By Jacqueline St.Pierre, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Manitoulin Expositor MANITOULIN\u2014As First Nations across Northwestern Ontario continue to grapple with the aftermath of one of the province\u2019s most devastating wildfire seasons on record, calls for a public inquiry are growing louder. But for Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige, the crisis did not begin when communities were forced to flee. It began long before the first evacuation order was issued. \u201cThis community has been failed in epic proportions by both Canada and Ontario,\u201d Grand Council Chief Debassige told The Expositor, referring to Namaygoosisagagun (Collins) First Nation, where wildfire destroyed homes and forced residents to flee with little warning. \u201cThis was the full responsibility of the province to monitor what was happening on the ground, as delegated by Canada, and… <\/p>\n
By Jacqueline St.Pierre, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Manitoulin Expositor MANITOULIN\u2014As First Nations across Northwestern Ontario continue to grapple with the aftermath of one of the province\u2019s most devastating wildfire seasons on record, calls for a public inquiry are growing louder. But for Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige, the crisis did not begin when communities were forced to flee. It began long before the first evacuation order was issued. \u201cThis community has been failed in epic proportions by both Canada and Ontario,\u201d Grand Council Chief Debassige told The Expositor, referring to Namaygoosisagagun (Collins) First Nation, where wildfire destroyed homes and forced residents to flee with little warning. \u201cThis was the full responsibility of the province to monitor what was happening on the ground, as delegated by Canada, and... <\/p>\n