Latest news with #GarrisonSettee
CTV News
8 hours ago
- Health
- CTV News
‘Utmost concern': First Nations leaders fear evacuees at risk of exploitation
Evacuees arrive at Billy Mosienko Arena on May 29, 2025. (Alex Karpa/CTV News) First Nations leaders fear a supposed safe haven from the wildfires could bring a whole new set of danger for the 18,000 evacuees forced to leave their communities. Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) Grand Chief Garrison Settee said Tuesday past evacuees staying in Winnipeg have been targeted and victimized. He worries Manitobans forced to flee their wildfire-threatened communities could face similar exploitation. 'Drug trafficking, human trafficking and sexual violence on our women - these are our utmost concern,' he said at a news conference Thursday. Garrison Settee Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief Garrison Settee speaks at a June 5, 2025 news conference at the Winnipeg police headquarters. (Glenn Pismenny/CTV News Winnipeg) To stop that from happening again, the Winnipeg Police Service and RCMP are working together to boost patrol in and around evacuation centres. They also plan to have liaisons meet daily with evacuees. 'It's important for all evacuees to know that help is available. Don't be afraid to speak up if you feel unsafe, unsure or overwhelmed. We are here to help,' said RCMP Insp. Catherine Light. The boosted enforcement is meant to serve as a proactive measure, as well as a deterrent for those who look to prey upon vulnerable people, RCMP said. Meanwhile, Winnipeggers have called on police to do their part, as well. 'My message for Winnipeg residents is - have compassion,' Supt. Bonnie Emerson said. Winnipeg evacuation centre Manitobans arrive at Billy Mosienko Arena on May 31, 2025 where a temporary evacuation centre has been set up. (Alex Karpa/CTV News) 'This is how we give back' Sinclair Park Community Centre president Tracy Ball has taken Emerson's message to heart. She has opened the centre's doors to provide programming for about 300 youth from Cross Lake, giving them a safe place to run around and just be kids. 'Their children don't have their toys. They don't have all of the normal things around them, so we're going to try to give them as much as we can - a normal summer, as much as we can,' Ball said. She hopes others will follow suit and make evacuees feel safe and welcome. It's tantamount to building relationships, Ball said. 'This is part of our truth and reconciliation, so this is how we give back.'
CBC
2 days ago
- General
- CBC
MKO grand chief says First Nations don't have proper equipment to fight wildfires
Garrison Settee, grand chief of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, which represents First Nations in northern Manitoba, says governments need to do more to ensure communities have enough resources to fight the fires ravaging the province.
CBC
3 days ago
- General
- CBC
Manitoba First Nations evacuees find refuge in Niagara Falls, but new challenges await
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.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Thousands evacuated as wildfires burn in northern Manitoba
May 29 (UPI) -- Thousands of First Nations people in northern Manitoba are being evacuated as the central Canadian province issued a state of emergency to battle fast-moving wildfires, officials said. There are a number of wildfires burning across thousands of acres in northern Manitoba, mostly near the border with Saskatchewan. Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, which represents 26 First Nations communities in the province, said in a statement that evacuation orders have been issued for nearly 17,500 people in four First Nations communities with two more communities on evacuation notice. "A lot of our First Nations are under threat because of the fires that have consumed a lot of territory in our area, and I'm just asking all of you, my relatives, to be strong and to be brave and to be courageous during this very difficult time," MKO Grand Chief Garrison Settee said in a recorded statement published to Facebook. "This is a very, very critical time in our First Nations." Premier Wab Kinew of Manitoba on Wednesday declared a provincewide state of emergency, which will be in effect for 30 days to ensure federal, provincial and local resources can be deployed in a coordinated response. A statement from the provincial government states that evacuation orders have beeb issued for the city of Flin Flon and the First Nations of Pimicikamak and Mathias Colomb. "This is the largest evacuation in many Manitobans' living memory," Kinew said during a press conference. "This is a moment of fear and uncertainty. This is a moment of concern. But I want to tell you that your fellow Manitobans will welcome you. We will get through this difficult period, and we will get through this trying period the way we always do -- by working together. " He said he has spoken with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who agreed to his request for assistance from the Canadian Armed Forces. The military, he said, will be aiding with evacuation flights to the province' capital of Winnipeg.
UPI
29-05-2025
- Politics
- UPI
Thousands evacuated as wildfires burn in northern Manitoba
May 29 (UPI) -- Thousands of First Nations people in northern Manitoba are being evacuated as the central Canadian province issued a state of emergency to battle fast-moving wildfires, officials said. There are a number of wildfires burning across thousands of acres in northern Manitoba, mostly near the border with Saskatchewan. Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, which represents 26 First Nations communities in the province, said in a statement that evacuation orders have been issued for nearly 17,500 people in four First Nations communities with two more communities on evacuation notice. "A lot of our First Nations are under threat because of the fires that have consumed a lot of territory in our area, and I'm just asking all of you, my relatives, to be strong and to be brave and to be courageous during this very difficult time," MKO Grand Chief Garrison Settee said in a recorded statement published to Facebook. "This is a very, very critical time in our First Nations." Premier Wab Kinew of Manitoba on Wednesday declared a provincewide state of emergency, which will be in effect for 30 days to ensure federal, provincial and local resources can be deployed in a coordinated response. Manitoba has declared a province-wide state of emergency to safely evacuate and shelter 17,000 people - the largest wildfire evacuation in recent memory. To those leaving home: you're not alone. These measures protect you. We'll get through this - together. Wab Kinew (@WabKinew) May 29, 2025 A statement from the provincial government states that evacuation orders have beeb issued for the city of Flin Flon and the First Nations of Pimicikamak and Mathias Colomb. "This is the largest evacuation in many Manitobans' living memory," Kinew said during a press conference. "This is a moment of fear and uncertainty. This is a moment of concern. But I want to tell you that your fellow Manitobans will welcome you. We will get through this difficult period, and we will get through this trying period the way we always do -- by working together. " He said he has spoken with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who agreed to his request for assistance from the Canadian Armed Forces. The military, he said, will be aiding with evacuation flights to the province' capital of Winnipeg.
