After wildfires destroyed their homes, K'atl'odeeche First Nation welcomes residents back

K'atl'odeeche First Nation residents affected by last year's wildfire season in the N.W.T. have finally moved back and into new homes, bringing a sense of relief and closure to a long and challenging process for the community.

For Louis Tambour and his dog, Fluffy, it's been an adjustment, but he's grateful for the renewed sense of stability and comfort. Tambour and Fluffy lived in a cramped Hay River motel room from May 2023 until they moved into their new home last month.

"This place is a lot better than staying in the motel room," he said. "The motel was kind of small, but now I have a big room here."

The community celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony in early August, to officially welcome 18 families into their new homes. Between the flooding in spring 2022 and the wildfires last summer, the Kátł'odeeche First Nation lost over 20 homes in the last two years. Displaced residents have been living in federal housing and hotels across the territory, some for over a year.

"I'm enjoying having my own place again," said Tambour.

Although adjusting to the new home, appliances and its amenities has been a challenge, Tambour said he's received lots of support from the community, which has helped make the transition smoother.

Residents who lost their homes received a lump sum payment from the First Nation to help with the transition. The community also stepped up to provide new and secondhand furniture. 

Despite the challenges during the last year, Tambour said he loves his new home and he's ready to move forward. He got emotional when expressing gratitude for the help he's received from both the First Nation and its members.

"I just don't know how to thank them, each and every one of them. For doing something this big for me, you know?" he said. "I get so emotional every time, but I hope they see this and accept me for thanking them."

For April Martel, chief of the K'atl'odeeche First Nation, it's been a challenging year, organizing and replacing the 18 houses that burned down, as well as coordinating renovations of homes that flooded over two years ago.

She said everyone worked hard all year to get those displaced by the fire into their new homes, and it was an emotional two days moving everyone in.

"There was just tears that day and happy tears from everyone. So I'm super happy," Martel said. 

Martel said they are now going to focus on the continued work of getting those affected by the 2022 floods back into their homes. Martel was also displaced after the unprecedented spring flooding rocked the First Nation and Hay River and damaged several homes and buildings on the reserve.

The renovation process is almost complete with homes still waiting for final touches on their properties, Martel said, such as plumbing and heating.

"Council and I are very happy. We're very proud of everyone who waited and for all their patience," she said.

The community is also ready to focus on moving forward. Martel said efforts have been made to provide help to those affected by the recent climate disasters and they'll bring in more support over the coming years.

"There's been so much trauma," she said. "We're trying to get some healing in the community now."