A developing story from Thunder Bay: Neskantaga First Nation’s chief and council are calling for better communications from the Provincial Urgent response Operations Centre (PEOC) amid itsongoing state of crisis over the region’s wildfires.
The remote Ojibway the area, located about 440 kilometres northeast of the Lakehead, declared a state of urgent response on July 16. The First Nation’s apprehension were two-fold: forest fire smoke was affecting the health of its members, and road closures caused by blaze activity delayed the delivery of essential supplies. Neskantaga’s Chief Gary Quisses says he felt disrespected during his most recent call with PEOC representatives on Thursday.
“It was very disappointing when they cut us off during our call,” Quisses told CBC News on Sunday. “It was very limited updates.” Neskantaga’s food is transported from Winnipeg to Pickle Lake before being flown up to the First Nation.However, a road closure on Highway 599 earlier this month meant the delivery trucks were rerouted to Red Lake. For a while, the smoke became too heavy for planes to travel north with supplies. These challenges are compounded by the fact that Neskantaga has beenunder a boil water advisory for more than 31 years, the longest in effect across the country.
“We have engaged our vendors and partner networks to secure the requested supplies and supplies.
More than 140 of the community’s most vulnerable — consisting of children, pregnant people, older adults and those with underlying health conditions — are staying in Mississauga. Quisses says they hope to return to Neskantaga early next week. While the transportation issue has since been resolved, Neskantaga is still playing catch-up in making sure those remaining in the First Nation have everything they need. While forest fire hazards have decreased due to recent rain and cooler temperatures, more than 2,800 people from over a dozen communities in northwestern Ontario remain displaced. “The challenge is the safety of the people,” Quisses stated. “Everybody has to be secure and go home in one piece.” When asked about Neskantaga’s apprehension, a spokesperson for Ontario’s Minister of Urgent situation Preparedness and Response provided an emailed statement to CBC News on Friday. “We have engaged our vendors and partner networks to secure the requested supplies and supplies. We anticipate receiving confirmation regarding availability and delivery timelines of the requested items, from our vendors and collaborators, over the next two days,” wrote spokesperson Julia Facca. Powwows, dancing help forest fire evacuees ‘come together,’ easing pain of seeing First Nations burn Forest fire evacuees from First Nations in northern Ontario face stressors beyond being far from home “We will update the chief directly, as is our standard practice, and will launch those items to the public without delay.” Quisses stated he hopes to see improved communications with provincial authorities;“that way we don't have challenges like this.” “They have to do better — like they have to understand the citizens. They have to understand why there is an evacuation,” Quisses indicated. First Nation chiefs call for public inquiry into Ontario government's forest fire response Ontario crisis minister's interview cut short after forest fire response questions As for those staying in Mississauga, Quisses confirmed First Nations from the Greater Toronto Area have stepped up to support his people with day trips and other activities. “When we say we're connected, that's the connection we're talking about. That understanding for every Indigenous person right across the country; we understand each other,” Quisses indicated. “Even though the dialect and the language is different … we feel for each other.” TheHope for Wellness Helplineprovides immediate, toll-free telephone and online chat-based emotional support and crisis intervention to all Indigenous people in Canada. This service is available 24/7 in English and French, and upon request in Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut. Sarah Law is a CBC News reporter based in Thunder Bay, Ont., and has also worked for newspapers and online publications elsewhere in the province. Have a story tip? You can reach her at sarah.law@cbc.ca. It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered onCBC Gem..
Community members are encouraged to stay informed and share this information with friends and family. Following trusted local news sources helps ensure everyone stays up to date with events and announcements affecting Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario.
🔗 Read the original report from CBC News Thunder Bay
For more local news, weather, sports, events, and community updates across Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario, visit ThunderBay.Online — your trusted source for everything happening in the region.
📍 Source: CBC News Thunder Bay · By: CBC News Staff · 🗓️ August 02, 2026 · 🏠 ThunderBay.Online
