Latest news with #Ojibway
CBC
4 days ago
- Health
- CBC
Neskantaga First Nation calls for more federal support after community evacuation cut short
Social Sharing Chief Gary Quisses says Neskantaga First Nation's evacuation lasted 46 days — but he wasn't ready to bring his community members home. The remote Ojibway First Nation has been under a state of emergency since April 13, prompted by flooding and a strong smell of fuel at its nursing station, the only access point for medical services in the community. That week, more than 130 evacuees and their pets were flown roughly 450 kilometres to Thunder Bay, Ont., in order to have their health-care needs met. In all, more than 175 evacuees ended up staying in the northwestern Ontario city for well over a month. Quisses said evacuees returned to Neskantaga last weekend, after Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) sent him a letter saying the federal government would no longer support its evacuation after June 4. According to Quisses, Neskantaga was not told why its evacuation was no longer being supported. Meanwhile, three other communities in the region are under evacuation due to nearby wildfires, sending hundreds of people to southern Ontario from Wabaseemoong Independent Nations, Deer Lake First Nation and Webequie First Nation. While a temporary nursing station has been set up at a home in Neskantaga, Quisses said there's still a lack of equipment there to meet people's needs. "It's very challenging at the moment," Quisses told CBC News in an interview Thursday. Now, he's calling for support from the federal government to build a brand new, permanent nursing station in Neskantaga to replace the existing health centre, which has been boarded up. CBC News has reached out to ISC about Neskantaga's evacuation and calls for a new nursing station to be built, and is awaiting a response. Last month, a spokesperson for ISC told CBC News that remediation work at the nursing station began April 22. "Initial investigation indicates that the flood and fuel smell were likely a result of a failed sump pump and used fuel spill kit that was being stored in the basement," said ISC spokesperson Jacinthe Goulet. Infrastructure issues adding up Fewer than 400 people live in Neskantaga. Its nursing station was built in 1994, and Quisses said it's been in poor condition for years. "It's pretty old already and it's never been renovated. It's always having issues, finally triggered where we have to call for [a state of] emergency," Quisses said. "Right now, the community thinks we don't have proper health care. It's not recognized as a nursing station." Meanwhile, Neskantaga remains under a long-term boil water advisory that's been in place for 30 years — the longest in effect in Canada. Quisses said his hope is that swift action is taken to improve Neskantaga's health-care infrastructure. "Every time we request something, the only movement there is when we put the state of emergency [in place]," he said. During the evacuation, community members missed out on the spring harvest, while students lost a lot of days at school. It's important for people to understand the ripple effect of infrastructure issues in the remote north, Quisses explained.
CBC
6 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
As wildfire evacuations continue in northwestern Ontario, lightning threatens the landscape
Social Sharing Community members from Webequie First Nation in northwestern Ontario are continuing to be flown out as nearby wildfires show no signs of letting up. The remote Ojibway community declared a state of emergency and initiated a phase 1 evacuation last Thursday due to Nipigon 5, a wildfire measuring more than 8,500 hectares. The first evacuees were brought out on Monday, delayed by a shortage of aircraft due to competing demands in other communities impacted by wildfires, according to Webequie's Chief Cornelius Wabasse. As of Wednesday, more than 370 evacuees had been brought to Barrie, about a one-hour drive north of Toronto. "We're making progress, trying to get especially the vulnerable [community members] out, people that have respiratory issues and other medical conditions," Wabasse told CBC News on Wednesday. At that point, the fire was moving away from the community, though Wabasse said the wind was bringing heavy smoke from out west. Wabasse — identified as a community member prioritized for evacuation — is staying in Thunder Bay in order to be closer to his community to co-ordinate evacuation efforts. A number of resources have been set up for evacuees in Barrie, he said, including "medical support, counselling support, all those mental health supports as well, too." "I think they're doing a good job over there in Barrie, making sure that everybody is comfortable and that we don't overlook the well-being of those people that are there," Wabasse said. On Wednesday, four more flights were scheduled out of Webequie, with more expected to take place Thursday. Meanwhile, hundreds of evacuees from Deer Lake First Nation are staying in