Siksika residents cope with flood issues
Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter
Thousands of people across southern Alberta had been evacuated from their homes last week as the rivers raged beginning on June 20. This week those who are allowed in are assessing the damage and trying to figure out what to do now.
In Siksika, as with High River and other hard hit areas, the situation quickly went out of control, and many residents were forced to leave everything behind.
“We thought we had time to get out and be able to pack up something but as it turned out the water decided it was going to come faster than anyone had predicted. So we just grabbed the most useless things,” said Muriel Kirby, a resident of the Siksika community the flats on June 24.
She said they weren’t quite thinking that it would get as bad as it did and her daughter grabbed a recipe book, but didn’t think to grab any clothes a thought that hit her later.
After the flood hit people on the First Nations reserve were upset to find out there wasn’t any media coverage on their situation, though areas affected around them, like the Hidden Valley Golf Resort, were being highlighted.
“These are people’s summer homes, but these are our permanent homes. I think that’s what’s upsetting the people here,” said Kirby.
Kirby said one thing that will always stand out in her mind is the image of her two-year-old great-granddaughter who was in her nightgown, gumboots and little jacket running through water, she didn’t know where she was running to, but she was running for her life to the truck, splashing around in the dark.
Kirby and her family had moved things up when they got word they would have to evacuate, thinking that would keep their valuables safe from the water. Her son and granddaughter have bedrooms downstairs and the water came in so fast they lost everything.
“I was in the flood in 2005 but it didn’t go up that high, it was maybe knee deep. But this time…we put valuable things up but we didn’t think (it would be so bad) so everything went under,” said Kirby.
She had mementos from her late husband and her son, whom she had just lost, that were left behind in the house. She had thought she was saving them by putting them up high. Other families in her little community of six houses have also lost nearly everything.
When word first came about the evacuation, Kirby’s first thought was to save her dogs, which she managed to do. One of her dogs had died that morning and she recalled trying to dig a grave before leaving but wasn’t able to; her kids have been joking with her since that she cares more about saving the dogs than them.
It was around 5 a.m. on Friday, June 21 when her daughter called and said the water was already in the yard. She rushed home, but it was too late to save anything.
“We had to drive out and leave everything behind, all we could do was stand at the end of the driveway crying,” said Kirby.
“We couldn’t fathom how fast the (water) came in and how high it came. You see patio furniture floating by and that and what can you do. We’re just taking it day by day because we don’t know what’s happening.
“The people in our community, everyone thought they were safe so they were putting things high in their basements, moving everything up so at least they’re above the water, but the water had a different idea, it filled the basements and then it moved up towards the upstairs. It’s heart breaking but what else can we do except to move on, try and rebuild what we can.”
Where the water had gone down on her yard she could see a lot of mud and silt left in its place. Other people’s items are caught in her trees and in her yard.
“I have a big gas tank in my yard that smashed up my flower beds, it’s wedged there. I’ve got a big; it’s a 16-foot maybe 20-foot telephone post in my yard wedged up against my lilacs. Some of my bales are in my yard. There’s a lot to clean,” said Kirby.
On June 26 Kirby stated that she had been to her house and that everything is gone. They are now homeless.
Donna Weasel Chief is staying with her sister, and she said their family pets are stressed and won’t eat. The power hadn’t been shut off as of June 23.
On June 20 a letter had been sent to residents saying to move items from their basements to the main floors, and that people would be along later to help them sandbag. Weasel Chief said this never happened, and on Friday they had to leave with no time to gather anything but a change of clothes. Christine Little Chief’s three-year-old little granddaughter was seen running to the truck in her jammies, petrified.
“They are just material things, we still have each other, and our people have always survived by coming together and keeping a sense of humor,” said Weasel Chief.
Christine Little Chief is the Elder in the Flats, she just turned 77 on May 18, and they had to take a boat out to rescue her two dogs. She lived with her daughter and granddaughter, and is upset with the lack of media coverage. She is very saddened and frustrated with the Alberta government.
The lack of initial support is a source of discontent for many who are wondering why there was no news, and no help for them. Since word spread about the situation in Siksika, support has poured in with donations of food, clothes, toiletries, and in-kind services. There is a fund set up for cash donations through Bank of Montreal called the Siksika Nation Relief Find.
Anyone with questions regarding donations and volunteering can call 403-734-5315. Donations can also be dropped off at the Deerfoot Sportsplex.