Métis Nation–Saskatchewan urges wildfire response to protect traditional lands
Métis Nation–Saskatchewan (MN–S) is raising concerns about the level of resources being dedicated to protecting traditional lands from wildfires.
'It's our constitutional right to harvest off these lands, as we have for generations. We need to protect that. Those rights have value,' MN–S Minister Brennan Merasty told CTV News.'We shouldn't have to compete with the value of a structure, versus our traditional territories.'
Brennan Merasty MN-S
MN–S Minister Brennan Merasty discussed the wildfire response in an interview from Edmonton.
Merasty said the Muskeg Fire, burning near Beauval, Sask., isn't getting the same attention as the Buhl Fire, burning partly inside the Prince Albert National Park.
CTV News has contacted the provincial government for comment.
MN–S has said the wildfires are not only threatening communities but also destroying traplines and areas where traditional medicines grow.
The organization has declared a state of emergency and is urging the province to 'recognize the gravity of the situation.'
Beauval fire
(Source: Facebook / Davidson Volunteer Fire Department)
The Prince Albert Grand Council issued a similar statement on Tuesday, with Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation Chief Peter Beatty saying dozens of their families lost traplines near Denare Beach and Pelican Narrows in the Wolf Fire.
'These fires wiped out traplines and cabins that families rely on for food, income and survival,' said Chief Beatty.
'With no insurance and no access to PDAP [provincial disaster assistance program], they're left with nothing but ashes. Our members were hit hard, and it's unacceptable they're excluded from support.'
For his part, Merasty says he doesn't want to point fingers. He hopes to work collaboratively with the government to re-evaluate the wildfire response.
'We need to get our people out there firefighting,' he said, suggesting more training be made available.
Crews from New Brunswick, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Ontario — as well as Australia and Mexico — are currently assisting Saskatchewan.
There are 52 active wildfires in the province. So far this year, 378 have been recorded — well above the five-year average of 289.
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