Toronto, while members of Wabaseemoong Independent Nations have been in Niagara Falls since mid-May. A number of special air quality statements and warnings remain in effect across the region due to smoke pollution from both Ontario and Manitoba wildfires. "Our officers have been assisting in Webequie First Nation this week where forest fires have forced the evacuation of the community. Our thoughts are with the people of this Webequie First Nation and other Nishnawbe Aski Nation communities across the province being threatened by Ontario wildfires," the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service posted on Facebook Wednesday. "We would also like to take a moment to thank our NAPS officers who have stepped up during this time of crisis and provided their communities with the services they expect and deserve. "We've dispatched additional officers to Webequie, who are now also helping to ensure community safety is maintained and that evacuated residents receive the help they need during this stressful time," the post says. Fires 'gaining size very fast' Chris Marchand, a fire information officer with Ontario's Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services who is based in Dryden, said the 2025 wildfire season can already be characterized as a busy year. "We had a very early start in May and several weeks with rather minimal precipitation across the northwest," Marchand told CBC's Up North on Wednesday. "One real concern is how receptive our landscape is becoming to fires caused by lightning — not only are our forest fuels extremely dry, but so is the ground. And then that really makes it easier for lightning fires to get started, for fires in general to burn deeper and require more effort and resources to extinguish." Marchand said firefighters from British Columbia have been lending their support in the region, but one challenge is that "the fires that we're finding are gaining size very fast." "In a lot of situations, air attack has been required with water bombers to really reduce the intensity of these fires when they're initially discovered, to allow crews to get in quickly and to make sure that they don't become larger problems," Marchand said. Though there has been scattered rainfall over the past few days, the region remains dry, said Marchand, which is why it's important for people to continue obeying the rules of the restricted fire zone in place — namely, not lighting campfires, burn barrels or burn piles. Drones have also become an issue since they can hinder aerial operations around wildfires, he added. "The presence of a drone presents a danger to air crews and can result in the cancellation of an air attack mission that is usually being sent to protect lives or property — so please, no drones within nine kilometres of a wildland fire," said Marchand.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Manitoba court quashes murder convictions for Métis man who spent decades in prison
A Métis man who spent more than two decades in prison had his murder convictions quashed by the Manitoba Court of Appeal last week. In 1997, Robert Sanderson was found guilty of three counts of first-degree murder in connection with the August 1996 killings of Jason Gross, Russel Krowetz and Stefan Zurstag at a home in West Kildonan. Sanderson was sentenced to life in prison with no eligibility for parole for 25 years. He has always maintained his innocence. He appealed his convictions in 1999, but the appeal was dismissed by the Manitoba Court of Appeal. Later that year, Sanderson was denied leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. In 2017, 20 years after he was convicted, Innocence Canada applied for a ministerial review of Sanderson's case, the organization said in a Monday news release. Flawed DNA testing conducted on a hair found at the scene had connected Sanderson to the crime at the time of his conviction. More advanced tests done in the mid-2000s showed that the hair samples didn't match Sanderson or the two other men who were charged in the case. Other new evidence considered by the appeal court was that an eyewitness was given "substantial sums of money by the authorities pursuant to an agreement after he testified at the trial," Innocence Canada said. Sanderson was denied bail in 2018, but was released on full parole a short time later. After his release, Sanderson told CBC News in 2023 that he had found healing through embracing his culture and creating art inspired by his Métis and Ojibway heritage. He moved to Victoria, B.C. In 2023, then-federal justice minister David Lametti found there was likely a miscarriage of justice in Sanderson's case. Lametti referred the case to the Manitoba Court of Appeal for a new hearing. Last week, the court quashed the convictions and ordered a new trial. Innocence Canada said in its news release that the Crown has advised the court "it will exercise its discretion and enter a stay of proceedings on public interest grounds." CBC News has reached out to the Crown and Innocence Canada for further comment.
