TORONTO —The Ontario government is working with Eabametoong First Nation to provide vital support, including up to $540,000 total one-time funding, after a fire devastated the John C. Yesno Education Centre, leaving the remote fly-in community without a school and community hub.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs is providing $250,000 for Eabametoong First Nation to respond to community needs and support students, including transition supports for Grade 9 students, emergency supplies, food, and mental health and well-being.

“Ensuring the safety and well-being of Indigenous communities, particularly during times of crisis, is a top priority for our government,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs. "Our team mobilized quickly and continues to work closely with Eabametoong First Nation to identify the community’s needs and help rebuild crucial infrastructure to sustain the community's strength and vitality."

The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services is providing $120,000 through the Indigenous Healing and Wellness Strategy to support the community’s pressing needs related to mental health, land-based programming, and health and safety, and up to $20,000 to Eabametoong First Nation to address emergency food security needs exacerbated by the fire.

In addition, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport is providing $150,000 in one-time funding to support children and youth in the community who have been affected by the loss of their school. This support is in addition to $71,500 in annual funding for Eabametoong First Nation through Ontario’s After School Program, which provides safe and supervised sport and recreation activities for children and youth in more than 80 communities in Ontario, including 10 First Nations.

The Ministry of Education is also providing an additional $240,000 to further support the Keewatin Patricia District School Board’s Rapid Response Northern Schools Team. This team provides highly trained and experienced staff to mobilize and deploy in local First Nation communities in response to requests made by communities during times of crisis and urgent need. In addition, the ministry is providing curriculum resources to Matawa Education to help students from kindergarten to Grade 9 complete the school year.