SASKATOON — Denare Beach resident and Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation member Keri Lentowicz is one of the hundreds in her community who lost their homes in one of Saskatchewan’s worst wildfires in a decade.
She is asking the government to support northern Saskatchewan residents whose homes burned down, as they begin rebuilding and returning to their respective communities.
Lentowicz joined other northern residents, along with Saskatchewan NDP MLAs Jordan McPhail (Cumberland), April ChiefCalf (Saskatoon Westview), and Keith Jorgensen (Saskatoon Churchill-Wildwood), at a media briefing on Thursday at the Delta Hotel.
She said she expects some people will remain displaced, especially those who don’t have home insurance and cannot return to their communities, as they are also facing a rental shortage. Others, like her, were fortunate enough to have friends offer temporary shelter.
“A family friend offered me his cabin. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to stay there during the winter. I'm lucky that my dog survived, but that's about it. But at least I can go back ... and reconnect,” said Lentowicz.
“That's what many people want, to go back and reconnect and see what's there and start planning. What are we going to do? How many of us can afford to build homes? Who had insurance? Who can we take in if we still have a place to live?”
She added that her house was among the 400 structures — including 218 homes, detached garages and businesses — that were destroyed in the Wolf Fire on June 2, a site ravaged by wildfire for two weeks.
“Many of those people who were displaced still have no help. My neighbours and I do not have houses or any belongings to go back to. I'm going to miss my Garfield (stuffed toy) that I had for 43 years. There are about 24 homes on our reserve which are gone,” she said.
“We know how long it takes for the community to help rebuild those homes. … One of my friends lost her business, which was a great addition to the community — a small convenience store where hot food was served. She also lost her home.”
Lentowicz said her cousin, who ran a lodge with hotel rooms, cabins to rent and a restaurant, also lost everything. The lodge's employees are now without jobs, and all have been evacuated.
She said some evacuees with children are jobless and have yet to receive financial assistance, including the $500 promised by Premier Scott Moe — an amount she says is far from adequate.
“Yay! We get $500. That doesn't even cover the cost of three nights’ hotel. That doesn't cover the cost of food for almost three weeks now. How the heck are these people supposed to survive? We need help, and we need it before we move back,” said Lentowicz.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ reached out to the provincial government to inquire about its plans to assist people who have lost their homes and don’t have insurance to fall back on, but hadn't received a response at the time of publication.
