Drugs, HIV, homelessness: 4 Manitoba First Nations declare public health emergency
A regional public health emergency has been declared in four northern Manitoba First Nations. It’s in response to the opioid, toxic drug supply, HIV, hepatitis C and homelessness crisis. The four Anisininew communities are Red Sucker Lake, Wasagamack, Garden Hill and St. Theresa Point. “We are not here to assign blame. We are here to […]
Posted July 9, 2026 1:20 pm. A regional public health emergency has been declared in four northern Manitoba First Nations. It’s in response to the opioid, toxic drug supply, HIV, hepatitis C and homelessness crisis. The four Anisininew communities are Red Sucker Lake, Wasagamack, Garden Hill and St. Theresa Point. “We are not here to assign blame. We are here to issue an invitation. The era of crisis response must end, and the era of prevention, partnership, and Anisininew-led care must begin,” said Grand Chief Alex McDougall of the Anisininew Okimawin Grand Council. “Four Nations, one language, one Treaty, one crisis, one shared path forward. We are asking Canada and Manitoba to walk it with us. ”The Anisininew Okimawin Grand Council is calling on Ottawa and the Manitoba government to recognize the regional public health emergency. It also wants multi-year funding for medicine, harm reduction and treatment across the four Nations; investment in prevention infrastructure such as a regional hospital; and funding for First Nations policing for community-led prevention, harm reduction, and anti-exploitation measures. In May, Manitoba declared a public health emergency over HIV rates higher than elsewhere in Canada. Rates are highest in the southwest and northern parts of the province, with Indigenous Peoples disproportionately affected by the virus. Keep it FactualAdd CityNews Winnipeg as a trusted source on Google to see more local stories from us.