Bunibonibee wildfire evacuees anxious to return home, or at least leave emergency shelter

Posted on August 19, 2024 by Peggy

Members of a rural community in northeastern Manitoba were still anxiously awaiting proper accommodations this weekend, days after a fire forced thousands to flee their homes.

Thousands living in Bunibonibee Cree Nation were forced to leave their homes starting last Wednesday as a wildfire approached the community.

About 2,500 people had been moved to Winnipeg and Brandon, the First Nation says. Many ended up taking temporary refuge at the University of Winnipeg’s RecPlex recreation centre, where about 150 people were still waiting to be moved to hotels as of Sunday afternoon.

“People are very tired and we can’t sleep at night,” Donald Weenusk said. “And you worry about your community back home, hope the fire doesn’t reach there.”

“We want to go back home already,” said Weenusk’s daughter, Lora. “We need accommodations because it’s been hectic for the last few days.”

The fire was about 10 kilometres south of the community as of Friday afternoon. Its flames had consumed more than 10,000 hectares of land as of then, according to the province.

A door with some signs taped to it. — Signs posted outside the doors of the RecPlex Sunday adviced people there was room for about 60 in a hotel in Portage la Prairie, and announced a curfew would begin on Monday. (Gavin Axelrod/CBC)

Chief Richard Hart said on Sunday it didn’t seem to have moved closer amid favourable wind conditions, and as firefighters worked to contain it.

Hart said he hopes it’s fully contained in two to three days, but even after that he still doesn’t know when people will be able to return home.

“The fire still poses a danger … to people if winds change and high amounts of smoke come into the community,” Hart said.

“My biggest stressor has been taking calls every two to five minutes from very frustrated people with their families that have been at the shelter now for the third day.… They’re not getting rest at the shelter. And I think the biggest priority is to ramp up the efforts to get rooms for these people.”

WATCH | Bunibonibee evacuees in Winnipeg still waiting for proper accomodations:

Northern First Nation residents displaced by wildfire frustrated by conditions at emergency shelter

5 hours ago

Duration 0:59

Some members of Bunibonibee Cree Nation staying at an emergency shelter in Winnipeg say they’re waiting for better accommodations days after an approaching wildfire forced them to leave their homes.

Signs posted outside the centre’s doors on Sunday advised people there was room for about 60 in a hotel in Portage la Prairie, Man. Still, it warned families with children in diapers and people with high needs were not eligible, as no Red Cross services or infant supplies were available there.

Another sign said that as of Monday, doors will close at 10 p.m., with no one being allowed in after.

‘I just want to be at a hotel’

On Saturday, several people told CBC News they didn’t know how long they would have to wait at the emergency shelter.

“It’s very uncomfortable just sleeping with people you don’t really know,” said Autumn Stinson, who said many like her have gotten no sleep since they arrived to the shelter.

Stinson left Bunibonibee on Friday on a Hercules plane with about a hundred others.

“The evacuation … shocked my nerves. I was shaking,” she said Saturday. “Just glad to see all of my reserve got out of town before the fire hit, and all the smoke.”

Stinson said her daughter, who stays with her grandmother, ended up in Brandon, but that they were going to make their way to Winnipeg.

A woman posing for a picture outdoors. — ‘Just glad to see all of my reserve got out of town before the fire hit, and all the smoke,’ Autumn Stinson said. (Arturo Chang/CBC)

Wendell Wood said all his family was also in Brandon.

Wood, who is disabled and has a prosthetic leg, said he had no one there to provide him the help he needs.

“I don’t even have medical supplies to clean my wounds. This one, right below my amputation is getting worse and infected,” he said Saturday.

“I’m supposed to be a priority patient with better accommodations.… I just want to be at a hotel, take care of my wounds, take a bath and everything.”

Chief Hart, who said that the Red Cross is the one leading efforts to find accommodations, said it’s “frustrating” to hear people struggling knowing there are empty hotel rooms in Winnipeg.

He said about a hundred decided to pay for rooms out-of-pocket because they couldn’t handle the shelter.

“These families are going through hell,” he said. “Especially those with small children.… Being in a gym on a cot is just no way to survive.”

The Red Cross said in an email Sunday it will continue to support members of Bunibonibee Cree Nation impacted by the wildfire evacuation. The organization added it did not have specifics on where evacuees will be located, nor how many people are being supported.