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Collins says temporary closure of businesses on FWFN will be enforced by law

Fort William First Nation is ordering all businesses on the territory to close temporarily for two weeks starting this Friday

FORT WILLIAM FIRST NATION - In an effort to protect the people of Fort William First Nation, council has ordered all vendors in the territory to close for two weeks, and Chief Peter Collins said anyone violating that order will be dealt with accordingly.

“Council has put a bylaw in place that anyone trespassing on the lands of Fort William First Nation without the authority of Chief and council will be dealt with accordingly by law,” Collins said.

Council made the decision earlier this week and the closures will take effect on Friday at 6 p.m.

Security checkpoints will be put in place at Bannon’s Gas Bar on City Road and at the intersection of Mountain Road and Chippewa Road and be in place 24 hours a day.

Workers at other industries and essential services operating on Fort William First Nation, including Resolute Forest Products and the elevators, will still be permitted to attend work, but are required to go directly to the job site and not deviate.

All residents living in Fort William First Nation are also asked to remain home as much as possible and only leave the territory for urgent medical care or essential services such as groceries.

Collins said it was not an easy decision but council was acting in the best interests of the people of Fort William First Nation.

“We know it’s a trying time for our vendors, but it’s a trying time for our politicians right across the country trying to put adequate measures in place to make sure they protect their First Nations, their municipalities, we are all trying to do our best to make sure we get through this without a loss of life,” Collins said.

Roy Pelletier, co-owner of Pelletier’s Auto Body and First Class Gas, located just before Mountain Road and the security checkpoint, said he will remain open, though Collins said the business is located on Fort William First Nation territory and council will enforce the bylaw.

“I’m waiting to have a formal conversation with Peter,” Pelletier said. “I haven’t received any communication from council, I haven’t seen anything come out in the way of a document stating what they would like me to do, so at this point it is business as usual.”

Pelletier added that as an essential service they need to continue to operate and support the people of Ontario.

“That is our responsibly right now,” he said. “In my opinion we pose no risk to the community. We are outside the barricaded area. At this point, it is business as usual.”

Collins said council has been in communication with Anishinabek Police Service, the Ontario Provincial Police, and Thunder Bay Police and will enforce the bylaw.

“I want the public to know that the council will be enforcing the laws of the land and they will be dealt with accordingly by law,” he said. “I had to address the issue. If you don’t belong in Fort William, you will be dealt with accordingly.”

Walter Bannon, co-owner of Bannon’s Gas Bar, said he understands why council made the decision and that these are unprecedented times, but the next two weeks will be a challenge.

“As a business person, you never want that to happen,” he said. “Especially coming into April and May which is our busiest parts of the year as everybody is preparing for camp and fishing. It is what it is. We didn’t want it. But we will accept it. We are part of the community.”

Bannon added that they have seen a significant increase in business since the temporary closures were announced.

“As soon as they announced it, it has been crazy busy,” he said. “I guess people want to ensure they have enough gas for the two weeks and other convenience items.”

Collins said the number of people coming into the community is concerning, which is why these steps are being taken.

“If you look at the gas stations today and the smoke shops, that’s very scary and very scary for our community and scary for all of us,” he said. “Who the hell knows what they are carrying. So we are dealing with every issue and every situation as it comes along.”



Doug Diaczuk

About the Author: Doug Diaczuk

Doug Diaczuk is a reporter and award-winning author from Thunder Bay. He has a master’s degree in English from Lakehead University
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