Latest news with #SouthernChiefsOrganization
CBC
7 days ago
- General
- CBC
Southern Chiefs' Organization pitches in to help care for First Nations evacuees staying in southern Manitoba
Social Sharing The Southern Chiefs' Organization is stepping in to support First Nations residents forced out of their homes by wildfires in Manitoba, helping to operate reception centres, distribute supplies and provide on-site security in southern Manitoba outside Winnipeg. Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief Garrison Settee says his organization, which represents 26 northern First Nations, has been helping evacuees fleeing from communities affiliated with MKO, including Pimicikamak, Mathias Colomb (Pukatawagan) and Tataskweyak, in recent weeks. But the evacuation process has been a "massive undertaking" for the organization. "There were a lot of things we were doing — supplies, accommodations, essentials that everyone needed," Settee said at a news conference Friday. "We cannot do this alone and no one can do it alone." With thousands of First Nations people still displaced, the Southern Chiefs' Organization is taking over co-ordination of evacuee supports for those staying in Brandon, Dauphin, Portage la Prairie, Winkler and Morden, Settee said. "We want to be here for you. We're here to help," SCO Grand Chief Jerry Daniels said at the news conference. The organization, which represents 32 First Nations in southern Manitoba, will help with daily operation of reception centres, distribution of supplies and on-site security for evacuees staying in those four communities outside Winnipeg, a news release said. MKO will continue supporting First Nations evacuees staying in Manitoba's capital, Settee said. The Canadian Red Cross is still leading the evacuee operation with municipalities, but First Nations groups, including both the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and SCO, are filling gaps when they appear, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak said. So far, 21,000 people forced from their homes by wildfires in Manitoba in recent weeks have registered with the Canadian Red Cross. A spokesperson for the Red Cross said it is operating a reception centre in Brandon, while teams from the organization are visiting sites in Portage la Prairie, Dauphin, Brandon, Winkler and Morden to ensure evacuees receive the assistance they need. The organization said it is encouraged by MKO's announcement and is working along with Indigenous community leadership to support wildfire evacuees in Manitoba. Both MKO and SCO have also been collecting donations for evacuees. They are still in the need of some items, including baby supplies, underwear and hygiene products "It's good to see that Manitoba has stepped up," Settee said. "Our people are not alone in this struggle." The evacuees SCO is helping in Brandon, Dauphin, Portage la Prairie, Winkler and Morden are staying in hotels and in congregate shelters, Settee said. Premier Wab Kinew touted the idea of using the province's emergency powers to free up more hotel rooms in Manitoba for wildfire evacuees, as some families continue to sleep on cots.
CTV News
7 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Manitoba communities prepare to return home after wildfires displaced thousands
WINNIPEG -- Two First Nations organizations are teaming up to provide services for northern Manitoba wildfire evacuees, while some affected communities are getting set to return home. The Southern Chiefs' Organization, which represents 32 First Nations in southern Manitoba, says it will provide culturally safe supports to hundreds who have fled to Brandon, Dauphin, Portage la Prairie and the Winkler and Morden area. Thousands from five northern First Nations have been forced out of their home communities over the last two weeks, with many of them staying in Winnipeg. The organization will oversee the operation of reception centres, distribute supplies and provide on-site safety and security at evacuation centres and hotels in collaboration with local municipalities and emergency services. Grand Chief Jerry Daniels said the organization is