Limited space, slow intake raise challenges for some Nisichawayasihk evacuees at Winnipeg congregate shelter

Charter flights and buses loaded with hundreds of evacuees forced out by wildfires burning near Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation are expected to arrive in Winnipeg on Monday, but some are expressing concerns over the conditions at the congregate shelter most are heading to.

A mandatory evacuation order for residents at the Cree Nation, also known as Nelson House, came in during the weekend over poor air quality and fears wildfires would shut down the only access road to the community, located roughly 600 northwest of Winnipeg.

Just over 1,500 residents — including all priority evacuees, among them children, elders and people with underlying health conditions — had left the community by Sunday, Councillor Kim Linklater told CBC News. 

With little to no hotel rooms available in Winnipeg, Nisichawayasihk is expecting most of its evacuees to stay at Manitoba's congregate shelter in the RBC Convention Centre.

But some evacuees have reported long waits at the facility to register with the Red Cross, some contacting Linklater into the early hours of Monday morning, arguing they have not been able to secure a cot to sleep on. 

"They're getting very upset and they are tired," Linklater said.

"I understand there's a shortage everywhere, but when you're expecting a community, everything should be prepared already beforehand."

Lenora Spence and her 23-year-old son arrived at the convention centre in Winnipeg at around 12:40 a.m. on Monday after they were flown out from Nisichawayasihk with one suitcase.  

She said it took them hours to get a space at the congregate shelter and with hundreds of others crammed in the facility, it has been challenging to take care of her son with special medical needs. 

"I feel safe from the fire, but this ain't safe … for him," she said.

For Spence, it was a priority to get her son out of the northern community as soon as possible because he is epileptic and with the wildfire smoke, he has been experiencing more seizures than before.

But "it is very hard … [to] have a non-verbal child that's not able to be around a lot of people in the environment and sleep in a cot with no blanket."

Some of those concerns are also worrying Nichole Wood-Hart, an evacuee from Nisichawayasihk who has been staying at the congregate shelter with her five daughters and son.  

"It's not safe for them to be in this place," she said. "It's not safe for them to run around  … out here, even though they need fresh air." 

Space at the congregate shelter is limited, and the number of people staying inside rises day by day, Wood-Hart said.

Access to the washroom is limited due to overcrowding, and Wood-Hart's family has been limited to staying in a small space with people walking around at all times. 

"It's hard because I'm always worrying," she said. "I'm crazy about protecting my daughters because it's dangerous out here." 

While she has asked for help to get supplies like milk for her newborn child, she said the support is limited and comes only after insisting on volunteers. 

"I just wish that they could help us better. This is not a place to keep so many kids all together."

The Red Cross said in a statement that it's working with the province and Indigenous Services Canada to support evacuees. As of July 30, more than 28,000 people from over 11,000 households in Manitoba have registered with the organization.

2,000 still waiting to leave 

Nisichawayasihk Deputy Chief Marcel Moody said it is a "difficult time" for the community, they are trying to manage without enough hotel spaces to accommodate the residents who are already out, and the 2,000 in the waiting line to leave. 

"At the convention centre the building is cold, you don't have enough blankets, there's kids running around, crying and the intake process is slow," Moody said. 

But the Cree Nation is trying to address those issues in hopes of keeping the community together while it is evacuated. 

"There's some issues in Winnipeg with people going missing, drinking and potential sexual exploitation, we have to make sure our people are safe."

At least three wildfires are burning close near Nisichawayasihk, Moody said. The closest one is roughly 10 kilometres north of the community, while another blaze is growing about 20 kilometres west of the Cree Nation. 

The latest data from Manitoba's wildfire services map shows at least two wildfires burning north of  Nisichawayasihk,  including one that has grown to over 46,000 hectares by Saturday.

According to the province's latest fire bulletin, issued last week, the Manitoba Wildfire Service was responding to 127 active wildfires across the province, which has seen a total of 351 wildfires to date, well above the average for this time of year of 276.

"The winds have been favourable," Moody said. 

But extended precipitation is still needed to help wildfire services put out the flames. 

"[We] hope for the best, the summer is going to be over in four weeks, maybe the first fire won't be out until we have snow," Moody said. "It is crazy."

Find the latest wildfire information at these sources:

• Canadian wildfire map
• Province of Manitoba fire bulletins
• CBC's wildfire tracker
• Communities under evacuations in Manitoba

Are you an evacuee who needs assistance? Contact Manitoba 211 by calling 211 from anywhere in Manitoba or email 211mb@findhelp.ca.