CBC
02-06-2025
- General
- CBC
In the centre of Ontario's drug crisis, Fort William First Nation fights for new facility
Social Sharing After declaring a state of emergency over its toxic drug crisis last summer, Fort William First Nation hasn't stopped advocating for more resources for its members. The Ojibway First Nation, which neighbours Thunder Bay, Ont., has purchased a facility at an undisclosed, off-reserve location to support people who have completed a detox program as they wait to get into treatment. The problem? Neither the provincial nor federal government has agreed to help support the facility's operating costs, according to Chief Michele Solomon. "Because it's not on reserve, we are not funded or assisted by the federal government, and the provincial government funding sources push us back to the federal government — so we become a hot potato between these governments," Solomon said. The Thunder Bay district, which encompasses Fort William, continues to have the highest opioid-related death rate in Ontario at nearly five times the provincial average, according to the latest report from Ontario's Office of the Chief Coroner. "Whatever challenges you see Thunder Bay facing … this is amplified in a community like ours because of the lack of resources that are available at our fingertips," said Solomon. We become a hot potato between these governments. - Chief Michele Solomon, Fort William First Nation About 1,000 people live in Fort William, while the First Nation itself has just under 3,000 members. While the community has services available to help those dependent on substances, including a community mental health and addiction harm reduction outreach program, Solomon hopes the addiction care facility will bridge the gaps created by long wait times to get into treatment. "We're already looking at a $1-million investment into this facility, and we want it operational. We want our people to be able to use this facility," Solomon said. "We believe that this is a model of care that other First Nations and other communities, I think, could incorporate … and I believe that it's a missing piece in the mental health and addiction system." Province, feds speak to addictions investments Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) spent more than $440,000 on mental health and addictions support in Fort William First Nation in 2024-2025 through the Indigenous Health Equity Fund, said spokesperson Pascal Laplante in an emailed statement to CBC News on Friday. In the same fiscal year, "ISC provided approximately $225,000 in new annual funding under the Indigenous Health Equity Fund to support Fort William's health priorities, as determined by the community," he said. While Laplante did not specifically mention the addiction care facility Fort William has purchased, he said "ISC is aware of the challenges that Fort William First Nation is experiencing as they see a rise in addictions in the region. "Meetings have been held with the community and the province of Ontario to discuss long-term supports and address critical needs in response to their state of emergency," Laplante said. The closest treatment centres to Fort William are Ka-Na-Chi-Hih (youth treatment) in Thunder Bay, and Dilico Adult Residential Addiction located in Fort William First Nation, he said. Furthermore, ISC's Non-Insured Health Benefits program covers travel costs to the closest appropriate and available treatment centre. When asked about the province's support for Fort William's addiction care facility, a spokesperson for Ontario's Ministry of Health provided an emailed statement. While they did not mention any funding specifically for Fort William, they said the government "is using every tool we have to help people get the treatment they need by expanding access to safe, comprehensive mental health and addiction services," said spokesperson Ema Popovic on Thursday. In the Thunder Bay area, this includes support for: A new Homelessness and Addictions Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub. Nearly 60 new addictions beds and safe sobering beds at Dilico Anishinabek Family Care and St. Joseph's Care Group. A new Youth Wellness Hub. The Superior North Specialized Treatment and Alternative Responders mobile crisis response team. Creating a recovery community Long Lake #58 First Nation has been taking a community-led approach to addressing alcoholism and addiction by supporting collective healing with its members. The Ojibway community does not have a dedicated detox centre on reserve. Instead, they've been bringing groups of people to a First Nation-owned hotel in Thunder Bay — about 300 kilometres away — to participate in a 10-day detox program before going into treatment. Long Lake #58 First Nation supports dozens of its members as they detox 2 months ago Duration 2:10 The First Nation is celebrating 22 of its members who recently completed a treatment program at Dilico Anishinabek Family Care. "Seeing them look so healthy and actually want to do the work and still want to continue their healing, and just working towards bettering their lives, it's really amazing to see," said Noreen Agnew, manager of Long Lake #58's band rep program. Participants completed a month-long post-treatment program at Pasha Lake, where they did traditional activities on the land such as fishing and sharing circles. Now, they're back in Thunder Bay and preparing to return to their First Nation after a nearly four-month journey, Agnew said. Kyle Arnold is a community support worker specializing in addiction for Long Lake #58. He's more than six years into his recovery from addiction. "I think it's so important for them to heal together because they are creating a recovery community within their community, and I think that's the piece that's been missing," Arnold said of the group from Long Lake #58. "A lot of them are related, they're family, and it's strengthened them as a core — and it's bringing recovery into [Long Lake #58]." Agnew said a key part of the program's success has been listening to participants "and letting them lead us." "We're giving them the opportunity to tell us, 'OK, this is what we need.' So OK, let's help them do that," she said. Back in Fort William First Nation, Solomon said she's going to continue pushing for community-led solutions to the drug crisis. "When you have services that are designed by the community that they're intended to serve, then it will have those values in mind. It will have those ways of knowing and being in mind," said Solomon.
