First Nation in Ontario evacuated over threats from major wildfire

Tuesday, July 19, 2011  

The Keewaywin First Nation has evacuated its reserve due a major wildlfire and other Native communities are already starting to move people out as 103 fires rage in Ontario.

About 400 people evacuated the Keewaywin reserve, CBC News reported. The entire community could be destroyed, CBC said.

Elsewhere in the province, First Nations are moving elders, expecting mothers, children and other vulnerable residents in face of growing fires. About 250 people left the Sandy Lake First Nation and another 135 left the Fort Hope First Nation,CBC reported.

"It's so important that those people have to be evacuated right away, immediately, before the smoke covers the whole village [and] aircrafts might not be able to get in," said Grand Chief Stan Beardy of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, which represents 49 First Nation within James Bay Treaty 9 territory and the Ontario portions of Treaty 5 territory.

Beardy said the government is moving too slowly to evacuate reserve residents.

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Ontario wildfires force hundreds from homes (CBC 7/19)