First Nation chiefs call for Indigenous-led search unit for missing persons in northern Ontario

WARNING: This story contains references to missing and murdered Indigenous people. Resources can be found at the bottom of this story.

First Nation leaders across northern Ontario are calling for the launch of an Indigenous-led search-and-rescue pilot program after five missing people — three from Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) communities — were found dead in Thunder Bay this spring.

During their annual Keewaywin Conference on Thursday, chiefs with NAN, a political-territorial organization that represents 49 First Nations across Treaties 9 and 5, voted in favour of a NAN search-and-rescue pilot project. 

The program, which would be called NAN SAR, would provide search co-ordination, trained search personnel and volunteers, family support, crisis response and other assistance when NAN members are reported missing in the region.

NAN itself cannot operate such a program due to its mandate as a political-territorial organization; however, it has committed to support a designated operator to lead this work.

“We can no longer just 100 per cent rely on the Thunder Bay police or other bodies that are out there,” said NAN Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler ahead of Thursday’s vote. “We need to create our own body to do this work.

“The system as it currently exists, it is not respectful to the family, it’s not respectful to our communities, it is not respectful to the volunteers that come from our communities to assist in these search efforts.”

There is no estimated timeline for when NAN SAR could be up and running.

Disappearances, deaths in matter of weeks

NAN communities continue to mourn the deaths of Ashlynn Bottle, 23, Nodin Skunk, 25, and Kelsey Anderson, 36. 

The TBPS faced heavy backlash as a result of these cases, with First Nation searchers saying their input and traditional search practices weren’t taken seriously by the force.

Bottle and Skunk, members of Mishkeegogamang First Nation, were last seen together at the old Pool 8 grain elevator on the city’s south side on April 26. The Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) confirmed they were no longer considered missing on May 15.

First Nation leaders have told CBC News that searchers from Cat Lake First Nation found the two dead inside the grain elevator.

Kelsey Anderson, 36, was last seen on May 9 in the Thunder Centre shopping area. He grew up in Kasabonika Lake First Nation, was a member of Webequie First Nation and also had ties to Nibinamik First Nation. 

The TBPS announced on May 25 that Anderson was no longer considered missing and later confirmed a 33-year-old Thunder Bay man was charged with manslaughter in connection with his death.

During a community-led effort for Anderson, searchers found the remains of 42-year-old Thunder Bay resident Richard Graham, who was reported missing in summer 2024.

Chief Matthias Anderson of Kasabonika Lake First Nation shared his frustrations during Thursday’s Keewaywin Conference.

“There are so many players involved when it comes to finding a missing person and that there is a lot of miscommunication going around,” he said.

Police chief welcomes NAN SAR concept

Thunder Bay police Chief Darcy Fleury told CBC News on Friday that he’d welcome a NAN SAR pilot program in the city, and acknowledges the importance of Indigenous knowledge during searches for missing people.

“That’s great to have that as another resource for the community,” Fleury said. “The Thunder Bay Police Service is responsible for search and rescue in the city, so we welcome that approach that they’re taking to have trained volunteers to come in and give us a hand.”

Fleury said he spoke with NAN leaders this summer to discuss their concerns, adding it’s important for police and community search groups to be on the same page about expectations, roles and responsibilities, and what kind of information can be shared publicly during active investigations — especially criminal matters.

“They’ve identified it, we’ve identified it, that lack of communication.”

The Broken Trust Report released by Ontario’s Office of the Independent Police Review Director in 2018 found evidence of systemic racism within the force

Since then, the force has been working on strengthening relationships with Indigenous leaders and groups to rebuild trust, including incorporating input from Indigenous partners into its missing-persons procedures, Fleury said.

Provincial review of TBPS ongoing

It’s been almost two years since Ontario’s inspector general of policing, Ryan Teschner, announced he would evaluate how the TBPS conducts death and missing-person investigations, as well as its compliance with the province’s policing legislation.

The review was spurred by “several complaints” about the TBPS that were filed with the provincial Inspectorate of Policing, Teschner told CBC’s Up North.

CBC News has reached out to the Inspectorate of Policing for an update on the review and is awaiting a response.

In February, a spokesperson said the Findings Report was being developed and expected to be released in the coming months. Teschner will then determine whether there’s been any non-compliance with the Community Safety and Policing Act and direct the TBPS accordingly.

Support is available for anyone affected by the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous people. Immediate emotional assistance and crisis support is available 24/7 through a national hotline at 1-844-413-6649.