committed to compassionate, dignified and culturally grounded care. Expand Autoplay 1 of 7 Wab Kinew Premier Wab Kinew looks out window of the plane during a tour of wildfires in northern Manitoba including Flin Flon and Thompson. June 12, 2025. (Mike Deal/Free Press) Northern Manitoba wildfire Tour of the wildfire conditions around Flin Flon by helicopter. Premier Wab Kinew takes a tour of the wildfires in northern Manitoba, making stops in Flin Flon and Thompson. Thursday, June 12, 2025. (MIKE DEAL/FREE PRESS) (Winnipeg Free Press) Northern Manitoba wildfire Tour of the wildfire conditions around Flin Flon by helicopter. Premier Wab Kinew takes a tour of the wildfires in northern Manitoba, making stops in Flin Flon and Thompson. Thursday, June 12, 2025. (MIKE DEAL/FREE PRESS) (Winnipeg Free Press) Northern Manitoba wildfire Tour of the wildfire conditions around Flin Flon by helicopter. Premier Wab Kinew takes a tour of the wildfires in northern Manitoba, making stops in Flin Flon and Thompson. Thursday, June 12, 2025. (MIKE DEAL/FREE PRESS) (Winnipeg Free Press) Northern Manitoba wildfire Tour of the wildfire conditions around Flin Flon by helicopter. Premier Wab Kinew takes a tour of the wildfires in northern Manitoba, making stops in Flin Flon and Thompson. Thursday, June 12, 2025. (MIKE DEAL/FREE PRESS) (Winnipeg Free Press) Northern Manitoba wildfire Tour of the wildfire conditions around Flin Flon by helicopter. Premier Wab Kinew takes a tour of the wildfires in northern Manitoba, making stops in Flin Flon and Thompson. Thursday, June 12, 2025. (MIKE DEAL/FREE PRESS) (Winnipeg Free Press) Northern Manitoba wildfire Tour of the wildfire conditions around Flin Flon by helicopter. Premier Wab Kinew takes a tour of the wildfires in northern Manitoba, making stops in Flin Flon and Thompson. Thursday, June 12, 2025. (MIKE DEAL/FREE PRESS) (Winnipeg Free Press) 'Having to meet the need that we are seeing on the ground, I think, has been the highest priority for all of us and being able to do that in a timely way, as well, has been very important to everybody who's going through this situation right now.' Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, which represents 26 northern First Nations, including those that have evacuated, has spearheaded support efforts in Winnipeg, but said it needed help to reach evacuees outside the city. 'We don't have enough manpower to be able to go to all of these,' Grand Chief Garrison Settee told reporters Friday. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has said some hotel owners are not doing enough to help evacuees. After touring some fire-hit areas Thursday, he said most hotel operators have been great, but some need to open up rooms as there are evacuees still sleeping in cots in emergency shelters. Meanwhile, some communities are preparing to return home this weekend. Residents from Snow Lake, in northwestern Manitoba, have been told the mandatory evacuation order issued a week ago has been lifted. People can begin going home early Saturday, the town said on social media. The post told residents to stock up on groceries and other essential supplies and pack a to-go bag in case fire conditions worsen and they have to evacuate again. Officials in Flin Flon said late Thursday that fire crews are holding the fire line and conditions are stabilizing. Deputy Mayor Alison Dallas-Funk said the city has reached out to the Northern Health Region to see about reinstating basic core health care services, one of the conditions that needs to be met before the city's 5,000 residents can return. 'We're hoping to get some answers from them as soon as possible,' she said. About 21,000 people in Manitoba have had to evacuate, including from Flin Flon, Pimicikamak Cree Nation and other areas. There's a fire burning about five kilometres away from Pimicikamak, while the one near Flin Flon is the largest in the province, spanning about 3,000 square kilometres. A smaller fire is burning south of Cranberry Portage, but the community's 600 residents will be allowed to return home starting Saturday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 13, 2025.
