Indigenous Services Canada says the evacuation of 500 vulnerable people from a remote First Nation in northern Ontario will happen “as early as possible,” as the community deals with failures in its water supply and sewage systems.
The federal department says the priority evacuees from Kashechewan First Nation will be taken to Timmins and Kapuskasing as plans to relocate the rest of the community are still being worked out.
The fly-in community of around 2,200 people on the western shore of James Bay says the situation has created an urgent public health and safety issue, as sewage is creeping into people’s homes and contaminating fresh water systems.
Indigenous Services Canada says it has enlisted a company that specializes in water and wastewater management to resolve the issues that led to the shutdown of the First Nation’s water treatment plant.
It says that repairs are underway and a replacement pump was installed in the lift station.
Kashechewan First Nation’s executive director, Tyson Wesley, said Wednesday that the province had arranged a flight for 37 people to Timmins, and that his community was working to arrange two more flights to urban centres.
Kashechewan is looking to evacuate the entire community in the coming days and had asked if the military would be able to assist, but Wesley said the overall response from provincial and federal governments has been “inadequate.”
More technicians were scheduled to arrive Thursday to begin repairing damage caused by flooding in the basement of the local nursing station that came with a sewage odour, Indigenous Services Canada said in a statement.
“The decision has been made to temporarily relocate health services to the community school over the course of the evacuation,” wrote Eric Head, a spokesperson for the department.
“Nurses remain in community and health services will be provided out of the school for emergencies only during this time. All patients will be triaged accordingly,” he added.
“This is an evolving situation, and we will continue to respond to all critical needs, to support community members and leadership through this evacuation, and to get people back home as soon as possible.”
Ontario’s Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response said Wednesday that the province is working with the federal government, First Nations leadership and local partners to support the safe evacuation of residents.
It’s not the first time Kashechewan is being evacuated.
In 2005, the community’s water system was contaminated with E. coli, forcing the evacuation of more than 800 residents. Spring flooding and unsafe water have also prompted numerous other evacuations over the years.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 8, 2026.
Sharif Hassan, The Canadian Press
