Zonolite leaking into 11 First Nations homes

Health Canada says 11 families in Manitoba First Nations communities face a high risk of exposure to asbestos from Zonolite vermiculite insulation in their homes.

Zonolite, a type of vermiculite insulation that could contain asbestos, was used in hundreds of thousands of Canadian homes before 1990. If the insulation is disturbed, exposure to the asbestos could cause scarring of the lungs and some forms of cancer.

The risk in First Nations homes was identified by environmental health officers who visually inspected almost 200 houses across the country after requests from several First Nation communities in the province.

The homes in Manitoba are among 40 across the country that Health Canada says are at high risk for asbestos exposure because Zonolite is leaking into the living space.

• FROM JAN. 28, 2005: Health Canada inspects insulation on reserves

To date, there's no evidence either Health Canada nor Indian and Northern Affairs has offered to pay to clean up any of the contaminated homes; both say it's up to the local bands to determine what to do next and how to pay for it. However, First Nations leaders say that's not good enough.

First Nations leaders are incredulous to hear that federal health officials know aboriginal families are at risk, but are doing nothing about it.

Dennis Whitebird, Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, says the two federal departments have a legal obligation to protect the health of people in aboriginal communities. He says there's no place for the families at risk to go.

"It's not acceptable," he says. "There is a tremendous shortage of housing in our communities."

• CBC INDEPTH: Deadly dust: More on vermiculite insulation

As far as immediate cleanup of the 11 houses just identified, Chris Henderson, head of the Southern Chiefs Organization, says local bands have no money to pay for that.

"I think it's extremely unreasonable," he says. "When there's pressing emergency crisis within these communities, First Nations are forced to do more with much less."

Henderson and Whitebird intend to press Health Canada to identify where these houses are and to ensure that the local bands know what risk their residents face.

Whitebird says without further help, the families affected may be forced to go the same route as Raven Thundersky, who is suing the federal government. Thundersky and several of her family members became sick after living in a home with contaminated Zonolite insulation at the Poplar River First Nation.

• FROM FEB. 11, 2005: INAC's treatment of Thundersky 'shameful': MP

An estimated 300,000 homes across Canada contain Zonolite vermiculite insulation. Health Canada officials say if the insulation is not disturbed, it should cause no health problems.

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HEALTH CANADA: More on vermiculite insulation