Overview

• Pikangikum First Nation in Ontario has filed a Federal Court motion requesting $200 million in emergency funding to address critical water and sewage infrastructure failures.
• The First Nation declared a state of emergency, citing decades of underinvestment that left most households without running water and the community under a long-term drinking water advisory since February 2024.
• Community members face severe health risks, including skin diseases and parasites, and have limited access to fire prevention resources due to inadequate infrastructure.
• The lawsuit alleges the federal government has breached Treaty 5 and constitutional obligations by failing to provide basic services and protect Indigenous rights to land, water, and traditional livelihoods.
• The Federal Court has temporarily paused the motion as parties work to establish a procedural timeline, while Pikangikum continues daily water rationing to sustain essential services.