Supporting Wildfire Evacuees
Positive Living North: No Kheyok t’sih’en t’sehena Society provided much needed support with help from United Way BC's Emergency Response Grant.
It’s summertime! A time of warm weather, relaxation in the sun, and family vacations, but for many, summer is also filled with anxiety and stress as the harsh reality of wildfires dominate their days.
Instead of family vacations, British Columbians are finding themselves evacuated from their homes and in unfamiliar places not of their choosing. When they arrive at their unintended destinations they are exhausted from the journey, unsure of where to go, and often without basic necessities.
With concerns for their own safety, as well as that of their friends, families, pets, homes, and communities, summer is not always the beautiful, relaxing time of days gone by for many.
This was the reality for many from Fort Nelson First Nation, Doig Creek First Nation, and the Town of Fort Nelson as they evacuated to safe areas such as Prince George or Fort St. John. As quickly as these wildfires started, agencies began providing much needed services to displaced individuals, and United Way BC’s Emergency Response Grant was there to help them do what they do best.
One agency supported by the United Way BC grant was Positive Living North: No Kheyok t’sih’en t’sehena Society (PLN). With two locations in Prince George and Fort St. John, PLN was able to provide much-needed support to evacuees in both communities.
PLN is an Indigenous AIDS agency in Northern BC helping those who have, are at risk of, or are affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and other sexually transmitted and blood borne infections (STBBI). With major focus around harm reduction, education, and cultural connection, they are providing vital support to individuals who are too often forgotten.
Alexandria West, PLN Executive Director, speaks passionately about their work. “We really believe connecting people back to the culture helps in preventing the further transmission [of diseases and viruses] by enhancing people’s self-esteem and enhancing their knowledge.”
It’s PLN’s work with those living on the fringe of society that allowed them to connect with evacuees who were homeless or precariously housed. Being evacuated isn’t easy for anyone, but it can be even more difficult for those who may already be struggling or have complex medical considerations.
You are family with Positive Living North
The sense of family and belonging is deeply seeded within the organization. “I knew a lot of our members who access our programs from when I was a tween to adulthood, so it’s been a really cool journey,” enthuses Alexandria, who began volunteering with PLN at just eleven years old while her grandmother worked there. The family connection doesn’t stop there either, as her mother also served as the Executive Director in the early 2000s. “I’m really grateful to be the third generation in my family to be working in the HIV field,” she continues with a proud smile.
The bonds Alexandria has formed through PLN are like no other. “I celebrated a lot of stuff with our members and patrons. Like, I had my 16th birthday at the fire pit, and I had my graduation there and [I] was able to celebrate with the other folks that were at the fire pit. It taught me so much about, you know, humility and just having that bottom line of care, support, kindness, and creating safe spaces.”
The fire pit cultural drop-in centre program is at the heart of PLN’s work as it connects people who often are alone or living precariously with their culture through activities and friendship. Alexandria’s grandmother now works as an Elder at the fire pit, and with her 19 years of building relationships, she knows those who attend the fire pit regularly quite well.
“During 9:00 to 4:30, Violet is my Elder, but after 4:31, she’s my grandma,” Alexandra states fondly. “If an evacuee is needing the support of an Elder or the welcoming space, the fire pit is there.”
This family connection was extended to evacuees. Alexandria and her team noticed many new faces appearing at the fire pit. They were people who had been evacuated but either due to financial restraints or addiction and mental health issues, found themselves drifting. “We’re hoping to create that safe space for the folks that will be accessing help with this funding,” explains Alexandria. With funding from United Way BC’s Emergency Response grant, they were able to extend the hand of friendship and welcome them.
Supporting wildfire evacuees
The relationship that the PLN staff have with their patrons made the impact of wildfire displacement abundantly clear, both during and after the evacuation orders. While many displaced individuals returned home after evacuation orders were lifted, many were unable to. PLN has continued helping those affected by the wildfires long after the evacuation orders were lifted.
Through the harm reduction outreach program, staff go out each day to provide safe, clean supplies and informal education on safety. Alexandria explains, “Our outreach team has a really good rapport with folks who do access our outreach, and that’s where we noticed the sheer number of people that we’ve seen.”
With the funds from United Way BC’s Emergency Response Grant, PLN has supported displaced individuals in a variety of ways, including adapting the food hub to include grocery cards, hampers, or meals for immediate consumption, as well as shelter and travel assistance through gas cards or bus tickets. With a focus on the comfort of displaced individuals, PLN is making efforts to ensure those who evacuate together can also travel and reside together while they are displaced. “We are really aiming to ensure that if people are evacuating together, that they leave together,” Alexandria says.
PLN is using the funds to provide additional support for folks who are being disproportionately affected by forest fires: whether it’s people who are facing various barriers already in the communities that are affected, those who are marginalized and vulnerable already, precariously housed people, those on substances, or lower income and underemployed individuals. Additionally, PLN is happy to have multiple Elders on site. “If a person needs the support of an Elder or a welcoming space, we’re supporting that as well,” Alexandria shares.
Now, as wildfires in July have forced further evacuation alerts, Fort Nelson First Nation ordered the evacuation of many of their members, and we are seeing evacuees from Jasper, PLN is readily equipped to continue assisting displaced individuals.
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