Manitoba First Nations leaders say efforts to protect their northern Manitoba communities are being hampered by a lack of firefighting equipment.

“It’s like trying to fight a fire with a water pistol. That’s what our leaders were faced with,” Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) Grand Chief Garrison Settee said at a press conference Tuesday.

“Give us the equipment. Wherever you can get it from, take it to the north. Our people need it today.”

Settee’s calls were joined by Assembly of Manitoba Grand Chief Kyra Wilson, Pimicikamak Cree Nation Chief David Monias, and Mathias Colomb Cree Nation Chief Gordie Bear, calling on the provincial and federal governments for help battling the fires that have forced more than 17,000 to evacuated.

Chief Bear said his community’s firefighting equipme

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