The local aboriginal community is hosting an evening of appreciation Saturday night to recognize volunteers from across the province who helped out evacuees from Kashechewan last fall.
The evening, which will feature a dinner of chicken and moose meat, is being held at the Community Centre at the Whitefish First Nation on 38 Reserve Rd. from 6:30 pm to 10 pm.
The event was organized by local native leaders Ed Sackaney and Sue Freeland, along with Matthew Wesley, a young man from Kashechewan who has decided to stay in Sudbury.
Wesley will deliver a speech to the 240 people that are expected to attend. Presents will also be given to each of the volunteers.
The Kashechewan First Nation and the Cambrian Native Student Association are co-sponsors of the evening.
Some Kashechewan residents other than Wesley were invited to attend the event, but they were unable to fly to Sudbury because of the ongoing problems in their community, says Sackaney.
"We organized this evening to bring the people together and to make people realize that if there's a need out there, irregardless of who it may be, the response is going to be a good one," he says.
"It never entered my mind once that we would not get such good support. When all is said and done, we just need to acknowledge their kindness and generosity."
