First Nations receive help in digging-out from flood

While Melvina Weasel Head was on the west end of the Siksika First Nation helping to sandbag other peoples’ homes as river water rose and rain poured in mid-June, her own house was flooding.

In 15 minutes, her son watched the water engulf the first floor and creep up the stairs to cover an inch on the second floor. Towels placed on the second floor helped prevent further damage.

And when the water receded from the first floor of Warren Drunken Chief’s home, not only was he left with irreparably damaged furniture, but black mould took over.

That’s where Samaritan’s Purse Canada came in.

When the 1,200 mostly southern Alberta volunteers left Siksika First Nation on Aug. 10, they had spent a month aiding 118 homeowners, digging out mud, sanitizing and preparing homes for rebuild or repair.

Weasel Head says when she was told Samaritan’s Purse Canada was coming to help she was expecting a handful of volunteers.
 “I wasn’t expecting so many… I thank God (they) are helping us. It makes the load lighter for us,” she said.

“We were just amazed how they just walked in our house and they just go bam, bam, bam everything was out,” said Drunken Chief.

The group was invited by Chief Fred Rabbit Carrier, says Frank King, communications manager with Samaritan’s Purse Canada. The organization rolled onto the reserve with a tractor trailer full of disaster relief equipment, including fans, generators, shovels, rakes and wheel barrows.

“We’ve been definitely welcomed,” said King.

“How many people in the world actually just come out and do that free? It’s almost unheard of in our area. People’ve got to get paid big bucks, make sure they get … lots of money before you do something,” said Drunken Chief.

Weasel Head, who helps plan vacation Bible school and services at the Little Washington Chapel, says prayer has been keeping her strong and is grateful for the work undertaken by Samaritan’s Purse along with their church partners.

“It’s a big help,” she said. “I really appreciate that from the bottom of my heart… not only for our family but for other families as well.”

Along with delivering hands-on work, King says volunteers were encouraged to take time to listen to residents. Rapid Response Team chaplains from sister organization Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada worked alongside the volunteers, counseling both the residents and the volunteers.

Samaritan’s Purse helped clean up from flood damage in other southern Alberta communities as well, although the organization focused on Siksika First Nation and High River, as they were the two communities most impacted, says King.

On June 20, the Siksika Nation, along with Tsuu T’ina Nation and Stoney Nakoda Nations declared states of local emergency and evacuated close to 2,000 residents.

Work to provide clothing, food, and other necessities to all impacted First Nations residents continues through a number of charitable organizations and the Canadian Red Cross is helping to organize both material and monetary donations. As well, donation relief funds have been established by Treaty 7, Siksika First Nation and Stoney Nakoda Nations.

The province provided pre-loaded debit cards of $1,250 per adult and $500 per child for those out-of-home for more than one week as well as on-the-ground expertise to help with assessing damaged homes.

The City of Calgary, the town of High River, and 20 other municipalities also declared local states of emergency on or around June 20.