Fort Nelson Literacy Society assisting Prophet River First Nation with water settlement claims

PROPHET RIVER, B.C. —  Prophet River First Nation (PRFN) members are receiving assistance filing claims as part of an $8 billion class-action lawsuit against the federal government over unclean water. 

The Fort Nelson Community Literacy Society (FNCLS) is heading to PRFN on March 7th to help out before the deadline for claims to be submitted later the same day.

The nationwide settlement includes anyone affected by water advisories for at least one year in a First Nations community between late 1995 and mid-2021. 

PRFN is holding the workshop to assist individuals with paperwork to join the already 144,000 filed claims.

The workshop will occur at the Prophet River School Department from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 7th.

Wayne Kushamba, program coordinator for the FNCLS, says the society makes weekly trips to the First Nation to help members with literary services.

Kushamba says wording in the forms is challenging for some members to understand. 

“There was a need in the Prophet River community,” said Kushamba. “We go there to assist each visit. We know there could be a chance we could assist a few people there.”

Kushamba says some forms included in the claim could be explained clearly by the FNCLS.

“It’s basically answering some questions on the forms that will be asked,” said Kushamba.

The deadline for filing claims will be 10:59 p.m. MST on March 7th. 

The settlement was initially approved by the courts on December 22nd, 2021, and includes compensation as well as commitments to fund the construction, operation and maintenance of infrastructure needed to provide clean drinking water.

Energeticcity.ca reached out to PRFN for comment on this story but did not receive a response by publication time.