Kitigan Zibi Anishinābeg's chief says he's hopeful residents of the community who remain under a decades-long drinking water advisory will soon have access to safe, clean water.

Health Canada first issued the advisory for well users in the Algonquin community north of Gracefield, Que., in 1999, citing high levels of naturally occurring uranium in the groundwater.

"We were told that the water was dangerous whether we boiled it or not," said Kitigan Zibi resident Katrina Whiteduck, who was 12 when the advisory was issued and has not had tap water at home since.

Prolonged exposure to uranium can affect the kidney and bones.

Katrina Whiteduck said she's frustrated by the long wait for drinkable water, and skeptical it will ever come to her community. (Alexandra Angers/Radio-Canada)

The

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