K’atl’odeeche First Nation residents in N.W.T. allowed to return to reserve

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This article was published 07/06/2023 (892 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

HAY RIVER, N.W.T. – The K’at’lodeeche First Nation says residents can return to the reserve in the Northwest Territories more than three weeks after they were forced to leave their homes due to a wildfire.

Residents of the reserve, home to about 300 people, along with the nearby town of Hay River, where more than 3,000 people live, were ordered to evacuate on May 14.

Community members were allowed to return to Hay River, which did not sustain damage from the fire, on May 25, while the wildfire continued to burn on the reserve.

The wildfire, which is now classified as being under control and was last mapped at about 32 square kilometres, damaged more than a dozen buildings on the reserve, including the First Nation’s band office.

The First Nation says it is still in a state of emergency and there is no public access to the reserve.

It says power, water and sewer services have yet to resume.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 7, 2023.