Fort Simpson

At the 'tail end' of 2021 flood recovery, Fort Simpson, N.W.T., looks to the future

At the 'tail end' of 2021 flood recovery, Fort Simpson, N.W.T., looks to the future

On a sunny Tuesday evening in Fort Simpson, N.W.T., Derek and Julia Erasmus cook up a dinner of waffles and sausages as their two young daughters play outside.  Watching them, you wouldn't know just how difficult the past two years have been. They were one of 10 families who lost their house when the community flooded in 2021. "It's kind of just a huge life-changing event," Derek said. "We kind of thought we were going to retire in that house some day … then those plans were all gone after that."

When climate-fuelled disaster pummels your hometown, what comes next?

When climate-fuelled disaster pummels your hometown, what comes next?

Cheryl Cli’s house is so new, it’s still in the packaging. The modular build sits on a muddy lot on safe, high ground about five minutes outside of Fort Simpson, N.W.T. Some of the industrial plastic is ripped away, revealing its cherry red siding. On this April day, the air smells of meat and veggies cooking over an open fire. Cli is having a cookout with friends and family to “claim” the lot. Earlier in the week, she noticed some firewood had been taken. “It’s OK, they probably needed it,” she says.

Tension high as water rises in Fort Liard, holds steady in Fort Simpson

Tension high as water rises in Fort Liard, holds steady in Fort Simpson

With a highly anticipated spring breakup underway in the Dehcho, residents in Fort Liard and Fort Simpson N.W.T., are seeing rising water. In Fort Liard, water is reaching the main road in the community, falling about 400 meters short from the general store. "It's happening so fast, it seems," said Robert Low, who works at the band office there. He said that some people are currently stranded at the general store and that others are being taken to safety. The ice along the river appeared to be flowing, up until a big sheet of ice came, then Low said: "everything stopped."