#33 Matheson, ON: Pink is the New Black

On arriving in Waskaganish on James Bay, a resident asked me if I had noticed the wildfire-burned areas on the way in.  The way she asked it made me wonder if the trauma of having fires so close to destroying her community was still fresh.  I had noticed.  It would have been hard to miss.  I noticed another thing.  What would have been charred black ugliness two years ago was now vibrantly pink with fireweed.  I was amazed at how quickly destruction had changed to beauty.  It seemed an obvious parable of redemption.


As we drove west from there, Patty typed 'boat launch' into Google for a possible boondocking site near Matheson, Ontario.  That led us to a pretty park by the water.  It came complete with clean, open washrooms and picnic tables.  Best thing of all? No 'Thou shalt not camp!' signs.  There were a couple of other interesting signs though.  There was a 'No Parking - Fire Route' sign at one end.  That confused me until I saw a large yellow standpipe.  Pumper trucks must come here to fill up with lake water for fighting fires.


The other sign was a plaque entitled 'The Great Fire of 1916'.  It was here that Canada's deadliest wildfire occurred.  Six settlements including Matheson were almost completely destroyed and 223 lives were lost.  The final sentence on the plaque read: "This tragedy led to the development of improved techniques and legislation for the prevention and control of forest fires."  So that terrible loss led to the saving of many more lives and communities in the future.  The smoky haziness over our boat- launch-turned-camp site turned my thoughts to Manitoba.  It's been a bitter battle that's not over but, compared to 1916, there have been very few lives lost.  Is that 'fireweed redemption' from the blackness of the Great Fire?

Two days ago Craig Munroe, the vice chief of Manitoba's Garden Hill First Nation, called on people across Canada and the US to join him in praying for protection over his community.  "We are asking God for protection - that the forest fires will not reach our homes.  May the winds turn, the rain fall, and our essential local workers be kept safe.  Lord, place Your hand over Garden Hill and shield us from harm."  Then the vice chief quoted from Isaiah: "When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you."

Yes Redeemer Lord.  I join with the prayers of Vice Chief Munroe.  Show us your mighty hand of protection and care.  Please save our people and their homes.  Bring them beauty instead of ashes.



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