PRESS RELEASE
FILE HILLS QU’APPELLE TRIBAL COUNCIL
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 29, 2021
File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council and The Canadian Red Cross Society Enter Into Collaboration Agreement
(Treaty 4 Territory, SK) – File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council (FHQTC) and The Canadian Red Cross Society (CRCS) enter into a formal Collaboration Agreement that will aid in emergency situations.
The Collaboration Agreement is designed to facilitate a productive and mutually beneficial working relationship between FHQTC and CRCS in order to maximize the work intended to benefit individuals, families, and communities affected by disasters.
“Effective relationships with key partners is critical to the planning and implementation of immediate and effective emergency supports and services.,” stated Tribal Chief and CEO Edmund Bellegarde. “Our Tribal Council, along with our member First Nations and affiliated Entities such as the Regina Treaty Status/Indian Services have the experience, skills, and knowledge needed to provide appropriate and effective support services during emergency events. We have proven ourselves, as the organization to have involved when it comes to supporting, Saskatchewan and Canada for emergency evacuation support.
I am very proud to be here today signing the collaboration agreement with the Red Cross. This will ensure we continue to be on call to offer advice, guidance to provide culturally relevant support services to anyone needs emergency support.
“The Red Cross is excited to sign this collaboration agreement” said Luc Mullinder, Vice-President of the Canadian Red Cross in Saskatchewan. “File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council has been doing great work in building local capacity to lead and respond to emergencies. Today we’re committing to work alongside these communities as partners.”
Southern Saskatchewan has seen numerous mass evacuations due to fire and smoke, as well as emergency situations such as winter storm power failures in recent years. These situations have prompted numerous agencies to assist in the social ramifications and needs associated with natural disasters.
