Sask. First Nations hit by wildfires say they are still waiting for money, gov't says no outstanding claims

Some First Nations and northern Saskatchewan homeowners say they are still waiting for provincial disaster relief money after wildfires struck their communities four years ago, but the province says there are no outstanding claims within the system.

"They find it very difficult to garner and secure compensation from the provincial government," said Bobby Cameron, chief of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations.

"This is something that we're trying to rectify."

At the height of the 2015 fire crisis, more than 13,000 people were moved from 50 northern communities to emergency shelters in southern cities. Several thousand more also left the north and found places to stay on their own.Over 100 structures, mostly cabins, were lost due to fires.

Cameron said commercial fishermen need the money to replace boats lost in the wildfires four years ago.

Other Indigenous people are still waiting to repair their homes and outbuildings, he said.

He's asking Ottawa to cut cheques directly to First Nations after they incur losses due to flooding, wildfiresor other emergencies on reserves.

The FSIN said members of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation and the Lac La Ronge Indian Band submitted claims to Saskatchewan's provincialdisaster assistance program after the 2015 wildfires, but some have yet to see any money.

"If the provincial government is going to stall things and make things a little harder for First Nations, then they should just get out of the picture," Cameron said.

No outstanding claims: province

The province said in an email to CBC that there are nooutstanding claims within the Provincial Disaster Assistance Program (PDAP) system from Lac La Ronge First Nation or the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation related to the 2015 wildfire season.

The province says there is also no record of either First Nation applying for PDAP designation in the system.

The government said in the email that PDAP may help cover the cost of uninsurable "essential" losses, cleanup, repairs and temporary relocation. Butfire damage does not generally quality under the program because fire insurance is widely available.

Cameron is one of roughly 500 people attending the Saskatchewan First Nations Emergency Management Forum this week in Saskatoon.

The annual conference includes severe weather and flooding forecasts,presentations by Indigenous leaders on handling emergency situations, andinformation sessions led by provincial and federal officials.

Cameron said maintaining traditional territory and hunting areas is crucial, and noted some reserves in Saskatchewan are particularly disaster-pronedue to their locations.

He pointed to the Red Earth Cree Nation, a flood-prone First Nationabout 200kilometres northeast of Prince Albert, as an example.

"Ultimately, one day, if there's a torrential rainfall, that whole community is going to be completely flooded," Cameron said.

"We're talking about 300or 400 homes, schools, band offices, many different complex buildings that will be completely flooded," he said.

The FSIN said bands need more autonomy to make their own decisions when natural disasters and mass evacuations occur.