Fire/Smoke/Evacuations--Saskatchewan FNIHB Update, July 9, 2015
Key Messages





Over 13,000 people have been evacuated.
Provincial/Red Cross system is providing for over 7,000 people
Evacuations will continue into next week.
Our northen First Nation Health partners are actively participating/managing the
response to the evacuations.
Health Canada continues to work with First Nation, federal and provincial
partners to ensure that the medical, cultural and mental health needs of
evacuees are being met.
First Nation communities in the process of returning



Sturgeon Lake First Nation
Red Earth First Nation
Little Red River (Lac La Ronge Indian Band and Montreal Lake Cree Nation
members)
Evacuation Status (the following is a list of the First Nation communities that are
fully or partially evacuated)
FULLY EVACUATED (Health Facilities Closed unless otherwise noted)
Clearwater River Dene Nation

The Landing (this community has six homes.)
English River First Nation

English River (Nursing Station is still open as 100 people are still in the
community)
Lac La Ronge Indian Band




Grandmother's Bay
Hall Lake
Laronge/Kitsaki
Sucker River
Montreal Lake Cree Nation (Main Community)
PARTIALLY EVACUATED (Health Facilities are still open unless otherwise noted.)






Birch Narrows First Nation (Band Office and Health Centre appear to be closed.)
Buffalo River Dene Nation
Canoe Lake Cree First Nation (main reserve)
Clearwater River Dene Nation (the main community has no nurse, as she
travelled with the priority 1 and 2 evacuees. Health Centre is open with nonmedical staff. EMS is available from nearby La Loche.)
Lac La Ronge Indian Band: Stanley Mission
Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation: Deschambault Lake, Southend
Wildfire Update







It is hoped that with the additional fire fighters (military personnel) there will be
able to control and suppress the fires threatening communities.
Chief Tammy Cook-Searson put out a call for 250 volunteers to help fight fires-around 700 members of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band signed up.
If you want to stay on top of the fire situation around La Ronge, Air Ronger and
the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, you should bookmark Chief Tammy CookSearson's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TammyCookSearson
With winds out of the south there is should be some reduction of the smoke
south of Prince Albert.
No significant rainfall likely in the next couple of days.
The Province is working to maintain power and phone services as fires take
down poles.
Here's the map of the current fires:
http://www.environment.gov.sk.ca/firefiles/activefires.pdf



Here's the map on the current Fire Hazard in the north and the map for tomorrow:
Today's
forecast: http://www.environment.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=0876a4a5-0d9a495f-a90a-90c6dd4f73fe
Tomorrow's
forecast: http://www.environment.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=3828f5ca-06cb420a-bd19-dfed4785c99e
Evacuation Centres


As the evacuation continues, the anxieties and concerns of evacuees continues
to increase.
The Mental Health Teams from the Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC), the
STC Health and Family Services (STCHFS), the White Raven Healing Lodge
and the Onion Lake Cree Nation (OLCN) continue to provide mental wellness
supports in Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Regina and Cold Lake (Alberta)
respectively.
Prince Albert Evacuation Centre


The Prince Albert Grand Council, the Northern Inter Tribal Health Authority
(NITHA) and the Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) are providing nursing
services in Prince Albert in coordination with PA Parkland Health Region
(PAPHR).
Staff from FNIHB's North Service Centre continue to assist at the evacuation
centres.
Saskatoon


The Saskatoon Health Region continues to provide the primary care and public
health needs at the centres.
FNIHB is providing additional funding to STCHFS to ramp up services at the STC
Urban Clinic as evacuees are accessing services from the clinic.
Regina


FNIHB is providing nurses to work with Regina Qu'Appelle Heath
Region's primary care and public health teams.
Community Health Nurses from File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council are be
scheduled into the rotation next week.
North Battleford

Prairie North Health Region continues to provide the health support for the
evacuees in hotels.
Cold Lake




While this site is in Alberta it is being managed as part of the Saskatchewan's
response.
Nursing services are being provided by Alberta Health Services.
Alberta FNIHB has NIHB personnel on site to facilitate access evacuees access
to benefits.
An Alberta FNIHB EHO is on site to provide inspection and assessment services
at the evacuation centre (in coordination with Alberta Health Services EHOs) and
at English Bay on the Cold Lake First Nation where approximately 50 evacuee
are camped out.
Unofficial Evacuation Centres






Meadow Lake--while this not an official site, there are evacuees in hotels and
camping out. MLTC is providing meals at Flying Dust. Prairie North Health
Region (PNHR) has reported no pressures on their medical services in the
community.
As First Nations want to support First Nations the Prince Albert Grand Council is
working with First Nations within the Prince Albert to explore establishing on
reserve evacuation centres.
PAGC Health staff are assessing the First Nation sites to see if they meet Red
Cross and Emergency Social Services.
The First Nations being considered are: Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, Beardy &
Okemais Willow Cree First Nation, James Smith Cree Nation, Muskeg Lake Cree
Nation and Muskoday First Nation. At present the only First Nation with an
unofficial evac centre is Beardy's & Okemasis.
While PAGC was invited to do the assessment by the leadership of each First
Nation, it is coordinating assessments with the Public Health service providers for
the non-PAGC First Nations.
At this time neither the Province nor AANDC is supporting the use of evacuation
centres on reserves. The position taken is that there is limited capacity and it
does not make sense moving evacuees from urban centres where there is easier
access to resources and services. They have also suggested this proposal
should be explored after the fire evacuations are over.
Lifting of Evacuations

Dr. Ndbuka, Medical Health Officer, Northern Inter- Tribal Health Authority, will
provide the health authority clearance before evacuees are repatriated to their
home communities.
Non-Insured Health Benefits


For evacuees in Saskatchewan, Maureen Sebastian, Program Officer, 306-7807007 is the contact for NIHB issues.
For evacuees in Cold Lake, people should contact the NIHB person on site.
Going Forward


Saskatchewan FNIHB is setting up a conference call with the Prince Albert
Grand Council to discuss the provision of primary care and public health services
for any evacuees moved to a centre on a First Nation.
FNIHB is identifying human resources available within FNIHB and First Nation
Health Services available to support the services to evacuees as the evacuation
continue.