A view of the smoke Tuesday, created by the Bell fire. (Submitted photo/PAGC)

By Nigel Maxwell

Away from home

Wildfire evacuees growing anxious and running short on funds, said coordinator

Oct 7, 2021 | 12:00 PM

Nearly 600 men, women and children from Shoal Lake Cree Nation are anxiously waiting in Prince Albert for confirmation they can return home.

It’s been seven days since a raging wildfire forced them to leave the comfort of their community and travel to the city. Shane McKay is staying at a hotel with his wife and three young children, and recalls how thick the smoke was.

“The smoke came into our houses so we were forced to evacuate,” he said.

Aldina Lathlin is a youth worker in the community and is now one of the activity coordinators. She said one of the challenges is keeping the youth busy, describing her own’s son’s feelings of anxiety.

“He’s 17 years old and he’s saying I want to go home, when are we going home,” she said.

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During the days, community members have been travelling to Camp Tamarack, and at nights, entertainment is being provided through game nights such as bingo and cards. Lathlin explained funds are running short, adding the money they do get from the band can be used only for hotels and food. Fortunately GST cheques arrived on Tuesday.

“Normally we would be out shopping for groceries and paying bills but they had to pay for entertainment for the kids to keep them busy,” she explained.

She added even the hotel rooms are overcrowded.

“There’s only two beds and there’s some families who have five or six kids, small ones, and they are running around and they have nothing to do,” she said.

Coordinators with the Red Cross have been assisting with the evacuation effort. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

Lathlin said het auntie back home told her the sky has cleared but there are concerns the wind will shift. Currently, air quality advisories are in place for most of southern and central Saskatchewan.

Chris Stammers, a meteorologist with Environment Canada said starting Thursday cooler conditions will be more of the norm, and it will go a long way in helping fire crews tackle wildfires in the province.

“For most of the province we are going to be seeing improvement during the day on Thursday,” he said.

An additional 600 plus people were evacuated from Red Earth Cree Nation and have been staying in Saskatoon and Regina.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell

— with files from 650 CKOM