Fire highlights housing shortage

A fire on a Northern Saskatchewan First Nation may highlight a bigger problem.

The small, wooden structure went up in smoke Tuesday night on the 101 First Nation, a reserve of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band near the town of La Ronge.

A 32-year-old man died in the fire.

According to the La Ronge Fire Department there was no electricity and no signs of a working smoke detector.

This isn’t a unique situation. There are dozens of small structures just like it within the band, said Tammy Cook-Searson, chief of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band.

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There is a housing shortage within their communities and some people are using these small structures as forms of temporary housing, she said.

“We do have 500 existing band units within La Ronge … and we do have a high waiting list. We have an estimated 150 active housing applications for band housing just within La Ronge,” said Cook-Searson.

Right now the band council has no policy pertaining to these shack-like structures.

“If they want to build a storage unit or shed behind their house, it is not approved by council. We probably have to have some kind of policies in place, but if people build something behind their house, we don't say anything.”

Cook-Searson said she is open to discussion.

“Probably in the future we will look at reviewing the policy, but it is unfortunate this incident happened.”

nmaxwell@panow.com