Financial assistance to come from a number of fronts

Victor Horseman is hopeful that money from the newly established provincial Slave Lake relief fund will help the situation of Treaty 8 evacuees.

“Even if members want to go back closer to home, I’ve heard that most motels are full occupancy, up to three families staying in one room, people sleeping on the floor,” said Horseman, Grand Chief liaison at the Treaty 8 sub-office in Edmonton.

The provincial government has established a $50-million relief program to meet the immediate needs of evacuees and to rebuild Slave Lake and surrounding communities. To help pay for costs as a result of being evacuated from their homes, individual adult evacuees are eligible to receive $1,250, and children under 18 are eligible for $500.

For those who cannot find and cannot afford temporary housing, the Emergency Accommodation Plan will help place people and cover up to 100 per cent of their housing costs until the end of August. Evacuees will then be assessed individually to determine their ongoing housing needs. Financial and housing assistance are available immediately.

Treaty 8 members are being encouraged to register with the Canadian Red Cross, which is the first step to accessing the government program.

However some complications have arisen with that registration because of the identification data base.
“We’ve had good discussions with Canadian Red Cross in addressing some of the gaps with First Nations members,” said Horseman.

Money from the provincial government isn’t the only financial aid that will be forthcoming for Treaty 8 members.

The Confederacy of Treaty 6 has already donated funds. All member nations, the independent nation, the tribal council and the conference office have each given $1,000 for a total of $24,000.

“We’ll put it into a trust account that we’ll build up. Once we’ve over come critical mass and have better understanding of the needs, then we’ll try and develop different strategies,” said Horseman.

Horseman wouldn’t put a dollar figure to the losses. He said he heard an insurance company say $250 million was paid out in 2003 Kelowna wildfire that destroyed 238 homes and the insurance company said at least $300 million will be paid out here.

Horseman said he worked for the Canadian Red Cross and as far as disasters go, the fires that continue to ravage the Treaty 8 traditional area are up at the top for loss.

“We’re trying to be cognizant and cautious until critical mass so we have a better understanding of what is going to be needed,” said Horseman.

Once that is determined, Treaty 8 will work with a fundraising developer to come up with a fundraising strategy.

Also on the Treaty 8 agenda is a meeting between Treaty 8 chief operating officer Joseph Jobin and Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.

“They’ll talk to the grand chiefs from the three tribal councils most impacted by these fires and see what measure of support the federal government can provide,” said Horseman.

The Canadian Red Cross is also taking financial donations for the fire evacuees.

An estimated 2,300 Treaty 8 members have been displaced by the wildfires that began burning in the northern region of the province mid-May.

Photo Caption: Victor Horseman in the situation room at the Treaty 8 sub-office: a map marks the status of the fires and the whiteboard keeps track of damage and evacuation notices.