NAN LEADERSHIP DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY AS DRUG CRISIS WORSENS IN COMMUNITIES
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Posted by Shelby Percival
- Posted in BlogsNews
On the closing day of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (“NAN”) Justice Forum, NAN leadership declared a state of emergency over illegal drugs and drug-related violence, effective immediately.
This follows a tragic drug-related shooting that occurred in the NAN community of Ginoogaming First Nation. This shooting endangered the lives of community members as an active investigation continues to take place. This tragic incident is indicative of how extreme the problem of illegal drugs and the detrimental effects are for NAN First Nations. Further, this incident comes in the midst of the NAN Justice Forum, convened to address the very crises that cause these incidents.
NAN First Nations have continued to advocate for better protection of their borders against the influx of illegal drugs, which has been further exacerbated as calls to government for resources and funding continue to fall on deaf ears.
As a result, NAN First Nations took matters into their own hands, and in August 2022, the NAN Chiefs-in-Assembly passed Resolution 22/16 – Support for NAPS Border Control Strategy, an initiative designed to stop the flow of illegal drugs into communities by instituting searches of all individuals at airports in communities. These searches would be facilitated by Nishnawbe Aski Police Service. This highlights the importance of addressing what has become a drug epidemic, as well as how desperate the situation has become.
NAN distributed a media release (see here) ahead of a press conference held on the afternoon of October 9, 2025, to announce the state of emergency. For the link to the press conference, see below.
As the Chief of Eabametoong First Nation, Solomon Atlookan stated in the media release:
“This is our daily reality. Lives are being lost every day in our communities to shootings, to drugs, to violence. If these events were happening in southern Ontario, the response would be immediate and national. For us, there is silence.”
The Declaration calls on all levels of government to recognize the state of emergency, immediately meet with NAN Chiefs to determine an effective action plan to deal with the issue of illegal drugs and drug-related violence, and to provide adequate funding and resources to deal holistically with all aspects of the drug crisis.
Following the issuance of the media release and press conference, Ontario’s Solicitor General, Minister Michael Kerzner (“Minister Kerzner”), released a statement expressing concern following the incident in Ginoogaming First Nation. Further, Minister Kerzner stated,
“As Solicitor General, I remain committed to working with @NAPS_Police, @NANComms leadership, and other partners to support public safety in First Nations communities across Ontario — including advancing the conversation with NAPS on now searches at First Nations airports can be conducted through their Border Control Strategy.”
Falconers LLP is honoured to represent NAN and NAPS.
NAN Materials:
- NAN Press Conference on State of Emergency – Oct. 9, 2025
- NAN Declaration of State of Emergency and Public Safety Crisis Over Illegal Drugs and Drug-Related Violence in NAN First Nations – Oct. 9, 2025
- NAN Media Release re State of Emergency – Oct. 9, 2025
Media Coverage:
Mike Stimpson, TB Newswatch (Oct. 9, 2025) – “NAN leaders declare emergency as Ginoogaming mourns”
Rianna Lim, Canadian Press, SOO TODAY.com (Oct. 9, 2025) – “Indigenous leaders urge action after alleged drug-related shooting in First Nation”
Darren MacDonald, CTV News (Oct. 9, 2025) – “One person shot and killed, shelter-in-place order ends in northwestern Ont.”
The Canadian Press, Global News (Oct. 9, 2025) – “Shelter-in-place order continues, schools closed in First Nation amid OPP search”
