Pikangikum First Country takes the government to court docket on waste water construction

When paddy Peters go to their wife’s grave, they say that they face those unique challenges compared to patients with cancer and patients in southern Ontario.

The head of Pikangikam First Nation, a remote Ozibwe community, more than 500 kilometers from Thunder Bay, has no flowing water in their home.

Peters said, “When she was ill, she had to go out of the outhouse.” “My wife died without seeing the water flowing in our house.”

Peters were first selected in the office when he was 30 years old. He turned 69 in a few weeks and said that his community is dealing with the challenges of the same infrastructure when he started.

Peters said, “This really harasses me as a leader, why the same issues are still on the table regarding water and waste water services in my community.”

Last week, pikangikam An emergency situation declared On the challenges running with the infrastructure of your water and waste water.

The First Nation also announced that it was taking the Canadian government to the federal court, seeking an emergency relief of $ 2 billion and $ 200 million for immediate repair at its water treatment plant.

Peters said, “We need immediate action that cannot wait for another 30 years.” “I don’t think I will survive in 30 years. I want to be able to see safe, clean drinking water.”

This case comes as leaders of the first nation of Canada’s lawyer First nation clean water act To be pushed through Parliament The first 100 days of the new term of the government.

The law introduced in December 2023 aims to protect fresh water sources, build minimum national drinking water and waste water standards, and to provide permanent funds to maintain water quality in the first nations.

I don’t think I will survive in 30 years. I want to be able to see safe, clean drinking water.– Main Paddy Peters, Picangicum First Nation

There are about 4,000 people living in Picangikam. Its most recent drinking water advisor, which is under influence, was Was released in February 2024.

Earlier, the advisor was between October 2000 to July 2002 and October 2005 to September 2019.

The community said in a news release released on Thursday, “Picangikam is forced to declare emergency states in 2000, 2011 and 2015, due to lack of all potable or running water.”

Picangikam is being represented by Hovi, Sachs and Henry LLP with co-operation at Headwatters LLP and Philips Barrister.

A case conference has been set for 26 May, when a timetable for the case will be set. After that, motion will be officially accepted by the federal court, Paul Miller said, Hovi, Sachs and a partner with Henry LLP.

The claim received by CBC News, arguing that the federal government has violated the constitutional, charter and treaty rights of Picangikam, which has failed to ensure adequate access to sewage and fire prevention systems along with potable water.

“They want to behave like Canadian citizens. This is the lines below,” Miller said. “You will never have people in the southern Ontario living in this way.”

In an email statement for CBC News, a spokesman of the indigenous service Canada (ISC) outlined the previous initiatives in Picangikam, and said that the Canadian government “first respects the choice of nations, including Pikangikam First Nation, so that the court’s assistance can be received on the important issues of safe drinks.”

‘It comes down to equity’

None of more than 500 houses of Picangikam have access to flowing water. Peters said that the water treatment plant of the community serves only schools, nursing stations, band offices and a handful of government buildings.

There is a pumphouse by the lake, and the community recently discovered that only one of the three pumps is doing, they explained.

“It does not pump enough water for the water treatment plant in the reservoir … and it does not even pressure enough,” Peters said.

Meanwhile, there is only a working access point where people can get drinking water within the community. Otherwise, they have to fill the bucket on the lake, buy bottled water at the northern store or fly 100 kilometers south of the red lake to buy cases in bulk.

Carolina Budiman, Senior Health Project Manager, Picangicum Health Authority, said, “Given that we are not producing enough, clean water, community members are forced to self-regulate how much water they are using.”

It affects everything from cooking and bathing to washing clothes.

He said that the community’s nursing stations have seen many waterborne diseases, especially eczema and other skin infections.

during E. Coli Crisis in Walcarton, Onts.In 2000, Pikangikam also saw an ebalance of an e. Koli, resulting in a woman needed her hands and feet, said Peters.

He said, “He pumped money, resources to help in Walcarton, but we had the same situation here.” “It seems that he did not pay attention to what happened here.”

Since then, many community members have lost confidence in Picangikam’s Water Treatment Plant, he said.

Low water pressure also affects the ability of picangicum to remove the fire.

“We have a fire hydrant, but it only works when everything else stops,” Budiman said.

The impact on the mental good of the community is well documented in the study about it High suicide rate over years.

“What we are talking about here not only has mental, physical, emotional effects that we do not have access to water, which we say in social determinants of health, but it is really about lifestyle and your view of the world. You, “He said.

“It comes down to equity. It comes down as to why urban-based, southern-based communities have water and we don’t do?”

Indigenous service canada responds

CBC News received an email statement from ISC spokesperson Eric Head on Friday, stating that the department spent more than $ 700,000 to help Pikangikam to help Pikangikam in water and waste water viability studies.

The final draft report was shared with ISC in November, said, “The community carries forward a route to overcome the long -term water and waste water needs.”

“The study also identifies the need for interim upgradation to respond to more immediate health and safety concerns,” the head said.

Between 2015-2016 and 2024-2025, he said that ISC spent $ 10.1 million to support the community:

• Operations and maintenance of water and waste water facilities (including salary for operators, chemicals, replacement parts, heating, fuel and electricity etc.).
• Purchase two sewer trucks and a water truck.
• Professional services related to water and waste water operations.

He said, “ISC is ready to discuss the next stages with the picangicum leadership, and partners, which is to carry forward both immediate and long -term solutions that meet the needs of the current and future generations,” he said.

‘They are worthy of clean drinking water’

Peters said that there have been several studies and reports on the infrastructure of picangicum water and waste water. He organized a feasibility study, which says that dates up to 2020 – a manual about 12 centimeters thick.

In the time taken to write and review these assessments, they say their community could be resolved.

He hopes that litigation against the federal government takes more necessary action.

Peters said that he had made a promise to his late wife at his grave.

“His name was Penny. I told him, ‘Penny, we are going to win this battle. We are going to win this fight, for our grandparents, for grandparents, for our great grandparents.

“” They are worthy of clean drinking water. My people are worthy of drinking water. ,