Wapekeka and Muskrat Dam declared state of emergencies in accordance with the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act R.S.O. 1990 6.E.9.5.4.(1) on March 18 and 19 due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Wapekeka declared its State of Emergency on March 19 to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of its citizens.
Chapleau Cree and North Spirit Lake released statements on March 18 about non-essential services and developing a pandemic plan.
“We’ve taken every precaution — we’ve shut down the office,” says Chapleau Cree Chief Keith Corston. “We’re keeping in touch with Mushkegowuk (Council) — I had a conference call yesterday and today we have a conference call with NAN (Nishnawbe Aski Nation).”
Neskantaga and Constance Lake recently released statements on measures for the safety and wellbeing of citizens due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Neskantaga announced precautionary measures on March 16 and Constance Lake announced a state of emergency on March 17.
“We’re taking precautionary measures — the reason why we decided to do that was because we don’t want the community coming down with COVID-19,” says Neskantaga Chief Chris Moonias. “We don’t have any resources or infrastructure or the equipment to respond if COVID-19 comes to the community.”
Communities across Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) are busy with preparations due to concerns about the global COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are in preparation mode and we’re also meeting regularly and getting updates,” says Fort Albany Chief Leo Metatawabin. “We’re working on updating our Fort Albany First Nation epidemic plan and we’re just trying to be accountable to the First Nation and see if we can weather this storm.”
Metatawabin says his community is working on making sure they are prepared in case people come down with COVID-19.
Oshki-Pimache-O-Win: The Wenjack Education Institute hosted Indigenous Services Canada minister Marc Miller and staff for a Feb. 13 visit to its newly renovated campus in Thunder Bay.
A group of Lakehead University students held an Act of Solidarity with Wet’suwet’en Nation gathering featuring a film screening and curated display at the Agora.
Dennis Franklin Cromarty First Nations High School is looking to purchase more iPads for the students use thanks to a $10,000 STEM Tech Grant from Best Buy.
“Our students don’t have the ability to get their own devices themselves, so having them available here at the school is just fantastic,” says Alyssa Saj, a math teacher at DFC. “We’re able to do more hands-on work where they actually can understand what we are covering instead of just trying to do it with paper and pencil.”
Saj says the students are “super excited” about having more technology to use at DFC.
Regional Chief RoseAnne Archibald emphasized how this is a momentous time for women during a video presentation at the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Women’s Gathering, held in Thunder Bay.
Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa re-emphasized his call for action on First Nations youth suicide in Ontario after more suicides were committed during the holiday season across Nishnawbe Aski Nation.
“Back in December I brought up the issue of youth suicide in a couple of the communities, in Constance Lake and Webequie and also one of the First Nations in southern Ontario,” Mamakwa says during an interview. “I didn’t know that come the holidays there would be a number of more (suicides) that would be happening over the two-week period in our communities.”
The Thunder Bay Art Gallery launched Ode’imin - Art Experiences for the Young at Heart, a free and accessible guided tour and workshop series for Indigenous seniors and older adults, on Jan. 14.
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