As wildfires intensify across Canada, Indigenous communities are once again facing the brunt of displacement—along with growing mental health challenges that experts say are preventable with better planning and resources.
In August 2023, Jeewa Liske, then four months pregnant, was among thousands forced to flee Yellowknife as smoke and flames closed in. The 23-year-old Dene woman drove 20 hours through thick smoke to Edmonton, before relocating to Victoria, B.C., separated from her firefighter spouse still battling blazes in the Northwest Territories.
“It was hard to breathe, and I was crying a lot,” Liske told Maple Newswire. She struggled to access prenatal care, adding another layer of stress to an already traumatic evacuation.
A Growing Pattern of Displacement
According to the Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, wildfires caused more than 190,000 internal displacements across Canada in 2023. Alarmingly, over 30,000 of those were Indigenous people—despite First Nations, Inuit, and Métis accounting for just 5% of the population.
“Indigenous communities are often located in remote, forested areas—right in the path of wildfires,” said psychologist Suzanne Stewart from the University of Toronto. She warns that repeated displacements can compound trauma, especially given Canada’s history of forced relocations.
Disconnection from Land, Family, and Culture
Evacuees frequently endure long separations from home, family, and support systems. Many are relocated hundreds of kilometres away with little say in their destination—often landing in hotels or shelters far removed from their cultural roots.
Katłįà Lafferty, Liske’s mother-in-law, hosted family members in Victoria during the 2023 fires. She emphasized the fear and helplessness elders in her community felt. “If you’re not with family, it’s really scary,” she said.
Calls for Indigenous-Led Solutions
Experts and Indigenous leaders are calling for targeted supports, including:
Culturally appropriate mental health services during and after evacuations.
Community-led evacuation planning, such as efforts by the Dene Nation to help identify vulnerable people.
Access to interpreters for Elders and culturally safe accommodation options.
Expanded use of cultural burns, traditional Indigenous fire practices that prevent catastrophic wildfires.
“These are not just emergencies—they’re opportunities to rethink how we protect people and honour Indigenous ways of knowing,” said Stewart.
A Lingering Dread
Although Liske and her family have since returned to Dettah, N.W.T., the trauma remains. Her partner is currently battling wildfires in Saskatchewan, and smoky skies still trigger anxiety.
“Whenever there’s a blue sky, I’m thankful,” said Lafferty.
As the 2025 wildfire season intensifies, experts stress that Canada must do more to safeguard Indigenous communities—not only from fire, but from the emotional scars left behind.
