The Federation of Saskatchewan Indigenous Nations (FSIN) is declaring a state of emergency as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a release sent Wednesday afternoon, FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron said, “many of our First Nations are not prepared for this COVID-19 pandemic as it continues in our region.”
“Some of our 74 member First Nations do not have health services or access to necessary supplies and medicines to combat the spread of COVID-19 and cases are continuing to increase across the province.”
Cameron went on to say, “The extreme challenges we are already facing at the First Nations level are being heavily and continuously compounded every day. The little resources we have in some of our communities have been stretched beyond capacity and these bands still have not seen any funds or supplies come to the nation.”
At a news conference on March 13, the FSIN said COVID-19 would be disastrous for First Nations in Saskatchewan, due to lack of medical supports, a high rate of diabetes and isolated communities that are very close-knit.
At that time the FSIN called on governments to ensure their communities would be given a high priority for health services, potential anti-viral vaccines and that health and emergency management investments would be increased.