Hundreds flying back to Ontario's James Bay coast as flooding risk subsides
Two First Nations are in negotiation with the federal election to be relocated to higher, drier ground
Hundreds of people from Kashechewan on Ontario's James Bay coast will start flying home this week, as the flood waters recede in the Albany River.
About a month ago, the remote flood-prone Cree community began its annual precautionary evacuation, sending families with children and elders to stay in hotels in Timmins and other cities to the south.
But the First Nation now says the state of emergency has been cancelled and 1,600 people will start flying back to Kashechewan on Wednesday.
The neighbouring community of Fort Albany also declared a state emergency and flew 200 people to Cochrane as a precaution.
The First Nation declared the emergency over last week and began repatriation flights.
For over 20 years, Kashechewan has been in talks with the federal government to move the entire community of 2,000 to a safer location and despite many plans and promises, little progress has been made.
In recent years, Fort Albany, which sits on the same reserve lands as Kashechewan, has joined the negotiations.