First Nations leaders hold emergency meeting in Ottawa on mental-health crisis

OTTAWA — First Nations leaders are holding an emergency meeting in Ottawa today to discuss a mental-health crisis they warn could get even worse without government help.

Nishnawbe Aski (nish-NAH’-bay ASK’-ee) Nation says there has been an alarming spate of suicides and suicide attempts in the northern Ontario First Nations it represents. 

That includes the suicides of a 12-year-old from Sachigo (SAH-chi’-go) Lake First Nation and a 20-year-old in Deer Lake First Nation earlier this month. 

The group is also raising concerns about recent unexplained deaths of Indigenous youth and how they are being investigated.