State of Emergency in Fort Hope First Nation

The remote Northern community of Fort Hope First Nation has declared a state of emergency.
A surge in violent crimes on the fly-in community has caused residents to fear for their personal safety.
In a Press Release, officials say since the start of the year, the First Nation has suffered 3-homicides, the mutilation of animals and 47-arson’s.
Chief Lewis Nate says the situation is out of control and many people are now sleeping in fear and with a fire extinguisher beside them.
Nate says a majority of the perpetrators are children.
Someone tried to burn the community school down and the water treatment plant had to be shut down for 5-days over fears of contamination following a break and enter.