Tuesday, June 10, 2025 – First Nations and Métis residents flee dangerous fires

In what is becoming an annual occurrence, numerous fires across at least three Canadian provinces are putting Indigenous nations residents at risk. The 3,000 citizens of the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation are affected by evacuations because of the fires. They are among the estimated 30,000 people forced to flee from some 200 wildfires. Many, like the Sandy Lake First Nation, had to be airlifted to safety. At one point, workers took refuge against the smoke and flames for several hours in a shipping container. Smoke from the fires are also degrading air quality in northern U.S. states. We’ll find out what is on the minds of Indigenous people affected by the fires and what long term solutions might be in store.

GUESTS

Tyson Wesley (Kashechewan Cree Nation), CEO of Creemergency

Dr. Amy Cardinal Christianson (Métis), senior fire advisor for Indigenous Leadership Initiative and board member of the International Association of Wildland Fire

Jimmy Côté, president of Creemergency

Break 1 Music: Reverberation Lim (song) Mike Bern (artist) Ancestors (album)

Break 2 Music: Shawnee Stomp Dance (song) Little Axe Singers (artist) Traditional Voices: Historic Recordings of Traditional Native American Music (album)