Vulnerable Patients to be Evacuated due to Unsafe Conditions at Flooded Neskantaga First Nation Nursing Station

April 16, 2025

NESKANTAGA FIRST NATION, ON – Neskantaga First Nation (NFN) announced today that it will be proceeding with a temporary evacuation of vulnerable members of the community to Thunder Bay as a result of the State of Emergency declared on April 13, 2025. Approximately 131 vulnerable members and their indoor pets from the community will be evacuated starting today. The decision received the support of Indigenous Services Canada yesterday and today.

“Our vulnerable people require full and immediate access to health services that, unfortunately, is not available in Neskantaga First Nation at the moment. We are not willing to put any high-risk people in a compromising position due the nursing station being closed,” said Chief Gary Quisses. “We acknowledge the support of Indigenous Services Canada in responding to the seriousness of this crisis and we hope that some other logistical challenges we are experiencing with other partners, like the City of Thunder Bay will be resolved.”

Yesterday, the community met with various government officials and agreed with the immediate goal to look for a potential location in the community where a temporary nursing station can be established. Locations within the community are very limited and are not without disruption to programs and services. The plan is to return vulnerable evacuees to the community after a temporary site in the community has been identified, retrofitted and supplied with medical equipment.

The process of ensuring a comprehensive assessment of the damages from the nursing station flood has begun. Remediation will take place shortly after.  Community members and nursing station staff will only return after remediation is completed and fuel contamination/air quality testing confirms that the building no longer possesses any health risk to them.

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For more information please contact Matawa Communications at comms@matawa.on.ca.

NT5