Latest news with #YorkFactoryFirstNation
CTV News
03-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
York Factory evacuating as wildfires intensify
Another northern first nation is being forced out of their homes due to wildfires. York Factory First Nation, located south of Split Lake, is working with the Red Cross to evacuate residents. According to York Factory First Nation's social media, people are being flown to Winnipeg to escape wildfire conditions. Residents named as Priority 1 with medical conditions were being evacuated starting at 8:30 p.m. Monday night, with the rest to be flown out Tuesday. The first nation said they will be sent to Winnipeg hotels. Those evacuating were being asked to register for Red Cross support.
Cision Canada
05-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Public Notice - York Factory First Nation Ten Shilling Aerodrome Project Français
Comments Invited on the Summary of the Initial Project Description OTTAWA, ON, /CNW/ - What is happening? York Factory First Nation is proposing the York Factory First Nation Ten Shilling Aerodrome Project, a new aerodrome along Ten Shilling Creek, approximately four kilometres south of York Factory settlement and National Historic Site, in northeastern Manitoba. The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) invites Indigenous Peoples and the public to review the summary of the Initial Project Description and provide comments on the proposed project. This feedback will help IAAC prepare a summary of issues that will be given to the proponent. How can I participate? Comments should be submitted online by visiting the project home page on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry (reference number 89488). The summary of the Initial Project Description is also available on the Registry. Participants who wish to provide input in a different format can contact IAAC by writing to [email protected]. Submit your comments online by 11:59 p.m. on May 26, 2025. All comments received will be published online as part of the project file. Participant funding will be available to eligible participants during this comment period and details will be announced shortly on the Registry. IAAC will retroactively reimburse eligible participants for their participation costs in this first comment period. Virtual Information Sessions IAAC invites Indigenous Peoples and the public to attend an information session via Zoom to learn more about the project, the impact assessment process, and how to submit comments on the summary of the Initial Project Description. May 14, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. CT (English) May 15, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. CT (English) For information on how to attend a session, please visit the project home page on the Registry and click on " Information Sessions." A French session is available upon request. If you have any questions, please contact IAAC using the project email above. What is the proposed project? York Factory First Nation is proposing to construct and operate a new aerodrome along Ten Shilling Creek, approximately four kilometres south of York Factory settlement and National Historic Site, in northeastern Manitoba. As proposed, the project would include a single, private 1,530-metre-long airplane runway that would be used for emergency services, improve access to York Factory First Nation's traditional territory, and support tourism and future development in the local area.
CBC
07-02-2025
- General
- CBC
Without fire hydrants, this northern Manitoba community uses buckets to fight fires
Volunteer firefighters in Tataskweyak Cree Nation have turned to buckets to fight fires due to the lack of running water in parts of the community. "We use water [in buckets] to put out the fire because the pumps don't work. Our hydrants haven't been fixed in 40 years," volunteer firefighter Virginia Audy told CBC News. Tataskweyak, a Manitoba First Nation more than 700 kilometres north of Winnipeg, has a fully volunteer fire department and currently, no working fire truck. It's among First Nations that have never had full water service to every home, but even where there is water, almost all of the fire hydrants — which are at least 40 years old — don't work, fire Chief Melvin Cook Jr. said. "Some of them have been removed. There's lots that are not put back where they should be, where they need to be," Cook said. Fighting a fire in Tatskweyak is a matter of finding a solution on the fly, including getting water from someone's tap if it's available or pumping water from the nearby reservoir, Cook and other firefighters said. "If it's not in the area where there's running water, then we just try to improvise it with what's there," Cook said. While the fire truck in the community has a water tank, even if it's working, firefighters use buckets to try to keep flames under control when the truck needs to be refilled. In 2023, an apartment fire injured two children and displaced 49 people in the community of about 2,500. The fire truck wasn't working then, either, so fire crews from York Factory First Nation and Gillam helped fight the fire. Two months after that, a 25-year-old mother was killed in a fire. "We lost that fight," Cook said. Douglas Kitchekeesik, the community's other fire chief, said there's been a lack of action and transparency about the water issues by Tataskweyak Chief Doreen Spence. Spence became chief in November but has yet to hold a band meeting. "People are frustrated because of that, because of neglecting to inform people. They haven't had band meetings," Kitchekeesik said. "They're making decisions without the people's knowledge and inputs." Spence said issues with fire hydrants have been plaguing the community for years, and it's part of a bigger issue — "probably about 120 homes that are not connected to the water line." The community actually has two fire trucks, but one is in Winnipeg for repairs, she said. Band council meetings were cancelled because of three deaths in the community, Spence said. "Some of those … funerals took a lot longer to have. I'm kind of surprised that some of our members are saying that we're not transparent." Plans have been sent to the federal government for installing piped water in the community, Spence said, and they are in talks with Indigenous Services Canada about resolving water issues. She and her council are advocating for better services for the community, but federal support is needed to build water infrastructure, she said. CBC News reached out to Indigenous Services Canada about the water issues. A spokesperson said everyone in Canada should have access to clean, safe drinking water. They are following closely on Tataskweyak Cree Nation's lead for developing a water plan, the spokesperson said.
