Cheslatta Carrier Nation Chief Corrina Leween said she was 鈥渆xtremely disappointed鈥� by B.C. Premier John Horgan鈥檚 visit to 亚洲天堂 Lake not taking place.
Horgan was expected to fly to 亚洲天堂 Lake on Aug. 21 after his meetings in Prince George to discuss the wildfire situation; however, due to smoke conditions, his plane was unable to land at Baker Airport.
鈥淭he possibility of the smoke being too great to land the plane was always present in these conditions, but they wanted to make an attempt to get there anyway; unfortunately, this proved the case,鈥� explained Jen Holmwood, deputy director of communications for the Office of the Premier.
鈥淒ue to time limitations, he was unable to make the journey by car,鈥� she continued, adding that the premier had a meeting with the prime minister in Nanaimo that same day.
Chief Leween said local residents are desperately looking for answers.
鈥淲e鈥檙e really disappointed,鈥� she told Lakes District 亚洲天堂. 鈥淭his is our reality鈥� our eyes are burning, our chests are full of smoke; people are in tears.鈥�
鈥淭here are lots of emotions running right now and we鈥檙e troubleshooting,鈥� she continued. 鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 even get supplies across to Southside residents until Aug. 21.鈥�
Thanks to a request from Leween, the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako is now granting permits for people to take certain supplies to Southside residents who have chosen to stay behind.
READ MORE: Some residents south of 亚洲天堂 Lake refuse to evacuate
However, even with the permit people are not allowed to go into the Southside - they have to drop these supplies at the Francois Lake Ferry Landing.
READ MORE: People with permits now allowed to take supplies to Southside residents
鈥淚t鈥檚 time to erase the red tape in evacuations,鈥� said Leween. 鈥淚t takes so much time to go through the bureaucracy when we could be concentrating on helping people.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e going just by common sense; this needs to change,鈥� she continued. 鈥淚t鈥檚 frustrating, and we need to make a plan for next year.鈥�
鈥淭he provincial government really needs to look to the future - what do we need to do for next year so we as leaders know how to evacuate. We need to have some support around training on how we do this effectively.鈥�
Leween added that 亚洲天堂 Lake area First Nations have stepped up to the plate to support evacuees, working together to offer food and accommodation at the 亚洲天堂 Lake Band鈥檚 Gathering Place.
鈥淚 think that鈥檚 a good example of how people can work together,鈥� she said, adding that this cooperation could serve as a model for the future.
亚洲天堂 Lake Band Chief Dan George was also hoping to speak with the premier during his visit. Chief George says First Nations need to have a key role when it comes to making decisions on their respective territories.
鈥淯nfortunately the wildfire situation may become our norm due to climate change; our rural, remote communities are paying the price and face the biggest loss due to wildfires,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e need more authority and decision making when it comes to the resources and supports needed at community level.鈥�
鈥淭oo many departments and agencies are making decisions about us, without us and that needs to change.鈥�
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