Eabametoong declares state of emergency over murders, arson

Eabametoong First Nation is pleading for help after three murders, numerous cases of arson and a number of animal mutilations have occurred since January.
“The situation in our community has escalated out of control and is now so serious that many people sleep with a fire extinguisher beside them, fearful that their home could be set on fire next,” said Eabametoong Chief Lewis Nate. “No one should have to live like this, it’s devastating.”
The community of about 1,200 on-reserve band members declared a state of emergency Oct. 22 following a series of violent crimes that have residents fearing for their safety.
“There is a lot of uncertainty about what is happening and it is really gripping the community in that sense,” Nate said.
The four dozen cases of arson included homes where families were sleeping. One fire temporarily closed the community school due to smoke damage.
The fires, combined with several cases of animals being mutilated, have left the community wondering what will happen next.
“The people of Eabametoong are committed to working together to do whatever is needed to bring safety and order back to our community,” Nate said. “But we can’t do it alone. We are desperate for outside help.”
The community was also recently left without water for five days following a break-in at the water treatment facility that led to concerns whther the drinking water had been contaminated.
Nate said water was flown in for community members after the water system was shut down.
“We had to make sure nothing was put into the system,” he said.
Matawa regional chiefs – Eabametoong is a Matawa community – are calling on all levels of government and any other service agencies or individuals to come to the aid of the community.
“We need short-term support and resources to help us restore safety and address the violent element in our community today,” Nate said. “We need intervention workers to come to the aid of our troubled youth.”
Nate believes prescription drug abuse is affecting the community in all areas of life, including work, spirituality and finances.
Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service (NAPS) front-line officers have met frequently with the chief and council since the situation began deteriorating.
“We support the chief and council in their request for additional resources that they are requesting from the provincial and territorial bodies,” said NAPS Sgt. Jackie George.
She said NAPS is doing everything it can to help the community battle the epidemic, which includes a future meeting with acting police chief Robin Jones.
“We have five front-line officers posted in that community, one of whom is trained as a drug resource officer to assist with drug investigations that come directly from within the community,” George said. “We also have our drug unit, which will assist officers with those investigations.”
Nate said the community has exhausted all of its resources trying to deal with the abuse of prescription drugs.
“The health department has been bringing in people for debriefings, counselling, but you know that costs money,” Nate said. “We’ve been spending a lot of money on security at the airport and the community.”
Nate said people are now afraid to leave their homes due to arson and the theft of personal items to support prescription drug addictions.
“I lost my (boat) motor,” Nate said. “Even my laptop, somebody stole it and sold it.”
Kenora MP Greg Rickford plans to visit Nov. 8.
An INAC spokeswoman said the health and safety of the community members is of primary concern to the Government of Canada.
Susan Bertrand is INAC’s northern region manager of communications. She said in an Oct. 22 e-mail, the ministry has not received an official declaration from the community.
Bertrand said INAC has been in contact with the community and planned an Oct. 26 visit along with Health Canada officials. INAC is also providing $200,000 to help repair the school, which has re-opened.
While INAC does not have direct authority for mental health issues, Bertrand said the department provides support where it can.
Bertrand said INAC is providing $25,000 for emergency equipment and $50,000 to support the security activities of the First Nation.
However, Nishawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy believes both levels of government are failing to address the real issues.
“The federal and provincial governments continue to neglect the real social issues which plague isolated northern First Nations,” Beardy said. “This has resulted in some situations, such as the violent crime-spree in Eabametoong, to escalate out of control.”
Nate wants help to develop a long-term plan to address the root issues causing the violence.
“Ultimately, it’s going to have to come from the people,” he said.
Nate believes the underlying cause of the prescription drug abuse epidemic is a loss of traditional values among the people.
He has faith, however, his community will improve.
“Everything goes hand-in-hand,” he said. “You can work on your healing, but if you don’t have anything for these people to look forward to, they’ll just relapse. We need to rebuild our spirituality, we need to rebuild our churches, we need to go back to God, to go back to depending on God to get where we need to go.”