Premier Kathleen Wynne urged to visit Darlene Necan

A group of people in Torontois asking Premier Kathleen Wynne to turn her attention to the case of a homeless woman facing fines for building her own home on land where she grew up in Northern Ontario.

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Steve Watson is one of 49 people who signed a letter urging the premier to do something about Darlene Necan's predicament.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestrychargedthe 55-year-old Anishinaabe woman with breaches of the Public Lands Act that carry fines of up to $10,000, and up to an additional $1,000 fineeach time she is caught continuing to build her own home.

Necan is unable to secure housing on her own reserve, theOjibwaysofSaugeenFirst Nation, 400 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay. Last year shebegan building a cabin, with donated materials, on land where her family home once stoodin the nearby unorganized township of Savant Lake, Ont.

Housing crisis

Watson said Necan's situation could have been handled differently by the ministry, especially in light of the housing crisis among First Nations.

"The minister could say, 'Okay, we're not going to fine Indigenous people for building homes on what we call crown land, if they are homeless, and until such time as we find a resolve to this housing crisis that is affecting Indigenous people," Watsonsaid.

The letter sent to the premier didn't prescribe any particular action, Watson said, only that she consider the situation. Ideally, he'dlike to see Wynne visit Savant Lake to talk to Necan, and others there.

Watson said Necan's story was particularly compelling to him after he learned she had put the needs of others ahead of her ownby first building a cabin for an elder from her community who was living in a chicken coop.

"The first action she took wasn't for herself, it was for somebody else," he said. "Now imagine a homeless person being the best ally for another homeless person. That resonates with me."

A spokesperson for the premier said the provincial government "will continue to monitor the situation and actively look to find a solution.

"The ministry is currently reaching out to Ms. Necan, through her representatives as we want to ensure that she has full access to our social services and social housing options," the emailed statement continued.