"Namaygoosisagagun First Nation, located north of Thunder Bay in north-western Ontario, was engulfed by fire on 15 June. About two dozen people quickly boarded boats packed with their possessions and raced across the nearby lake. “If this community waited for a mandatory evacuation process, we’d be doing a recovery mission for the bodies of children, of elders, of men and women,” said Linda Debassige, grand council chief of the Anishinabek Nation, which represents 39 Ontario First Nations. All members safely escaped but the community’s buildings and other infrastructure were completely destroyed. The Namaygoosisagagun people evacuated to Thunder Bay, where the Anishinabek Nation has been providing assistance. Debassige said that Namaygoosisagagun’s chief, Helen Paavola, had made inquiries to the federal government in the days leading up to the fire, but the community had been assured there was no imminent threat.” [...] “However, First Nations leaders, including from the Anishinabek Nation, accused the premier of being unclear about what support the province was providing and, and of disorganisation in coordinating with First Nations. The CBC has reported that although Ontario spent $271m on emergency firefighting in 2025-26, it plans to spend only $150m in 2026-27. The Ontario government did not respond to requests for comment.”
the federal government had told them that there was no imminent danger, which led them to their own defenses with evacuating the wildfires and to safety. the majority of the targeted areas affected by wildfires are first nations communities.
with the decrease in funds to spend on emergency firefighting, despite this being one of the most intense heatwaves and wildfire seasons, as well as the seemingly purposeful disorganisation in cooperating with the first nations, it very well paints the picture of blatant anti-indigenous racism and silent genocide against the peoples of the first nations.
many of the first nations do not even have clean water to drink and use and live in racialized poverty. they cannot just "move somewhere else". they shouldn't have to. that is their land.
you can donate to help the Namaygoosisagagun nation here—as well as donate to help provide indigenous peoples in canada with clean fresh water here and here.
you can also donate to the canadian red cross wildfire fund here.
