Fire deaths of children raise concerns

Concern is being raised about the number of First Nations children dying in fires on reserves. According to Opposition NDP Leader Cam Broten, fires on reserves have taken the lives of four children since September. Three children lost their lives in Pelican Narrows and one other died on Witchekan Lake First Nation. A study commissioned by the federal government suggested First Nations people are 10 times more likely to die in a fire than the rest of the population. While reserves are federal jurisdiction, Saskatchewan minister responsible for First Nations Jim Reiter said the province’s emergency management team will continue to assist in the investigation and will examine “possibly … play(ing) a bigger role in training for emergency services on First Nations.”