An Ontario company that was asked to leave Neskantaga First Nation in 2019 after delays involving a multimillion-dollar water treatment project will receive $1.9 million to settle a legal claim, according to documents obtained by the Institute for Investigative Journalism, Global News and APTN News.

Details of the deal emerged as more than 200 members of the affected Neskantaga Nation in Northern Ontario approach the end of their second month away from home due to an evacuation ordered by its chief in October over concerns about contaminants in the water supply leading to a water shutdown.

Neskantaga residents have been living in a Thunder Bay hotel nearly 450 km southwest of their home since the evacuation. The reserve has been under Canada’s longest boil-water advisory with no access to clean drinking water for nearly three decades.

“We have to question why we have to go through all this; 25 years, 26 years is dehumanizing,” said Chief Chris Moonias.

The documents show that the $1.9 million was provided to resolve a legal claim launched by the company over its cancelled contract and will be paid out of federal funds from the $16.44-million budget for the water treatment project approved by federal Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller.

This is nearly twice the original estimated cost of the project of $8.8 million from July 2017.

In an email, Indigenous Services Canada spokeswoman Leslie Michelson confirmed the amount, explaining that the $1.9-million payment would go toward an outstanding bill from Kingdom Construction for work performed under contract.

Michelson disputed language in documents was to settle a legal claim.

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