Fire renders Eabametoong First Nation’s only school inoperable, four youths charged
Tim Brody - Editor
Eabametoong First Nation is “devasted” at the loss of the community’s only school, the John C. Yesno Education Centre (JCY), which was engulfed in fire on the morning of Jan. 25.
Nishnawbe Aski Police Service (NAPS) shared in a Jan. 25 media release that, “Members of the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service received a call for service about a structural fire in the community just after 7:10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 25.
“When police arrived on scene they found the school to be engulfed in flames. Community
Firefighters continued efforts to extinguish the fire.”
NAPS informed that as a result of continued investigation, “police have determined the fire is consistent with arson.”
NAPS shared in a Jan. 29 media release that police have arrested and charged four youths in connection with the fire.
A 13-year-old female, 13-year-old male, 14-year-old male, and a 17-year-old male are all charged with:
- Arson – Disregard for Human Life
- Arson – Damage to Property
- Mischief Over $5,000
- Possession of Incendiary Material
Police say the 17-year-old accused is also charged with Possession of Break In Instruments, and Assault Peace Officer.
The youths have been remanded into custody with future court appearances scheduled for
Tuesday, Jan. 30. The identifies of all accused are being withheld in accordance with the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Eabametoong First Nation Chief Solomon Atlookan and Council shared in a Jan. 25 media release that, “No individuals were reported hurt.”
Chief Solomon and his Council provided the following statement:
“Along with our children, students, school staff and community members—we are extremely devastated by the fire that took place this morning in our community as a result of arson. This will result in a major disruption to our school year as the fire rendered the school inoperable for the remaining 5 months. This will deprive approximately 299 students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 9 of an education.
“We will be working hard with our partners in a Task Force including: the Ontario government, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), Eabametoong Education Authority, Matawa Education Authority and Technical Services, and others, to address immediate, short-term and long-term needs, including plans for continuing education in the interim. We will do our best to ensure that students’ studies are not impacted to any large extent including setting up a virtual education system in the interim with the help of the Matawa Education Authority.
“Moving forward, will be continuing with our plans (on a more urgent basis) for a new school that we have had in the ISC capital project process over the past number of years already to replace JCY. To our community, we say—justice will prevail and together we will overcome.”
The community also shared that, “On October 24, 2023, Matawa First Nations Management announced that it received Indigenous Services Canada support to secure two wildfire rapid attack trucks. Unfortunately, due to the winter road not being completed as of today’s date, EFN’s truck has not been delivered and the community had no alternative but to try to fight the fire with the few fire suppression resources available.”
On Jan. 25, Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa, Deputy Leader of the Ontario NDP, issued the following statement on the loss of Eabametoong First Nation’s only school in a devastating fire: “Today a fire took place at the John C. Yesno Education Centre in Eabametoong First Nation that resulted in the total loss of the community’s only school. We are grateful that no individuals were hurt.
“Eabametoong students, staff, and the entire community will be severely impacted by this loss of their school. This loss of a critical piece of community infrastructure will affect 300 learners from JK to Grade 9.
“The federal and provincial government must work with Eabametoong to ensure that their immediate, short-term and long-term needs are met, including plans for continuing education for the learners. As MPP, I am providing all the support I can.
“Eabametoong received federal support to secure new firefighting vehicles in October 2023 but due to the winter road not being accessible, the trucks could not be delivered. As a result, the community had very limited capacity for fire suppression available. Meegwetch to the community firefighters for their efforts to extinguish the fire.”
Eabametoong First Nation shared that the Achieving the Dream Through Education charity has set up a donation page here to assist the community: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/98564.
