Kahnawake donates aid to victims of Collins First Nation forest fire

The Mohawk community of Kahnawake is donating aid to victims of the Collins First Nation forest fire.

It’s been days since residents of Collins First Nation had to make a sudden evacuation by boat as flames from forest fires tore through their island and destroyed their homes.

Timothy Armstrong said once they made their way to safety, he knew their ordeal was just beginning and wanted to find a way to help.

“They basically got away with the clothing on their back,” he said. “Because a lot of these places it’s a fly in or you come in by boat.”

Armstrong is from the Broken Head Ojibway Nation in Manitoba but has spent the last 20 years in Kahnawake. He said even if the forest fires are far away, Indigenous communities are tied by close bonds, especially when there is an emergency.

He reached out to a contact from the Collins First Nation to find out what kind of supplies they need and published the list on social media. He said while he expected people to help, he’s been overwhelmed by the volume of donations that have come in.

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Donations have filled an entire room at Kahnawake’s K103.7 radio station, and residents continued to drop off goods such as clothing, medical supplies and toiletries Saturday morning, before Armstrong left for Thunder Bay, Ont., where the victims of the fires are staying.

Armstong estimates with all the donations he’s received, he will have to make the 16-hour drive to Thunder Bay at least four times to deliver all the goods, unless he can get a larger vehicle.

“We always talk about how we’re all related and we’re all part of the same family,” he said. “And it’s true. This just shows exactly how much we share, you know, we care for one another.”