Kashechewan Crisis: Water Woes Force Evacuations

Indigenous Services Canada anticipates evacuating the last of its medical personnel, including nurses and paramedics, from Kashechewan First Nation on Monday, February 3rd, 2026, contingent on flight availability. This evacuation follows a broader exodus of most of Kashechewan's 2,300 residents, who began leaving after Chief Hosea Wesley declared a state of emergency on January 4th, 2026. These residents are currently housed in hotels across Ontario, including Kapuskasing, Cochrane, Timmins, Kingston, and Niagara Falls.

The community remains under a state of emergency due to critical issues with its water treatment plant. Pump failures in December 2025 caused a cascading failure in the sewer system, leading to contamination. Preliminary water sample tests on January 28th, 2026, confirmed the presence of the cryptosporidium parasite, with over 63 individuals testing positive. Symptoms include diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, and fever. While healthy individuals typically recover within two to three weeks, the immunocompromised may require more intensive treatment. Three individuals, including two elders and one youth, have died since evacuations began, though a direct link to the water supply has not been confirmed.

Discussions about relocating Kashechewan, which was built on a flood plain, to higher ground approximately 30 kilometers north have persisted since 2005. A framework agreement for relocation was signed in 2019. On December 4th, 2025, Indigenous Services Canada approved approximately $8.4 million for detailed planning studies related to this relocation.