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More than 250 residents, including some of the community's most vulnerable members, remain in Toronto nearly eight weeks after a sewage spill forced their evacuation. Repairs at the remote northern Ontario community's only health-care facility have only recently begun, raising concerns that members may not return before winter.
It’s been nearly eight weeks since Neskantaga First Nation’s most vulnerable members were sent to a hotel in Toronto, but remediation work on the nursing station that forced the evacuation has only just begun.
That's left some community members worrying they won't get home before the snow falls. The remote Ojibway community, some 440 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay, Ont. , declared a state of emergency on Aug. 4 following a sewage spill at its nursing station, the only health-care facility in the First Nation. Here's the latest on the situation.
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results. Chief Gary Quisses of Neskantaga First Nation is seen at the airport in Thunder Bay, Ont.
, in this 2025 file photo during a community evacuation, also prompted by problems at the nursing station. It’s been nearly eight weeks since Neskantaga First Nation’s most vulnerable members were sent to a hotel in Toronto, but remediation work has only just begun on the damaged nursing station that forced the evacuation of the isolated northern Ontario community. That's left Neskantaga’s chief Gary Quisses fearful that many of his people won't get home before the snow falls.
“The timeline is probably going to change because of the weather. I know it's getting cold up there,” Quisses told CBC News, saying it could be a month or more before the nursing station reopens. From a community of fewer than 400, more than 250 people were evacuated to Toronto, where they remain. A bed is seen at Neskantaga First Nation's temporary nursing station in this Aug. 10 photo.
Problems have also plagued a temporary nursing station set up in the community. A space heater caused a small fire in the health-care facility a few weeks ago. The space lacks privacy and can only provide basic care such as painkillers and bandages, according to Quisses. Neskantaga is part of Nishnawbe Aski Nation , a political-territorial organization that represents 49 First Nations across treaties 9 and 5.
During NAN’s annual Keewaywin Conference this week, Neskantaga’s former chief Wayne Moonias appealed to the region’s chiefs for support. Wayne Moonias of Neskantaga First Nation is seen on the water in this 2023 file photo. He says evacuees miss being out on the land while staying in Toronto. “There's a portable school set up at a hotel.
Those are the kind of things that we're facing,” Moonias said. NAN chiefs voted in favour of calling on Indigenous Services Canada to take urgent action to support Neskantaga, including emergency funding for a new nursing station and a temporary community-approved facility.
They also want the provincial and federal governments to appoint a specifically mandated working group until Neskantaga’s state of emergency is lifted to resolve the situation, address the community’s outstanding demands, and prepare a financially resourced and First Nations-approved plan. Neskantaga First Nation's nursing station, seen in this photo from Aug. 27. A sewage spill at the facility prompted a state of emergency to be declared on Aug. 4.
The Ontario government is only responsible for providing evacuation support; infrastructure issues fall to the federal government. A spokesperson for ISC says Neskantaga is leading repairs at its nursing station, which are hoped to be completed in early October, they told CBC News in an email on Friday.
“Three ISC nurses are providing urgent and emergency medical services for those who remain in community. Ornge services are also available should any med-evacs from the community be required,” wrote Maryéva Métellus. ISC is working with health partners to support evacuees, she said.
“Partner co-ordination calls with the First Nation, ISC, the province, Matawa First Nations Management, Ornge and the community contractor are ongoing. ”Neskantaga receives support from the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority . It serves 33 communities in northwestern Ontario, 28 of which are remote. Janet Gordon is vice president of community health for the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority .
She says remote First Nations often lack adequate spaces for health-care professionals to work and stay in. SLFNHA’s vice president of community health, Janet Gordon, said infrastructure deficits in fly-in First Nations often prevent health-care services from being delivered.
“Lack of space, workspace and lack of accommodation,” Gordon said. “The services have expanded but the infrastructure has not been able to keep up with the needs of those services. ” While nurses are on-site with Neskantaga evacuees in Toronto, Gordon said it’s important to recognize the mental health effects that come with being displaced for so long — as well as the culture shock of relocating from a remote community to Canada’s largest city.
Neskantaga First Nation calls on province to communicate better amid wildfire emergency “There's lots of stress that comes with that and just being in an environment that doesn't feel like home, doesn't feel safe,” she said. Meanwhile, Quisses said he’s fielding questions from community members every day seeking updates about the nursing station.
“Everybody's pretty much on the same page asking, ‘When are we going to go home? Are we going to be here for Christmas? ’” Sarah Law is a CBC News reporter based in Thunder Bay, Ont. , and has also worked for newspapers and online publications elsewhere in the province. Have a story tip? You can reach her at sarah.law@cbc.ca.
Neskantaga First Nation Community Evacuation Nursing Station Sewage Spill Northern Ontario
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