Tri-communities declare state of emergency due to power outage
The tri-communities of La Ronge, Air Ronge and the Lac La Ronge Indian Band are declaring a state of emergency due to power outages.
The communities have been without electricity since Monday afternoon due to a wildfire burning northeast of Prince Albert.
La Ronge passed its own stare of emergency motion at a special council meeting held Wednesday morning.
La Ronge Mayor Colin Ratushniak said the three community leaders spoke earlier in the day about the necessity of coordinating emergency efforts.
“Mayor Baschuk (Julie, Air Ronge mayor) and Chief Tammy Cook Searson (Lac La Ronge Indian Band) were also in support of declaring a state of emergency as a tri-community, but we do have to do it separately as well,” he said. “We’re just doing it in a coordinated effort.”
LLRB chief recognized by national group
Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRB) Chief Tammy Cook-Searson is being recognized.
In a media release sent out Monday The Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) announced the LLRB chief had won the 2021 Indigenous Women in Leadership Award.
The CCAB said chief Cook-Searson was given the award for a range of accomplishments. One of those accomplishments being her work to build a $16 million treatment and recovery centre in La Ronge to help serve northerners.
CCAB also recognized Cook-Searson’s work as president of Kitsaki Management LTD, which employs almost 1,000 people and is involved in a range of businesses from catering to insurance.
La Ronge homeless have place to go after LLRIB offers Kitsaki Hall
The Lac La Ronge Indian Band is stepping up to help local homeless find a warm place to sleep during the current cold snap.
Approximately 15 beds are being provided at the Kitsaki Hall to those in need.
Scattered Sites operates a homeless shelter, but was forced to close for two weeks, after a client tested positive for COVID-19.
After being made aware of an overflow of homeless, Chief Tammy Cook-Searson opened up the emergency shelter for this week.
“We’re lucky that [Chief] Tammy is totally on our side,” said Ron Woytowich, Executive Director of the Kikinahk Friendship Centre, which operates the Scattered Sites Program. “And she arranged for them to be on reserve.”
More can be done to help northern communities weather pandemic, say local leaders
Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson says northern residents should be very mindful of travelling south because of high COVID-19 cases.
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Posted: Dec 14, 2020 1:44 PM CT | Last Updated: December 14, 2020
The Lac La Ronge Indian Band is the largest First Nation in the province and includes communities such as Stanley Mission.(Elizabeth Elich photo)
Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) Chief Tammy Cook-Searson says northern residents should be very mindful of travelling south because of high COVID-19 cases.
Cook-Searson was responding to an advisory by health authorities saying northern residents should avoid non-essential travel outside their home communities.