An Ontario company linked to Missanabie Cree First Nation has registered to lobby the federal government for funding for an emergency evacuation shelter.

According to the IJF’s lobbying database, Aawan Maskwa Ltd. registered on July 6 to seek a grant, contribution or other financial benefit from Indigenous Services Canada and Women and Gender Equality Canada for an emergency evacuation shelter.

The filing does not specify where the proposed shelter would be located, how much funding the company is seeking or what type of emergency it would be used to respond to. Aawan Maskwa has not responded to a request for comment.

The registration identifies Missanabie Cree First Nation as an organization with a direct interest in the outcome of the lobbying.

Aawan Maskwa is based in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., and is affiliated with ISN Maskwa, which runs an Indigenous Emergency Operations Centre that supports First Nations with emergency planning, response coordination and logistics during emergencies.

According to ISN Maskwa's website, the centre has teams that can also be deployed to communities during emergencies to help co-ordinate response efforts and provide operational support.

The registration predates the recent escalation of wildfires across northwestern Ontario.

Since mid-July multiple First Nations including Whitewater Lake First Nation and Namaygoosisagagun (Collins) First Nation, where homes and community buildings were destroyed, have been forced to evacuate as fast-moving fires spread across the region.

The Ontario government has also requested federal assistance as the province continues to battle dozens of active fires in the northwest.

Many of the communities affected by the wildfire emergency are remote First Nations, highlighting the importance of emergency infrastructure and evacuation planning.

While the registration does not reference the current wildfire emergency, the recent evacuations provide new context for the company’s effort to secure funding for emergency shelter infrastructure.

According to the filing, the company did not receive government funding during its last completed financial year.

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