Monday, November 17, 2025
Okanese First Nation has opened a new water treatment plant that community leaders say will provide long-term, reliable access to clean drinking water and improve overall community wellness.
The state-of-the-art facility, located on Treaty 4 Territory, includes upgraded filtration and treatment technology designed to serve key infrastructure such as the school, community buildings and 52 homes. Of those homes, 29 are connected directly to the community’s water distribution line. Another 23 rural homes will receive treated water through trucked delivery.
Construction began in February 2024 with $11.8 million in federal funding from Indigenous Services Canada. The investment also includes three years of training for the community’s water treatment operator to support the continued delivery of safe drinking water.
Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty said the project demonstrates the community’s leadership in advancing long-term water security. “We share a goal to provide lasting, community-driven solutions, and I remain firmly dedicated to supporting these important investments,” she said in a statement.
Chief Richard Stonechild said the new plant reflects the community’s teachings and priorities. “Our Elders teach us water is life and is a sacred gift from the Creator,” he said. “This new facility will enrich the whole community of Okanese First Nation and benefit all for generations to come.”
Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State for Rural Development and MP for Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, called the project a step toward equity in essential services.
“This new water treatment plant in Okanese First Nation is a concrete step toward justice—it means people don’t have to worry about boil water advisories every time they turn on the tap,” he said. “There is still more work to do, but investments like this are about fairness and dignity, and about finally fixing long-standing gaps in the basic services that other communities take for granted.”
