PIKANGIKUM FIRST NATION, Ont. — Overnight nursing services have resumed at Pikangikum First Nation, 230 kilometres north of Kenora.
Chief Dean Owen welcomed the return of the nurses on the weekend, saying residents consider them part of the community "and appreciate their role in keeping our members safe."
Indigenous Services Canada began flying the nursing staff out of the community each night because of safety concerns, after Pikangikum council ordered the OPP to leave the First Nation on March 19, citing allegations of misconduct.
Matthew Hoppe, the CEO of the Independent First Nation Alliance, said Monday that the community's leaders met with Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller and his staff on Saturday.
"Although the overall policing issue is still unanswered," Hoppe said, "the return of regular nursing service is much-appreciated news."
According to the IFNA, the alliance and Pikangikum had been filling the overnight nursing void with temporary nursing support.
Chief Owen said "extraordinary security measures" were provided by the community to alleviate anxiety and motivate the government to allow the nurses to resume around-the-clock service.
The policing issue, however, remains unresolved.
Owen said a number of ideas have been proposed, but nothing so far that is satisfactory to Pikangikum residents.
"We are a proud and strong First Nation. We need a resolution that matches our community's wishes."
He said the situation has shown that Pikangikum must have better control of policing as well as other government services in its own territory.
Talks with government officials continue.
On Friday, Kenora MP Eric Melillo called for the RCMP to be deployed temporarily to the community to allow full-time nursing to resume, until alternate policing arrangements can be made.
Melillo called the current situation unacceptable, saying the people of Pikangikum have a right to health care.
