Grassy Narrows First Nation Establishes Community Checkpoint to Address Human Trafficking Concerns

Grassy Narrows First Nation Establishes Community Checkpoint Amid Rising Human Trafficking Concerns

Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, widely known as Grassy Narrows First Nation, has implemented a community checkpoint in response to growing concerns about human trafficking.

A notice issued on January 1 by the First Nation’s emergency response coordinator cited “recent incidents involving attempted abductions of our band members.”

“Human trafficking is vile and evil, and it has come to put our people at risk,” stated Terry Fobister in the announcement. “We will do what is necessary to ensure the protection and safety of our people.”

The northwestern Ontario community, located about 150 kilometers from Dryden near the Ontario-Manitoba border, receives policing support from the Treaty Three Police Service (T3PS). On January 2, T3PS expressed its support for the initiative taken by Grassy Narrows.

“We fully support the proactive measures taken by the chief and council to ensure the safety of their members,” the T3PS statement read. “T3PS is dedicated to addressing human trafficking, drug trafficking, and organized crime in our communities. Our Community Street Crime Unit is tasked specifically with investigating and responding to these critical issues.”

Human Trafficking and Indigenous Women

In 2023, police across Canada reported 570 incidents of human trafficking, according to Statistics Canada. Indigenous women, who face a disproportionate risk, make up nearly half of the human trafficking victims in Canada, estimates the Native Women’s Association of Canada.

“Human trafficking disproportionately impacts Indigenous women and girls, but the exact numbers remain unknown because it often goes unreported,” said Tina Bobinski, senior director of community development at the Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) and a member of Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation.

Barriers such as mistrust of law enforcement and systemic challenges contribute to underreporting, Bobinski explained.

Community-Driven Solutions

The T3PS, which serves around 20,000 residents across 23 First Nations, has worked closely with Grassy Narrows to implement safety measures. These include the Maanaji’iwin Project, aimed at preventing human trafficking and providing support to victims.

Collaborations like this highlight the importance of community-led solutions, Bobinski noted.

“What we’re seeing with the partnership between Grassy Narrows and Treaty Three Police is a strong example of how communities and stakeholders can address human trafficking together,” she said.

Survivor-Informed Programs

ONWA’s Indigenous Anti-Human Trafficking Liaison Program is the largest Indigenous-led initiative of its kind in Ontario. It equips communities with tools, education, and resources to mitigate safety risks.

Bobinski emphasized the importance of survivor input in creating effective strategies. “By valuing the expertise of survivors, we can develop programs that genuinely support victims and influence anti-human trafficking strategies at federal and provincial levels,” she said.

For more information on anti-human trafficking services across Ontario, resources are available here.