NCN Covid-19 Special Update - One Year Later - Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation

Read the Special Covid-19 Update – One Year Later.

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COVID STATE OF EMERGENCY – ONE YEAR LATER

Chief’s Message

This year will go down in the history of our Nation as one of the most difficult years we have ever faced. When I was re-elected as your Chief in August 2018 I never imagined the challenges we would have or the decisions that would have to be made to address such a deadly global pandemic. Life for all of us changed so quickly. Our individual liberties and freedoms were dramatically affected. Our children have been affected by changes in their education over the school year. We have been unable to visit family and friends. We have faced anxieties and mental health struggles and fear that this silent killer might find its way into our community.

It has been a daily struggle for us as leaders to try to find the right balance as we took actions to save lives. When we look back on this year, as difficult as it has been for our community, we can proudly say that our Nation lost no-one to COVID-19 so far.

While lockdowns are not fun, they saved lives and they prevented people from getting really sick. Communities all around us have been in crisis at different times throughout the year but we managed to contain the virus. We have had only 6 cases due to careful, co-ordinated action.

Unfortunately, a number of our Citizens living in Thompson got sick and suffered. Their stories and experiences helped us to stay the course even when people in the community got mad and called us dictators. Our goal was always the health and safety of our people.

We took our fiduciary responsibilities seriously as every life is important and we did not want to see any of our families and friends suffer the loss of a loved one. We also did not want to see the suffering caused by this awful, unpredictable disease spread throughout our community. Many of us had to isolate as we became contacts of someone who had or might have COVID-19. We had to get tested and endure anxious moments as we waited for the test results. Last Christmas is one I am sure none of us will ever forget.

Being a leader means showing leadership and this was tough given the rapid and evolving nature of this pandemic. Even now it is a race to vaccinate before the variants of the virus spread. But due to the diligence of everyone working to keep our community safe, we have done much better than so many other communities.

On this one year anniversary please join with me in thanking our health team, our essential workers, our staff, my Council colleagues and all of those in our community who stepped up in so many different ways to help us get through this very tough year.

Spring is in the air and I know everyone is getting restless. I know we are all fed up with being locked up for most of the past year. I am so glad there is light at the end of the tunnel. The vaccine will be here soon. It is important that we all hang on even if it is for a few more months till everyone gets vaccinated. When you think about it, as frustrating and as hard as this year has been,
what is a couple more months when we have already survived 12 months of this pandemic!

The experts tell us the COVID-19 virus is not going to go away so we must learn to live with it. This means we have to keep following the fundamentals by washing our hands, sanitizing, wearing masks, maintaining physical distances and limiting our contacts.

Following these public health measures are critical while we wait to be vaccinated and even after we are vaccinated. If get vaccinated and maintain these basic practices, we can avoid more complete lockdowns and more restrictions can be lifted.

Even though this has been the most difficult year I have faced as a leader in this community, I remain proud to be your Chief because I am so proud of all of you. We came together, followed the rules and kept each other safe. Our ability to care for each other and accept responsibility is what will continue to keep us safe. On this one year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic it is important to remember that Our Nation remains NCN Strong!

Read the Special Covid-19 Update – One Year Later.

NCN Covid-19 Special Update – One Year Later