海角大神

Ever since a wildfire tore through聽Skwl膩x te Secwepemc煤l鈥檈cw First Nation in British Columbia last August, K煤kpi7 (Chief) James Tomma has sought to model resilience.

Thirty-four homes were lost in the blaze, including his own. He was displaced, like dozens in his community, to the city of Kamloops about 40 miles west and oversaw rebuilding efforts from there. Indigenous communities, on the front lines of Canadian forests, have been disproportionately affected by the nation鈥檚 wildfires. Of nearly 300 evacuation orders last year in Canada鈥檚 worst fire season on record, a third were for Indigenous communities, according to the Canadian government.

In April, K煤kpi7 Tomma led a homecoming ceremony for residents returning after eight months away. The ribbon-cutting for the Dancing Fawn II subdivision, the first group of homes constructed, drew a wide range of public officials, including Canada鈥檚 Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hajdu.

Drummers and singers performed as community members streamed into their new neighborhood. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 say this is closure,鈥澛燢煤kpi7 Tomma later explained, 鈥渂ut this is part of healing. My band members, we鈥檙e devastated. It鈥檚 a 鈥榳elcome home鈥� ceremony bringing our people back on the land, regardless of what it looks like or what it is.鈥�

The new homes, where roofers were hammering away as the ceremony began, look onto acres of charred trees, a constant reminder of the devastation and a source of heartbreak for a landscape lost.

Elder Wilfred Tomma told those gathered he felt 鈥渘aked鈥� without the ceremonial objects he lost in the fire, including his sacred pipe and drum. But he also shared an elder鈥檚 perspective: Not a single life was lost in this fire. And the community has come together stronger, which Mr. Tomma said has fortified him.

鈥淚鈥檓 very proud of our community,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e learning to be a community again. We forgot about that 鈥� how to be a community, one people.鈥澛�

Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff

HOMECOMING: First Nation elders listen during a 鈥渨elcome home鈥� event in their new subdivision. Indigenous communities have been disproportionately affected by the wildfires in Canada.

Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff

A RITE OF RENEWAL: Traditional drummers play and sing during the homecoming gathering.

Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff

BLESS THIS LAND: Elder Wilfred Tomma says the opening prayer during the homecoming gathering.

Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff

CEREMONIAL OBJECTS: A First Nation member carries items in a backpack before a ceremony held during the homecoming.

Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff

SIGN OF HOPE: Rebuilding is occurring at a record pace, with 11 houses constructed in the subdivision only eight months after the Bush Creek East wildfire.