When Chief Gary Quisess noticed shelves in the grocery store starting to empty — with baby formula, food, fuel and water all running low — he decided Neskantaga First Nation needed to evacuate.

“We are not threatened by fire. We are threatened by the supply chain,” he said in a statement released after their evacuation on Saturday. 

The shortages were caused by wildfire, but not by flames imminently threatening the community, which is about 430 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay. Rather, the fires disrupted planes’ ability to fly in and out of the First Nation and shut down the highway to Pickle Lake, a vital link in the local supply chain. From there, smaller planes deliver goods to Neskantaga and outside of the temporary winter road season, it’s the only way in or out. 

Though the highway in Pickle Lake reopened and the food shipment eventually made its way in, some of it arrived spoiled and inedible, explained Quisess. Other community members were left needing medical care — one person waited days to get treatment for a broken arm, while others suffered from wildfire smoke inhalation.

The community has been under a boil water advisory for more than three decades and relies on bottled water delivery. With the supply chain being severely compromised by highway and airport shutdowns due to fire and smoke, evacuation became the only choice, said Quisess. But, he said, it shouldn’t have to be that way — and though this year is shaping up to be Ontario’s worst wildfire season on record, Quisess said fire comes each year, so the Ontario and federal governments should be able to anticipate the supply chain disruptions that come with it.

Now, about 130 members of Neskantaga First Nation are in a Toronto hotel, waiting to know  when they’ll be able to return home, while hundreds of people still in the community await updated information. Quisess is balancing the needs of both groups and says the provincial and federal governments are failing to properly communicate essential information about the wildfires, leaving him unable to update anxious community members. 

He joins other First Nation chiefs from northwestern Ontario who, on Monday, called for an inquiry into Ontario’s wildfire response. At least 12 First Nations have evacuated, some without any government support. 

Gull Bay First Nation Chief Wilfred King said what First Nations are seeing on the ground — from poor communication to a lack of support for evacuations — should "horrify all Canadians." 

Quisess agrees. Sitting in the dining area of the hotel where, a couple of hours later, families will flood in to eat dinner, he says his most recent communication with the government left him “very disappointed.” On Thursday afternoon, he had a call with Ontario’s Provincial Emergency Operations Centre, which responds to provincial emergencies like wildfires and floods. At the end of the call, during which he says officials offered vague answers and a lack of understanding about what his community is going through, they said another formal call would be scheduled next Thursday.

During the meeting, there was also confusion about deliveries to Neskantaga First Nation, specifically of dog food. Despite repeated requests for dog food to be delivered, Quisess said it hadn’t been and pets are going hungry.

On Friday, he sent a letter outlining his concerns to Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response Jill Dunlop. Canada’s National Observer sent multiple emails detailing Quisess’ concerns and asking for a response to Dunlop’s office, as well as Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Indigenous Services Canada, but did not receive a reply by the time of publication on Friday.

July 24 2026 - Letter From Neskantaga FN to Ontario Minister Dunlop MEPR by Jimmy Thomson

Joey Morningstar, who is a manager with ISN Maskwa, which is an Indigenous-led emergency management company, also expressed concern about a week-long wait for an update call and said it’s more typical for calls to be daily. On the call, the province told Quisess that he can decide when it’s time to start bringing community members back to Neskantaga. Morningstar says that's an impossible choice to make with the information they were provided.

“The premier of the province asks the communities not to return until it's safe to return because it could get in the way of fire suppression, but again, the province is telling the chief it's up to him to make those calls, and without proper information,” said Morningstar.

“So, how are we to make sound, informative decisions on the safety of the community when we're not being informed by the powers that be?”

Ontario Premier Doug Ford was questioned about his government’s lack of support for First Nations dealing with wildfires. He said he disagreed with claims the province’s support had been inadequate, adding it has been consistently communicating with affected communities. But Ford’s government has consistently underbudgeted its emergency wildfire response. This year, it budgeted $150 million after spending nearly double that in 2025. 

As climate change continues to create hot, dry conditions that make wildfires more intense and frequent, Quisess said it’s becoming even more necessary for the province to prepare for wildfire season in remote First Nations. 

“We wouldn't be here if I had this kind of resources like in the city — if I had 911. I don't know what I'm going to do if there's a fire in my community,” he said.

“I don't have that luxury. I absolutely don't have equipment in my community to protect from wildfire, or even a house fire.”