Residents of the James Bay-Albany River Kashechewan First Nation are currently in Kapuskasing and Timmins, in a precautionary evacuation ahead of spring flooding. It’s not the municipalities hosting them. It’s ISN Maskwa, the emergency management arm of the Missinabie Cree Business Corporation.
General manager Joe Sayers says ISN Maskwa consults with the First Nations on where they want their members sent.
“Kashechewan First Nation has a lot of their members that actually live in Kapuskasing and Timmins,” he states.”So the preference to be evacuated to those sites gives them a chance to reconnect with family, and that’s all important for their health and wellbeing as well.”
Sayers says ISN Maskwa “entirely” takes the load off the host communities.
“We do everything from accommodations, catering, all the way to aviation, ground travel. The Mushkegowuk Tribal Council for instance also assists in mental health supports and services, as well as cultural activities.”
There’s much more about ISN Maskwa and how it works, in the audio of our interview, right here:
