Latest news with #Monias
Global News
4 days ago
- General
- Global News
‘It's very dangerous': Chief of Manitoba First Nation says some residents await evacuation
More than 700 people at a northern Manitoba First Nation were still waiting to be evacuated as of Thursday morning. Chief David Monias of Pimicikamak Cree Nation told Global Winnipeg many people have escaped the flames and are safe in Norway House. However, a number of others are still waiting to flee a nearby wildfire. Many of those who have fled Pimicikamak, Monias said, arrived at Norway House by car or bus, but there are limited escape routes from his community, so concerns remain for those who have yet to make the trip. The wildfire situation has left Pimicikamak's airport non-operational. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'We're very fortunate, and I thank Norway House chief and council and their staff for receiving our people and putting them up at their multiplex and having some of them billeted and feeding them the best way they can,' Monias said. Story continues below advertisement 'It's very dangerous … our escape route toward Highway 6 was cut off, so we only had the escape route to Norway House.' The area, however, is set to get a helping hand from the Canadian military, the chief said. 'We just got notified early this morning, that there will be a Hercules (aircraft) that's going to be landing in Norway House.' Pimicikimak and Mathias Colomb First Nations, along with the city of Flin Flon, were among the northern communities issued mandatory evacuation orders on Wednesday afternoon in what Premier Wab Kinew called 'the largest evacuation in many Manitobans' living memory.'
Winnipeg Free Press
25-05-2025
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Wildfire prompts precautionary evacuation of Pimicikamak
Pimicikamak Cree Nation evacuated about 300 vulnerable residents over the weekend, fearing smoke from nearby wildfires could cause injury or death. The evacuees include people with respiratory issues, physical disabilities and elders, Chief David Monias said by phone Sunday. 'This is really a precautionary evacuation. A lot of it is voluntary,' Monias said. 'We are hoping for the best, that the smoke won't come into our community.' The evacuation of Pimicikamak Cree Nation residents is voluntary and precautionary, Chief David Monias said. As of May 23, the nearby fire had burned about 1,500 hectares. (Submitted) An out-of-control wildfire continued to burn roughly five kilometres west of the First Nation (also known as Cross Lake) on Sunday. The blaze was sparked by human causes on May 21, and encompassed about 1,500 hectares as of Saturday, according to the latest update from the provincial government. Two much smaller fires — one about 60 kilometres northwest and another 50 kilometres southwest — were also considered out of control, the province said. Monias launched the evacuation Friday night. Within about a day, 216 people flew the 530 kilometres south to stay in Winnipeg, while 86 others flew to Thompson. More evacuations were expected Sunday, with those people heading to Brandon, he said. 'The sky is clear right now… but you can smell the smoke,' Monias said around 3 p.m. The chief said his community was subject to a mass evacuation only a few years ago. Two people died because of the smoke, while many others became sick, he said. The call to evacuate preemptively was made out of an abundance of caution, Monias said. Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc., (MKO) an advocacy group that represents some northern First Nations, including Pimicikamak, supported the decision. 'Sending strength to family and friends in Pimicikamak as evacuations continue,' MKO said in a post on Facebook. Monias issued his own statement on social media in response, thanking MKO's emergency management team for their help. 'In the midst of chaos, you have been a pillar of strength, calm, and compassion for our Nation. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you are doing for us,' he wrote in a message addressed to MKO emergency program co-ordinator Ashley Moore-Desrosiers. Pimicikamak Cree Nation evacuated about 300 vulnerable residents over the weekend as a handful of out-of-control wildfires burned in the region, the largest of which was located just five kilometres west of the First Nation. (Submitted) 'Even under immense pressure, you remain steady organizing, guiding, and reassuring others, all with a kind heart and a steady smile. That kind of strength can't be taught. It comes from deep within, from someone who truly cares not just for their job but for their people.' Not everything ran smoothly with the evacuation, however, with Monias saying some evacuees experienced significant delays as they tried to register and arrange accommodations with Canadian Red Cross. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. As a result, some people waited for up to nine hours before securing a space to stay. Those delays were particularly difficult for evacuees with health conditions, or confined to wheelchairs. 'Yesterday, we had a rough day,' Monias said. He said the evacuation highlighted a need to streamline the process by which people register, and are approved, for Red Cross support. The Free Press reached out to the Red Cross for comment. Tyler SearleReporter Tyler Searle is a multimedia producer who writes for the Free Press's city desk. A graduate of Red River College Polytechnic's creative communications program, he wrote for the Stonewall Teulon Tribune, Selkirk Record and Express Weekly News before joining the paper in 2022. Read more about Tyler. Every piece of reporting Tyler produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
CBC
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Oji-Cree rapper joins Nelly Furtado onstage for Invictus Games performance
An Oji-Cree rapper from Garden Hill First Nation in northern Manitoba performed alongside Nelly Furtado for a crowd of around 40,000 people at the star-studded opening ceremony of the Invictus Games in Vancouver. The opening ceremony of the games for injured military and service personnel also featured artists Katy Perry, Roxane Bruneau, Noah Kahan, and Coldplay's Chris Martin. Matthew Monias, who goes by Mattmac, got his first taste of writing and recording music when the N'we Jinan program came to his community in 2017. Monias co-wrote Help You See, a song written and recorded by youth in Garden Hill First Nation through the N'we Jinan program — and it was through that song that he caught the attention of Furtado. He said it was through that project that Furtado first heard about him. "She was like … 'I remember hearing your song on CBC Radio.'" Furtado later asked Monias to perform alongside her at the 2017 National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration at The Forks in Winnipeg. Monias has gone on to win several awards, including the 2022 Canada's Walk of Fame RBC emerging art grand prize, and the 2023 CBC Music Searchlight grand prize. Monias said he's still pinching himself that so much has happened in the last few years. "I had some goals and affirmations for myself; I didn't think it would be this quick," said Monias. At the Invictus Games opening ceremony, the duo performed a medley of Furtado's song Powerless and Mattmac's song Rez. Overcoming obstacles Being from a fly-in community, Monias has had to work extra hard to get his music out to the world, and being born blind means he's had to use a lot of adaptive technology to learn how to produce and write music. "Coming from a fly-in, remote community and just to see all this stuff happening, to see all the accolades is cool," said Monias. "It's been a great time so far." Garden Hill Chief Dino Flett said his community is proud of everything Monias has accomplished. "I've seen him through most of his life where he had challenges," said Flett. "He never stops on what he tries to do." Flett said Monias has a "keep going kind of attitude" that helps him overcome obstacles. It's that attitude, Flett said, that's inspiring other youth from Garden Hill to follow their dreams. "They say they want to follow his steps," said Flett.
