Tough times in Hopedale has mayor musing about resettlement
The AngajukKâk, or mayor, in the Labrador Inuit community of Hopedale says he may have no choice but to press for resettlement if the situation with the water supply and access to housing is not addressed.
Jimmie Tuttauk told CBC's CrossTalk Tuesday that these are frustrating times in the isolated coastal community, which, according to the 2011 Census, has a population of less than 600.
"We don't want to move, really. But if we can't get access to land or better water ... something has to be done here," said Tuttauk.
"The bottom line is if we can't get no satisfaction, a better water supply and access to more housing, then we have to take this route."
Less than a trickle in some homes
Hopedale is the legislative home for the Government of Nunatsiavut.
Earlier this week, the Hopedale Inuit Community Government declared a state of emergency because the reservoir that supplies the town with water is running dangerously low.
The water supply was established many years ago, when the community was much smaller.
Many homes at higher elevations have little to no running water, and there are wide-ranging restrictions on the use of the little water that is available.
In some cases, homeowners are unable to flush toilets, wash clothes or even bathe.
The local school has been closed, along with the Nunastsiavut Health and Social Development Building, said Tuttauk.
An expensive solution
The Red Cross delivered an emergency shipment of water on Tuesday morning, and the Nunatsiavut Group of Companies has also pledged a further 84 cases, added Tuttauk.
The water outflow is now above the waterline in the reservoir, and Tuttauk said that's an immediate concern that needs to be addressed.
In the longer term, he said the town needs to tap into a new, larger supply.
Tuttauk said he has applied to Labrador Inuit Lands to acquire access to Trout Pond, some two kilometres away.
But installing the necessary infrastructure won't be cheap. He estimates the costs of just building a road to the pond at more than $8 million.
He said there's also a dire need to bring water and sewer to about half the community, at a further cost of more than $8 million.
He's hoping the provincial government will agree to a cost-sharing arrangement, with the community government paying 10 per cent.
"I want to let people know that the Hopedale community government is working very hard and trying to get this problem solved with our water and sewer system and get extra land with a new water supply," he said.
With files from Ramona Dearing