
Chippewa of the Thames First Nation residents told not to consume tap water
"It's been a problem at Chippewa for decades," Miskokomon said.
"We have an inadequate delivery system and an inadequate filtration system, and so it's been a struggle to maintain quality water. The system is not good enough to meet the growing needs of our community."
Residents have been told to not use their tap water for drinking, cooking, brushing their teeth or using it for baby formula. Boiling the water will not make it safe, officials say.
"It's unfiltered, raw water," Miskokomon said. "It goes through a two-stage filtration and the last stop is where the micro-organisms are being filtered out of the water. We're having trouble keeping that filter. It's supposed to last for a month, but we're going through them every three days."
Pumps that should only run eight hours per day have been running 24-7, the chief said.
Water deliveries are being arranged and the u-fill station will be operating on extended hours, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Staff will be on-site to help fill and carry just for people who need assistance, Miskokomon said.
The issue of poor water quality in First Nations communities has been frustrating for leaders and residents, he added.
"We're getting to the point where our system is so overworked and out of date that it can only handle so much. There needs to be a whole rethinking on how to do infrastructure within First Nations."
The problem with the Chippewa water was caught at 5 a.m. Monday, Miskokomon said. The nation is waiting for deliveries of specialized filters, he added.
The fix is expected to take about a week.
"We've been faced with this now for 20 years," the chief said.
"It just speaks to the inability of government to address health and safety concerns and issues within First Nations, not only within Chippewa of the Thames First Nation, but quite truthfully, nearly every First Nation in southwestern Ontario and indeed, many across Canada."
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
B.C. neighbours unite to fill hallways with art, gardens with fairies to inspire positivity
Adam finds out how a pair of neighbours improved their moods by inspiring others. SAANICH, B.C. — More than having a bad day, Liette Wilkins was enduring a whole bunch of them. 'I needed something to lift me up,' Liette says. 'I usually do gardens.' But because she was dealing with a debilitating health issue, Liette's garden was dirt, and Liette was depressed. 'I was feeling 'down and out in Beverly Hills,' as I call it,' Liette says. It turns out her neighbour Claude Gamache was facing a few health issues too. 'We were both going through something intense at the same time,' Claude says. The difference was Claude could still do what brought him joy. 'I've been making art all my life,' Claude says. 'Since I was a little kid.' Since his opera-singing mom taught him a song in French that translated to, 'Show me how to love, show me how to give, how to share' – Claude suggested that he and Liette share their creativity. 'You need to get up and go and start doing something that makes you feel good,' Liette says. While that's easier said than done when it comes to depression, there was that other D-word that was more manageable. 'The D-word is dull-looking,' Liette laughs. She and Claude felt the hallways in their apartment building were dull-looking and the walls were blank. 'There was nothing,' Claude says. 'Not a piece of art in the whole building.' B.C. neighbours use garden fairies to spread positivity So, they approached their neighbours and invited them to donate a meaningful picture, before Liette and Claude refurbished all sorts of thrift store frames, and got permission to fill the hallways with more than than 400 pieces of art. 'The beauty of that is to know that you get to meet the people,' Claude smiles. After cultivating a sense of community inside, Liette and Claude turned their attention to her empty garden plot outside. 'Let's make a fairy garden,' Liette said, before searching thrift stores for items to create it with. So, they transformed the bare soil into a bountiful stage for countless characters and colours — by asking one question. 'What can we share to help lift people up?' Claude smiles. Claude and Liette say it not only inspired other tenants to get creative with their gardens, it also prompted so many folks walking by to stop and smile that they started collecting thank you notes and documenting dozens of positive interactions from people of all ages. 'Now I come out here when I feel 'down and out in Beverly Hills' and it makes my heart happy,' Liette smiles. Because if we work to elevate others, Liette and Claude have learned, positivity is perennial.


CBC
5 hours ago
- CBC
Rescued mine workers safe and off to reunite with family
Officials for Newmont Corp. say the three rescued drillers were in good spirits and cracking jokes after spending three nights in a refuge chamber trapped underground in a northern B.C. mine.


CBC
5 hours ago
- CBC
Closure of Winnipeg's Louise Bridge extended after new defects discovered
Social Sharing A century-old bridge connecting Winnipeg's Point Douglas and Elmwood neighbourhoods will remain closed for longer than orginally expected. The Louise Bridge closure has been extended because of newly discovered issues that will require additional time to fix, the city said in a news release Friday evening. The bridge had been closed since May 23 for annual inspection and maintenance. The inspection found corrosion that required repairs the city initially expected to wrap up by the end of July. The city didn't give a new timeline for the bridge's reopening. It said it will provide updates as needed on its lane closures map. The bridge is still open to pedestrians and cyclists. The city said it may reduce access at times to accommodate specific work.