Winnipeg | Arab Canada News

Leaders from Indigenous communities in Manitoba have issued an urgent call to the provincial government, demanding immediate steps to shelter hundreds of displaced individuals due to ongoing wildfires, by opening available hotels and temporarily suspending public conferences to prioritize those affected.

Jerry Daniels, the president of the Southern Manitoba First Nations, said in a joint press conference with other leaders: “Our people are exhausted. They are sleeping on the ground or in inhumane conditions. The priority now must be to provide shelter for them.”

Concerns of an Imminent Humanitarian Crisis

These demands come in the wake of the evacuation of thousands from remote communities in northern Manitoba due to wildfires, amid a severe shortage of suitable shelter space in Winnipeg and its surrounding areas.

Indigenous leaders have confirmed that some hotels are refusing to accommodate the displaced, while government conferences and events occupy lodging that could be used more urgently.

Calls for Immediate Government Intervention

The leaders have called on the provincial government for swift intervention, directing both public and private hotels to open their doors to families who have temporarily lost their homes, emphasizing that “dignity and humanity must take precedence over logistical and institutional considerations in times of crisis.”

The Manitoba government pledged in a brief statement that it is “reviewing available options to expand shelter capacity and is working closely with local leaders to provide support.”