CBC News – Kashechewan First Nation declares state of emergency, begins annual precautionary evacuation
“The priority is the vulnerable at this point. If the threat of the flood becomes more imminent and severe, and the determination is that it’s not safe for anybody to stay behind, then there may be a complete evacuation of the community.”
The Kashechewan community has to contemplate evacuation every year, says Joseph Sayers, acting CEO of ISN Maskwa. Photo: CBC News - submitted by Brandon Spence.
This new article published in CBC News covers how Kashechewan First Nation has once again declared a state of emergency as the risk of spring flooding looms large along Ontario’s James Bay Coast. The community, which faces annual flood threats due to ice breakup on the Albany River, began precautionary evacuations on Monday— starting with children, elders, and other vulnerable residents.
While ice breakup has not yet occurred, the community is taking no chances. Chief Hosea Wesley confirmed that evacuation flights are underway, with Timmins preparing to receive 250 evacuees. More flights are expected in the coming days, with other potential host communities including Kapuskasing, Val Rita-Harty, Sault Ste. Marie, and Kirkland Lake.
This year marks the 14th evacuation in the past 20 years for Kashechewan. A study by Khalafzai et al. published in ScienceDirect highlights the complex causes behind these recurring events. While the overall frequency of spring flooding in the James Bay region has not significantly increased over time, the timing and extent of flooding have changed in recent years due to warming temperatures, ecological shifts, and inadequate infrastructure. Changes in the regional climate, land use, and resource development— combined with the community’s reliance on a downriver winter ice road— have contributed to more frequent and severe ice jams during breakup.
“Evacuation has become an unfortunate part of their lives”
ISN Maskwa is the Indigenous emergency services agency leading the evacuation effort. The agency works closely with Indigenous Services Canada, Emergency Management Ontario, and the Red Cross to ensure culturally appropriate care for evacuees, particularly those with health needs.
These repeated displacements highlight a broader climate adaptation challenge. As Sayers noted, some community members still choose to stay on the land, but the priority remains the safe relocation of vulnerable populations.
Longer-term solutions are urgently needed. The federal government has committed to relocating the entire community by 2029, but in the meantime, climate-driven events like these continue to test local resilience.
As the climate continues to shift, these recurring threats underline the need for robust forecasting and long-term adaptation planning. Initiatives like Canada1Water (C1W) are helping to meet that challenge, offering national-scale climate and hydrological modelling that can inform emergency planning and community resilience strategies across the country.
Click here to read the article in CBC News.