CBC
27-05-2025
- General
- CBC
The wolf teaches us to be humble and to protect the balance of nature, elder says
Social Sharing For Ojibway and Mohawk elder Hazel Dixon, humility is about valuing everyone's role in the community — like a wolf does. "Some may be hunters, others might be protectors, others may be nurturers," she told Unreserved. "A wolf that has hunted food will take it back to the den to eat with the pack before it takes the first bite of food. So none is better than the other." In the Ojibway Seven Grandfather Teachings, the wolf represents humility. Dixon says the teaching encourages us not to gloat or brag, as well as to respect the balance of nature where every individual and species has a role to play. She points to Yellowstone National Park in the U.S. as an example of when that balance is disrupted. By the late 1920s, grey wolves which were native to the area had been eradicated from the park, as they were considered a threat to other wildlife like elk and deer. As a result, out of control elk and deer populations stripped the land of vegetation. The wolf's reintroduction in 1995 caused a cascade of regeneration, with the return of plant life, trees and many species of animals to the park. "That goes to show us that when the balance of nature is changed, everything else is affected," Dixon said. "It doesn't matter what it is." Lessons from sea wolves William Housty says wolves also protect the natural balance in Heiltsuk territory, on the coast of British Columbia. Housty is the director of the Integrated Resource Management Department for the Heiltsuk Nation. He frequently encounters the local coastal wolves, a unique subspecies also known as sea wolves. Smaller and sleeker than other wolves, they hunt for seals and fish as well as deer and mountain goats, and have a knack for swimming. "The outer coast of our territory is made up of a large archipelago of islands," Housty said. "They're utilizing that skill to be able to hop from island to island." "It's amazing to see. It almost looks like a human doing a backstroke." Housty is part of efforts to study the sea wolves in non-invasive ways, in accordance with his nation's values. The community and western researchers have partnered together to collect fur and scat samples, and record audio and video to help them identify individual wolves. This gives them a better picture of the wolves' habits and genetic makeup. These findings then inform their approach to co-existing with the wolves. While studying them, Housty has been struck by parallels between Heiltsuk knowledge and western scientific findings. The Heiltsuk see sea wolves as protectors and warriors. Housty says their role in the ecosystem is similar to their cultural one. Like the wolves of Yellowstone National Park, sea wolves regulate populations and create space for a diversity of species. "If you go to some of our outer islands, there's not a piece of vegetation from six feet and under because the deer eats it all. And so as the wolves sort of regulate the deer population, it's maintaining that biodiversity of plants and trees and all sorts of things, all throughout the different landscapes," he explained. "Achieving that balance is kind of protecting them and looking out for that overall health of the ecosystems." Seeing Heiltsuk knowledge echoed by western science reaffirms for Housty how insightful his ancestors were. "They knew this thousands of years ago and we're just sort of putting our finger on it now." "They left us with this knowledge. So now that's taught me that I need to turn around and leave that for my own children, my own community, my own people." Housty believes more collaborations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous science, and more conservation that centres Indigenous world views, can lead to a better world for animals and humans alike. "All we want is for the world to realize that if we have the love, care and respect for these animals, and take care of them, and take care of their habitat and the world around them, it's going to make for a better world for us too, and that we're all a part of the same loop." Endangered relatives To Rahnàwakęw Donnie McDowell the wolf's role as a protector who looks out for every member of the community is mirrored in the Tuscarora Wolf Clan, one of seven Tuscarora kinship groups. "If you look at a wolf pack, they take care of each other," said McDowell, a member of the Tuscarora Nation of North Carolina. "They lead; they're strong." "Wolf Clan is one of those family units that adopts and takes care of others who come in that may not have a clan family." Along with shared traits, McDowell says his people and wolves have parallel histories. Colonial policies targeted both the Tuscarora and the red wolf population they hold sacred to clear their lands for settlers. "We see that the population of the red wolves, as they decline, the Tuscarora nation's population declines." The red wolf is one of North America's most critically endangered species. Only 16 remain in the wild. In 2006 the population had reached a peak of 130 wolves. McDowell is part of the Save the Red Wolves campaign, a partnership between several non-profit organizations and the Tuscarora Nation of North Carolina — but its future remains unclear. The campaign pushed for wildlife crossings to be built across highways to ensure safe passages for the wolves and other wildlife. Highway traffic is a large threat to the remaining red wolves. The campaign was awarded a federal grant of $25 million US in December to go towards constructing wildlife crossings. Since then the Trump administration's sweeping pause on federal funding has left the future of the project uncertain. McDowell refuses to give up hope. "We can't give up hope because in the red wolves we see a reflection of the Tuscarora ourselves," he said. "Everybody has a responsibility to do this and take part in it, because there is a benefit that will come generations down the road, that our people and the community and the environment and the wildlife can benefit from."
