Another Child Lost in House Fire as Human Rights Commission Fails to Act on Fire Safety Complaint

THUNDER BAY, ON: Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler is echoing the call of the Independent First Nations Alliance (IFNA) for an Auditor General investigation into failures of the Canadian Human Rights Commission. IFNA and member First Nation Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug launched a complaint regarding inadequate on-reserve fire services, which has sat for seven months with no movement. This call for investigation comes following the tragic death of the grandson of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug Chief Donny Morris in a house fire this week:

“We were saddened to learn that Chief and Council have confirmed that a three-year-old has tragically passed away in a house fire on Monday. Our prayers are with Chief Donny Morris, his family, and the people of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug. May the Creator give them strength as they grieve this heartbreaking loss.

We support the efforts of the Independent First Nations Alliance in bringing this complaint to the Canadian Human Rights Commission, and we are deeply concerned with the Commission’s failure to act. Despite being warned that lives would be lost if there was no action, there remains no progress on the complaint. The Canadian Human Rights Commission is mandated to advocate for human rights. It is clear that they have failed to do so in this case, and that failure must be investigated.

For years we have raised the alarm regarding inadequate fire services on reserve as lives are lost to fires that could have been prevented. Our leaders have called for action every time a child is lost, and a family is torn apart, but nothing changes. Everyone in Canada expects their children to be safe throughout the night after being tucked into bed. This government must take responsibility for ensuring equitable, sustainable, and properly funded fire safety services in First Nations communities.”

On August 29, 2025, IFNA and member First Nation Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug jointly filed a human rights complaint under the Canadian Human Rights Act alleging systemic discrimination by Indigenous Services Canada due to chronic underfunding of on-reserve fire services. On October 29, 2025 IFNA and KI contacted the Commission, stating that they needed to expedite this complaint or more lives would be lost.

On October 31, 2025, the Commission advised that the complaint had not yet been assigned to an Intake Analyst and that timelines could not be guaranteed. The Commission told IFNA to refrain from any follow-up requests for updates, as further requests risked “delaying” the complaint.

More information is available from IFNA

For more information please contact:
Michael Heintzman,
Director of Communications
Cell: (807) 621-2790
mheintzman@nan.ca