LAKE SEUL FIRST NATION – Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler says that officials in Thunder Bay are still in a state of denial over the issues of Indigenous youth going missing in Thunder Bay.

The NAN Grand Chief was in Lac Seul First Nation for the Ontario Chiefs Meeting. During the course of the day on Wednesday, Chief Fiddler led an emotional session on youth suicide following the news of another death in one of the NAN communities.

The issue of Thunder Bay and the safety of Indigenous youth coming to the city for education has many parents and youth in the north feeling very concerned. There are in some northern communities moves afoot to stay away from the City of Thunder Bay. While this move is not one at present coming from any Indigenous organization, but rather coming from youth in the communities, it is an issue that is making some serious ground up on social media.

The economic ramifications of that kind of move could hit the city, and in the summer the Canadian Lakehead Exhibition very hard.

The NAN Grand Chief is looking to the City to step up, admit there is a problem and to start working together to solve those problems.