Manitoba First Nations evacuees find refuge in Niagara Falls, but new challenges await
Many evacuees face 'culture shock' in large cities, says volunteer
Hundreds of First Nations wildfire evacuees have flown from Manitoba to Ontario this week as out-of-control wildfires rage and accommodations are spread thin at home, but a volunteer says many face new challenges as they navigate large cities for the first time.
More than 17,000 people are being or have been evacuated from northern, western and eastern regions of the province, including all 5,000 residents of Flin Flon. Emergency centres were set up as available hotel rooms in cities have been scarce.
Only a few dozen people, including firefighters and people caring for pets and maintaining security, remain in Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, also known as Pukatawagan, after the northern Manitoba community's last residents were evacuated, Coun. Kelly Linklater told CBC.
Some residents from Pukatawagan and Pimicikamak, east of Flin Flon, were taken to a hotel in Niagara Falls, Ont., on Sunday. About 600 more residents were expected to make their way there Monday, said Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief Garrison Settee.
"This has been a harrowing experience for many of our people," he told reporters at a Monday afternoon news conference. "But at the end of the day, it's all about saving lives."
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said on Monday that some 1,000 hotel rooms would be made available for evacuees.
Settee said the evacuees who have made it to Niagara Falls were welcomed with food, accommodations and even co-ordinated recreational activities, but he claimed that hasn't been the case back home.
"It's always been a situation where our people are left hanging outside buildings, and [without] enough personal hygiene products," Settee said.
Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati said the city welcomes millions of tourists each year, and can make room for wildfire evacuees.
"We do have a lot of hotel rooms. We do have a lot of capacity," he told CBC News.
Sagkeeng shelters more than 300 evacuees
Sheena Garrick, a wellness worker for Pimicikamak and a volunteer supporting evacuees, said a chaotic evacuation process and lack of space in Winnipeg left many skeptical about whether things in Niagara Falls would actually be any better.
"It was hard getting people out because they didn't want to leave — they thought they would come here and get the same treatment," she said.
"It's pretty sad. It's hard for a lot of people. A lot of them never left the reserve, so just going to Winnipeg was traumatizing to them."
Ashley Charlette, a wellness worker with Tataskweyak Cree Nation, also known as Split Lake, said her community is preparing to help evacuees in Niagara Falls navigate the city, and is working to establish health and safety protocols while residents are away.
"There's lots of culture shock going on now," she said.
On Sunday, more than 300 evacuees from Tataskweyak headed to Sagkeeng First Nation, about 100 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg.
Sagkeeng Chief E.J. Fontaine said 360 cots were set up in the local arena for displaced Tataskweyak residents, who range from infants to elders.
"They're happy to be able to get off the bus and be able to bunk down with their families," Fontaine said.
The community sent school buses to collect the evacuees in The Pas, said Fontaine. It set up a food and water station and air-conditioned treatment centre, and is providing evacuees with clothing donations, baby formula and diapers.
Sagkeeng has largely been covering the costs to bring Tataskweyak evacuees to safety, Fontaine said.
"The costs are going to be considered later, but that's not our first consideration," he said.
"I'm really proud of my community, my people."
With files from Rosanna Hempel