Residents of a First Nations reserve on northern Vancouver Island say that mould is eating away at their walls and destroying their homes.
On Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw land near Port Hardy, community members say that nearly half of the homes are being degraded by mould.
"This one has mould issues, and then this one has mould issues, and the next one has mould issues. We don't have enough money to bring our houses up to code," band manager Les Taylor told CTV News.
In some homes, mould has caused drywall to become brittle and disintegrate. Some band members who live in the infested homes have had to be hospitalized for respiratory problems.
The situation on the reserve is reminiscent of Attawapiskat, an Ontario reserve where housing conditions became so dire that a state of emergency was declared late last year.
Shawn Atleo, national chief for the Assembly of First Nations, said similar problems are far too common on reserves across the country.
"Our people are frustrated at the lack of a sense of urgency and real response on the part of governments," he said.
He pointed out that the Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw reserve is within the riding of Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan.
"The notion that this is a community in the minister's own backyard is a reminder to Canada that it's Canada's own backyard," Atleo said.
Duncan says he's been inside some of the affected homes on the reserve.
"When I was there in 2009 we thought we had dealt with the problem. I think what's happened is there is a realization from the band administration that the problem is much bigger," he said.
"They are now talking about 50 homes as opposed to 10 homes. I agree -- nobody should be living for any length of time in those circumstances."
Duncan says he plans to visit the community again this month.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Kelvin Redvers
