Why are medical personnel being evacuated from Kashechewan First Nation?

Medical personnel are being evacuated from Kashechewan First Nation due to an ongoing water crisis affecting the community's treatment plant and resulting in a cryptosporidium parasite outbreak.

How many people have been affected by the cryptosporidium parasite in Kashechewan?

Over 63 people from Kashechewan have tested positive for the cryptosporidium parasite.

When did discussions about relocating Kashechewan begin?

Discussions and calls for relocating Kashechewan to higher ground have been ongoing since 2005, with a framework agreement signed in 2019 and planning studies approved in December 2025.

Home / Disasters and Accidents / Kashechewan Crisis: Water Woes Force Evacuations

Kashechewan Crisis: Water Woes Force Evacuations

2 Feb

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Summary

Nurses and paramedics are being evacuated from Kashechewan due to water issues.
Over 63 residents have tested positive for a cryptosporidium parasite.
Community relocation has been discussed since 2005, with planning studies approved.

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.