Northern Sask. First Nation makes video to support Fort McMurray
David Shield | CBC News | Posted: May 5, 2016 7:20 PM | Last Updated: May 5, 2016
Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation School video shared thousands of times
When Barry Chalifoux heard about the fires in Fort McMurray, he knew he had to help.
In 2011, Chalifoux lived through a massive forest fire in Slave Lake, Alta. His grandmother and aunt lost their home.
"It was very chaotic," he said. "It was a very stressful time. It was very hard."
Now a guidance counsellor at Saskatchewan's Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation, 300 kilometres north of Saskatoon, Chalifoux and his students made a video to show their support to the beleaguered community.
Students wrote notes and filmed messages of support that were added to the video.
"I remember the high emotional pain the whole community went through," he said. "That was our whole objective, to show them support."
Now, with almost 8,000 views since posting the video on Wednesday, Chalifoux is calling the video a success.
"I've got some messages from people from Fort McMurray saying that it really encouraged them," he said.