Evacuees' education on hold as Manitoba kids prepare for back to school

While children and teens in Manitoba prepare to head back to school this week, evacuees fleeing fire near their communities say everything is on hold, including their kids' education.

About 4,300 people have been displaced from Garden Hill, Wasagamack and St. Theresa Point First Nationsdue to a wildfire burning near their communities. Despite their people being spread out in hotels and at shelters in Winnipeg and Brandon, administrators say they're going to do their best to do needed student evaluations this week.

"When you are in a state of emergency, everything is put on hold, it's a day-to-day thing," said Stuart McDougall,director of education for St. TheresaPoint. "Ialways remain faithful with my staff that we always come up with plans in order to be able to cover what we missed.

"It was also supposed to be assessment week this week to figure out our places with students, that still the plan," he added.

While another 740people were supposed to come to Winnipeg from Garden Hill this week, those evacuations have been called off and there are no more evacuation requests at this time, according to the Red Cross.

McDougall said no matter when the students go back to school, administrators and staff will adjust their plans for the school year.

"Getting back to school mode is going to be a time thing," he said. "When time comes to go back to school, I am pretty sure our teachers will be there, our staff, toaccommodate our students."

McDougallcouldn't say how many students are directly affected, and said some students have been evacuated and some are still in their communities.

"It's not only [students] that are affected by the evacuation but also our staff. Wehave about 95 per centof our staff are from our community and a lot of our staff members are evacuated as well, so that affects our formal education in the community.

Children are dealing with trauma, culture shock, says executive director

Kids who have been displaced from their communities are dealing with the shock of suddenly leaving their communities, said Robert Flett, executive director of St. Theresa Point First Nation.

"At this point school, might be the last thing on their mind because it is a traumatic event for them, they've been displaced from their community," said Flett.

"If you ask a child 'Are you looking forward to school?'they'll answer 'I want to go home, I want to go home first, know that whoever is left behind in my community is safe.'"