In the shadow of Manitoba’s forest fire season, First Nations communities are raising their voices over a problem that’s been smoldering for years. Despite bearing the brunt of wildfires each season, many Indigenous communities lack basic firefighting equipment needed to protect their homes and lands.
“We’ve been asking for proper equipment for over a decade,” says Chief Shirley Ducharme of O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation. During last summer’s evacuations, her community members stayed behind with garden hoses and makeshift tools to battle approaching flames. “Our people shouldn’t have to choose between evacuation and fighting fires with inadequate resources.”
The Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO), representing northern First Nations, has formally called on both provincial and federal governments to address this critical gap. Their request is straightforward: provide communities with essential firefighting equipment before the 2024 wildfire season intensifies.
According to Indigenous Services Canada data, First Nations communities face wildfire risks at nearly three times the rate of non-Indigenous communities, yet receive disproportionately less firefighting infrastructure. The equipment shortage isn’t just about fire trucks – it’s about basic pumps, hoses, and protective gear that could make the difference between saving or losing homes.
Manitoba’s Emergency Measures Organization acknowledges the disparity. “We recognize the need for enhanced wildfire response capacity in remote communities,” says provincial emergency coordinator Thomas Reynolds. “The challenge involves jurisdictional responsibilities between different levels of government.”
That jurisdictional complexity has created a dangerous gap. While the province manages wildfire response across Manitoba, on-reserve infrastructure falls under federal responsibility through Indigenous Services Canada. Communities often find themselves caught between these overlapping mandates.
Last summer’s wildfire season displaced over 4,000 people from northern Manitoba communities. The Canadian Red Cross reported that nearly 70% of evacuees came from First Nations territories, highlighting the disproportionate impact on Indigenous populations.
Chief Betsy Kennedy of War Lake First Nation remembers watching community members fighting fires with whatever tools they could find. “Our people were using shovels and buckets while waiting for help to arrive,” she explains. “With proper equipment, we could have contained some of those fires before they threatened our homes.”
The equipment shortage reflects a deeper problem in emergency management across remote Indigenous communities. When minutes matter in fire response, many First Nations find themselves hours away from the nearest professional firefighting services.
Manitoba’s Fire Commissioner’s Office statistics show average response times exceeding three hours for remote northern communities compared to under 15 minutes in southern regions. This disparity transforms manageable fires into potential disasters.
Grand Chief Garrison Settee of MKO points to successful Indigenous-led firefighting programs in other provinces as potential models. “In British Columbia and Ontario, First Nations have developed their own firefighting forces with proper training and equipment,” he notes. “Manitoba needs to invest in similar capacity-building.”
The call for equipment comes with a broader vision: developing Indigenous-led emergency response systems that combine traditional knowledge with modern firefighting techniques. This approach has shown promise in other regions, where Indigenous firefighters understand the unique landscapes they’re protecting.
A 2023 report from the Insurance Bureau of Canada estimated that every dollar invested in wildfire prevention and preparedness saves approximately seven dollars in emergency response and recovery costs. For remote communities, this cost-benefit ratio could be even more dramatic.
Provincial Emergency Services Minister Ron Schuler has acknowledged the issue, committing to “exploring options” for improving emergency response in remote areas. However, First Nations leaders stress that exploration must quickly translate to action before the coming fire season.
Some communities aren’t waiting for government solutions. Fisher River Cree Nation has launched a community fundraising initiative to purchase their own firefighting equipment. “We can’t afford to wait another season,” says Councillor Carl Cochrane. “Our people’s safety depends on being prepared.”
The Manitoba Association of Native Firefighters has offered to help coordinate equipment distribution and training if the government provides the necessary resources. Their volunteer network already supports many communities, but they lack the funding to address equipment shortages comprehensively.
With climate change intensifying wildfire risks across the province, the equipment gap represents more than an inconvenience – it’s a potential humanitarian issue. Communities with adequate firefighting resources face fewer evacuations and recover more quickly when disasters strike.
For Chief Ducharme, the solution seems obvious: “Give us the tools to protect ourselves. We know our lands. We know where fires are likely to start and how they spread. With proper equipment, we can be the first line of defense for our communities.”
As Manitoba prepares for another potentially dangerous fire season, the question remains whether governments will respond to these calls with the urgency First Nations leaders believe the situation demands. For communities still recovering from last year’s evacuations, the answer can’t come soon enough.
