By Michael Aynsley

Red Earth First Nation evacuees headed home after flooding

Apr 21, 2011 | 3:26 PM

Members of the Red Earth First Nation are returning home after flooding forced them to spend six days at the Cosmo Civic Centre in Saskatoon.

Cyril Head was evacuated on Saturday and is anxious to return home.

“I am so happy, can’t wait to go home and sleep in my bed. I miss the community,” said Head.

The only road into the reservation flooded over the weekend causing the evacuation of more than 200 people. Elders and people with chronic illnesses were given the opportunity to stay at a Heritage Inn further down Circle Drive but nearly 150 residents moved into the Comso Civic Centre.

Today Red Earth Chief Miller Nawakayas said the road has been repaired and that it is safe for the people to return home.

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The evacuees loaded charter buses and headed to their homes located southeast of Nipawin.

Deanna Wysoskey with the Ministry of Social Services says they wanted to make the stay as comfortable as possible for the Red Earth Nation who have been forced from their homes due to flooding in the past.

“It was a really good experience for us. It was nice to see the people from Red Earth again, they’ve stayed with us before here in Saskatoon. It was really good to see some old faces and meet some new people. I found it to be a really positive experience and I hope they have as well,” said Wysoskey.

The Salvation Army had been providing meals to the evacuees while the ice rink has been serving as an eating area as well as a games room for the kids.

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