Nicole Hancock
Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony ...

Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.

Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony to heal Chedoke Creek

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Iqaluit’s water crisis highlights deeper issues with Arctic infrastructure

Iqaluit’s water crisis highlights deeper issues with Arctic infrastructure

In early October 2021, residents of Iqaluit, Nunavut began to notice a foul taste and smell coming from the tap water. Typically, the water in Iqaluit is safe to drink. At first, reports were limited to a community Facebook group, but eventually an official complaint was made to the City of Iqaluit. The initial testing of the city’s water supply found no evidence of fuel or other contaminants. Residents were reassured by the mayor that the water was safe to drink. This news received mixed reactions, with some residents being reassured and others not convinced. Complaints and worries continued to be shared on the community Facebook group.

Halls Harbour flooding illustrates dangers of sea level rise on Bay of Fundy communities

Halls Harbour flooding illustrates dangers of sea level rise on Bay of Fundy communities

Recent flooding in Halls Harbour has helped illustrate that issues surrounding storms and sea level rise in the community have to be addressed. Like many other Kings County communities, Halls Harbour experienced flooding on Feb. 18 and 19. A heavy rain storm and melting snow combined with the high tide to flood Highway 359, leading to a temporary road closure.

Sachs Harbour boil water advisory has been lifted

Sachs Harbour boil water advisory has been lifted

The boil water advisory in Sachs Harbour, N.W.T., has been lifted, according to a Monday news release. The boil water advisory had been put into effect in early June due to higher than normal turbidity levels (muddy water). The levels have since dropped to "acceptable levels" in treated water from the water plant and "all issues" have been corrected. There have been no illnesses associated with drinking water reported in the community, the release says. The normal use of drinking water can resume.

Province 'serious about compliance' at Travellers Rest, P.E.I. wash plant

Province 'serious about compliance' at Travellers Rest, P.E.I. wash plant

A potato wash plant in Travellers Rest is cleaning up its act, and the pressure is on after the province issued a directive letter in mid-January. P.E.I. Potato Solutions is getting ready to open a new, larger facility next month, said co-owner Austin Roberts. Neighbours have made numerous complaints to the provincial Department of Environment as well as Environment Canada regarding the plant’s practices over the years. On Dec. 26, a heavy rainfall, combined with other factors, caused a holding pond containing organic waste from the plant to discharge into the environment.

Former Neskantaga contractor accused of cutting corners in other First Nations

Former Neskantaga contractor accused of cutting corners in other First Nations

“They cut corners every day, every day,” said Justin Gee, vice-president of First Nations Engineering Services Ltd. Gee said he encountered these recurring problems while overseeing the work of a construction firm, Kingdom Construction Limited (KCL), building a water treatment plant 10 years ago in Wasauksing First Nation, along the eastern shore of Georgian Bay, about 250 kilometres north of Toronto. “You have to be on them every step of the way,” said Gee, who was the contract administrator on the project. “You can’t leave them on their own.”

Canada’s Indigenous pipe dream might end Trudeau’s Trans Mountain nightmare

Canada’s Indigenous pipe dream might end Trudeau’s Trans Mountain nightmare

An Indigenous-led group plans to offer to buy a majority stake in the Trans Mountain oil pipeline from the Canadian government this week or next, a deal that could help Prime Minister Justin Trudeau mitigate election-year criticism from environmentalists. The group, called Project Reconciliation, aims to submit the $6.9 billion offer as early as Friday, managing director Stephen Mason told Reuters, and start negotiations with Ottawa two weeks later. Project Reconciliation said the investment will alleviate First Nations poverty, a watershed for Indigenous people who have historically watched Canada’s resources enrich others.

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