Mental strain the worst part, says evacuee

From May 28 and ongoing, four of the seven M.D. of Opportunity communities were evacuated, plus another First Nation in the back lakes. Three of these communities are shared with First Nations. All four evacuated M.D. councillors were at the June 11 council meeting.

“We’re treated well in Edmonton,” said Louis Cardinal from Peerless Lake, “by PTFN (Peerless Lake First Nation) and the hotels. It’s the mental health things we’re dealing with.”

A big part of that is knowing that their neighbour, Chipewyan Lake, lost half of its buildings, he said, and wondering if their community is next. Some of the evacuees from Peerless and Trout have never been to Edmonton before. As of June 11, they had been there 14 days.

Each of these communities have populations in the 100s. Edmonton has well over a million people.

Evacuees from all of these communities have access to mental health supports.

Councillor Leo Alook, from Trout Lake, didn’t say much in the meeting, on the evacuation, but mentioned having not been home since the end of May.

Roy Cardinal is the M.D. councillor for Chipewyan Lake, which lost 49 per cent of its buildings to a wildfire on May 30. Evacuees from this community are in Wabasca. The evacuees are being supported by the M.D. and Bigstone Cree Nation.

“It’s hard on the people,” he said, at the June 11 meeting. Each morning, people wake up and realize there’s nothing to go home to.

“You are doing an amazing job as a leader for your community,” Councillor Cheri Courtorielle, told him. She mentioned that at meetings Bigstone and the M.D. held for Chipewyan Lake, Yellowknee translates into Cree.

Councillor Darlene Jackson mentioned that at the June 11 meeting she’d learned that parents are concerned about their children being exposed to drugs in Wabsaca.

“Everyone’s okay,” said Brendan Powell, Red Earth Creek councillor. Not good, he added, but okay. They are frustrated to still be away from home and wanting to return, but everyone realizes that people are doing the best they can. The Red Earth community appreciates the M.D.’s support.

Loon Lake in Loon River First Nation has also been evacuated.

“Pray for safety. Pray for rain. Pray for less winds,” said Loon River First Nation Chief Ivan Sawan on June 11 at 10:40 p.m.

The weekend of June 14 and 15, rain brought the fire danger down to low. However, the Red Earth East fires remained out of control.

In the June 11 update, Sawan mentioned that a change in wind (over the next 12 hours) had the potential to move SWF092 closer to Red Earth and Loon Lake. Thankfully, the fire didn’t move significantly west. On June 15, it remained seven km southeast of Red Earth.

Alberta Wildfire has built multiple dozer guards on the west side of the fire, said Sawan. Sprinklers and other structural protection are set up in the communities. Also, security guards are at all entrances to Loon Lake.

It is very important people don’t try to enter the community, said Sawan.