The indigenous drug crisis has reached critical levels in Ontario, forcing First Nation communities to seek emergency solutions as government funding remains uncertain. Fort William First Nation continues fighting for resources whilst the Thunder Bay district maintains the highest opioid-related death rate in the province.

Community Declares Emergency Amid Funding Standoff

Chief Michele Solomon of Fort William First Nation declared a state of emergency over the toxic First Nation addiction epidemic last summer. The community has purchased an off-reserve facility to support people who have completed detox programmes as they wait for treatment, investing $1 million of their own resources.

“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 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.

Bridging Treatment Gaps Through Community Initiative

About 1,000 people live in Fort William, while the First Nation has just under 3,000 members. The community has services available to help those dependent on substances, including a community mental health and addiction outreach programme.

Solomon hopes the addiction care facility will bridge 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,” she said.

Government Response and Current Funding

Indigenous Services Canada 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, according to spokesperson Pascal Laplante.

ISC provided approximately $225,000 in new annual funding under the Indigenous Health Equity Fund to support Fort William’s health priorities. However, neither the provincial nor federal government has agreed to help support the new facility’s operating costs.

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.

Provincial Investments in Thunder Bay Area

Ontario’s Ministry of Health highlighted support in the Thunder Bay area, including:

• A new Homelessness and Addictions Recovery Treatment 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

Community-Led Recovery Approach

Long Lake #58 First Nation has been taking a community-led approach to addressing alcoholism and addiction. The community does not have a dedicated detox centre on reserve, so they bring groups of people to a First Nation-owned hotel in Thunder Bay—about 300 kilometres away—to participate in a 10-day detox programme.

Twenty-two members recently completed a treatment programme at Dilico Anishinabek Family Care. Participants then completed a month-long post-treatment programme at Pasha Lake, where they did traditional activities such as fishing and sharing circles.

“I think it’s so important for them to heal together because they are creating a recovery community within their community,” said Kyle Arnold, a community support worker specialising in addiction for Long Lake #58, who is more than six years into his recovery.

Community-Designed Solutions

Noreen Agnew, manager of Long Lake #58’s band rep programme, said a key part of the programme’s success has been listening to participants. “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.

Chief Solomon emphasised the importance of community-led solutions: “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.”

The indigenous drug crisis continues to challenge communities as they seek sustainable solutions whilst navigating complex funding arrangements between federal and provincial governments.

Source: CBC