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A historic store in La Ronge has been destroyed after a wildfire tore through part of the community.
In a social media post, Robertson Trading Memories confirmed that Robertson Trading burned down in a fire on Tuesday night. Since then, hundreds of messages have poured in from people mourning the loss and offering support.
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Robertson Trading operated in La Ronge for nearly 60 years. (Robertson Trading Memories/Facebook)
Robertson Trading was a grocery store and fur trading post which officially closed on December 31, 2023. But despite the store no longer being fully operational, the owners said they feel a profound sense of loss as the store was still housing the Robertson family’s collection of Indigenous art.
“The building was just a building, but the loss of the remaining contents – hundreds of pieces of Indigenous art and historical artifacts – is catastrophic,” Robertson Trading Memories wrote in a Facebook post.
Items lost in the fire include beaded moosehide jackets and moccasins, birchbark baskets, antler carvings and original paintings.
Beaded moosehide jackets were lost in the blaze at Robertson Trading. (Robertson Trading Memories/Facebook)
“(Those items) represent thousands of hours of handwork done by talented Indigenous artists and craftspeople, and are absolutely irreplaceable,” the post added. “We so valued the talent, skill, time, and traditions which went into the creation of each and every object in our collection.”
The social media post said the Robertson family’s art collection wasn’t just important to the family, but to the community that helped build it.
“We are filled with regret that we weren’t able to save the artwork. This loss is a loss of beautiful representations of rich cultures that we hold in very high esteem,” the post read.
“Let this tragedy be a reminder to all that a moccasin is not just a slipper, that a beaded cardholder or keychain is not just a practical accessory; please hold your own pieces of Indigenous art close to your heart. Protect them. Never forget that these wonderful creations can be gone in an instant – and that what is lost is far more than just leather, bone, and beads.”
The Robertson family said the store was a special place for many people, and they are grateful for the nearly 60 years of support.
An evacuation order for La Ronge and the surrounding area was issued on Monday after a fast-moving wildfire breached the town’s airport.
According to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, there are currently 23 wildfires burning around the province, including eight that are considered uncontained. So far this year, Saskatchewan has seen 242 wildfires, well ahead of the five-year average of 135.
The public safety agency is set to deliver an update on the wildfire situation in the province at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday. 650 CKOM and 980 CJME will carry the update live.
