“Christmas is at our place again this year!”

Of all the things lost in the 2025 wildfire that destroyed their home in Denare Beach, Saskatchewan, it was losing her sacred bundle that hurt Carmell Monias the most.

For the Indigenous woman, the bundle contained some of her most special possessions: Two drums; traditional medicines such as sweetgrass, tobacco, sage, and cedar; a smudging kit and eagle feathers—traditional teachings she had received from elders or that she had made and collected herself.

“I kept it in my bedroom, in the corner. But it’s gone,” she said, wiping a tear.

Carmell and her partner, Ivan Knutson, both members of the Pimicikmak (Cross Lake) Cree Nation, lost their home in Denare Beach, Saskatchewan to the Wolf Fire in 2025. The fire destroyed over 200 structures in the remote town, located about 400 kilometres from Saskatoon.

The couple, who have five children and 13 grandchildren, are grateful that Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) volunteers are building them a new home.

Homeowner Ivan Knutson (right) lifting a wall in his house with MDS volunteers in Denare Beach, Sask.

“I still can’t believe it,” said Carmell, an elementary school teacher. “It’s such a relief after the stress of the fire.”

“The volunteers mean the world to us,” added Ivan, who works for the Ministry of Highways in Saskatchewan.

While grateful for the help, it’s still hard to accept.

“We never had to ask for help before,” Carmell said. “We always tried to be self-sufficient.

Along with the loss of their house and possessions, what they also miss is their yard—the grass, trees, and bush behind their home was burned; all around there is nothing but dirt where houses used to be.

“The grandchildren used to love to run and play there,” Carmell said. “This was a paradise of trees, the lake, and forests.”

Earlier this year, Ivan and Carmell felt themselves losing hope that life could ever return to normal. “But then MDS reached out,” she said. “I couldn’t believe it.”

There is also something spiritual about MDS being involved in their lives, something hard to explain. “When we had supper with volunteers, I felt something lift off me,” Ivan said of how he felt lighter and more hopeful for the future after that event.

“The volunteers feel like family,” Carmell added. “We feel their openness and welcome. We feel we can share anything with them.”

Homeowner Ivan Knutson with Project Director Peter Thiessen in Denare Beach, Sask.

Although they are months away from moving into their new home, the two are already looking forward to having their family all back together in one place again for meals and celebrations after a year in rented accommodations. “Christmas is at our place again this year!” Carmell said.

Thinking of their experience with MDS, Carmell used an encounter at the popular Canadian coffee chain, Tim Hortons, as a metaphor.

“Someone I didn’t know ahead of me paid for my coffee in the drive-through, and that made my whole week,” she said. “What MDS is doing for us is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life. We will always look for ways to pay it forward to help others.”

John Longhurst, MDS Canada writer