Members of the Tl香蕉视频直播檈ntinqox t-in First Nation (Anaham) have always liked a good fight, joked Chief Joe Alphonse in their community near Williams Lake.

香蕉视频直播淎s long as we香蕉视频直播檙e fightin香蕉视频直播�, we香蕉视频直播檙e happy.香蕉视频直播�

So when the Tribune visited the Tsilhqot香蕉视频直播檌n community on Wednesday, which is flanked by out of control wildfires to the northeast and southeast, it was no surprise to us community members were doing well and in good spirits.

RELATED:

香蕉视频直播淚t has pulled our community together. It has really bonded us,香蕉视频直播� said Alphonse.

When the wildfires started last Friday afternoon, Alphonse said the community decided together that they would stay and try to save their homes themselves.

香蕉视频直播淵ou make your decision and you stick by it,香蕉视频直播� said Alphonse, who almost came to blows with RCMP members trying to force the evacuation of the community, specifically the children, Friday night when evacuation orders came in for the area.

That conflict has since been resolved, and children in the community have stayed and been given jobs to do while anyone able and 19 years or old, are out fighting fire. Elders and those who wanted to, were evacuated Friday night while about 300 remain.

香蕉视频直播淵ou have your moments, like one night when I was sitting out here watching the fires [grow] I asked myself if, did I do the right thing? But my community said yes, this was what they wanted to do. They wanted to fight the fires 香蕉视频直播� If we lose homes we take comfort that we香蕉视频直播檝e done everything in our power. We don香蕉视频直播檛 want to sit in Williams Lake, Quesnel or Prince George and be sitting their with our fingers crossed that somebody is out there looking after our interests.香蕉视频直播�

Alphonse said he is absolutely confident that if the community had evacuated they would have already lost as many as six homes or more. In the early days of the fire, residents of the Chilcotin received little help from the government as fires around Williams Lake, 100 Mile House, Cache Creek and Ashcroft spread resources thin.

香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 a lot. If we lost those homes we香蕉视频直播檇 never get them back 香蕉视频直播� we can香蕉视频直播檛 afford that. We need those homes right now. We are not the richest people but whatever we have, we take pride in what we own.香蕉视频直播�

Under some scrutiny for staying inside the evacuated area, Alphonse said they have many trained fire fighters and health care providers on hand as well as a month香蕉视频直播檚 worth of medication for those who need it and lots of food and water.

香蕉视频直播淭his is not our first rodeo,香蕉视频直播� he said, adding this is the third fire the community has experienced since 2009 and, because of those experiences they already had strategic planning around wildfires in place.

香蕉视频直播淚f you香蕉视频直播檙e going to live in the Chilcotin you香蕉视频直播檇 better get used to fires.香蕉视频直播�

Gathered at the band office, women are doing their part preparing meals for anyone who may need it, such as weary travellers leaving the Chilcotin, fire fighters and hydro crews, who were provided lunches by Anaham members for their efforts to restore the power quickly. The community is also still providing fuel for travellers at their gas station. Anyone needing to stop and just rest or have a meal are all welcome to do so.

香蕉视频直播淓veryone is welcome,香蕉视频直播� said Nola Alphonse, adding she香蕉视频直播檚 praying they don香蕉视频直播檛 get pushed out of their community by the fires.

Band members like Nola and Susan Rae Alphonse said they all are in agreement that staying home was the right thing to do, and feel confident in the ability of their members and that of the BC Wildfire Service to contain the fires.

Alphonse, who created a political firestorm when he told media that community members needed to stay and save homes because Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) would take years to replace any lost homes, was also paid a visit Wednesday by Catherine Lappe, regional director general for INAC, Grand Chief Ed John and Chief Bob Chamberlin, vice president for the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, Bill Wallace of the RCMP and Mike Gash of the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation.

Lappe, came made her entrance via helicopter, said she made the trip to 香蕉视频直播渧isit the community and see how we can support them香蕉视频直播� and promised to expedite any funds needed in the event of a loss.

Before retreating to the boardroom for a meeting, Alphonse joked with Lappe that he wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 let her leave until she promised new funds for a youth centre for Anaham. He also took the time to ackowledge several teenage boys who were working hard for the community.

香蕉视频直播淵ou give them a job and they take pride in it,香蕉视频直播� Alphonse said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 the little things like that that make a difference.香蕉视频直播�

On the drive back to Williams Lake with Paul Grinder, a band councillor for Tl香蕉视频直播檈ntinqox t-in and fisheries officer for the Tsilhqot香蕉视频直播檌n National Government, he said it香蕉视频直播檚 how you handle life香蕉视频直播檚 challenges that makes you who you are.

香蕉视频直播淚t builds your character. It makes you stronger,香蕉视频直播� said Grinder. 香蕉视频直播淚 can香蕉视频直播檛 see myself racing away from this. It香蕉视频直播檚 too important. It香蕉视频直播檚 a priority for me. Those are my people.香蕉视频直播