Cree resident demands an immediate stop to burning garbage near her home

A Cree resident is demanding an immediate stop to burning garbage nearher home.

"We were having really hot weather," said Vivianne Sheshamush, a Whapmagoostui local from Quebec's northernmost Cree community.

"Like many people, I opened my windows overnight to help cool off the house. When I woke up the entire house smelled like burning garbage."

Sheshamush, who started an online petition as a mother of two children under the age of five, said it made her upset that her children were breathing in fumes while they were sleeping.

Thepetition, made in an urgent effort to protect people from inhaling toxic fumes,has gathered more than 1,900signatures since earlier this month. According to the online petition there is a demand for an immediate stopof burning garbage due to health concerns.

Quebec's twin communities of Whapmagoostui and Kuujjuarapik share a waste disposal site.It's currently located northeast of theKuujjuarapik airport, less than a kilometre away.

Chief says concerns date back years

Whapmagoostui Chief Louisa Wynne said the waste disposal site was builtby the Canadian army back in 1950.

She said the concerns over fumes from the waste disposal site have been there for many years.

Both local Cree and Inuit leaders have come up with short-term solutions when it comes to burning garbage.

"Prior to burning garbage, the wind direction needs to be considered and we also have firefighters on stand-by ready to put out the fire if the smoke blows over," Wynne said.

Wynne said a new waste disposal site that is sustainable requires careful planning, knowing the social and environmental impacts is crucial. The environmental and social impact assessment started last fall and is ongoing.

Collaborating with Inuit leaders of Kuujjuarapikis also important, said Wynne.

"Work is slated to start next summer," KuujjuarapikMayor Anthony Ittoshat said.

Even if work is able to start this summer, it would most likely have been delayed due to COVID-19 because most of Whapmagoostui'scapital projects have been suspended until next summer.

Wynne said the new waste disposal site will be four kilometres southeast of the community, andthe project is estimated to cost $7 million.