Shamattawa Chief Jeff Napoakesik has invited Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to the community to see the issues in the community.

Representatives held a press conference to update the circumstances of the reserve that experienced a fire in the summer that destroyed the community's only grocery store and band office.

Construction of a permanent building for the store and band office can only begin after the ice road is open so materials can be shipped to the isolated community, which can only be reached by air outside of winter.

In recent weeks, MKO Grand Chief Sheila North Wilson said a second fire was set to the temporary band office.

Also during the press conference, Shamattawa band councillor Liberty Redhead said there have been 92 suicide attempts this year, a statistic he calls "way too alarming to comprehend."