Northern Alberta First Nation evacuees begin the challenging process of returning home and rebuilding after devastating wildfires.
Former DG Donna Barrett quickly organized a district grant of $10,000 per DG Brian Edwards’ request to support the Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council (KTC) in meeting the needs of First Nations evacuees in Edmonton.
KTC’s Director of Business Development Trevor Thera thanked Rotary for “quick action and significant contribution to the support efforts”. CEO Scott Hickling added “we are extremely moved by the generosity of donations to date.” Evacuation is only the first phase of a forest fire disaster. Returnees face challenges of clean up, restoration and replenishment, at minimum, and perhaps rebuilding. There is continuing need.
Scott reports KTC has “assembled a number of return to home packages and are working with our first nation – Loon River to return to community starting next week. This will allow almost 500 individuals to finally return home safe and sound and start being community on a much larger scale. We have been dealing with loss of food and contents as well from freezers and fridges with power going off and on, so food security is also one of the driving factors in returning.”
“Our other nation of almost 700 members is still evacuated from community. I was up last evening to Red Earth for a meeting with another of our nations and experienced the closed and barricaded highway. The smoke is much better now, but we are still on daily watch for two large fires that have surrounded the community of Peerless Trout First Nation. This is currently day by day, but moving forward they have been without power for almost a month as well, and will need to replace fridges and freezers as well as food stock. We are working with the government for the appliances, but this will be a daunting task. Return to home hampers will also happen for this nation as well, and we will begin that work shortly too.”
Rotarians have responded to the initial needs in many ways in addition to the District Grant. For example, Rotarians in St. Alberta ensured access to St. Albert facilities for evacuees while DG Brian Edwards made the same request of the City of Edmonton.
As Scott points out, there is continuing need as First Nations return to community and recovery begins. Rotary Clubs can provide assistance directly to Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council. Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council is a charitable entity under CRA Charitable Registration Number 898742143RR0001 and is able to issue receipts. Donations can be sent to the attention of
Scott Hickling Scott.Hickling@ktcadmin.ca
Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council
Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council
10451 – 170 Street NW
Edmonton, AB
T5P 4T2
KTC comprises the member Nations of: Loon River First Nation – #476; Lubicon Lake Band – #453; Peerless Trout First Nation – #478; Whitefish Lake First Nation – #459; and Woodland Cree First Nation – #474. It was formed in 1995 to facilitate joint action by the member Nations on matters of mutual concern.
