First Nations leaders call on governments to free up Winnipeg hotel space for Manitoba wildfire evacuees

First Nations leaders say hotels in Winnipeg and other major Manitoba cities are largely booked up as they continue to seek temporary housing for evacuees fleeing communities surrounded by wildfires. 

Manitoba First Nations leaders gathered in Winnipeg on Saturday to call on the federal, provincial and Winnipeg municipal governments to direct city hotels to make space for their community members. 

"Our families are displaced. Right now, we have people that are evacuating to different urban areas: Winnipeg, Brandon, Thompson. And in the city of Winnipeg right now, there are absolutely no accommodations within any of the hotels within the city," said Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Kyra Wilson during the Saturday press conference, calling for an "all hands on deck" approach to providing shelter.  

"I ask all levels of government, please come together, work together, ask that these hotels and these accommodations make space for our people. We are in a state of emergency, you can give that directive."

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew declared a provincewide state of emergency on Wednesday, announcing more than 17,000 people are expected to be evacuated from wildfire-affected communities. 

That figure includes 5,000 Flin Flon residents, who were displaced by a 38,000-hectare wildfire that started over the Saskatchewan border and was still burning out of control, according to the government's most recent fire bulletin as of Saturday at 7:30 p.m. CT. 

Kinew said Friday that hotel rooms are hard to come by, but are being prioritized for evacuees with medical or accessibility needs. Others are being sent to large evacuation centres, like those being set up in arenas and soccer fields. 

Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief Garrison Settee said there has been "a lot of movement" evacuating First Nations community members on Saturday.

Many more evacuees are expected to arrive in Winnipeg,  but he said support has been lacking for those who are already there.

"This is a matter of basic human dignity. When our people arrive here, they are not afforded that basic human dignity they deserve," Settee said. 

"We can't wait anymore, we need to ensure that there are spaces for our people when they come here. And it can be done, if the political will is there," he said. 

As of Friday, more than 8,900 evacuees were registered with the Canadian Red Cross, the fire bulletin said. 

There were 25 active wildfires burning across the province as of Saturday night. 

The fire near Pukatawagan, also known as Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, has grown to 9,800 hectares and is still out of control, according to the fire bulletin.