Latest news with #DavidMonias
Winnipeg Free Press
07-07-2025
- Climate
- Winnipeg Free Press
Leaf Rapids issues evacuation order as Manitoba wildfire situation escalates again
Leaf Rapids residents have been ordered to leave their homes by 10 a.m. Tuesday because a nearby forest fire poses 'imminent danger' to life and property. The northern Manitoba town — home to about 350 people as of the 2021 census — announced the mandatory evacuation order Monday morning, while also declaring a state of local emergency. 'The Town of Leaf Rapids has been advised of the imminent danger of forest fire to the life and property of persons resident or present in the Town of Leaf Rapids,' a social media post said. SUBMITTED FILE PHOTO A wildfire burns near Pimicikamak Cree Nation in late May. About half a dozen fires are burning in the Pimicikamak and Cross Lake area. Some evacuees might have to stay briefly in a congregate shelter, depending on the availability of hotel rooms, the town said. Leaf Rapids is about 950 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg. After somewhat of a lull, northern Manitoba's wildfire situation has dramatically escalated since late last week. The Manitoba Wildfire Service's online map displayed 80 active fires Monday, with lightning strikes responsible for dozens of new starts. The vast majority are in northern Manitoba. Officials from the wildfire service and Manitoba Emergency Management Organization are scheduled to speak at a 12:45 p.m. news conference. At least seven homes burned in Tataskweyak Cree Nation (Split Lake) when a blaze flared up Friday. Lynn Lake was evacuated the same day for the second time since late May, this time due to a potential power outage. Thompson is on alert while a fire burns north of the city. The blaze began Friday and grew to almost 6,000 hectares within two days. Dozens of Pimicikamak Cree Nation's Priority 1 residents (people with breathing or medical conditions, for example) and some families started leaving Sunday due to heavy smoke. The entire community of more than 7,500 people was evacuated for about three weeks until residents were allowed to return June 16. About half a dozen fires are burning in the Pimicikamak and Cross Lake area, including an out-of-control blaze that began May 20 and forced the earlier evacuation. The fire was more than 80,000 hectares as of Sunday. 'Right now, it's still very smoky. We still have fires to the north of us, to the west of us and to the south of us,' Pimicikamak Chief David Monias said Monday. 'It doesn't really matter which way the wind shifts — we still have smoke.' The nearest fire, to the north, is about 10 km from the community. Provincial Road 373 — the only road in and out for Pimicikamak, Cross Lake and Norway House Cree Nation — has had intermittent closures due to fire. 'It got so smoky that we decided we would get our P1s out again,' Monias said. 'People are feeling tired and getting frustrated with the fires and the smoke. Of course, nobody wants to leave home.' MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Chief David Monias said about 120 Pimicikamak residents had left the community by plane or vehicle as of Monday. About 120 Pimicikamak residents had left the community by plane or vehicle as of Monday. Monias said 60 hotel rooms in Winnipeg were set aside for Pimicikamak's latest evacuees. He said there is a lack of hotel rooms in Thompson. Pimicikamak is bringing in additional indoor air purifiers for residents who remain in the community. In Leaf Rapids, buses to Winnipeg will be available for evacuees who are unable to leave in their own vehicle, or with family or friends. Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. Evacuees were told to report to a reception centre at an indoor soccer complex at 770 Leila Ave. in Winnipeg, which the town said will be open as of Tuesday. The soccer complex was previously used as a congregate shelter for hundreds of evacuees amid a hotel room shortage at a peak in June, when wildfires forced about 22,000 Manitobans out of their homes. The complex was no longer needed as a majority of evacuees returned home and those in the shelter were moved to hotels. The province has kept it on standby in case extra space is needed. About 2,300 Manitobans were moved to hotels in Niagara Falls, Ont., in early June due to a shortage of available rooms in Manitoba. Chris KitchingReporter Chris Kitching is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He began his newspaper career in 2001, with stops in Winnipeg, Toronto and London, England, along the way. After returning to Winnipeg, he joined the Free Press in 2021, and now covers a little bit of everything for the newspaper. Read more about Chris. Every piece of reporting Chris 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
24-06-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Manitoba must cancel moose hunt licensing lottery as wildfires scorch habitats, chief says
The chief of a First Nation in northern Manitoba says the province must cancel this year's moose hunting licence lottery as wildfires continue to scorch the region. Wildfires have torched an estimated 909,000 hectares of the province as of Monday. Pimicikamak Cree Nation Chief David Monias said that includes much of the natural moose habitat where his community's hunters go to harvest. "A lot of those moose would either have migrated somewhere else, run away somewhere else, or they would have perished within the fire," Monias told CBC News on Monday. "Most of [their habitat] has been destroyed by fire, so even more so now, the province of Manitoba should not issue any licences or permits for moose hunting in our territory." Last year, the NDP government made a controversial cut of 75 per cent to the number of moose licences for Manitoba residents — to a total of 100 from 400 — across four of Manitoba's 62 game hunting areas. Pimicikamak's traditional territory spans nearly 1.5 million hectares and includes portions of four of Manitoba's game hunting areas, including two of four areas that were subject to the 75 per cent licence reduction. The cut sparked legal challenges from Pimicikamak and the Manitoba Wildlife Federation. Manitoba Court of King's Bench Justice Brian Bowman heard from lawyers representing Pimicikamak, the wildlife federation and the province last November. Pimicikamak's lawyers argued the province's licensing decision infringed on its rights under provincial laws, Treaty 5 and the 1977 Northern Flood Agreement. The wildlife federation argued the cut in licences was not based on scientific data. Bowman has yet to deliver a decision in the case. Monias said Pimicikamak could pursue further legal action against the province if this year's moose licence lottery is not cancelled. No plans to scrap lottery: Bushie In May, Natural Resources Minister Ian Bushie announced that the province would approve a total of 350 moose hunting licences across the four hunting areas this year. That number was up from the 100 offered in 2024, but still short of the 400 granted prior to the reduction. The province also said portions of the two areas that intersect with Pimicikamak— 15 per cent of GHA 9A and 12 per cent of GHA 10 — have also been set aside for exclusive use by Indigenous hunters. Aerial surveys focused on moose were conducted in GHAs 9A and 10 over the winter, and Bushie said they revealed "very positive" preliminary results. "I think it's more than justified the tags that we've issued to this day," he told CBC News on Monday. Bushie said the province does not plan to suspend the 350 moose licences, but is willing to discuss a path forward with Pimicikamak and other leadership. But the northern First Nations advocacy organization representing Pimicikamak and more than two dozen other communities said it has concerns about the reliability of the data that the province used to make its licensing decision in May, given the current wildfire situation. Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief Garrison Settee said the province's licensing decision was not an example of reconciliation or consultation with First Nations communities. "Manitoba's decision to proceed with a moose licence draw in the face of wildfire devastation and without transparency and without accountability is a direct violation of our rights and a betrayal of the treaties," Settee said in a Friday news release. "Our people are watching their food sources vanish while the province hands out hunting tags like prizes. Enough is enough." Bushie said the province will continue to evaluate moose populations in the region following this year's wildfire season. "As an Indigenous person myself, I know that the priority for us too is the sustenance and the viability and long-term sustainability of the moose population," he said. Bushie also refuted MKO's claim that the province was "tone deaf" and "deeply disrespectful" to its member nations for scheduling this year's moose licence lottery notifications on Saturday, which was also National Indigenous Peoples Day. While Bushie wouldn't comment on the legal cases currently before the courts, he said the issue has led the province to increase its investments in aerial surveys in game hunting areas across the province. "As we go forward, it's important for us to be able to have as accurate a number as we could," he said. "Our preliminary results so far have shown that those numbers are bouncing back in a very positive way, so that's why we felt very confident in going forward with what we did."
CTV News
16-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Fire evacuees begin returning home to Manitoba First Nation after cool, wet weather
Trees burned by wildfires in northern Manitoba are shown during a helicopter tour in the surrounding area of Flin Flon, Man. on June 12, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mike Deal-Pool WINNIPEG — A First Nation in Manitoba is welcoming residents back, almost three weeks after the community of more than 6,000 people was evacuated due to wildfires. The chief of Pimicikamak Cree Nation says a fire in the area is now largely contained and the community has begun a gradual repatriation of evacuees that includes flights today from Winnipeg. Chief David Monias reposted a video on social media showing a steady rain in the region. He says the community's infrastructure is intact and water systems have been tested by health officials. Elsewhere in the province, people in Snow Lake, Sherridon and Herb Lake Landing were allowed to return on the weekend. Officials with the City of Flin Flon say those running critical businesses there have begun to re-enter but the general community will have to wait, as there are no health services and limited fire protection is available. More than 21,000 people in Manitoba had to leave their communities due to this year's early and severe wildfire season.
Global News
16-06-2025
- Climate
- Global News
Fire evacuees begin returning home to Manitoba First Nation after cool, wet weather
A First Nation in Manitoba is welcoming residents back, almost three weeks after the community of more than 6,000 people was evacuated due to wildfires. The chief of Pimicikamak Cree Nation says a fire in the area is now largely contained and the community has begun a gradual repatriation of evacuees that includes flights today from Winnipeg. Chief David Monias reposted a video on social media showing a steady rain in the region. He says the community's infrastructure is intact and water systems have been tested by health officials. 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 Elsewhere in the province, people in Snow Lake, Sherridon and Herb Lake Landing were allowed to return on the weekend. Officials with the City of Flin Flon say those running critical businesses there have begun to re-enter but the general community will have to wait, as there are no health services and limited fire protection is available. Story continues below advertisement More than 21,000 people in Manitoba had to leave their communities due to this year's early and severe wildfire season.
CTV News
16-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Evacuees begin return to Pimicikamak Cree Nation
Clouds of smoke rise from the Cross Lake community in northern Manitoba. (Raymond Robinson) Evacuees have begun their return to Pimicikamak Cree Nation. According to a Monday morning Facebook post from Chief David Monias, the evacuation order is lifted and Pimicikamak has begun the 'safe and gradual repatriation' of its residents. Monias said that the fire threatening the community is mostly contained, though some areas are still being closely monitored. He added essential services are being restored, community infrastructure is intact, and water systems have been tested and cleared. Returning evacuees will have access to food vouchers, cleaning supplies, basic medical services and transportation. 'We thank our evacuees for their patience and courage. We also thank our firefighters, emergency workers, and all those who helped,' Monias said. 'Healing begins now. This repatriation is not just about returning home – it's about recovery, unity and community care. Pimicikamak will rise again – together.' Monias said large families, women and children are being given flight priority back to the community. More information on travel and registration, including who to contact, can be found on the chief's Facebook page. Essential businesses returning to Flin Flon In a Facebook update, Flin Flon's Deputy Mayor Allison Dallas-Funk said essential workers and critical businesses have started to re-enter the community in order to clean, re-stock and ensure everything is in place. Guidelines are in place for those returning, including a curfew, restricted travel and a mandatory daily check-in with their assigned team leader. Dallas-Funk added discussions are underway to determine logistics of how to welcome back the entire community. 'We are trying to push forward,' Dallas-Funk said. 'We recognize the mental, physical and emotional toll this is taking on community members, and we are committed to getting the community home safely.' As of Sunday night, firefighters are still working to extinguish active hotspots and flames around the community. The active fire line near Flin Flon is 82 kilometres long, with the community receiving less rain over the weekend than originally forecasted.
