First 'Rez Cross' evacuation centre now full

The original 'Rez Cross' evacuation centre has officially reached capacity.

For the past week and a half, the Beardy's and Okemasis First Nation has taken in evacuees fleeing forest fires in northern Saskatchewan.

Right now, the first nation is housing 180 people from Hall Lake, Grandmother's Bay and a host of other northern communities. Organizers believe they have helped 350 people in total with clothing and food donations.

"The sustainability factor comes into play," said Band Councillor Kevin Seesequasis. "Ensuring that we have enough food over the long haul, ensuring that our volunteers don't burn out, ensuring that our volunteers and our leadership team get the care that they also require."

Many of the evacuees are being housed in the First Nation's hockey arena. The site is a hive of activity, with a registration centre, food tables and large area to pick up donations.

"We have ladies that come in here every day and pick up laundry," said volunteer Emelda Seesequasis. "They do their laundry for them. And all the bedding and towels are washed every day. They're picked up every day. Our guests don't have to worry about their laundry."

People staying at the centres are happy Beardy's decided to help out. The centre has facilities, like a tent to smoke northern wild meat, that you wouldn't find at other shelters.

"What they offer here, you wouldn't probably get anywhere else," said evacuee Clarence Morin. "Some places you have a designated time to eat, to sleep, to come back in. Here, you can eat all day, go into the kitchen, eat any time."

Since Beardy's began operating the centre, two other first nations, the Ahtakakoop Cree Nation and the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation have also started centres of their own.

The centres are not affiliated with the Red Cross, and are run by first nations with support from local tribal councils.

Official evacuation centres are taking care of 10,000 evacuees from all across northern Saskatchewan.