A brother and sister, both toddlers, were laid to rest today on the Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation near Loon Lake.
The children died in a house fire on the reserve last Tuesday.
The fire has raised concerns about fire protection on reserves, and what can be done to improve safety. No crews responded to the fire on the reserve because they don’t have adequate equipment and the local contract with the community of Loon Lake had been cancelled because of an overdue account.
The chief of the Meadow Lake Tribal Council, Eric Sylvestre, attended the children’s funerals today and is helping the community heal. He says now is not the time to cast blame or argue over funding.
Sylvestre does want to improve fire safety. To that end, he has ordered an audit of all the reserves in the MLTC to determine how well they are equipped. He also plans to meet with senior officials with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.
Meantime, a woman from Ajax, Ontario has started a fundraising campaign for the family of the victims. Jennifer Hartley says she was moved when she heard the story of the double tragedy. She has no connection to the family, but felt the need to reach out.
“These people need help, regardless, and I just thought someone should do something. You know, there is nothing that can ever replace those two children,” she said. “They have also lost their home, they have lost everything. So I just thought they need help and I am a real big believer in community and people doing what they can to help each other.”
So far, more than $5,000 has been raised. The goal is only $10,000. Hartley is hoping the campaign really takes off this week. You can find it online at gofundme.com under the title, “Tragic Fire – Help Haley and Harley”.
Hartley says she was also motivated to launch a campaign for the Saskatchewan children after a similar fundraising campaign in Toronto managed to raise more than $173,000 for the family of a three-year-old boy who wandered out of an apartment and froze to death last week.
Hartley is not sure why so much was raised so quickly in Toronto, while the campaign for the Saskatchewan children is not receiving nearly the same support.