Brandon evacuees move to Sioux Valley owing to baseball tourney
Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Chief Vince Tacan said rooms at the hotels had been pre-booked by visitors attending the Wheat City Classic baseball tournament this weekend.
'We were at a CFS meeting when we were asked to help,' he said. 'We're expecting to take in between 60 and 100 people at Sioux Valley, since there's no room left in Brandon.'
The Canadian Red Cross said about 100 evacuees in Brandon had to be relocated on Friday.
'At times, due to circumstances beyond our control for room availability, people may need to transfer locations for temporary accommodations,' a Red Cross spokesperson told the Brandon Sun in an email.
'We recognize that emergency evacuations can be stressful, and our teams are doing their best to help people during this difficult time.'
Tacan said he expects evacuees will likely return to the hotels Monday after the tournament concludes.
Sioux Valley prepared to house individuals in community spaces such as the school, community hall and the Dakota Oyate Lodge, which may extend hours for meal services. The First Nation is co-ordinating 'security and volunteers' to support the temporary guests.
Tacan emphasized his community is committed to stepping up in a time of need.
'This is very last minute, but we're doing what we can,' he said. 'People need a safe place to go, even for just a few days.'
Alternative accommodations are being considered across Brandon and elsewhere in the province.
A community leader, who asked to remain anonymous, said dormitories at Brandon University have been discussed as an option.
Lois Ruston, president of YWCA Westman, confirmed that women's shelters in the province, including theirs, have been on standby to support the evacuees.
'We've been working collaboratively with shelters across Manitoba for the past week to accommodate people displaced by wildfires,' she said. 'Due to confidentiality, we can't disclose how many are with us or when they arrived.'
— Brandon Sun
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