Tsuut'ina Nation rallies behind community member who lost home in fire

A fire on Tsuut’ina Nation burned down a home, but local leadership believes that their community will persevere despite this hardship around the holiday season.

The home was destroyed in the blaze on Saturday at around 3 a.m.

Tsuut’ina Minor Chief Zachary Manywounds said the home belonged to Sundancer Tammy Crowchild.

“She’s a very humble human, very well-respected throughout the community, and we were made aware in the early morning hours, responded very effectively and quickly,” Manywounds said. “There was no one in the home, so that is a really positive thing. Unfortunately, everything within the home was destroyed because it was engulfed by a fire.”

Following the incident, community members and leadership mobilized to assist Crowchild.

“Wendy Two Guns, Tyler Two Guns, the fire chief, Corrine Eagletail, Paula Big Plume, Ellery Starlight — they really, really, really went out of their way to make sure that Tammy was okay,” he said.

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To help support Crowchild, Manywounds said Minor Chief Eagletail suggested creating a GoFundMe to ask beyond their community for help.

“Because it’s a false perception that Indigenous communities have infinite money from the government,” Manywounds said. “Well, we don’t. And much like citizens in Canada, or the City of Calgary, it’s going to take a while to either figure out a way to recover the home and build it in the future. But in the meantime, much like any other person, we’re just doing our best to help her recover what she can.”

Although the incident is heartbreaking, he said it is beautiful to see the community rally in support for someone in need.

“And our community right now, even though such a tragedy happened, you can see all of everyone’s hearts really shining bright right now,” Manywounds said. “Tammy was really humbled by that. She was really grateful. We had a funeral yesterday, we had lost someone, and Tammy said, ‘Today isn’t about me, we need all of leadership to be at the funeral, and there for the community, let’s focus on that.’

“So, even that was the best of a person coming out to say we’re all in this together and we’re gonna shine bright as long as we stay together.”

‘Our community is very tight-knit and resilient’

Major Chief Ellery Starlight said he would like to thank the Tsuut’ina Fire Department and the Rockyview County Fire Department for their quick response.

“We’ve kind of had a tough holiday, and this adds to the dismay,” he said. “Tammy Crowchild, she (is) a very strong person in the community, helping people and leading a lot of ceremony. So, at times like this the community is very helpful, and I’d like to thank the fire department for their quick response. Unfortunately, it was just too much lost.”

Starlight said their community looks forward to rebuilding, but noted that this will be a tough time for the family that lost their home.

He thanked everyone who wants to support Crowchild, or is sending thoughts and prayers their way.

“We’re very happy to receive it and prayers to everybody,” Starlight said. “That’s kind of the foundation that we find ourselves in strength. So prayers for everybody and love for the families, just to help bring a smile back and some heartfelt feelings for everybody that’s involved here.”

Moving forward, he believes the community will remain resilient and continue forward.

“Our community is very tight-knit and resilient,” he said. “And times like this, especially during the holidays, we’re grateful for the fire department,” he said. “Happy holidays to all of our neighbours. We’ll just keep moving on.”

For anyone looking to support the GoFundMe, they can do so online by visiting gofund.me/bb7082f23.