Alberta wildfires push thousands of Indigenous people from their homes

By Shari Narine  Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Metis Settlement General Council President Dave Lamouche is on his way to East Prairie Metis Settlement to “see the devastation,” he told Windspeaker.com this afternoon. The community was caught between two fires and evacuated late Friday. About 500 to 600 people made their way to High Prairie. About 40 structures have been lost, said Lamouche. “Sheds, farms and stuff like that.” Some community members have remained behind to help with firefighting efforts, said Lamouche. On Sunday, East Prairie Metis Settlement was joined by Gift Lake Metis Settlement in declaring local states of emergency. Gift Lake Metis Settlement has not evacuated, said Lamouche, but the communities of Gift Lake and Whitefish Lake First Nation (Atikameg) have been without electricity and water since Friday. Whitefish…

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