Article appeared in the June 16, 2011 issue of the Interlake Spectator…
Oliver and Clara Pruden
It is expected that the group will not be returning to their home community any time soon, as the flood waters have devastated many homes there, and forecasts indicate flooding will continue into the summer, according to government estimates.
“We’re here for a long time,” said Cheryl Sutherland, one of the coordinators employed with the Manitoba Association of Native Firefighters, who is overseeing the group at Misty Lake.
The majority of the evacuees, a total of 76, are children who have come with parents or grand parents. The children range in age from toddlers to teens. For this past month, they have not been attending school, and with few resources at their disposal, it has been a challenge for adults to keep them occupied day in and day out.
Funds are in place to cover costs of food and shelter only. Other than that, most of the evacuees have little money. Some have been waiting more that three weeks for a pay check. Others have to make arrangements to get checks that are sent to the reserve.
“It’s hard to do things when you don’t have the funds,” said one woman who wishes to remain anonymous.
Coordinators have been helping out by taking the children on two outings to Assiniboine Park, but at their own expense, as most of the evacuees are without resources.
Feelings among evacuees are mixed about being displaced from their homes and finding themselves in new surroundings. However, many of them are satisfied with the accommodations, although quite anxious about their futures and the state of their homes on the reserve.
Sixty-three-year-old Marie McKay has her six grandchildren with her, who range in age from 4 to 16. They are sharing two rooms, but are coping well.
“None of them miss home. They like it here. They let me rest—they go outside and play,” she said. As for herself, she said her trailer always floods in bad weather.
“I’m fed up with it already,” said McKay.
Clara and Oliver Pruden, both in their 70s, arrived with eight people in one vehicle, but left behind family who continued with sand bagging efforts to stave off continued flooding, a situation which has only gotten worse since the community was evacuated.
The Prudens are used to being flooded out by now. They have been enjoying the beautiful view of the lake from their hotel room. They say their trailer floods every year.
“They might as well move us to higher ground,” said Oliver, regarding the possibility of relocating the entire community, “But I can’t speak for everyone,” he added.
The Prudens are lucky in that their pension cheques are direct deposited. Their biggest worry is getting their hydro and telephone bills so that they can pay them on time.
For most others, accessing money has been difficult. Thirty-five-year-old Crystal Sumner, mother of seven children, aged 2 to 16, has had to resort to calling on a relative living in Eastern Manitoba to drive to Little Saskatchewan, located 3 hours north of Winnipeg on Hwy 6, to pick up her child supplement cheque. About $100 of that then has to go to reimburse for the cost of gas, leaving her short of money for her children.
Despite that, Sumner said she likes staying at Misty Lake Lodge, although it is not without its stress.
“I like it here, but sometimes the kids get out of hand—not just my kids, but all the kids.
Sumner feels the stress and strain of the difficult situation.
“I just feel so depressed,” she said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. When it rains, I think about the flood back home. I hope it ends soon. I just wish it would be over soon, not only for my community, but for all the other communities who are flooded.”
What the evacuees need is help from this community: donations of craft supplies, games, and used sports equipment, as well as gently used clothing. They could use a few people who are willing to volunteer to read stories to children, teach sports or dance, or engage them in any number of activities.
In the meantime, Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister Eric Robinson said in a Jun. 3 press release, “We won’t let jurisdictional issues get in the way of helping First Nations people who are affected by flood waters.”
In a recent telephone interview, Gimli MLA, Peter Bjornson said that he is well aware of the situation, and that it is being discussed around the caucus table.
However, it remains unclear how long it will take before the children can be given more structured activities to help take the pressure off wearied adults, or whether they will be able to attend school during their stay in Gimli.
Little Saskatchewan evacuees at Misty Lake lodge
