Ontario First Nation declares state of emergency over gang and substance abuse crises
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Ontario First Nation declares state of emergency over gang and substance abuse crises

Liam Casey, Canadian Press

TORONTO – A First Nation in northern Ontario declared a state of emergency Tuesday over simultaneous crises involving crime, gang activity, substance abuse and mental health issues that have plagued the community for years.

Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg First Nation has asked the province and the federal government for police assistance and mental health, Chief Louis Kwissiwa said at a news conference in Queen’s Park.

“Organized crime and drug trafficking have created an ever-growing crisis in our society,” Kwissiwa said.

“Addiction, violence and trauma are spreading. Overdoses are increasing. Mental crises are pushing our resources to breaking point.”

The First Nation, about 350 kilometers north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., is $5 million in debt after trying for years to fix the problems, the chief said. They have installed security cameras, purchased license plate readers and have brought in outside security for emergencies.

“Our 911 call rate is 35 times higher per capita than the city of Thunder Bay,” Kwissiwa said.

Suicide, addiction and untreated mental health problems are increasing in society, he added.

“We cannot continue to shoulder this crisis alone,” Kwissiwa said.

“We are calling on the federal and provincial governments, law enforcement and health services to act now.”

The nearest detox and treatment beds are a four-hour drive away in Sault Ste. Marie or Thunder Bay, Ont.

“Without immediate intervention, more lives will be lost, and the fabric of our society will continue to unravel,” said Joe Moses, CEO of the First Nation.

He said 64 of the community’s 121 homes have some type of drug use going on inside, a number that has risen in recent years with predatory drug-dealing gangs.

There are at least three such gangs within the community, Moses said. There have been violent home invasions, stabbings and human trafficking, he said.

Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg, with a reserve population of about 400, must wait at least 45 minutes for police, fire or ambulance in an emergency.

The First Nation has completed a proposal for the resources it needs for a community-based detox program, treatment and follow-up care.

“We just want to be heard and understood and get some partners to come to the table and help us execute these plans,” Kwissiwa said.

The nearby Anishinabek Police Department has struggled with staffing and only has five officers available, Moses said. An Ontario provincial police department is supposed to fill in for Anishinabek Police Services, but the OPP is also struggling with staffing, he said.

Sol Mamakwa, NDP deputy leader and the only First Nation representative in the Ontario legislature, brought the issue to question time on Tuesday, asking if the province would help.

“This is a serious matter,” said Attorney General Michael Kerzner. “That’s why earlier this morning I spoke with Chief Jeff Skye of the Anishinabek Police Services to discuss the seriousness of this.”

He said he told the federal government this summer that First Nations policing needs to be reviewed and made into a vital service.

“When the federal government comes to the table and comes up with more money to do the right thing, Ontario will do it too,” Kerzner said.

“This minister cannot use jurisdiction as an excuse to walk away from this matter,” Mamakwa responded.

Federal Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu has been in contact with the Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg First Nation to find solutions, her office said.

“No one should ever feel unsafe in their home,” says Jennifer Kozelj, Hajdu’s spokeswoman.

“Whether Indigenous or non-Indigenous, we are each other’s people and we must come together in times of need.”

This report from The Canadian Press was first published on November 19, 2024.