Barn Fire Destroys Ojibwe Horse Farm Hay Supply

A fire which destroyed the hay supply at Grey Raven Ranch has resulted in a fundraising initiative.

Based on the Seine River First Nation, near the Ontario and Minnesota border, Grey Raven’s goal is to ensure the survival of the Ojibwe horses and to preserve the unique Anishinaabe heritage of partnership with them. An extremely rare breed, there are less than 200 Ojibwe horses left worldwide.

Ojibwe horses Mac and Sim with a young man from Seine River First Nation. (Grey Raven Ranch photo)

According to Thunder Bay News Watch, staff at Grey Raven said the September 16th fire was deliberately set – a fact the OPP had not confirmed at press time.

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In the article, Grey Raven Ranch director Kim Campbell is quoted as saying she first learned of the disaster from a text from ranch president, Darcy Whitecrow. “I got this horrific picture which I didn’t recognize at first, believe it or not,” Campbell told the news outlet. “We’ve had a lot of people who have done foolish things in the past, go in there and smoke a cigarette, but we’ve never had the whole barn burn down so quickly and so hot,” she said.

The structure was 24′ x 24′ and was used for storing hay for its herd of horses.

Campbell launched a GoFundMe to buy more hay and to have it transported to the ranch. “We do fundraisers throughout the year. We do a big event at Quetico Provincial Park,” she told the Thunder Bay News Watch. “The last thing we were expecting is to have the barn burned down just at the point of the year when we’ve moved all the hay in there.”

The campaign has reached its $5,000 goal donations are still welcome towards next year’s needs. If you wish to donate, visit here.