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Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Pukatawagan evacuation ramps up: Larger aircraft arrive as airport reopens
The evacuation of a Manitoba First Nation forced out by wildfires is ramping up with larger aircraft helping out and the reopening of the community's only airport. However, concerns remain about the sheer number of residents still stranded days after they were ordered out. Thousands of people have been waiting to be flown out from Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, also known as Pukatawagan, since the mandatory evacuation order came on Wednesday. Smoke from out-of-control wildfires shut down the community's only airstrip on Thursday. With some aircraft limited to groups of between six and 13 people since then, officials in the community had said it would take days before the evacuation would be complete. The airport reopened on Saturday morning after the smoke cleared enough to allow aircraft to land, Chief Gordie Bear told CBC News. WATCH | Helicopters for Pukatawagan evacuees land in The Pas: "We won't leave you behind, but you gotta wait in line then so that we can come out without a stampede, without fighting at the gate to get out," he said. However, the runway in Pukatawagan can only accommodate helicopters and light planes, excluding other military aircraft such as the Hercules that can handle a greater number of people, Bear said. "You can only do so much," he said. The out-control wildfire, first reported Tuesday, was 9,785 hectares in size and about a kilometre away from the community as of Thursday, according to the province's wildfire map. Double-rotor Chinook helicopters from the Canadian Forces were flying evacuees from Pukatawagan roughly 210 kilometres south to The Pas on Saturday. Bear said about 500 residents were expected to be evacuated during the 10-hour window limiting flight crews are timed out for the day and operations resume on Sunday morning. "It's very hard to speak for everybody in general, but nobody wants to leave," Bear said. "This is not a vacation, they are going into a different environment." The evacuation is also bringing the trauma some residential school survivors endured after being forcefully removed from their community as he was, Bear said. However, the threat of the wildfire, combined with the smoke-filled air and a power outage means everyone must leave, Bear said. Opaskwayak Cree Nation set up a centre for evacuees to help them transition into more permanent shelters in southern Manitoba, including Winnipeg and Brandon, said Diane Pelly, executive director for government services in the community. "There's nowhere here in the north … to accommodate them," she said. "Everybody's really being tested with the supports that are required, and unfortunately, it is relocating to the south." Hundreds of evacuees came from Flin Flon on Wednesday. The next day the centre started welcoming people from Pukatwagan who have been arriving in helicopters at the Clearwater Lake Airport in The Pas. Some evacuees were expected to travel in an emergency VIA Rail train to southern Manitoba on Friday, Pelly said. She was also aware there are also plans to temporarily relocate others to Ontario. But in the process, she said, some families are losing track of relatives, spurring worry during an already stressful situation. "We're doing our very best to move them as quickly as possible," Pelly said. "There's still a large number of individuals that need to be transferred out." Are you an evacuee who needs assistance? Contact Manitoba 211 by calling 211 from anywhere in Manitoba or email 211mb@
CBC
21-02-2025
- Health
- CBC
Doctor to open clinic in western Manitoba First Nation, finish his training via provincial program
A southwestern Manitoba First Nation is welcoming a foreign-trained doctor to its new clinic, who brings with him much-needed health-care access to the community of 89 people, the chief says. Gambler First Nation chief David LeDoux says they've been on the hunt for a doctor for about six years. The First Nation tapped into surrounding communities and the province to help find a physician for the community located about 340 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg. They've signed a five year contract with Igor Schinakarew, who will complete his physician training on-reserve. He's opening a new clinic on Gambler in about two weeks, and will spend the first year as a clinical assistant as he finalizes the last steps of becoming a practicing physician in Canada. LeDoux says members have always had to travel to other communities to get health care. Having Schinakarew work in Gambler will give residents easier access to health care because they'll have a family physician they can feel comfortable with and easily visit. It's already hard getting a family physician near Gambler, LeDoux said. That's why they needed to set up a clinic on-reserve to ensure people have proper access to health care. 'I'll be there' Schinakarew says he's excited to bring his skill to the rural community. "Some of the Gambler [members] can't really drive. They can't commute to a clinic on a daily basis," Schinakarew said. "I'll be available for them. I'll be there. That's the main thing." Schinakarew says one of his biggest concerns is tackling diabetes. He's already planning strategies to help people, but he wants to be on the ground talking to Gambler First Nation members to hear their stories. "I'll try to keep an open mind and listen. ... what health habits they have," Schinakarew said. "I'll try to make little changes step by step." Councillor Kellie LeDoux says partnerships between neighbouring municipalities, provincial and federal government and Indigenous Services Canada helped Gambler establish a clinic in the community. Kellie, who has Type 1 diabetes, says she's excited to finally have a family doctor. "Diabetes is running, running rampant through the First Nations," she said. "Not being able to have access to a doctor, my own family doctor … is really, I guess worrisome," she said. Kellie says knowing a physician will be in the community gives her peace of mind knowing she'll get the heath care she needs close to home. Rural life Schinakarew was born and studied to become a doctor in Brazil. He spent about seven years practicing as a family and emergency room doctor in rural areas of his country. He says the experience is similar to working in rural Manitoba— there's just a bigger flow of patients. Schinakarew and his wife Morgana Maioch first moved to Roblin in 2019. His wife grew up in a small town and wanted to find a similar environment in Canada. When they moved she began working at a cattle farm in Inglis, while he studied to become a licensed doctor in Canada. Schinakarew finished his last exams in 2023 and has been waiting for a placement in rural Western Manitoba, while he finalized his proper accreditation and licensing requirements. He says he was waiting for the right rural fit for his family because he wanted to stay in a small town. He eventually met with the West Central Manitoba Immigration Initiative — a three-year pilot that includes Gambler and seven other rural municipalities to address labour market needs. The initiative was created in November 2024 and serves as a support program for people applying for permanent residence through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program to help meet labour demands in Western Manitoba. The initiative helped him become a permanent Canadian resident and connected him with Gambler First Nation about a year ago. When the clinic opens in March, for the first year Schinakarew will be working with a fully licensed doctor in Russell for around two hours a week. When Schinakarew is working in Gambler, he'll check in with his supervisor over the phone or email. After the first year, he'll have to do a year of residency and enter the International Medical Graduate Program through the Health Sciences Centre. After that, he'll be practicing as a fully licensed doctor. A new modular building will soon become the clinic with private exam rooms and offices. It will be staffed by a nurse, Schinakarew and health staff. Right now, the clinic will only be for Gambler residents, Kellie says, but there is potential it will open up to surrounding communities based on how busy Schinakarew is. "We would like to establish him in our First Nation.… We'll just keep moving forward that way and if we can help with that resource we will," Kellie said.
