L-R: Minister Devin Dreeshen, Herb Lehr, Minister Rick Wilson, Roechelle Gaudet, Minister Rajan Sawhney, Sherry Cunningham, Minister Kaycee Madu. Photo supplied by the province.

By Curtis Galbraith

Paddle Prairie

Government, Metis group meet to talk about Paddle Prairie

Jun 21, 2019 | 4:29 PM

It is being called a meeting to clarify the province re-entry support for residents of Paddle Prairie.

Government ministers met with the Metis Settlements General Council Friday to talk about a plan for the community.

The Chuckegg Creek wildfire destroyed sixteen homes while 15 others were damaged.

In a release sent out by the province, Council president Herb Lehr said the following:

“We are very grateful for the effort put forward by the Honourable Minister of Indigenous Relations, Rick Wilson, for his advocacy and continual communication throughout this ordeal. I extend my utmost gratitude for receiving an audience with Minister Wilson and his colleagues, Honourable Devin Dreeshen, Honourable Rajan Sawhney, Honourable Kaycee Madu, and representatives from the Premier’s office, recognizing that these ministers had been working tirelessly all evening and still made time to meet with us first thing in the morning. Together, we are working on a multitude of initiatives to mitigate the impact this disaster has had on the residents of the Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement.”

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The government says in a release says a place to go to will be found for those who lost their homes until a permanent solution is found.

The government says it paid $443,000 to evacuees from Paddle Prairie and those who did not get anything can still apply.

Seven hundred evacuees were allowed to return Thursday afternoon after being away for almost a month.

“Our thoughts are with the Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement residents as they return home. It is not just the loss of home and buildings that is devastating, but the loss of a way of life: traplines, decades-old timber, hunting grounds and other traditional harvesting means. We realize the significance and will do what we can to support the residents of Paddle Prairie through this trying time,” said Minister of Indigenous Relations Rick Wilson in that same release.