Manitoba students celebrate grad amidst wildfire evacuation

Various organizations came together to help give the students of Chemawawin Cree Nation a chance to celebrate their graduation.

Students from Chemawawin Cree Nation are being given another chance to celebrate their high school graduation, after a wildfire forced them to evacuate their homes last week.

It was around 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, shortly after the ceremony had started, the school received word from the Red Cross they had to evacuate, because of the approaching fire just outside the community.

READ MORE: Forest fire near First Nation forces thousands to evacuate with no place to go

The students, along with 2,000 other residents, were brought to Winnipeg while crews battled the blaze near their home.

Various organizations came together to help give the students a chance to celebrate their graduation, including Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and the Canadian Red Cross.

The graduation will take place Tuesday at 6pm at the Holiday Inn near the airport.

READ MORE: 'It's like a ghost town': Easterville, Chemawawin Cree Nation evacuated due to wildfires

The Manitoba government issued the evacuation order for the remote communities of Easterville and Chemawawin Cree Nation on Thursday.

Both communities are approximately 450 km north of Winnipeg.