The septic crisis on Mishkeegogamang First Nation has been perpetrated in part by a housing crisis.

A recent Northwestern Health Unit report stated that 74 per cent of inspected sewage systems in a directed study have inadequate sewage played in some part by an overexertion on septic systems due to the number of people living in a single home.

The report noted as many as 21 people live under one roof in this community 250 kms north of Ignace, with an average of 7.5 people or two to five families dwelling in every home.It is not uncommon for its people to sleep in shifts so that everyone can assure access to a bed. The septic systems were designed for single family use.

Wood paneling covers most of the windows in the homes with many open. The Northwestern Health Unit expressed concern over bugs breeding in the pooling sewage in the back yards of many residents and entering the houses through the openings but for Chief Connie Gray-McKay, winter is coming for her people and she has to do whatever she can to keep them warm.

“We’re talking about the well being of our people. We’ve made the decision to fix broken windows and doors, fix septic fields, even if it means bringing our community into deficit. Every year, we’ve had a deficit in housing and it’s still this bad. We’re not properly funded. This is a state of emergency.”

A band resolution was passed to that effect, using the term “crisis” back in November 2005.

A spokesman at Indian and Northern Affairs says the band is provided with $643,000 annually for core capital covering infrastructure, water and housing and urged that some of that money could be used for temporary solutions while sustainable plans were under development.

Since the mid-1980s, the population of Mishkeegogamang has exploded, increasing 78 per cent since 1984 and most of their population pyramid is still under 25 years of age. While some areas of the reserve have newer housing despite the number of people living there, the majority of buildings are inadequate.

Gray-McKay says there is mould in every house as she tours the mould spots in her own home and wonders out loud what will happen from a 2003 report from the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority showing mould in 54.7 per cent of homes. Another report, this one in January 2007 by the North-South Partnership cites a “desperate need for housing”, “higher than normal rates of tuberculosis and gastrointestinal infections” and “serious mould problems”.

Compounded to the health concerns of such a lifestyle, there are family cohesion problems as well. As of 2001, there were 150 children in the care of child services. According to provincial regulations, a 13-year-old is required to have his own room but with 102 families on a waiting list for housing, having one’s own room is practically unimaginable.

Gray-McKay unveils stacks of correspondence between the band and the government including many published studies and signed letters from MP Roger Valley and MPP Howard Hampton expressing the urgency of the situation back to 2003. She was flown to testify before the Senate this spring to describe elements of study after study that has been conducted in her community. The frustration in her voice is gripping.

“It’s not just my community,” she asserts. “Everyone knows about the problems in all these communities. Canada sends so much money everywhere and they don’t have enough money for the Northern Ontario people? They know we don’t have the resources and they hope we’ll get tired of asking but we’re not going to stop. There’s too much at risk.”

A Southern Ontario based consultant landed in the community today to begin addressing the expectations of Indian and Northern Affairs in response to the first study conducted on the septic systems by Health Canada back in April.