In the centre of Ontario's drug crisis, Fort William First Nation fights for new facility

After declaring a state of emergency over its toxic drug crisis last summer, Fort William First Nation hasn't stopped advocating for more resources for its members.

The Ojibway First Nation, which neighbours Thunder Bay, Ont., has purchased a facility at an undisclosed, off-reserve location to support people who have completed a detox program as they wait to get into treatment.

The problem? Neither the provincial nor federal government has agreed to help support the facility's operating costs, according to Chief Michele Solomon.

"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, which encompasses Fort William, 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.

"Whatever challenges you see Thunder Bay facing … this is amplified in a community like ours because of the lack of resources that are available at our fingertips," said Solomon.

About 1,000 people live in Fort William, while the First Nation itself has just under 3,000 members. While the community has services available to help those dependent on substances, including a community mental health and addiction harm reduction outreach program, Solomon hopes the addiction care facility will bridge the 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. We want our people to be able to use this facility," Solomon said.

"We believe that this is a model of care that other First Nations and other communities, I think, could incorporate … and I believe that it's a missing piece in the mental health and addiction system."

Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) 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, said spokesperson Pascal Laplante in an emailed statement to CBC News on Friday. 

In the same fiscal year, "ISC provided approximately $225,000 in new annual funding under the Indigenous Health Equity Fund to support Fort William's health priorities, as determined by the community," he said.

While Laplante did not specifically mention the addiction care facility Fort William has purchased, he said "ISC is aware of the challenges that Fort William First Nation is experiencing as they see a rise in addictions in the region.

"Meetings have been held with the community and the province of Ontario to discuss long-term supports and address critical needs in response to their state of emergency," Laplante said.

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, he said. Furthermore, ISC's Non-Insured Health Benefits program covers travel costs to the closest appropriate and available treatment centre.