(THUNDER BAY – INDIGENOUS NEWS) – As wildfires sweep across Northern Ontario, Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa is calling on the Ford government to take swift, comprehensive action to support First Nations communities now facing imminent threats to safety, health, and infrastructure. Deer Lake First Nation and Webequie First Nation have both declared States of Emergency as nearby wildfires — Red Lake 12 and Nipigon 5 — continue to grow in size and intensity.
Deer Lake’s evacuation, prompted by the rapidly advancing Red Lake 12 blaze (7,500 hectares), is being planned in full. Webequie First Nation has begun a Phase 1 evacuation for elders, medically vulnerable residents, and children as smoke and unpredictable winds from the 1,200-hectare Nipigon 5 fire create hazardous conditions.
“I am calling on the Government of Ontario to fully support the communities of Deer Lake and Webequie,” said Mamakwa, Deputy Leader of the Ontario NDP and Shadow Minister for Indigenous and Treaty Relations. “This is not the time for bureaucracy or budget cuts — it is a time for coordinated, compassionate action.”
Mamakwa’s statement comes as Ontario faces criticism for slashing $42 million from emergency forest firefighting in its 2025 budget, even while wildland fire seasons become longer and more dangerous due to climate change. He emphasized the urgency of increasing funding and protections for wildland firefighters, who are “on the frontlines protecting northern lives.”
Thunder Bay, which often serves as a regional hub for evacuees from remote First Nations during wildfire emergencies, may once again play a crucial role in hosting displaced community members. As Manitoba undertakes its largest evacuation since 1997, and wildfires across northwestern Ontario impact areas like Wabaseemoong and Saugeen, local officials and service providers in Thunder Bay should prepare for an influx of evacuees needing health care, shelter, and community support.
Mamakwa also acknowledged the strength and leadership of local First Nations governments: “Meegwetch to the Chiefs and Councils of Deer Lake and Webequie for your decisive action in keeping people safe. And to all the frontline workers — your work does not go unnoticed.”
With multiple fires still active across the region — including Kenora 20, Sioux Lookout 3, and others — the risk to remote First Nations remains high. As the wildfire season intensifies, Mamakwa’s call for better funding and Indigenous-led emergency response grows more urgent — not just for the North, but for Ontario as a whole.
