Fort William First Nation has declared a state of emergency.
The First Nation’s council met on Monday and came to the decision before announcing it to their community on Friday.
The declaration was made in response to the community’s ongoing drug epidemic. It will remain in effect until the community’s Chief and Council are confident that the crisis has been stabilized.
“We are calling on government at all levels to increase funding and resources that will ensure the health, safety and well-being of our community,” said Chief Michele Solomon. “Without vital support, we will continue to suffer the consequences of inaction.”
Fort William First Nation has identified the following concerns:
- Lack of funding and resources for additional policing and enforcement and/or deterrence
- Lack of funding to develop a sustainable community critical incident response team model (to provide frontline and community debriefing)
- Lack of funding to recruit professional staff and traditional healers to work with community members and families in response to the unnecessary loss of lives, the result of continued supply of drugs and increased weapons coming into the community.
- Lack of recognition of First Nation laws that contribute to the safety and well-being of the community.
- Lack of funding to advance a land-based pre-treatment facility that is indigenous-based and augmented with western treatment modalities
- Lack of professional personnel to assist with trauma and mental health
- Lack of funding to advance a land-based after-care facility that is indigenous-based and augmented with western treatment modalities
“So the announcement for the state of emergency for Fort William First Nation is something that has been at our leadership table for some time now,” said Solomon. “This comes as a result of escalating situations in our Community, escalating violence, escalating people coming into our community who really shouldn’t be here and certainly the escalation of opiate-related deaths of our of our people, of our members.”
The key message from the community was that they require more funding to provide the services that they need.
Moving forward the plan is to reach out to all levels of government, Indigenous Services Canada as well as local police forces for support. Meetings are also planned for members of the community to allow an opportunity for input.
The hope is to have short and longer-term solutions in place as soon as possible.