Solutions for a Kehewin Waterline Discussed

Kehewin Cree Nation is looking into waterline solutions and the viability of drawing water from Kehewin lake to the community. The community is without clean water and under a boil advisory. Band members presented the Minister of Indigenous Relations, Honourable Richard Feehan, with different options they have explored for a waterline to the community and their best solution last week.

Council explained to Minister Feehan that they have been in touch with Bonnyville and Cold Lake to see if becoming a part of the regional waterline from Cold Lake would be an option. It is feasible; however far from ideal for Kehewin for a number of reasons.  “It only makes sense to use our own waters for our own peoples,” Councillor for Kehewin Cree Nation, Trevor John explained the situation to Minister Feehan. “If we were to tie in from Cold Lake and Bonnyville, we’d be at the end of the line. If anything were to happen in between the communities, our water would be shut off and we would have no control over that. Not only that, but who’s to say that the taps won’t be turned off on us. We want to have control over our own water, not only for our people, but our kids and our future kids.”

“The direction our Council wants to take is having our own water treatment plant, on our own lands, from our own waters,” states Councillor John. The Nation is in plans to build a new water treatment plant, as the current one is not up to today’s standards and in need of a number of repairs. “We will be getting a new plant on the south-end (of the community) and retrofitting the current one to bring it up to par.”

Kehewin had a meeting with a representative from the Federal Government last year in regards to the water treatment plant. At that time it was unclear whether the water treatment plant was a Federal issue or a Provincial issue. The cost of the waterline and treatment plant was neither determined nor decided which Government, Federal or Provincial, would be responsible. The Federal Government did let Kehewin Cree Nation know that it would be their Council’s decision as to where the water would be drawn from, the regional line or Kehewin Lake.  Having decided on the where to draw the water from, Kehewin now waits on approval of funding.  There is a meeting planned for early January with INAC (Indigenous & Northern Affair Canada) to discuss Capital Funding for the project.

Without funding in place, Kehewin is unable to set a start date for the project or estimate when the waterline will be in place; hopes are for funding approval in 2017. Plans for training community members on how to run and maintain the water treatment plant have begun.