Donations, help flow for communities impacted by flood

“We can never forget the amount of help we have had from our surrounding municipalities,” said Siksika First Nation Chief Fred Rabbit Carrier. “I cannot forget our friends, the First Nations members who have really come forward to show their support. Finally the industry within our traditional Blackfoot territory have stepped up and provided us with a lot of help.”

Monetary and material donations keep pouring in as the hardest hit First Nations – Siksika, Tsuu T’ina and Stoney Nakoda – dig out from floods caused by overflowing river banks and rain.

Rabbit Carrier says support has also come from Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo, AFN Regional Chief Cameron Alexis and Treaty 7 Grand Chief Charles Weaselhead. All have committed to advocate on behalf of the First Nations. Atleo also travelled to the besieged First Nations to meet with Chiefs and councils and government officials.

“Social media was what really helped us (raise awareness of the situation),” said Rabbit Carrier.

Lee Crowchild, director of emergency management for Tsuu T’ina, says the support his First Nation received from neighbouring municipalities, organizations and agencies, and individuals has been incredible.

“It becomes a bigger community event and everybody helps everybody,” he said.

Tsuu T’ina demonstrated that spirit by turning their Treaty Day celebrations into a two-day benefit concert, Finding Higher Ground headlined by Susan Aglukark, to raise money and household items for other Treaty 7 Nations hit by flooding.
First Nations from Saskatchewan and British Columbia have also pitched in to contribute items and cash to the flood-affected Alberta First Nations.

Aboriginal Relations Minister Robin Campbell, who has travelled to all the affected areas, also speaks strongly about the help First Nations have received.

“They were really pleasantly surprised by the outpouring of support they got from the surrounding communities,” said Campbell. “Donations... continue to come in.”

Bridges Social Development has been on the ground in the First Nations communities.

“We have seen firsthand the remarkable things made possible when people put love into practice, and care for their neighbours,” said Jennifer Kohlhammer, in a news release. “The generosity of people giving to Alberta’s First Nations communities continues to overwhelm!”

That generosity has included volunteers from Calgary and Canmore working to help unload supply trucks in Morley and women from a Hutterite colony near Siksika sorting donations. Lauren Harper, the Prime Minister’s wife, helped unload supplies from trucks in Morley on June 26.

Shell Canada has donated more than $550,000, with $100,000 to Calgary-area social agencies and First Nations, including Siksika Nation, and $250,000 to other affected communities and First Nations. Shell will also be matching its employees’ donations to the Red Cross.

Red Cross will also be receiving contributions from Dow AgroSciences Canada Inc. ($100,000), the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees ($25,000) and the Health Sciences Association of Alberta ($20,000) in support of flood efforts.

FirstEnergy Capital has pledged a minimum donation of $100,000 to the Southern Alberta Emergency Relief Fund, which is comprised of registered charities identified to be working on the front lines of the flood.  Less than 48 hours after local states of emergency were declared by communities impacted by the flooding, the Canadian Red Cross had raised over $2.1 million dollars for the Alberta Floods Fund.

Photo caption: CFWE morning host Wally D shows the goods collected at the Aboriginal Multi-Media Society in Edmonton. Bert Crowfoot, publisher of Alberta Sweetgrass, a part of AMMSA, and a member of the Siksika First Nation, led the delivery of a utility trailer with toiletries and snacks for the communities of Siksika, Tsuu T’ina, Eden Valley and Morley.