After landing in Yellowknife yesterday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau continued his tour around the Northwest Territories with a stop in Kátł’odeeche First Nation today.
The PM toured the reserve and received a firsthand look at the devastation caused by this year’s wildfire season.
Trudeau’s tour began at the former Senior’s Complex. Guided by KFN Chief April Martel and accompanied by NWT MP Michael McLeod, Prime Minister Trudeau met with fire crews and representatives to view the destruction caused by the wildfire that ripped through the KFN Reserve over the summer.
“I know its been a very trying time, but the way the community has come together is just extraordinary,” Prime Minister Trudeau expressed in a meeting.
The next stop in the tour included a drum and prayer ceremony, and tobacco presentation on the remains of the KFN Cultural Institute.
The Prime Minister participated in the prayer, and reflected on the wreckage, before tossing a ceremonial blessing onto the site.
The Prime Minister’s KFN tour concluded with a meeting with First Nations leaders in the community and a gift exchange with Kátł’odeeche First Nation Chief April Martel.
“It’s a great honour, coming from young leadership, and our past leaders who have been here for many years who guide us and help us through all this, so I just want to say thank you,” Chief Martel says.
“Chief Martel has been showing me around today, and it’s been absolutely beautiful, but what’s been most beautiful is the welcome of the people,” Prime Minister Trudeau says.
“The elders, the young people, the community leaders such as yourself, I really feel privileged to have been able to come here,” he adds.
Prime Minister Trudeau is scheduled to continue his stay in the NWT in Yellowknife on October 12th, 2023.
