Nickel Belt News
Volume 58 Number 11
Friday, March 16, 2018
Thompson, Manitoba
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Apartment fire in Tataskweyak Cree Nation drives 49 people out of their homes
Book a way to preserve and pass on memories of growing up in Churchill
RCMP photo A Feb. 11 fire in Tataskweyak Cree Nation destroyed an apartment building, injuring two and leaving 49 people from 10 families without a home. An infant and a teenager girl was hospitalized for airlifted to Health Sciences “We have no housing. We truck hasn’t been working toba First Nations, including were sent to hospital with smoke inhalation after Centre in Winnipeg for have no place to put them,” for more than a month be- TCN, was offering logistical injuries sustained as a re- she saw smoke coming treatment. Beardy said. “They need a cause of mechanical issues, help. sult of an apartment fire that from the eight-unit buildThe people displaced by home.” the chief said. Fire crews “This is a terrible situadrove 49 people out of their ing while walking by and the fire are currently staying The fire broke around from Gillam and York FactionNews and Iphoto offerbymy Nickel Belt Ianheartfelt Graham homes in Tataskweyak helped rescuedirector a family of deMeulles in hotels, TCN Chief Taralee 1:30 her p.m. Saturday growing after- tory First in Nation also re- empathy to the families of Addictions Foundation Cree of Manitoba northern Gisele has written a book about experiences up, mostly Churchill. Nation Feb. 11. five from their apartment, Beardy told CBC Feb. 12 noon. TCN firefighters sponded to help contain the this tragedy and the comBYAIAN GRAHAM two-year-old boy had to CBC reported. but long-term to the fire beforewhen it could spreadsay to munity of harsh Tataskweyak For all the weather write things that you have ‘Oh, I’m just asaccommodabad, right?’ responded was not a very safe blaze thing swallow people EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET burns and a 17-year-old to The boy andIt’s thepretty teen were to bestories arranged. butdothebut First Nation’s fireI that a neighbouring Cree the Nation,” Settee said. haveneeds all these and to figure out. clear Itions I jumped at it. Churchill apartment residents and dangers of polar Though she’s now written when I get through.” building. “MKOdeMeulles is offeringsaid our iforI need to capture them for thought that was exciting should just find somewhere bears, it a book about her experienIt took until 3 a.m. to ex- had ganizational support to our DeMeulles said she wrote my grandchildren really until the plane landed and easier to live. been viable she would ces growing up in Churchill, her book, titled Whispers in because they will be lost if they started throwing the tinguish the ‘Those fire, York Fac- have member community to as“To say, people moved back to ChurchAddictions Foundation of the Wind: Stories from the I don’t.” tory fire to department member sistinthem in their hour of fuel off and I realized, ‘Holy choose live there. They ill a heartbeat. Manitoba northern director North - Life in Churchill for Roddy just Chartrand the need. We understand thatI She also has a reputation cats, I was probably sitting should leave,’ told is quite “I miss the shoreline, Gisele deMeulles said writ- a couple of reasons. CBC, withIt’s crews the Red as a storyteller herself. on a bomb.’” simplistic. quitebattling disre- miss the Cross rock, I has missbeen the ing wasn’t something she extreme cold froze alertedbears thougheven that connec“I just sort of thought, “I had such a varied hisAnother thing that spectful. If wethat were in fire the polar though always thought she would you know what, this his- tory and I would tell people spurred her on was the same hydrants. crewsarea re- they’re tion withvery the dangerous communityand has boat Fire in another do. thewould scene later on Iyet to bemiss established as of tory, this stuff that’s in my stories and they would go, hard times facing Churchill Iturned thinktowe scream really the Hudson “In my youth I never head, it’s going to be gone ‘That’s not true, is it?’ I’d go, since the Hudson Bay Rail- about Sunday after the fire late Sunday morning. that so why don’tflared they Bay,” she says. “When IWe go A Feb. 1 dog attack to the ground. The animals bit at of the victim, who was also lookfelt good at writing,” she onif Baffin up again. will remain ready to on assist I don’t write it down,” she ‘Yeah it’s true.’ They’d go, way suspended operations have the option to do that? back home, standing the Crescent sent aI nine-year-old her and were ripping her jacket. ing after a third dog. Two Belgian said. “But when moved said.girl “Theyright managed to get Hudson with other they “My kids are not go- ‘You didn’t do all that, did north of Gillam last spring. I think now they’re Baymatters lookingas out on to a Winnipeg hospital for surgery. came to the girl’s aid, Malinois and“It one German Shepto Thompson to get into ing to get itPassers-by everybody saidpawns Char- the occur.” if I don’t do it you? You’ve got to be really used to be a really feeling likeout,” they’re bay, it just gives you an Thompson RCMP re- dragging her away from the dogs herd were seized and the 31-yearthe school of social work,officers trand. “Everybody was ac- incredible TCN chief counand it’s something I’ve al- old.’ I was like, ‘No, actually thriving large community in a political game and that’s sense.and You feel so sponding to a report of dogs chasandmy taking her to her family, who old man in charge of them was at that point I had to write ways wanted counted It was a veryI small cil said onyou their Facebook mom to I did all that before I was and it’s just dwindled down really sadfor. for them because and feel great.” ing children Baffin Crescent then took her to hospital. charged with criminal negligence. for university andon realized, tense the scene when we got page Sunday they had do. My mom’s an elder and 27,’ and they went ‘What?’” to such a small population think people of ChurchNow that that she’s got learned that an injured child had The girl suffered non-life-threatThe city held vicious animal ‘Holy, I’m not bad at this, she’s an artist, she’s got so there.” received bookenough under donations her belt, Looking back, some of now,” deMeulles says. ill really want to thrive. one been taken todeveloped hospital after three ening injuries to her leg as a result hearings at which it was decided right?’ I certainly Manitoba of clothingsays for she the may 10 dismany wonderful stories be- those experiences are things Though she’s not there They’ve builtKeewatinowi their worlds deMeulles try dogs attacked her. of the attack. that all three dogs would be put a lot of skill in university cause she always tells her she might not do again. Okimakanak GrandweChief placed families any longer, her parents and there. How would feel to produce another.but still The out victim was with walking alone Working with City “I ofdid Thompson down. The man who was charged and came of there Garrison a needed items stories at Parks Canada in some pretty bizarre her sister and other family if someoneSettee came tosaid youin and “I havehousehold another book in to astrong friend’s late animal control, police found the as a result of the dog attack has a very skillhouse in myin the Feb. ‘I’m 12 news that and toiletries. GoFundMe Churchill and I’ve always stuff like fuel hauls into the members still are. said, sorry,release you have to me,” she says.A“It’s a darker afternoon when the in dogshounded started her, dogs responsible for the attack. been banned“My fromcousin owning and writing and confi dence the political advocacy or- story, campaign hasabout been set up to ‘Please, just high Arctic at -35,” said owns the leave your home community more personjumping on her and knocked her Two were owned by a neighbour registering pets in the future. my writing. I write very put it on tape, I will write it deMeulles. “It didn’t dawn hardware store there,” she and ganization, whichtorepresents accept monetary donations we’re going displace al growth and struggles. clear and that’s it. It’s there. for you because your story on me until after. That was a says. two somewhere dozen Northern Manifor the in families. you else and all Maybe the next five years
Girl, 9, needs surgery after Feb. 1 dog attack in Thompson
Some people say it’s kind of blunt or direct. I don’t tend
is going to be lost,’ and she’s never done it and I thought,
very dangerous thing to do. Being on a plane full of fuel
Because of that, deMeulles finds it hard to
your loved ones and your history is gone?’”
it’s something I’ll focus on doing.”