Standing With the Land: Supporting First Nations Amid the Wildfires
As wildfires rage across Manitoba and Saskatchewan, the devastation stretches far beyond burned forests and smoke-filled skies. It strikes at the heart of First Nations communities whose deep ties to the land, traditional lifeways, and local infrastructure are threatened — and in some cases, already lost.
In the face of climate disasters, Indigenous Peoples are often among the most vulnerable and most resilient. These wildfires are not just an environmental crisis; they are a humanitarian, cultural, and ecological emergency. We must respond accordingly — with respect, urgency, and in partnership.
Understanding the Impact
Many First Nations communities are located in remote or northern regions. When wildfires break out, these areas are often at greater risk due to limited access to emergency services, fewer evacuation routes, and older infrastructure. Evacuations can mean long-distance relocations, often to unfamiliar urban centers, separating Elders from traditional lands and family networks.
Crossroads Cares, through our First Peoples Voices has proven relationships with Indigenous communities that are taking in people from areas that have been evacuated. Our hearts are with the families who have been displaced, and we are truly thankful for the strength of our collaborative partners who are providing food, hygiene supplies and comfort while they await safer days.
An estimated 25,000 people have been evacuated across the provinces, with some communities entirely displaced for an extended period of time. Hearts are heavy at the loss of homes, sacred sites, traditional hunting grounds and compromised water sources due to ash and debris.
Join us as we stand with Canada’s First Peoples, sharing in their plight and respectfully offering assistance with a heart of compassion. https://donate.crossroads.ca/fpv
In Prayer,
