Kincolith stocks up with special trip to Rupert

Much needed medical supplies, produce and dairy goods were destined for Kincolith (Gingolx) this weekend as a couple of fishing industry members combined their forces to help out the isolated North coast community.

With floodwaters closing their highway connection to Terrace, the residents of Kincolith sent four village residents away to shop after putting together a shopping list totaling some 12,000 dollars and arrived in Prince Rupert.

The Daily news featured the story in Monday’s paper.

SPECIAL TRIP KEEPS KINCOLITH RESIDENTS STOCKED
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Monday, June 11, 2007
Pages one and five

Canadian Fish and F and H Stewart Packing Ltd. teamed up on Friday to help the people of Kincolith access some much needed medical supplies, fresh produce and dairy goods while the community was cut off by the flood waters.

Anticipating they could be cut off for as long as another week, the community came up with a list of supplies and flew four people to Prince Rupert to gather up $12,000 in essentials.

On Friday, Canadian Fish donated the fuel and F and H Stewart Packing loaded the fishing vessel the Born Free for the six-hour trip up the coast.

“We are trying to provide for the entire community’s most basic needs,” said Kincolith village official Clarence Martin.

Grocery stores were sent lists in advance and Esther Stevens, Kincolith Social Services, said they hit Safeway at 6:45 a. m.

“We are trying to be safe in case the road doesn’t open,” she said.

“We just need the basics - we are looking after our infants, toddlers and elders.:

Volunteers from Prince Rupert helped box the goods and pack it in totes for the journey home.

The Nisga’a community of Kincolith is located on the Portland Inlet at the end of the Nisga’a Highway. The 118 homes and 364 people were cut off when flooding closed the highway last week.

The road was reopened this weekend after levels in the Nass River dropped substantially.

Fred C. Stewart , owner of the Born Free, said he and his crew- Tom Timms and Tom Leask – were happy to volunteer to make the trip and return the volunteers with totes of fresh food.

The Born Free is a 62 foot vessel that packs for Canadian Fish.

“I live in Prince Rupert, but I was born in Kincolith,” said Stewart. “Right now, they have no other way to get his up there.”

Most of the people who fish in Kincolith do so for Canadian Fish, he added.

Martin said the people of Kincolith have been handling the flood situation quite well, knowing that communities’ in the Northwest pull together when they need to.

“The people here are very resilient,” he said. “we are taking it in our stride.”

Until several years ago, there was no road to the village and locals depended upon water transportation or floatplanes for supplies.

During his visit to Terrace this weekend, John Les, the province’s public safety minister, said First Nations communities were working with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, the Provincial Emergency Program, and First Nations emergency Social Services to determine the extent of the damage caused by the flood.

“We are seeing unprecedented integration,” he said.

Federal Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day said discussions for funding for damaged communities is already taking place through Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.