KNCLN helping make displaced Kashechewan residents feel at home

More than 200 of the 3,000 evacuated from the First Nation community are being housed in Kingston.

It's been a tough sled for the displaced residents of Kashechewan First Nation living in Kingston.

Around 3,000 people evacuated the Northern Ontario community on Jan. 8 after their water treatment plant was contaminated with sewage.

More than 200 of those residents were taken by plane to Kingston where they were greeted by members of the Kingston Native Centre and Language Nest.

Executive Director of KNCLN Brandon Maracle says they made sure the evacuees felt at home the moment they arrived.

Maracle says the residents had to adjust to living in what they consider a big city compared to their smaller community. He says some have been to Kingston for hospital visits and doctors appointments but nothing like this.

Maracle says the biggest challenge they had to face is communicating in their language.

But Maracle says the residents of Kashechewan are strong people who have been able to rise to the occasion.

It is not known when the residents of Kashechewan will be able to return to their homes. 

Meanwhile, staff at KNCLN have been working around the clock to help the residents get through their day. They even drove to Ottawa to purchase around $5,000 in game meat and brought it back to Kingston.

Maracle says his staff have done a tremendous job under these difficult circumstances.

Maracle says they were able to prepare themselves in the event that a First Nations community needed to be evacuated due to an emergency.

Story by Ken Hashizume