After 2-week wildfire evacuation, Sask. First Nations hope to enhance emergency management
Hundreds of evacuees are returning home to the Red Earth and Shoal Lake Cree Nations after a wildfire left an unsafe smoky haze lingering in their homes.
It’s the second time this wildfire season the communities have evacuated – leaving the chiefs looking to strengthen their independent emergency response plans.
“We get a better service if we do it ourselves instead of waiting for somebody that’s supposed to be providing the service to our communities. It’s just not there,” said Shoal Lake Chief Marcel Head.
The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency is responding to the nearby wildfire. However, Head said the response wasn’t quick enough to prevent evacuations.
“(Wildfires are) affecting our communities. We may as well do that ourselves because I think we do a better job.”
Fred Bradshaw is the MLA for Carrot River Valley, which includes Shoal Lake and Red Earth.
“There’s been some problems. The thing is, this year we’ve just had an abnormally dry year in the forest and any little thing will set off a fire and it’s very difficult to put out when it’s this dry,” Bradshaw said.
He added that trained firefighters from Shoal Lake and Red Earth are working with the public safety agency, but Head said it would be best if they “completely take over.”
Head said he and Red Earth’s chief, Fabian Head, want a national plan where every First Nation has its own emergency response centre. This would also include other emergency resources, such as search and rescue.
“Obviously we need support in terms of equipment to go along with our response plan,” Fabian said, explaining how Red Earth’s 1986 fire truck isn’t optimal for a proper response.
“It’s infrastructure like that that we need to be able to handle these emergencies.”
Head estimated about 600 people evacuated from Shoal Lake, while about 800 people fled from Red Earth.
Fabian said the two communities will likely see smoke on and off throughout the winter.
“It’s just that idea of having to be on standby more or less now going into the winter season, into the winter months knowing that the fire is still there, it will still be burning.”
The two chiefs have been vocal about how wildfires are impacting Indigenous lands, killing off wildlife needed for hunting and trapping.
“That’s why we had to send that message – SOS,” Fabian said.
“Save our ancestral lands, save our trapping lands, our hunting lands, our campgrounds.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Manitoba mom praises quick-thinking fire department for freeing daughter stuck in playground equipment
A Manitoba mother is praising firefighters for their quick work in helping her daughter who got stuck at a playground in Lorette, Man.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.