Residents of Wiikwemkoong face conditional trespass order for 2 years if involved in crimes

Wiikwemkoong enacts conditional trespass orders removing members involved in drug & weapon-related crimes for up to 2 years, with treatment required for return.

Wiikwemkoong Ogimaa Tim Ominika says council has heard loud and clear from members of the community that they want to see criminals banned from the community.

But Ominika said it’s important to remember you can’t remove residents without a plan on how to welcome them back.

“I want to make that clear -- it is not a banishment for our band members,” he said.

“It is a conditional trespass order … meaning individuals who are involved with the illicit drug trade or charged for trafficking large quantities of drugs or firearms will be ... removed for up to two years under that conditional trespass order.”

Working with administration, Ominika said those who face the order will be able to get support outside of the community. Offenders who commit to long-term treatment or rehabilitation could be allowed to return.

“We would look at how they would (be) allowed to come back to the community,” he said.

In response to a resolution passed by the band council, the Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service will begin releasing the names of adults charged with serious drug trafficking and firearms-related offences.

Police chief Ron Gignac said the goal is to get more information from the community through online reporting or anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

“There are more eyes that are watching out for that specific individual, because generally the trend is that they’re going to drug traffic again, even after a judicial release,” Gignac said.

In its annual report, the police said it responded to 6,688 incidents in 2025 -- in a community of about 4,500 people. More than 1,000 of those investigations involved repeat offenders.

“When is enough, enough?” Gignac said.

“It seems to have become normalized, across society, that all these things happen. Well, these things happen at a cost. There are victims in each instance.”

While community members will face a conditional trespass order, Ominika said those who aren’t from Wikwemikong will face a lifetime ban.