The water crisis in Neskantaga First Nation is frustrating members of the community.
Two of them have travelled to Queen’s Park for a sit-in.
Lawrence Sakanee and Alex Moonias made the trip to Toronto to protest at Ontario Legislature and call attention to the reality of the water crisis.
Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa says the province has an obligation to the community.
“Ontario signed a treaty with the adhesion deer season in Big Trout Lake in 1929. They’re signatory to the Treaty. They need to invest some sources into helping the crisis,” says Mamakwa.
Leaders in the remote community declared a state of emergency last month and evacuated residents to Thunder Bay after an oily sheen in the water reservoir was found.
Chief Chris Moonias with Renata Moonias (l) and Marilyn Waswa
Renata Moonias worries for her two young children.
“I don’t want them to grow up without clean drinking water. I don’t want them to grow up bathing in the tap water back home. It’s not good for them. They don’t deserve it,” says Moonias.
Another woman recounted the death of her daughter while she left home to get clean drinking water.
Upon hearing the women’s stories, Chief Chris Moonias made with a simple appeal.
Fix…our…water. Fix our water!”
The community has been under a boil water advisory for 25 years.
