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First Nations Health Authority
The Stz’uminus First Nation reservoir has lost 500,000 litres of water after a damaged fire hydrant was discovered in the Shell Beach area of Stz’uminus. Due to the water loss, Stz’uminus does not have enough water in the reservoir to safely fight a fire if one broke out. Local fire departments are on standby with pumper trucks in the event of a fire. In a press release, Stz’uminus said that 33 truckloads of water will be brought in to help refill the reservoir at ‘significant cost’.
A small indigenous community in the South Coast community of Kingcome Inlet, B.C., has been evacuated after blue-green algae was found in its well water. Chief Willie Moon of the Dzawada’enuxw First Nation says the decision was made last Thursday, Feb. 13 to evacuate around 60 people after tests from the First Nations Health Authority confirmed the presence of cyanobacteria. “Last summer people were complaining about the smell of the water,” said Moon, “We don’t know how long we’ve been exposed to this bacteria.”
The elected leader of a remote First Nation in B.C. which has been under a boil-water order for 18 years says he’s confident his community will eventually find a solution to its drinking water woes — regardless of which party is elected federally this year. Chief Jimmy Lulua’s comments to the Star came a day after Canada’s new Indigenous Services minister boasted Ottawa has made “progress” on the First Nations drinking water crisis to mark World Water Day on Friday.
