A total of $2.7 million in relief payments have been issued in just the tri-communities. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

assistance

Air Ronge, La Ronge, LLRIB distribute $2.7 million in provincial wildfire relief payments

Jul 3, 2025 | 12:34 PM

Since evacuees have returned to their home communities, leadership with Air Ronge, La Ronge and the Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) have issued at least $2.7 million in provincial wildfire assistance payments.

In June, the Government of Saskatchewan announced every evacuee 18 and old was eligible to receive a one-time $500 payment in emergency financial support. The funds were issued directly to communities as a grant and residents needed to apply for the assistance.

As of last week, the LLRIB made payments to 3,337 members with 2,117 in the La Ronge area, 500 in Stanley Mission, 414 in Hall Lake and 306 in Sucker River. That’s a total of $1,668,500.

“I do not have the numbers yet for the non-LLRIB members that reside on-reserve,” said LLRIB Executive Director Gladys Christiansen.

“We have not advertised it and have only provided to those that have come to the band office to request it. We do not know all the non-LLRIB members that reside on the reserve. The membership office does a door-to-door count once a year, however, they do not record contact numbers, just names of the individuals.”

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In addition to the LLRIB, as of July 2, the Town of La Ronge has paid 1,682 applicants out of the remaining 1,781. The Village of Air Ronge has paid 401 applicants out of 590 applicants. Those two communities have paid out $1,041,500 so far with the total being $2.1 million in just the tri-communities.

There has been no deadline announced yet for when applications will stop being accepted. The Town of La Ronge, however, is expecting a July 9 deadline.

According to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA), a total of $5.1 million has been transferred to assist in meeting the financial needs of evacuees through the $500 payments. The SPSA continues to distribute cheques, and they expect the amount to rise in the coming days.

The support is for all impacted communities, which includes those in the Cumberland and Athabasca regions.

“The SPSA is also offering retroactive food security support of $40 per day for the head of household, plus $20 for each additional member, up to a maximum of $200 daily, for those who did not stay in SPSA provided hotels,” a statement noted.

“The SPSA reminds residents who were evacuated to register on the Sask Evac App, regardless of their repatriation status, to be eligible for these grants and retroactive supports. Once they’ve registered, they must call the SPSA at 1-855-559-5502 to start the process of receiving support.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com