Water, stress rising on Red Earth First Nation

A flood-prone First Nation in east-central Saskatchewan has been evacuated before and it's starting to look like it may happen again.

High water levels have forced the Red Earth First Nation to make plans to get its members to higher ground.

Hundreds of band members were forced from their houses in 2006 and 2007 and ended up staying in Saskatoon and other communities for weeks.

Now, with a major snow melt underway this month, people in the Cree community are worried it could happen again.

"It's getting to the point where people just don't want to go," flood coordinator Roy Head said. "It's stressful and it also disrupts their daily lives."

However, there's already a lot of standing water in the community and people are getting ready, he said.

People on the reserve have filled 2,500 sandbags and band officials have contacted the Red Cross and Social Services in preparation for another move.

"It's getting to the point where you have to do something long term to prevent this happening on an annual basis," Head said.

The Carrot River is expected to peak at the end of the month.