(The Canadian Press)

By Angela Brown

COVID-19 vaccines

BATC to hold COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Dekker Centre

Apr 5, 2021 | 3:49 PM

Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs Inc. (BATC) will offer a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the Dekker Centre starting next week.

Executive director Neil Sasakamoose is thrilled the organization will be able to host the clinic in North Battleford.

“For about four or five months we have been working on the actual clinic with a number of the bands in Saskatchewan,” he said.

The local clinic will be available starting April 12 for those who meet the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) eligibility, currently only for ages 55 and older. The clinic will run Mondays to Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Currently, the clinic is scheduled to be open until the end of July.

People need to book their appointment by calling the BATC or the SHA. Online booking is also available and can be made immediately. The BATC will also offer a help desk beginning April 8 for anyone with questions.

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Neil Sasakamoose is the son of the legendary Fred Sasakamoose, one of the first Indigenous players in the NHL. Fred died at the age of 86 from symptoms of COVID-19 in November 2020, so the matter hits close to his heart, says Neil.

“The vaccine roll-out is personal for me,” he said. “I lost a father to it. He missed it by a few months. He would have been in the line up, first thing…He would have demonstrated leadership towards vaccines. He would have shown people to get it to keep our people safe.”

Sasakamoose said the goal is to have 85 per cent of First Nations vaccinated by the end of June, which is the target for the central region.

Director of operations Alexis Christensen, the project manager of the vaccine clinic, is also working on the initiative.

“I think it’s fantastic,” she said. “I know we have been able to build amazing partnerships with our local Saskatchewan Health Authority here in town. They are just the best. There are a lot of vaccines that are coming and there are a lot that are to be offered. It’s all hands-on-deck.”

The BATC has been working in partnership with the Prince Albert Grand Council and Saskatoon Tribal Council to offer these vaccine clinics in the area. Indigenous Services Canada is also involved in the initiative.

Christensen mentioned, as another positive, the local effort will also provide some added revenue to the Dekker Centre as the BATC will be renting the space with added funding support from Indigenous Services Canada.

“It’s kind of a win-win for everybody,” she said. “It will provide them with income for four months for sure.”

Clinics are also running in Prince Albert through the Prince Albert Grand Council at the Senator Allen Bird Memorial Centre located at Chief Joseph Custer Reserve #201 as of April 1, and Saskatoon through the Saskatoon Tribal Council at the SaskTel Centre starting April 6.

The clinics will be culturally appropriate. Elder and cultural support will be available at the sites.

Everyone is welcome to attend any of the clinics who is in the age eligibility group for the vaccine and has pre-booked. As well, free in-town transportation is available upon request for any of the sites. Masks will be available on-site.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW