Located near Longview, Alta., Eden Valley is home to some 730-750 Stoney Nation members and was also impacted by the 2013 flood.
Located near Longview, Alta., Eden Valley is home to some 730-750 Stoney Nation members and was also impacted by the 2013 flood.
The Cochrane Eagle was invited by the Nation’s flood Recovery Management Team (RMT) to visit Eden Valley and report on flood recovery at the remote Nation location.
With no cellphone and very limited Internet and telephone services, the Nation members living in Eden Valley are somewhat isolated from the outside world.
“Some students are displaced still, ” said Robbie Gordon, vice-principal of the Nation’s K-12 school, Chief Jacob Bearspaw, who has worked at the school for 10 years; he estimates some 5-10 per cent of students are displaced (living and attending school off-Nation).
“The Red Cross has been absolutely wonderful with the school…and the kids have bounced back. The people in Eden Valley are very resilient - it’s very much a community effort. ”
Gordon said there was an outpouring of support from Calgary and surrounding communities - individuals stepping up and donating time, resources and amenities to assist flood-affected Nation members.
“The school was used as the emergency shelter and disaster relief centre, ” he said.
Of the 114 homes assessed in Eden Valley, 72 have been determined flood-impacted.
The Highwood River bridge (the only entry point to the community) was shut down for a short period of time during the flood, as the water had risen to dangerous levels, washing a portion of the roadway out; this has since been repaired.
While repairs are underway, housing has posed a problem. Some Nation members have taken up interim housing at Saddlebrook - the site set up for those affected by the floods from High River and surrounding areas.
Due to the remote location, the province is looking toward more long-term capacity building solutions; it is possible that instead of setting up a well-site interim housing site in Eden Valley that mobile home units may offer a more suitable and cost-effective long-term solution.
“Some are in Saddlebrook, but we still need to find the solution for interim housing here, ” said Christine Balash, communications officer for the RMT.
A major focus in Eden Valley, with respect to flood recovery, is creating employment opportunities and ensuring Nation members are connected with skill-building, educational and apprenticeship opportunities that would open these doors for them.
Clark Builders, the general contractor on site, is being encouraged to fill as many trade positions possible - skilled and general labour.
“Our focus is the employment and making sure employers and employees are connected in a timely manner, ” explained Scott Devnick, with Alberta Works, who was in Eden Valley facilitating an employment workshop April 28.
Debbie Dixon is the human resources manager with the Bearspaw band, working to ensure Nation members are getting geared up for employment.
Since Eden Valley is comprised of 95 per cent Bearspaw members, Dixon has been focusing much of her efforts in the community.
“The province has stepped in and they’re willing to help us get people trained and up to speed to fill various positions, ” explained Dixon. “(In Eden Valley) we’re working to get Nation members up to speed on their safety tickets. ”
Dixon said the greatest constraint for the Eden Valley Nation members is the remote location. Issues such as transportation, drivers licenses and access to the Internet pose problems for many.
She said that she sees the positive in the flood recovery process and the potential for growth for Nation members to become skilled through apprenticeship programs.
The flood RMT is currently putting together a Disaster Readiness Symposium, slated for May.
