NAN leaders declare emergency as Ginoogaming mourns

Nishnawbe Aski Nation leadership declared a public state of emergency Thursday following a drug-related shooting incident in Ginoogaming First Nation that left one person dead and another in intensive care.

The declaration is a response to both this incident and “an escalating crisis” of gang infiltration, drug trafficking and drug-related violence across NAN territory, said a news release from the organization for Treaty 9 and Treaty 5 First Nations in Ontario.

NAN member nations are losing too many of their youth to jail, suicide and drug overdoses, Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler said in a news conference.

“And so our leadership … instructed us to make this declaration, and also to create a plan in partnership with our treaty partners, Ontario and Canada, to ensure that the things that they’ve talked about here the last two and a half days (during a NAN forum) are not just words on a piece of paper,” Fiddler said.

“For decades, the governments of Canada and Ontario have failed to uphold their shared responsibility for public safety in First Nations communities,” Fiddler said in a news release.

“The time for studies, meetings and excuses is over. The time for clear, responsible action is now, and we expect that action before there is an opportunity for any more violence in our communities.”

Ginoogaming Chief Sheri Taylor, addressing reporters via Zoom, confirmed that her First Nation lost a community “to a violent crime” on Wednesday and that it was a shooting incident.

A second community member is in intensive care at a hospital, she added.

“We had some gun violence,” Taylor said. “Two individuals were in our community.”

She said the suspects “have been harboured in our community for probably years.”

“I have been working hard with the help of my council to try and …. bring safety into our community” but with little success so far, she said.

“Now look at what’s happened. And this can happen anywhere.

“We have so much that we love and care for in our community. You know, we have our young children and our youth. They need to feel safe in their own communities.

“And right now, we’re not feeling that way.”

The NAN news release said Nishnawbe Aski Police reported an increase of more than 300 per cent in cocaine and fentanyl seizures from 2023 to 2024, “underscoring the scale and urgency of the crisis and need to protect community borders.”

“These drug issues are getting out of hand,” said Neskantaga First Nation council member Lashaunda Sarianne. “We need to put our foot down.”

Eabametoong First Nation Chief Solomon Atlookan said he is asking for federal and provincial cabinet ministers “to come to my community. I want you to see what is happening in my community, as well as others.”

He said planes are searched when they land in the local airport, but smugglers find ways to bring drugs in undetected.

Atlookan warned that if he suspects drugs in a newly arrived package in his community, “I will open it up” even though it’s against the law to do so.

Community well-being is the top priority — above mining, he said, alluding to mining firms’ interest in tapping the mineral-rich Ring of Fire.

A shelter-in-place advisory was issued Wednesday as police began searching for two people they described as “armed and dangerous.”

Police lifted the advisory Thursday afternoon and said “the situation has stabilized.”

Schools in the Ginoogaming-Longlac area remained closed Thursday as police continued their search for two individuals.

Anishinabek Police Service, which is investigating in partnership with the Greenstone OPP detachment, advised motorists travelling on Highway 11 near Longlac and Ginoogaming to stay alert and avoid stopping unnecessarily.

Police advised in a news release that “a significant police presence will remain in the area as the investigation continues.” tbnewswatch.com

article website here

Another state of emergency declaration?  These are become sooo common that they are virtually meaningless.

This from the band’s website here