Kashechewan First Nation evacuated due to flood concerns

KashechewanFirst Nation has declared a state ofemergency andhundreds of residents are being moved to the northern Ontario town of Kapuskasing over concerns aboutflooding.

The evacuation of the First Nation located along the James Bay beganSunday and continues today. It's expected 450 to 500 people are affected.

An additional 100 evacueeswill be moved to the community of Smooth Rock Falls. Plans are underway to find additional towns to take people.

No immediate threat

"There is no immediate threat to the community and an evacuation is a deliberate precautionary measure to ensure the safety of all residents," thetown ofKapuskasingwrote in a newsrelease Monday morning.

Evacuation flights will continue to arrive throughout the week until the most vulnerable residents are safely established inKapuskasing, the release said.

Evacuees will be lodged at local motels, and meals and emergency supplies will be provided.

Evacuation occurs annually

The town of Kapuskasing has received evacuees from Kashechewanevery spring for more than a decade.

KashechewanFirst Nation is on the Albany River's flood plain, making it susceptible to flooding every spring.

The annual interruptions are starting to wear on some community members, said Brandon Spence, Kashechewan'sfire chief and emergency coordinator.

"I wanted to go out hunting this spring," he said. "'I've been missing it a lot because I've been helping with these evacuations that are happening every year.

"I'm missing the traditional thing I love to do, [which]is hunt geese with my friends and family."

• 'I have to be ready,' Kashechewan family anxious over spring flood threat

Sandra Wesley arrived Monday with her two grandchildren. She's been evacuated many times.

"Exhausted. Tired," she said. "Especially the babies."

Ron Wesley arrived at the Kapuskasing airport Sunday.

"[It's]kind offrustrating for everyone," Wesley said. "Especially the elders, and the kids are restless."

Already, 200Kashechewanevacueeshave been livingin Kapuskasingfor years, waitingto return to the First Nation once new homes are built.

Each annual evacuation costs between $15 million and 20 million.

Relocation would cost up to $1B

Theevacuation comes just weeks aftera new framework agreement was signed between the First Nation and federal and provincial governments that said it would "include consideration" for options to relocate the flood-pronecommunity to higher ground.

• Federal, provincial governments pledge 'sustainable future' for Kashechewan

However, no financial commitment has been made.

Kashechewan Chief Leo Friday said moving the community20 kilometresup the Albany River could cost between $500 million and $1 billion.

During a referendum held in 2016, 89 per cent of the First Nation voted in favour of relocation.