Eabametoong First Nation declares state of emergency

On the Eabametoong First Nation, some residents have taken to sleeping with a fire extinguisher at their side.

Such is the depth of the fear and worry that’s been created by a rash of violent crime and arson in the northern Ontario community – a situation that on Friday finally prompted its leaders to call out for help.

The community has declared what it’s calling a state of emergency as it struggles to deal with a wave of crime largely being committed by youth.

"I hate pointing fingers," Eabametoong Chief Lewis Nate said.

"(Youths) are not the problem. We are the problem. (Youths) are just a symptom of what’s been happening over the years. Not just over the last couple of years, but when you look at the history of things – the residential schools, the signing of the treaty, the churches, the alcohol, the laws that are different from what our forefathers had."

The community of about 1,200 people, also known as Fort Hope, has seen three homicides this year, about 50 incidents of arson and cases of animal mutilation in recent months.

It is located more than 200 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, Ont., and is accessible only by plane.

The targets of the arson have included the local school and, at night, homes, which has prompted some residents to go to bed with fire extinguishers beside them, Nate told Postmedia News.

A break-in at the community water-treatment facility led to the water supply being cut off for five days due to fears of contamination.

There have been problems before, but they have become worse over the past year.

"The intention here is to bring out that we need help," he said.

"Personal help with counselling, and also help financially to get an action plan together. And we need to secure the community."

Nate said the underlying problems include widespread abuse of prescription drugs, alcohol and intoxication from things such as gasoline sniffing.

He said the community suffers from widespread unemployment, and many of the children are brought up in an environment of abuse.

The Eabametoong community is policed by the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service, a First Nations force that patrols communities in Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba.

"We’re supporting the chief and council request for additional support and resources," said Sgt. Jackie George of the Nishnawbe-Aski police.

George said there are five front-line officers dedicated to Eabametoong, and any increase in manpower would require funding from the provincial and federal governments.