, said people had come to the hospital with water-induced skin rashes. “We are asked to use bottled water for bathing, cooking, cleaning and that is not acceptable,” he said. Sakanee’s son was born a month after the water council came into force in 1995. He said he committed suicide in 2012 – shortly before the community declared a state of emergency over suicides – and “has never been able to drink clean drinking water since.” on the day he was born and that is what all our children face today “. “It’s just another form of genocide,” he said. Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu said individual compensation would never make up for lost lives, but added that the government’s commitment of at least $ 6 billion through the settlement was intended to end all boiling water advice “once and for all.” always”. “I agree, no one should fight so hard for basic human rights,” he said. Spence invited Hajdu to visit her community in Manitoba, which has been under counseling for five years, to better understand living conditions. In a press release, the government said it “recognizes the damage done to the First Nations in the past by the lack of safe drinking water and is firmly committed to supporting these communities by addressing systemic barriers and developing sustainable solutions.” The settlement also includes a $ 400 million First Nation Economic and Cultural Rehabilitation Fund and a promise of “every reasonable effort” to repeal the Safe Drinking Water Act for the first nations and introduce a replacement law by the end of the year. “If we want to build reconciliation, a path to healing, we must address these basic fundamental rights of individuals,” said Leader Mounias. The Trinto government has promised to end all long-term boiling water advice when it was first elected in 2015. So far 132 consulting services have been completed, but there are still 33 active in 28 communities. Tataskweyak’s senior Eunice Beardy said the prime minister was “making promises but not keeping them”. “I hope that one day before it is time for me to leave this land, I will see this clear water for our young people,” he said. The claims settlement period is open and people can apply for compensation until next March. This Canadian Press report was first published on April 28, 2022.
