Chief calls on province to use emergency measures to free up Manitoba hotels [Video]

A First Nations chief is calling on the Manitoba government to use the Emergency Measures Act to free up hotel space in Winnipeg to help house thousands of wildfire evacuees.

Pimicikamak Cree Nation Chief David Monias wrote a letter to the provincial government Monday, imploring it to use emergency legislation to order hotels to prioritize accommodations for evacuees.

“This is about protecting lives, keeping families together and ensuring our people are not subjected to further trauma or indignity,” Monias said in a statement.

A provincewide state of emergency was declared on May 28 after out-of-control wildfires led to the mandatory evacuations of Flin Flon, Pimicikamak Cree Nation and Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, also known as Pukatawagan.

Soon more evacuations were ordered — including Lynn Lake and Tataskwayak Cree Nation (Split Lake) — leaving more than 17,000 people potentially in need of shelter.

Over the weekend, First Nations leaders said hotels …