17 hours ago
My family and I had to leave our home due to wildfires. Here's a photo diary of what happened next
This First Person article is the experience of Lori Osborne, a mother of four from Pimicikamak Cree Nation. For more info rmation about CBC's First Person stories, please see this FAQ. You can read more First Person articles here.
On May 28, Pimicikamak Cree Nation was placed under an emergency evacuation order, as wildfires burned out of control near the northern Manitoba First Nation and surrounding communities.
Lori Osborne, her four children and her partner, Stephan Robinson, were among the thousands who had to leave, and just found out earlier this week they'd finally be able to go home.
Osborne diarized their journey with photos and notes.
This is the first picture I decided to take before we were all told to evacuate, sitting around the living room with our bags all out and listening to the chief talk on radio and tell us to evacuate. I remember just rushing around and grabbing the things I needed. I packed as much as I could for me and my four kids.
And let me tell you, that was hard. I probably packed more pants than shirts for my eight-month-old baby, Greenly. I packed two shirts and two pants for my son, Lakota, because I didn't do laundry. It was hectic packing, not only for myself but my kids — making sure I packed enough Pampers or milk, shoving things in to make it fit.
Greenly was starting to get super fussy trying to get across the ferry to Norway House. I would have to carry her around outside sometimes just to keep her busy! Do you know how hard it can be to entertain a baby in a cramped up vehicle? (Ha ha.)
I had my daughter Meena, my son Lakota and my niece Scarlett sing baby songs, such as Icky Sticky Bubble Gum and The Wheels On the Bus. I thought it would take forever to get to the ferry.
This is Greenly and Meena waiting for the Hercules plane. I remember the wait was so hard! I didn't have a stroller for my baby girl, so I'd been carrying her a lot. Me and my boyfriend, Stephan Robinson, had to take turns holding her. I almost blacked out, because I was so hot and sweaty and tired. I just got so tired, I decided to lay her on the ground with her sister and me.
This one here! It's when I realized, 'Oh, OK, this is serious. We're actually leaving our home!'
I got scared, I'm not gonna lie. I'm not used to leaving my hometown. I'm not used to travelling. I never travelled with all four of my kids. Me and Stephan had to reassure my babies everything was gonna be all right. We just had to go on a trip to be safer.
After our Hercules plane ride, we got into a bus right away, which took us to Peguis First Nation. When I hopped on the bus after settling down with my kids, I started crying. It was about 12:30 in the morning when we started moving, and I realized all my kids were cold. I didn't pack a blanket or warmer clothes.
Me and Stephan had to take our sweaters to put on our babies, but there were only two of us and we had four cold babies. My son used mine, and our eight-month-old really needed one. My Meena was curled up in a ball inside her shirt. I cried and felt so sorry for them during that whole bus ride.
When we arrived in Peguis, as we were walking into the multiplex, I noticed lots of cots with blankets and sheets on top of them. I noticed bottled water and snacks, and when I got into the washroom, I noticed clean towels hanging everywhere, shampoo, conditioner, soap, tooth brushes, etc. They even had a place for Pampers, Enfamil and a nursing station all in one building!
Everything was literally ready when we got in, and boy, did I feel so much peace. My kids had a place to sleep, a blanket and a pillow. They gave us so many blankets — they gave us dividers, so we could have privacy, and Stephan made a little shelter for us. It felt like camping for my kids.
They loved it so much here in Peguis; they had food my kids loved (like noodles and Kraft Dinner), bouncy houses, toys, an arcade and a pool table.
But then, after spending five days in Peguis, they announced on the intercom we had to pack because we were going to Niagara Falls, Ont. Let me tell you, my heart dropped!
I never ever travelled that far, let alone with all four of my kids. I got nervous, scared and worried about my babies.
We packed and hopped on the bus. Then we waited all day at the airport to be boarded on the plane. We got word that we were definitely gonna be on that plane.
So Stephan put our bags into the plane — only to be told we weren't getting on that flight. My kids waited around hungry and tired for nothing. I cried as soon as our councillor told us we weren't getting on the plane. She comforted me and said, "I'm sorry, I really am."
I was just so tired of travelling and making my kids sleep on the floor.
The next day, after a two-and-a-half-hour plane ride, we had a one-hour bus ride to Niagara Falls.
We finally made it there. And so for the time being, Niagara Falls became home. We finally got a soft bed and two big rooms.
My Meena was at peace. Look at her relaxing with her feet up, chilling. I felt better looking at her that way!
I always wondered, "Why Niagara Falls, out of all places?" But it was amazing.
On our first day there, we went for a stroll. It was a beautiful sightseeing day.
Niagara Falls was something. I might have gone overboard with the pictures, but Niagara Falls was something I never experienced. I'm so glad I got to experience it with our kids.
We spent seven days in Niagara Falls. I won't forget it.
But then we got bad news. My babies' Papa Ross, their grandfather, had passed away. We took it hard — we cried in front of our kids in our hotel. We had to tell our babies that their papa, whom they were sooo close to, had passed away.
Carl Ross had been on dialysis for 12 years. He'd been nothing but good to me and my babies.
This was the last picture we took of him, when we were first evacuated and before we went to Niagara Falls.
But now, it was time to pack up once again and leave. We flew back to Winnipeg as soon as we heard, where my mother-in-law found a hotel room for us. This is back in Winnipeg (see below), waiting for a ride to the Travelodge. For my babies, it meant another long travel day.
It's not that bad at the Travelodge. I'm just glad I'm closer to home and I get to see so many familiar faces. My kids love it. We feel at home.
News! After almost three weeks of travel, we just got word the evacuation is lifted! We get to go home!
