An escalating drug crisis and increasing rates of violence and drug smuggling have led five fly-in First Nations to sign onto a pilot program that will see every visitor entering those communities searched by the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service.
“Today’s launch is a step in the right direction, and we are grateful for Ontario’s invest- ment in this work,” said Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler. “This works because it is built by communities, for com- munities – our Chiefs mandated it in 2022 because they knew what their communities were fa- cing. But border control should not be a pilot. It should be the standard. Every First Nation in NAN deserves this protection.”
The five First Nations participating are Eabametoong, Sandy Lake, Sachigo Lake, Kasabonika Lake, and Kashe- chewan. Each of them has adopted a resolution authorizing
the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service to search all persons entering the community.
That authorizing resolution states that “all travellers shall, prior to entry into the Nation, be subject to a search of their person, as well as having their belongings searched – including carry-on baggage, checked bag- gage, and any freight shipped by them – for illegal drugs, paraphernalia, weapons, and contraband.”
(Most people entering most of these First Nations come by air. But those arriving by water or ice road will also be subject to search.)
Travellers not wishing to be searched will “have the option to not enter the territory.”
The chief of the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service will have “final independent authority over law enforcement actions, and that such authority is to be exercised independent of any political direction, pressure, or interference.”
The Nishnawbe Aski Police Service has deployed special constables to the five communi- ties to conduct the searches. Each of these special constables was recruited “directly from the community where they are now deployed.”
“We are proud the special constables hired and deployed for the [border control] program are from the very communities that they will be working in,” said Nishnawbe Aski Police Services Board chair Frank McKay. “They know their communities and its people and have a vested interest in helping to maintain its safety and security. They want to see a better future
for their communities and are committed to be part of that positive change.”
