Costs still coming in for loss following northern wildfires

“The general feeling is number one, an evacuation of that size and nobody got hurt? That’s excellent,” said Joseph Jobin, chief operating officer in the Edmonton office of the Treaty 8 First Nations. “We got very lucky.”

In May, four northern First Nations — Whitefish, Sawridge, Woodland, and Loon River — were evacuated in their entirety due to raging wildfires that swept the Slave Lake region, north and east of the town. Slave Lake residents were also evacuated. People took up temporary residence in Edmonton and in communities surrounding Slave Lake including Valleyview, Grande Prairie, High Prairie, Peace River and Wabasca.

All residents have returned home to their First Nations and Jobin isn’t aware of any structural damages.

“It’s a matter of what do we do now?” said Jobin.

Funding from Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Canada has allowed Treaty 8 to hire a post-emergency coordinator, who will deliver a report to ANAC in September.

“He will gather the information on what is needed to go forward,” said Jobin.

Some First Nations were without power for 10 to 14 days and members returned home to find refrigerators and freezers full of rotting meat and other spoiled products. Others faced houses with water or smoke damage. Jobin had no dollar figures to offer for total damage.

Aboriginal Relations Minister Len Webber said the provincial government will be working closely with First Nations to help where possible.

“Given the recent devastation by wildfires, we are expediting any (First Nations Development Fund) funding applications associated with disaster recovery. First Nations can use there FNDP funding allocations to help their communities affected by the fires. Costs of temporary housing, food, clothing, medical supplies are all eligible,” said Webber.

As well, the provincial government announced $6.3 million to help build 70 rental units for low- to moderate-income Slave Lake and area residents. The project will be developed by Nova Builders Inc. and Slave Lake Equities. Construction is expected to begin shortly so tenants can move in by early 2012.

Jobin said ANAC is also offering financial support directly to the First Nations impacted, reimbursing them for costs expended during the emergency if those expenditures fit ANAC’s criteria.

The FNDP funding and ANAC funding is in addition to the $50-million relief program established by the federal and provincial governments to meet the immediate needs of evacuees and to rebuild Slave Lake and surrounding communities. To receive the funding, evacuees had to register with Red Cross. Adults were eligible to receive $1,250, and children under 18 received $500.

While Treaty 8 members living on-reserve didn’t suffer total losses the same cannot be said for members living in other communities, like Slave Lake. On May 25, phased-in re-entry began to the town, with essential personnel starting the return after critical infrastructure was confirmed as safe.

Jobin said Treaty 8 is supplying support through the Slave Lake Friendship Centre.

The ANAC-funded post-emergency coordinator will also be assessing how the emergency situation was handled and what needs to be improved should another emergency occur.

“Communication was lacking,” said Jobin. “What I’ve been hearing is that conflicting reports went to the First Nations about fire locations …. There were rumours and people were getting scared.”

Jobin wouldn’t offer any more comments, saying chiefs were still preparing their official statements.

In the meantime, a number of fundraisers have gone ahead. On May 28, Red Power hosted a concert at the Alberta Legislature in Edmonton. On June 15, the River Cree, on the Enoch First Nation, hosted a benefit concert with the net proceeds going to the Canadian Red Cross to support the Slave Lake area wildfire victims.

The Dreamcatcher Foundation and Treaty 7 Management Corporation combined to give a portion of the proceeds from the June 16 Black Tie gala in Calgary to support the First Nations communities displaced by the fire.

Jobin said Treaty 8 fundraisers are possible but “we’re going to wait for the communities to get back to us and tell us what they need. It’s still ongoing.”