Montreal Lake Cree Nation going on a week without running water

By Nigel Maxwell

Members of Montreal Lake Cree Nation who live on reserve have gone six days without running water.

This has obvious implications for taking showers or baths, washing, or doing laundry.

According to a written statement provided to members from Chief Joyce McLeod on June 28, and obtained by paNOW, the issue has to do with repairs at the community’s water treatment plant and the need to order additional parts that were not available in Saskatchewan.

“Social Assistance and Public Works are continuing to deliver water jugs to homes within the community and will continue until this emergency subsides,” she wrote. “Due to the limit of water jugs, please limit your use of water.”

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paNOW was contacted on Tuesday by a family who expressed concerns with respect to hygiene and wondered why a state of emergency had not been declared. Doing so would help cover the costs associated with bringing in water to the community.

There’s been no further update from leadership, and the chief and council are currently away at meetings. When band manager Don McKay was called for comment, he declined.

While McLeod’s statement indicated the imminent arrival of the required parts, there was no timeline provided for the restoration of water.

Montreal Lake Cree Nation is located about an hour drive’s north of Prince Albert and has roughly 1,500 people living on reserve.