Fundraising continues to replace sweat lodge destroyed by fire

A recent fire may have taken a northern Saskatchewan couple's building, but it didn't take their heart. 

Two weeks after Sid Fiddler and Mary Heit lost their cherished sweat lodge in a fire, dozens of people are coming together online to help them rebuild. 

Fiddler said the two are determined to build a new sweat lodge in Waterhen Lake First Nation, which is about 40 kilometres north of Meadow Lake.

The family launched a GoFundMe page to help raise money and the donations are streaming in.

"I really appreciate all the support I've gotten so far, and it really helped a lot to motivate me to rebuild," Fiddler said.

As of Tuesday they had nearly $6,000 raised of the $20,000 goal. Fiddler said both friends and strangers have come together to donate.

The original sweat lodge took two years to build and had an intricate carving of an eagle made by the owner's son. The project was financed from a residential school settlement. 

Fiddler says many in the community would use the lodge for healing purposes. 

Work on the new lodge could begin as early as the new year, he said.