AFN and Regional Chiefs Call for First Nations-Led Emergency Authority

THUNDER BAY – INDIGENOUS NEWS – With wildfires intensifying across Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, First Nations leaders are calling for immediate and coordinated action from all levels of government. A joint statement issued on May 30 by the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), Chiefs of Ontario, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, Southern Chiefs’ Organization, and leadership from Saskatchewan highlights the growing threat to Indigenous communities and the critical need for First Nations-led emergency response authority.

“We are praying for the families and communities impacted by these fires,” said National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak. “Too often, our concerns go unheard until crisis strikes. Our communities need the power and resources to act before it’s too late.”

The statement underscores the worsening nature of wildfire seasons, driven in part by climate change, and calls for long-term federal investments in climate-resilient infrastructure and Indigenous emergency management systems. The AFN’s report on closing the infrastructure gap by 2030 highlights that while federal emergency spending has increased by 400% in a decade, most of it addresses short-term relief rather than building long-term capacity.

For Thunder Bay and surrounding Northwestern Ontario communities, this national crisis has deeply local implications. Evacuations from northern Manitoba and Ontario are already placing pressure on urban centres like Thunder Bay, which often serve as logistical and support hubs. The possibility of hosting evacuees means that local health services, shelter capacity, and community support systems may soon be stretched.

“These fires are exposing life-threatening weaknesses in our infrastructure—from water systems unable to support hydrants to power outages that isolate entire communities,” Chief Woodhouse Nepinak added.

Regional leaders echoed the need for swift, coordinated responses. Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict stated that First Nations emergency planning must be “respected and properly resourced.” In Manitoba, Regional Chief Willie Moore emphasized the importance of using traditional knowledge in disaster preparedness and land management.

Leaders from Saskatchewan and northern Manitoba were especially urgent. Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte of Saskatchewan called on both Premier Scott Moe and Prime Minister Mark Carney to deliver immediate reinforcements, noting evacuation routes are being severed and firefighting resources are overwhelmed. Meanwhile, Grand Chief Garrison Settee of MKO pushed for legislative change in Manitoba to grant First Nations the same legal authority as municipalities to declare emergencies.

“This is not just a remote issue,” said Grand Chief Kyra Wilson of the AMC. “Fires in Mathias Colomb and Marcel Colomb Cree Nations are forcing people to flee with no clear return date. Red tape delayed federal help even after Pimicikamak declared an emergency on May 23.”

The Southern Chiefs’ Organization has mobilized its Mobile Crisis Response Team and is preparing donation drives to support over 17,000 displaced citizens.

As more communities are evacuated, Thunder Bay residents may once again be called upon to show solidarity—providing shelter, aid, and advocacy for displaced First Nations neighbours. This wildfire season is a test not only of government preparedness but also of regional cooperation, resource allocation, and the long-standing need to listen to Indigenous leadership before disaster strikes.