WINNIPEG – Shoal Lake 40 First Nation’s only lifeline is out of service and is the community is under a state of emergency.
Families with elders are making their way to safety after their 30-year-old ferry was declared unsafe by Transport Canada during an annual inspection.
“It’s too much for us here, can’t handle that,” said one of the elders being evacuated Laura Green. “No place to go, just drive around and go to the store and there’s one store here.”
This is the first time the community has ever been in a state of emergency.
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“People who want to get their vehicles across have to be here just for this one day, if you miss it you’re stuck,” said another evacuee Ashley Green.
The ferry was the community’s only access to health care services and basic needs in neighboring cities.
“It’s a challenge to bring water in from Kenora… its just very very difficult for my people to survive out here during this time,” said Chief Erwin Redsky.
This isn’t the first crisis Shoal Lake 40 has faced. They have been under a boil water advisory for 18 years.
For more than a century, the community has been isolated after an aqueduct was built to help bring water into Winnipeg.
“Because of the uncertainty of the water coming out of our taps and our bathing tubs we have to use the same water to rinse out our pots and pans that we do for cooking,” said community member Stewart Redsky.
The ferry is being repaired and re-evaluated Tuesday. Until then, about 10 more elders need to be evacuated.
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