Valerie G. Barnes Connell Jordan
Northern Advocate
What do I write about Saskatchewan this morning when I live in the north, so much of which is on fire, people are displaced in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and our politicians are speaking out strongly for resources and support for us. It’s slow in coming.
Last summer I remember northern leaders speaking out about the impact of wildfires on their people.
The effects of so many people being evacuated from their homes.
They strongly called on the provincial government to review and make changes to the way they deal with wildfires in the north. Get in and get them out, they said.
But as far as I can see, I haven’t heard any difference. They still monitor. I can’t for the life of me figure out how you monitor fires in the forest!
As a fairly long-term resident of northern Saskatchewan, I see that however the present provincial government is handling the wildfire situation in northern Saskatchewan; it needs to CHANGE.!
IT IS NOT WORKING!
I suggest listening to the northern leaders who live here, take them seriously. MAKE SOME CHANGES USING THEIR WISDOM AND EXPERIENCE, PLEASE!!!
What is being done so far is NOT WORKING!!!
In the summer of 2024, some folks were evacuated more than once and for extended times, having their lives impacted at so many levels.
After being evacuated in 2015, I have a good sense of what that feels like. Many of the 14,000 of us evacuated at that time still bear the aftermath affects emotional impacts.
I know, I hate to leave home and am always somewhat anxious when away from home that I won’t get back. And, it’s 10 years ago this next month!
It has been clear to me, particularly after living here, that there needs to be a whole change.
We need to value and care for the environment around us.
We have teachers here. An example is the group, which has been gaining momentum and strength, For Peat Sake: Protecting Northern Saskatchewan Muskegs.
They maintain a Facebook page of the same name, and have been continually highlighting valuable information, along with creating and developing different initiatives to raise awareness of the value and importance to, not only northern Saskatchewan, but the world, on the importance of the rich treasure the Peat Moss is in this time of Climate Change.
This is one group and, thankfully, there are several out there, locally, nationally and globally that are trying so hard to get the attention of leaders and of the people, to make them see the importance of caring for our home, our Earth.
As I sit here writing this in a community, while not on fire, but blocked off by road closures on all accesses to the south, created because of wildfires, I wonder.
What are we doing?
Many have young families, and I wonder what we want for their families looking into the future. Because it’s not looking good; it could be changed.
Indigenous people have lived on this land for thousands of years, when people came from other parts of the world, they were healthy, the land was healthy; it is not now.
Maybe that’s a place to look for answers to healthy change!
Let’s BE PART OF THE CHANGE, WAKE UP!!!
