Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

NLAKA'PAMUX HEALTH SERVICES SOCIETY

Nlaka’pamux evacuees gather in Kamloops as they await more info on returning home

Nov 25, 2021 | 4:26 PM

KAMLOOPS — A large part of the territory of the Nlaka’pamux people lies along the stretch of Highway 8 that was damaged extensively by flooding almost two weeks ago. While work continues to get folks back into their homes, for some, it could be a long wait.

In Kamloops Thursday (Nov. 25), the Nlaka’pamux Health Services Society hosted an event — part-information session, part-community gathering — to bring those who remain displaced together.

It’s been a traumatic year for many of these folks. From the pandemic to wildfires, and now catastrophic flooding, the Nlaka’pamux people who live in and around the Nicola Valley have endured some significant hardships in 2021.

“It not only impacts directly our own houses and communities, but it has impacted infrastructure of our neighbouring towns and communities that we use every day,” Lennard Joe, Nlaka’pamux Emergency Operations Manager explains.

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Members of First Nations communities affected by the flooding along the Coldwater and Nicola Rivers have gathered at the Coast Hotel in Kamloops. There, the Nlaka’pamux Health Services Society has gathered resources to help ease the burden on individuals and families who are unable to return home.

“Nlaka’pamux Health actually represents 12 of the 15 bands,” Joe tells CFJC Today. “Out of that, nine out of the 12 bands have been directly impacted by the floods.”

The society has been working with the First Nations Health Authority, among other agencies to ensure that people have what they need to get by for the time being. As part of those efforts, Telus and Save-On Foods both stepped up to ensure these folks wouldn’t go hungry.

“We got a call asking for some support less than 48 hours ago,” Nicole Watt, a community manager with Telus explains. “We partnered with Save-On Foods to ensure that we got some food up here for anybody in need, and some gift cards as they move forward.”

Naomi McLeod manages Save-On Foods in Westsyde. As a member of the Metlakatla First Nation, she understands how communities come together during difficult times to ensure everyone is looked after.

“We came together as five stores in Kamloops,” McLeod says. “Every store manager jumped in and we were able to collect the needed donations, and that’s where we are today.”

Eleven days after fleeing high water, many of these folks still have no idea when they’ll be able to return to their homes and communities. However, they’ve been able to come together and share in resiliency, as they continue to heal from the trauma they’ve felt this year.

“The land has changed. The land has been impacted, by the fires and now the atmospheric river event,” Joe says. “Also, the people have changed — we will evolve and adapt, heal and move forward.”