First Nations Emergency Services Society (FNESS)
Last year, we made a contribution to the Nooaitch Reserve following the catastrophic flooding in November 2021. The swollen Nicola River took out two bridges, washed a log house down the river, threatened and undercut 12 houses making them uninhabitable, washed away farmland, put the cemetery at risk, and washed away much of Highway 8.
One of the members of the Social Justice and Outreach Team visited the Nooaitch
Reserve 20 kilometres from Merritt last August, and met with the Chief. We have been in regular contact with the Band Manager who has been very informative. We are continuing to build a relationship with the Nooaitch.
Three new modular houses have been erected to replace three of the uninhabitable houses. Standing above the banks of the Nicola River which were small in August, but had filled a great expanse of river-washed rocks right to the top, it was hard to believe how that river was raging in November.
It was a warm day but there was a lovely breeze blowing along the river. There were ponderosa pines among the houses on the reserve and dry golden grasses everywhere.
The Band Manager told us about the goals of the Nooaitch.
1. They need more land because the Reserve is too small, and they lost farmland to the flooding as well. They are negotiating with the Federal and Provincial governments for farmland and land on which to build housing.
2. They want to prepare for extreme weather in the future. They want to build a multipurpose building with a gymnasium, a commercial kitchen, and room for the storage of emergency food. This could be temporary accommodation in another emergency.
3. They hope to build a Firehall where they could store municipal equipment and have it fenced so it would be secure.
4. They need to build some transitional housing for young mothers with children who need to come home, having been in abusive relationships.
5. They want to build housing for people who have been going through recovery.
6. They also want to plan for housing for young people who need to come home, and who are not equipped to succeed in cities and towns.
7. They plan to get generators in case of future emergencies, and to have cold storage so that food is not lost in an emergency.
It is our objective to contribute $2500 towards establishing transitional housing for young mothers with children who need to come home, and who are leaving abusive relationships.
The Social Justice and Outreach Team appreciates the support you can offer to this our April agency.