(submitted photo/Northern Village of La Loche)

By Nicole Reis

LA LOCHE COMMUNITY

COVID-19 spread slowing in La Loche and Clearwater River

May 12, 2020 | 5:54 PM

La Loche Mayor Robert St. Pierre and Clearwater River Dene Nation Chief Teddy Clark along with the area director of Métis Nation Saskatchewan provided a non-medical community update to residents in the Far North community.

Clark said social distancing measures and education surrounding the virus have had a positive effect since the virus entered the region on April 16. He said young people have taken it upon themselves to encourage others to take measures seriously.

“Both Clearwater and La Loche, a lot of people are now starting to see and understand, in particular the younger generations. I’m very proud they’re getting the message out there [by] educating themselves or other people. I see them on Facebook saying let’s work together and get back to our normal lives,” he said.

Door-to-door testing and education is also underway on the Dene Nation. Clark noted checkpoints have a few kinks but are working out overall in an effort to minimize the spread. He said there are some concerns with blockades and restricted travel which raises concerns for those purchasing food.

“One of the things we stressed with Saskatchewan Public Relations is, when we go South, we tend to stock up on essentials as costs are a bit better which is something we’ve done for many years, and suddenly we’re being told we can’t. That doesn’t sit right with me either,” Clark said.

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Clark said northern community members have travelled South to buy groceries and have reported they are being treated differently.

“It’s almost like a different set of rules for the North and South. People who go South report back and say people are not practicing social-distancing,” he said. “If anything, people down South should be doing the same thing to minimize the spread.”

Clark said his people are being told they cannot bring back groceries though did not explicitly say who is denying people food. He said discussions at the Meadow Lake Tribal Council level are hoping to address the concern of checkpoints and expressed they are not being operated in a uniform manner.

Leonard Montgrand, the executive director of the La Loche Friendship Centre, addressed the frustrations of some who have had a poor interaction with checkpoints and he said the community is taking it into consideration. He noted people are working hard to physically distance as numbers begin to decrease.

“We’ve shut liquor stores down for a couple of weeks until our numbers come down. There is no manual for this virus, we plan for the best and see what happens,” he said.

The community homeless shelter is at capacity with 21 people in isolation units. Meals on wheels are provided to those isolated at home and the shelter. Montgrand mentioned water is a scarce commodity and the community and has heard peoples’ concerns about scrutiny for buying food.

St. Pierre also noted individuals with RCMP are not isolating when they should be.

“There is a process in place now. If they’re COVID-19 positive and not following isolation orders, contact [the] health inspector who will then contact RCMP and RCMP will transport that individual to remand in an isolation unit in Regina, so it’s very important to follow those health orders,” he said.

St. Pierre said a University of Saskatchewan medical student who visited La Loche recently launched a GoFundMe campaign with hopes of raising $15,000 for the community. The fundraiser closed yesterday with over $40,000 in donations.

“They’ve purchased $8,000 worth of goods so households can get entertaining activities for young children isolated at home,” he said. “Toys will come in on Friday and be distributed between Clearwater River and La Loche.”

North West Company is also donating groceries within next the week to support the community. A trailer park-like camp has been set up for isolation units and is up and running today. More cloth masks will be available to the public on Friday.

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nicole.reis@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @nicolereis7722