The Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation has started to build its own fire department from the ground up. Chief and council are seen in front of a newly purchased fire truck. (supplied/Barry Mitsuing-Chalifoux)

By Tyler Marr

MOVING FORWARD

Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation begins building fire department

Oct 9, 2019 | 3:49 PM

In February 2015, a fire on the Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation killed two-year-old Harley and 18-month-old Haley Cheenanow.

Three years later, a 32-year-old woman was reported unaccounted for after a house fire on the First Nation and confirmed dead shortly after.

Ever since, the community has worked to support those impacted by the tragedies and desired change.

“We lost lives and we have been feeling that ever since,” CEO Barry Mitsuing-Chalifoux said, noting the incidents were made worse by a lack of resources and funding support for fire services.

But soon, that will change for the community, as partnerships with the Prince Albert Grand Council’s (PAGC) Saskatchewan First Nations Emergency Management Program will see the Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation build its own fire department from the ground up.

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Mitsuing-Chalifoux said he and Chief Ronald Mitsuing were discussing needs for the community this summer and both agreed it was time to explore the idea of establishing a fire department. They hired an independent contractor and connections were soon made with PAGC and $10,000 in donated equipment was secured. Further connections were made with the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) to support grant applications.

The endeavour has culminated with Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation purchasing a fire truck with support from Indigenous Services Canada. It arrived in the community on Wednesday.

“It has been exciting,” he said. “We do have our challenges but we are trying to find ways to embrace these challenges and take them head-on. The community is trying to come together to find ways to support each other and those who need that.”

Working with another First Nation group to achieve the goal has been rewarding for Mitsuing-Chalifoux. For many years, he said it was difficult for First Nation communities to work together as each one had struggles to contend with and could not spare resources to help outside their borders.

But times have changed.

“It was very easy to streamline this and work together as they were just as excited and supportive as our chief and council and community to get something going,” he said. “It felt like we were working with our own people.”

Plans are in place to train volunteers through the PAGC’s emergency management program and explore options for a fire hall shortly.

Mitsuing-Chalifoux anticipates the department will be ready to respond to calls in the spring of 2020.

—

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr