Cascading Hazards
While cooler and rainy October weather is dampening the remaining blazes in Eeyou Istchee, an exceptionally hot and dry September sparked flareups near Wemindji’s access road and forced it to close again as the month ended.
News
ᑎᐹᒋᒧᐧᐃᓐ
Indigenous Fire Safety Conference sparks calls for national strategy
As still smouldering fires are left for the changing seasons to extinguish, Indigenous firefighters and emergency coordinators across Canada are looking back at this summer’s disastrous wildfires to improve future responses.
Cree Nation launches a cabin damage assessment registry
While parts of Eeyou Istchee are still burning, regional fire marshal Lee-Roy Blacksmith said that fires are becoming less intense and “SOPFEU has withdrawn their troops” – waiting for them to be naturally extinguished. Remaining blazes are still observed by satellite and occasional flyovers to ensure communities are not endangered.
Washaw Sibi chooses a community site near Matagami
At a special members’ meeting August 12, the Cree Nation of Washaw Sibi selected a location for their future village. After considering four options, community members overwhelmingly chose a site near the town of Matagami.
Cree task force to remake Youth Protection system launched in Mistissini
The Cree Youth Protection Commission started its work in Mistissini September 7 with the goal of overhauling the Youth Protection system to make it more responsive to Cree needs.
The QCNA reacts to the Meta news ban
In the wake of Meta blocking news from its social media platforms, The Quebec Community Newspapers Association (QCNA) has released a list of tips to guide its members. Without the ability to share direct links on Canadian Instagram or Facebook, domestic news outlets are scrambling to keep reaching their online audiences.
Wemindji’s vulnerable evacuate to Chisasibi as Eastmain honours firefighters
As the changing season brings cooler and wetter weather, Quebec’s forest-fire prevention agency SOPFEU is reducing its crews and moving management operations for the James Bay region to Val-d’Or. While fires continued to burn throughout Eeyou Istchee, most are under observation and don’t pose a threat to communities or infrastructure.
Wemindji threatened by relentless wildfires
After a week of escalating blazes near Wemindji, the community’s access road and the Billy Diamond Highway between kilometres 390 and 590 were closed August 14. With severe fires reaching near the roadside, the situation was to be reassessed daily to seek safe windows for essential travel.
AGA Postponed: Fires continue to have wide-ranging impacts on Cree life
The situation across Eeyou Istchee remains precarious amidst an unprecedented forest fire season, forcing the Cree Nation Government to postpone the Annual General Assembly scheduled for August 29-31 in Eastmain to October 24-26.
Annual Wabun Youth Gathering celebrates culture and traditions
The 16th Annual Wabun Youth Gathering was held July 17-21 in Elk Lake, Ontario, for over 60 First Nation youth. This was the first half of a two-part gathering featuring junior participants from age 8 to 13. An event for senior youth will be held in August.