Residents of Granville Lake were evacuated due to sewage contamination in 2003 which now causes them to face a new battle as they demand accountability for the neglect that has plagued their community for years. The evacuation, orchestrated by local leaders at the time, relocated residents to Leaf Rapids, where they have resided for the past two decades.
Ervin Bighetty, who was recently appointed leadership by the members, sheds light on the challenges faced by the community, expressing concerns about the province's failure to address the aftermath of the sewage incident. "The problem is that the Province didn't help, and the members had to fend for themselves," stated Bighetty.
Efforts to establish autonomy and treaty status for their community are underway, as they seek to hold the Province accountable for the long-standing issues. Bighetty voiced the community's grievances, citing the exposure to hazardous conditions caused by the sewage backup, which resulted in widespread illness.
The installation of faulty sewer and water systems by environmental companies further exacerbated the situation. Despite being aware of the system's flaws, the installation proceeded, leading to a catastrophic sewage backup that rendered homes uninhabitable. Subsequently, the Provincial authorities initiated a cleanup but failed to address the contamination, forcing residents to abandon their homes.
“A few environmental companies installed the sewer and water systems for Granville Lake. At that time they were made aware that the system was faulty but they went ahead and approved it and installed it” Bighetty added.
The current plan to demolish the contaminated houses has sparked outrage among the community members. "They have no plans of rebuilding infrastructure but rather completely demolishing Granville Lake," Bighetty revealed. Moreover, the revelation that the Province's interest in acquiring land and resources further fuels the community's suspicions. “And the issue with that people were paying rent, Hydro Bills, paying land taxes paying expenses while being unable to live in them”.
Band members have united to address these pressing issues, emphasizing the need for a peaceful resolution while signaling readiness to resort to legal action if necessary. The community's determination to seek justice is palpable as they navigate this intricate ordeal.
“We want to do this as peacefully as possible, but if we have to use lawyers, we will use lawyers” he said “We’re band together, we’ve been having meetings since November last year to discuss the issue in Granville Lake to discuss the history of Granville Lake and to discuss the fact that we’re being taken advantage by our Mother Band and by the Province and that everyone wants to wash their hands clean of us”
Meanwhile, the Office of Emergency Management is actively involved in disaster preparedness and resilience-building efforts for the Grand Rapids community. Their initiatives include maintaining an Emergency Operations Plan, conducting training exercises, and providing community alerts to enhance disaster readiness.
The residents of Granville Lake continue to face significant challenges as they seek accountability for the sewage contamination and subsequent neglect that has plagued their community for years. Despite the obstacles, the community remains united in their determination to seek justice and address the long-standing issues. As they navigate this intricate ordeal, they emphasize the need for a peaceful resolution while signaling readiness to resort to legal action if necessary. The support of the Office of Emergency Management in disaster preparedness and resilience-building efforts serves as a cornerstone for the community as they strive to ensure the safety and well-being of its members.
