In a bold call to action, a Manitoba First Nations chief is urging the provincial government to declare a state of emergency to free up hotel accommodations for Indigenous people facing a worsening housing crisis.
Chief Shirley Ducharme of the O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation, located near South Indian Lake, is sounding the alarm on the increasingly dire conditions facing her community. As wildfire season intensifies and chronic housing shortages persist, she says families are being left with nowhere to go — and that existing provincial supports simply aren’t enough.
“We are dealing with a humanitarian crisis,” Chief Ducharme said during a recent press briefing. “Many of our people are living in overcrowded and unsafe conditions, while dozens of hotels in Winnipeg sit empty. We need immediate action. The province must step in and use emergency measures to make these facilities available.”
The demand comes amid broader concerns from northern First Nations leadership about the lack of accessible, temporary housing for evacuees and homeless families. With forest fires threatening several remote communities and displacement becoming a recurring reality, leaders say the existing infrastructure is insufficient.
Ducharme has specifically asked the Manitoba government to use its powers under the Emergency Measures Act to requisition hotel rooms for Indigenous people who have been forced from their homes, either by natural disasters or the systemic housing crisis that has long plagued northern communities.
“We’ve seen it before — during floods, during COVID-19 — the province has taken extraordinary steps to protect people,” she added. “Why are we not doing the same for Indigenous families who are living in cars or tents right now?”
Advocates and legal experts have noted that under Manitoba’s Emergency Measures Act, the province can indeed commandeer private facilities — including hotels — during declared emergencies. However, such declarations require a formal request and a demonstrated threat to life, property, or essential services.
So far, Premier Wab Kinew’s government has not responded publicly to Chief Ducharme’s plea. But pressure is building as more First Nations leaders rally behind her call. Many say the issue is not just about emergency shelter but about equity and the long-standing neglect of Indigenous housing needs.
Recent reports have highlighted that some northern families are waiting years for adequate housing. In some cases, as many as 15 people are crammed into single-family homes. Without proper shelter, community members are more vulnerable to health risks, domestic violence, and educational setbacks.
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs is expected to convene later this week to further discuss coordinated action, including formal lobbying of both the provincial and federal governments.
For now, Ducharme is standing firm in her message: “Our people deserve dignity and safety. We cannot wait until another tragedy forces us to act.”
Swifteradio.com
