THUNDER BAY – Cat Lake First Nation has reached a deal with the federal government for support after the community declared a state of emergency last month amid a crisis resulting from inadequate housing and mould-related health complications.
The two sides signed the interim framework agreement, which outlines a plan to repair and replace 57 housing units in the remote Northwestern Ontario Indigenous community, in Thunder Bay on Thursday following a morning meeting between the community’s leadership and Indigenous Services Minister Seamus O’Regan.
Cat Lake First Nation deputy chief Abigail Wesley said it’s difficult to see the situation in the community.
“Today is a good day for us. Our voices have finally been heard,” Wesley said. “It’s for the betterment of our community and it’s the future for our children and the growing community. We want a better living lifestyle within the community and not what we have at the moment.”
The community made the emergency declaration on Jan. 16, saying there were 87 homes that had been recommended for demolition. The poor state of those homes, which include excessive mould, structural and foundational issues and leaking roofs, has caused health complications like bacterial diseases and respiratory infections.
One community member – 48-year-old Nashie Oombash – died in Thunder Bay hospital this week after being taken out of the community three weeks ago. The cause of death is unknown, pending an autopsy, but community officials have said her family believes mould exposure was a contributing factor.
A number of health professionals, including a pediatric respirologist and an infectious disease specialist, have recently visited the community to conduct a medical assessment.
O’Regan, who told reporters that he is planning to travel to Cat Lake next month where a letter of agreement is expected to be finalized, said the agreement is about the short, medium and long-term viability of the community.
“We’ve been back and forth about getting it right. This agreement looks relatively brief but it’s actually quite detailed and there’s a timeline that goes with it,” O’Regan said.
“It’s never as fast as you want or as fast as you need sometimes. But I think this is meaningful in that it’s not an imposed upon solution. This is a solution that we worked on collectively together.”
The agreement, in which the federal government commits more than $11 million, includes funding provided for the construction of 36 new housing units and the renovation and repair of 21 existing units. Of the 36 new units, 10 are portable units that are expected to be delivered this season.
The framework also covers the construction of a temporary warehouse structure to be built as a first priority and funding for the ongoing position of a housing manager to provide regular maintenance.
“It’s a very layered kind of solution but ultimately the community is very supportive of what Minister O’Regan has offered,” Ontario Regional Chief RoseAnne Archibald said. “It’s a path forward and that’s what we have to start with.”
O’Regan said time is of the essence as the community, located 180 kilometres north of Sioux Lookout, is accessible only by winter road and this year’s window is down to about 30 days.
“This is all we can get up on the road. We’re really taking our cues from the local leadership and those who know best on the ground. We can only get up on the road what we can get up on the road,” O’Regan said.
“We are dealing with the physical limitations of the community and its geography."
Community leadership indicated they intend to work with the province to receive assistance for additional units. O’Regan said he has not yet had any discussions with the Ontario government about the situation in Cat Lake.
As well, Cat Lake officials said some members may still need to be evacuated, though it’s not known how many people might have to be taken out of the community.
“I don’t think there’s any question that as Canadians have come to know the conditions in Cat Lake, that we need to do better,” O’Regan said. “We don’t want children living like this anywhere in the country. Where we can work with the communities and find the resources available, we attempt to fix the problem.
