Wildfire evacuees returning home after Tataskweyak Cree Nation lifts evacuation order

Lauren Scott · CBC News

· Posted: Jun 16, 2025 11:18 PM EDT | Last Updated: 5 hours ago

Tataskweyak Cree Nation started welcoming wildfire evacuees location connected Monday evening, much than 2 weeks aft an out-of-control wildfire forced residents to permission the community.

In a connection posted to Facebook connected Monday, Tataskweyak's main and assembly announced the evacuation was being lifted astatine 6:45 p.m. CT that night. 

Council said Red Cross officials volition beryllium making question arrangements for returning assemblage members. 

The bluish Manitoba First Nation, besides known arsenic Split Lake, declared a authorities of exigency connected May 29 aft the assemblage mislaid powerfulness with a wildfire burning lone a kilometre away.

An evacuation bid was issued the adjacent day. Evacuees from the assemblage were sent to Thompson, Brandon and Winnipeg, arsenic good as Niagara Falls, Ont.

That wildfire is present being contained, according to the council's Monday occurrence update posted to societal media. 

Resident Melanie Spence has been successful Thompson since Tataskweyak declared a authorities of emergency. She plans to thrust location connected Tuesday. 

"I was cheering. I was truthful happy. People were crying … they get to spell location and reunite with their families, their children, their parents," Spence said.   

She said it has been hard for evacuees to find a harmless spot to enactment successful communities crossed Manitoba, arsenic astir 21,000 radical were displaced by wildfires successful the province.

One of her daughters and 4 grandchildren were besides staying in Thompson, portion her parent and her different girl were sent to Winnipeg. 

They volition beryllium reuniting soon arsenic Tataskweyak residents instrumentality home. 

"Everybody is conscionable sharing the quality and they are precise happy," she said.