On Nov. 15, 2021, the entire City of Merritt , British Columbia had to be evacuated to surrounding cities (Kamloops, Kelowna) due to the flooding waters of the Coldwater River after a summer of battles against raging wildfires. As of now, the City has put out a statement, saying that the ""Evacuation Order will remain in place for likely more than a week.""

 

The Indigenous population in Merritt as of 2013 was 23%, and there are to my knowledge five registered bands in the City. All funds raised from this campaign will be equitably distributed amongst the band members whose homes were affected by this tragedy. Any amount helps, and if donating isn't something you can do, please share this campaign!

I have been asked to modify my GoFundMe story to include the following information;

      - How am I related to the people I'm raising funds for? People I consider my chosen family are native to Merritt, and I talk to many of them on a daily basis. I figured that the best way of helping, considering  that I couldn't exactly fly over and help them & their community.
      - What is my withdrawal plan to give the money to the beneficiaries? A community member (Elijah Mack-Stirling) has agreed to be added as the sole beneficiary for this GoFundMe! The funds will thus be withdrawn by a trusted community member and not by me. 
      - How will the fund be spent? According to the goal I had previously set, the funds are to be distributed equitably to each band whose members' homes were impacted (in this case, flooded). Instead of sending the same amount of money to all bands, the money will be distributed to the needs (for example, # of members) of each band who are in need of financial support in order to take care of their homes. 

Please contact me if you have any questions!!

*The City of Merritt, CNA, as well as the Coldwater, Shackan, Upper Nicola, Lower Nicola and Nooaitch bands have all been contacted by email or Facebook.

**All information was obtain by family & friend's testimonies, CBC and Global News, and Statistics Canada.

***Picture is from Global News.