CBC
13-06-2025
- General
- CBC
Southern Chiefs Organization pitches in to help care for First Nations evacuees staying in southern Manitoba
Social Sharing The Southern Chiefs Organization is stepping in to support First Nations residents forced out of their homes by wildfires in Manitoba, helping to operate reception centres, distribute supplies and provide on-site security in southern Manitoba outside Winnipeg. Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief Garrison Settee says his organization, which is made up of 26 northern First Nations, has been helping evacuees fleeing from communities affiliated with MKO, including Pimicikamak, Mathias Colomb and Tataskweyak, in recent weeks. But the evacuation process has been a "massive undertaking" for the organization. "There were a lot of things we were doing — supplies, accommodations, essentials that everyone needed," Settee said at a news conference Friday. "We cannot do this alone and no one can do it alone." With thousands First Nations people still displaced, the Southern Chiefs Organization is taking over co-ordination of evacuee supports for those staying in Brandon, Dauphin, Portage la Prairie, Winkler and Morden, Settee said. "We want to be here for you. We're here to help," SCO Grand Chief Jerry Daniels said at the news conference. The organization, which represents 32 First Nations in southern Manitoba, will help with daily operation of reception centres, distribution of supplies and on-site security for evacuees staying in those four communities outside Winnipeg, a news release said. MKO will continue supporting First Nations evacuees staying in Manitoba's capital, Settee said. The Canadian Red Cross is still leading the evacuee operation with municipalities, but First Nations groups, including AMC and SCO, are filling gaps when they appear, MKO said. So far, 21,000 people forced from their homes by wildfires in Manitoba in recent weeks have registered with the Canadian Red Cross. CBC News has reached out to the Red Cross for comment. Both MKO and SCO have been collecting donations for evacuees. They are still in the need of some items, including baby supplies, underwear and hygiene products "It's good to see that Manitoba has stepped up," Settee said. "Our people are not alone in this struggle." The evacuees SCO is helping with in Brandon, Dauphin, Portage la Prairie, Winkler and Morden are staying in hotels and in congregate shelters, Settee said. Premier Wab Kinew touted the idea of using the province's emergency powers to free up more hotel rooms in Manitoba for wildfire evacuees, as some families continue to sleep on cots.
CBC
11-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
25-year-old makes history as Birdtail Sioux's youngest and 1st female chief
It was a busy 24 hours for Tréchelle Bunn, the newly elected chief of Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation in Manitoba. On the evening of April 9, Bunn received an Indspire Award in Vancouver. The next day, Bunn was back home in her community about 300 kilometres west of Winnipeg as polls closed for the chief and council election. Bunn, 25, was elected with 191 votes, while her opponent Gloria Chalmers-Rach got 85 votes. She is the first woman to be elected as chief in her nation. She is also now the youngest serving chief in Manitoba. The former University of Calgary Dinos and Manitoba Bison hockey player previously served as Southern Chiefs Organization (SCO) youth chief. She'll serve a four-year term and Bunn joked that it would take time to get used to introducing herself as just "chief." "I'm used to introducing myself as youth chief of the Southern Chiefs Organization, but I gave that up on March 31 when a new SCO youth chief and council were elected," she said. SCO Grand Chief Jerry Daniels congratulated Bunn in a news release. "You make many people so very proud as we witness your growth, and the acknowledgement, of your leadership," Daniels said in the statement. "Chief Tréchelle Bunn, I look forward to continuing to learn from and collaborate with you, as you take on your new role of Chief of Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation." Rushing home from Indspire Awards However, it was not the last piece of youth leadership that Bunn needed to wrap up before the polls closed on election day. The night before her victory, Bunn was a youth recipient of a 2025 Indspire Award, a national award honouring achievements and contributions of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit. Bunn was recognized for her work as SCO youth chief and as founder and race director of the Reconciliation Run in her community. She received her award and pin the night before the main gala, as she needed to return home for the election. The day of the election, Bunn boarded a flight and arrived in Winnipeg at 1 p.m., made it to Birdtail Sioux at 5 p.m., while the polls closed at 8 p.m. She said her parents were texting her updates from the ballot counting. "When they posted the results on Facebook of how many votes I had, it was a pretty surreal feeling, then seconds later, people were driving into my grandparents' yard honking their horns," she said. An elder from the community joined Bunn's own grandfather in the living room of the Bunn family home with a drum and sang her a victory song. "It was a really emotional time, and everything happened so fast, but it's something I'm going to cherish for the rest of my life," she said. Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation Chief Angela Levasseur also congratulated Bunn on her election win, in a news release. "As a fellow woman chief, I want you to know that I stand with you and am here to support you in any way I can," she said in a statement. "Our nations are stronger when we uplift one another, and I look forward to building that strength together." Other results from the election saw Carson Benn, Doug Hanska Sr., Heath Bunn, and Samantha D. Benn elected as council members.
