NAN Appeals for Compassion as Kashechewan Evacuees Disparaged While Housed in Niagara Falls

Press Release

June 29, 2026

THUNDER BAY, ON: Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler is appealing for compassion for evacuees from Kashechewan First Nation who may no longer feel welcome in Niagara Falls after disparaging comments were made during the delivery of a municipal unhoused action plan to city council last week:

“I share the concerns with the callous comments made by Mayor Jim Diodati and a former municipal official who have essentially said that Niagara Falls can’t be the ‘jewel of tourism’ if too many displaced Indigenous people are seen in public. We didn’t hear these concerns as our members were filling up vacant hotel rooms when Kashechewan was evacuated in January, but it appears to be a different story now that tourist season is here.

I remind Mayor Diodati that many evacuees have not seen their homes for six months. It is repugnant that the city’s main concern is public image, not the care and welling of these displaced people who have been forced to seek refuge far from home. Many gatherings and other events are held here every year by First Nations organizations, contributing millions to the local economy. The thunder of waters and the robust hospitality industry made us feel welcome. It is sad to think that we are merely tolerated while we are spending money.

The remoteness of our communities combined with years of neglect by our federal and provincial partners has left our citizens among the most vulnerable members of society. Our communities are routinely forced to evacuate for seasonal flooding, wildfires, and other social emergencies related to health care and critical infrastructure failures. They don’t mean to be a burden, and we are grateful for the assistance provided by host communities.

We agree that more needs to be done by the provincial and federal governments to support evacuees, but I urge Niagara Falls officials to reflect on these comments and stop seeing our members as a blight on the community and a drain on municipal resources. Please see them for who they really are – vulnerable people trying to cope with a difficult situation.”

Chief Hosea Wesley and Council were forced to declare a State of Emergency on January 4, 2026, after a major failure of Kashechewan’s aging water infrastructure and the flooding of the Nursing Station with raw sewage. A full-scale evacuation was organized two days later. The failure of the water system has flooded the community’s only healthcare facility with raw sewage and crippled vital infrastructure, posing an immediate and serious risk to public health and safety.

Statement from Kashechewan First Nation: https://www.nan.ca/news/statement-from-kashechewan-first-nation-our-members-are-displaced/

For more information please contact:
Michael Heintzman,
Director of Communications
Cell: (807) 621-2790
mheintzman@nan.ca

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