A national Indigenous wildfire plan is reportedly in the works as crews fight wildfires near Shoal Lake and Red Earth. (Submitted photo/Prince Albert Grand Council)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Wildfire Action Plan

Sask First Nation Chief looking to create national Indigenous wildfire plan, receiving support from province

Oct 19, 2021 | 8:00 AM

meadowlakeAn Indigenous wildfire plan is reportedly in the works thanks to a Saskatchewan First Nation Chief.

Marcel Head, Chief of the Shoal Lake Cree Nation, spoke to reporters last week when he expressed his frustration over the lack of response on the wildfires near his community.

The heavy smoke has forced hundreds of his members, as well as individuals with the Red Earth Cree Nation, to evacuate to Prince Albert, Nipawin, and other communities.

“The Hudson Bay firebase has been telling us… not enough manpower, not enough equipment to fight the fire throughout the summer,” Head said.

He claims there’s plenty of equipment to fight back now, however, it only came once they needed to move people away due to potential health risks.

Raiders AGM

Raiders impact on Prince Albert local economy continues to go up: AGM report

14h ago

Court proceedings

'The impact of this trauma will echo for generations': court case surrounding La Ronge woman's death reaches conclusion

Dec 11, 2024

Going Global

P.A.'s Zablocki named to Team Canada for U18 Women's World Championships

Dec 11, 2024

In a statement, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Association noted resources were thinned out throughout the wildfire season.

“To date, Saskatchewan has had 621 wildfires, which is more than double the five-year average of 301.”

“Late in the season, the SPSA responded to several fires in the Hudson Bay area by recalling and redeploying crews from across the province. Crews were also redeployed to address smaller fire starts in the area in order to prevent them from growing into larger fires.”

Fred Bradshaw, MLA for Carrot River Valley which oversees Shoal Lake and Red Earth, echoed the same message.

“There have been problems, but we’ve had an abnormally dry year in the forest and any little thing will set off a fire.”

Meanwhile, the wildfire plan wouldn’t be for Shoal Lake or Saskatchewan, but rather for Indigenous communities across the country.

“Fires have broken out in other provinces; we’ve heard stories of houses getting on fire because of the lack of support,” Head added.

He’s developing it with help from the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and Prince Albert Grand Council to ensure no community must evacuate due to a lack of response and resources.

Head also believes there’s a spot for the SPSA to partner, something the organization plans to do.

“Wildfire management is a shared responsibility, and as such the (SPSA) supports any community or organization that is interested in establishing or enhancing their own emergency management efforts to ensure their ongoing safety,” read the agency’s statement.

“SPSA staff remain available to assist or provide guidance on the development of those efforts.”

paNOW reached out to the FSIN but didn’t receive a response by the time of publication.

—

Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow